RobotronNut's Final Control Panel Layout (I Hope)

[RobotronNut]

12/29 UPDATE

I think this is what I'm going to end up ordering from SlikStik:



Click HERE to see lots of details about this layout.

Will have to work with SlikStik on the Ms Pac Reunion 4-way joysticks, which they don't normally stock.

Thanks to everyone for all the help, and I'd still appreciate any further feedback any one has.

Thanks.

RobotronNut

[markrvp]

The top fire 8-way should be on the bottom joystick row on the far right because you typically use your right hand for top-fire games including Tron (which uses the spinner in the left hand simultaneously).

The rotary joystick needs to be left of its buttons because you use your left hand to move/turn and your right hand to fire/lob grenade.

Also, if you only have one row of buttons, the buttons should be in-line with the joystick or higher than the joystick center line - your single button row was lower than the joystick center line.

[RobotronNut]

Thanks for the feedback!

I've modified my layout. Please click the link in the original post to see the updated layout.

I think the top-fire is well-positioned for Discs of Tron and Battlezone; please click the links in the table on my website to see where your hands fall for these games.

I've dropped one rotary and moved the other, so that it can be used either in the left or the right hand.

The buttons next to the 4-way is placed for Defender.

What do you think of the new layout?

[J_K_M_A_N]

I would take out the super 4-way and use a ms pac reunion stick with red ball top instead. You will need a mounting plate most likely though. (Unless you route out the wood.) Good luck.

J_K_M_A_N

[RobotronNut]

i've made a styrofoam mock-up:


feels very comfortable and confirmed all the conclusions on my web page: click HERE.

i think all i need to decide are:

(1) which joystick model to use for the front-and-center 4-way (leaning toward the Ultimarc J-stik or possibly the Mag-stik). not considering ms pac reunion, since it's not a SlikStik standard option.

(2) whether to choose the SlikStik flight stick (is it the Happ "Heavy Duty 8-way Trigger Joystick"?) or the SlikStik (Happ) Top Fire for Discs of Tron. i'm leaning toward the flight stick. after quite a bit of web searching, i haven't found a single instance of a user reporting how the SlikStik flight stik option works for Discs of Tron. if anyone out there can comment, please do.

(3) which joystick model to choose for the Q-bert stick (leaning toward the Ultimarc J-stik).

if anyone has any opinions about the various joystick choices, please let me know.

[Level42]

Hey RobotronNut, looks promising ! I'm currently looking for a good set-up as well.
Think I might first copy our idea Can you give the dimensions of the panel ?
Do you add any buttons to the front/side ?
Any control buttons ?

Thx for sharing !

[RayB]

You have joysticks that you would hit your elbow on. Get rid of the top-fire (or try and use my Wico Command Control mod to get a topfire shaft into your P360). Get rid of the QBert. It's best placed in the middle anyways if you want to properly play Qbert.

[pointdablame]

That's a lot of joysticks!!!

If you really need all those controls, I'd get two 49ways with the rotary adapter and clean up that panel.  There are way too many joys there for my liking.

[RobotronNut]

Think I might first copy your idea.  Can you give the dimensions of the panel?  Do you add any buttons to the front/side?  Any control buttons?

you can find good info at the SlikStik website.
the specific model is the Classic.
the exact dimensions are in this image.
i will probably order the pinball buttons on the sides. the only control buttons currently are the cluster of 4 between the top-fire and the qbert - coin and start for P1 & P2. i think i will add a pause button in the upper right corner.

[RobotronNut]

thanks for the feedback! keep it coming...

You have joysticks that you would hit your elbow on. Get rid of the top-fire (or try and use my Wico Command Control mod  to get a topfire shaft into your P360).

based on my mock-up, i'm fairly confident that my forearm will not bump any joysticks when i'm using the top-fire. actually, i'm leaning toward a flight stick instead of the top fire. i'd like the flight stick in the upper row near the spinner for Discs of Tron.

Get rid of the QBert. It's best placed in the middle anyways if you want to properly play Qbert.

Qbert wasn't high enough priority to take over the middle of the panel. i use my right hand for Qbert, so i can stay reasonably centered and comfortable with the Qbert stick in the upper right. it's less than perfect but a very reasonable compromise.

That's a lot of joysticks!!! If you really need all those controls, I'd get two 49ways with the rotary adapter and clean up that panel.

i'm looking for the best sticks for Robotron and would prefer to add a couple special-purpose sticks, rather than compromise Robotron playability with multi-purpose sticks.

[pointdablame]

i'm looking for the best sticks for Robotron and would prefer to add a couple special-purpose sticks, rather than compromise Robotron playability with multi-purpose sticks.

then why are you using P360's instead of WICO 8ways?  P360s ARE multipurpose sticks for all intents and purposes, but if you went with 49ways you can drop the rotary, 4way, and the qbert stick and put them all into one.

If you really love Robotron, I'd get 2 NOS Wico 8ways, and then put one 49way in the center of the panel somewhere so that you can use that as your multi-purpose joy... and taht way you'll also add 49way games and some of the analog games that work decently with 49ways

[RobotronNut]

If you really love Robotron, I'd get 2 NOS Wico 8ways

yow! i've been thinking all along that the Happ Perfect 360 was the absolute best joystick for Robotron, based on quite a bit of web research. do you have concerns with the 360 for Robotron?

since i'm planning on having SlikStik build the panel for me, i need to stick with the options they have available, which include:

  - happ competition
  - happ top fire
  - happ perfect 360
  - happ rotary
  - happ super 4way or 8way
  - ultimarc J-stick
  - t-stick plus 4way or 8way (prob. mag stick now)
  - happ ultimate 4-way
  - heavy duty trigger stick

they don't have the 49-way, and i'm sure they don't have any N.O.S. options.

[markrvp]

FYI:

Wico 8-way and Happ 49-way fit the same cutouts as the Happ Super & Competitions, so you can always have SlikStik cut the panel for those joysticks, but just not install them there so that you can put in whatever you want.

[pointdablame]

If you really love Robotron, I'd get 2 NOS Wico 8ways

yow! i've been thinking all along that the Happ Perfect 360 was the absolute best joystick for Robotron, based on quite a bit of web research. do you have concerns with the 360 for Robotron?

since i'm planning on having SlikStik build the panel for me, i need to stick with the options they have available, which include:

  - happ competition
  - happ top fire
  - happ perfect 360
  - happ rotary
  - happ super 4way or 8way
  - ultimarc J-stick
  - t-stick plus 4way or 8way (prob. mag stick now)
  - happ ultimate 4-way
  - heavy duty trigger stick

they don't have the 49-way, and i'm sure they don't have any N.O.S. options.

its not that I particularly have a "problem" with Robotron with P360s... its just... the wicos were what the game actually shipped with.  And IMHO, the leaf switches are NECESSARY to play the game well.

It's all personal preference really, but if you're a huge Robotron fan like your name suggests, you'll probably want the real deal.  Have SlikStik cut out the slots and just drop them in.

I still say 2 Wicos and a 49 would make for a much less cluttered CP, but if you like it, that's all that matters.

[RobotronNut]

Wico 8-way and Happ 49-way fit the same cutouts as the Happ Super & Competitions

do the wico 4-way and happ 360 also fit the same cutouts as the happ super?

[markrvp]

Wico 8-way and Happ 49-way fit the same cutouts as the Happ Super & Competitions

do the wico 4-way and happ 360 also fit the same cutouts as the happ super?

Yes, they all have the same mounting footprint.

[SirPoonga]

What are the buttons to the left of the top fire?
Button in top left of panel?
4 buttons but diagonal?
If the player 2 joystick in the way for getting at those buttons?
Do you play bowling, shuffleboard, horseshoes, or golf games (any game not missle command, quantum,  or centipede)?  If so the spinner is in the way.

[Scott84]

In my opinion, it seems to cramped....

especially button placement..

but to each his own.

[RobotronNut]

do the wico 4-way and happ 360 also fit the same cutouts as the happ super?

Yes, they all have the same mounting footprint.

hmmm... i think i see a strategy emerging. order the panel with 360s and super 4-ways, as indicated in the diagram. (i like the idea of having slikstik build, integrate, and test a complete panel). then replace the super 4-ways with wico 4-ways. i think i'm going to like the 360s, but if i don't, i can always replace them with 8-way wicos.

I still say 2 Wicos and a 49 would make for a much less cluttered CP, but if you like it, that's all that matters.

aesthetically, i don't mind the cluttered "frankenpanel" look; in fact i think i actually like the idea of a panel filled with metal joystick handles, spinner handle, flight stick, etc. (i'm afraid my geeky side is showing  ). of course, i'm extremely concerned that the layout is comfortable and the components are excellent...

[RobotronNut]

What are the buttons to the left of the top fire?
Button in top left of panel?

if you click thru the links in the table on my website, you'll see the classes of games in which these buttons would be used. i'm working on a minor update that replaces the top fire with a flight stick and eliminates the buttons between it and the spinner. will also add a "pause" button in the upper right corner.

4 buttons but diagonal?
If the player 2 joystick in the way for getting at those buttons?

i think you mean the 4 between the top fire and the qbert stick. these are player 1 & 2 coin and start. no conflict with P2 joystick, because not used for game play.

Do you play bowling, shuffleboard, horseshoes, or golf games (any game not missle command, quantum,  or centipede)?  If so the spinner is in the way.

no, i don't play any of those games. i realize this is drawback of this layout. it's a compromise i chose to make.

[RobotronNut]

added (hopefully) final revisions.

[markrvp]

On the two buttons between the 4-way and P2 P360 I would move them up so that they are on the same line as the top row of buttons for P1 & P2.

[RobotronNut]

On the two buttons between the 4-way and P2 P360 I would move them up so that they are on the same line as the top row of buttons for P1 & P2.

they're where they are for the left thumb when playing defender.