Best 4 player control panel suggestion that is multi platform compatible?

[eastbayarb]

I want to build a 4 player control panel with the following specs (I currently have a BYOAC X-Arcade Duo in an Aero City cabinet):

1. 6 buttons per player (or 6 buttons for player 1 and 2, 4 buttons for player 3 and 4)
2. Two Trackballs
3. Spinner
4. Multi platform compatible (PC, XBOX, Gamecube, Dreamcast, PS1/PS2)
5. One or 2 flight sticks
6. One 4-way stick
7. Two topfire joysticks (for games such as Smash TV or Total carnage that require 2 joysticks).

Anyone have any suggestions on how to tackle such a project or what parts I need or tutorials I should read? I have read through alot of different web pages and such, but nothing for a 4 player version with the specs I want.

[motorfish]

First thing. There's no way you're going to fit all that stuff in an Aero City cabinet. It's way too small.

[eastbayarb]

I would obviously make modifications to the cab to make it fit

now, anyone have an answer to my question?

[Hiub1]

Well, jeez... That's going to be one disproportionate cab. That CP is going to be inmense man... Just remember that you'll have to be sitting down to play the Aero City, just imagine how much room you are going to need to be able to have 4 people sitting down? I would encourage you to consider your design, especially with this being a candy cab.

You are compromising some sort of practicallity for playability. There is going to be so much stuff cramped all over the CP that it is going to be almost unplayable.

I would think that a smarter route to go would be to have modular control panels that you can swap out at any time. Using molex connectors to quickly plug them in and out would be simple to use and that would keep the playability level of the cab.

As for interfacing the contols, I believe the best way to accomplish such a task would be to hack some PSX pads, and use them with various adapters. I believe there are some for XBOX, DC, GC, and PC.

[leapinlew]

You are compromising some sort of practicallity for playability. There is going to be so much stuff cramped all over the CP that it is going to be almost unplayable.

I would think that a smarter route to go would be to have modular control panels that you can swap out at any time.

I agree...

In fact, what I did was get 2 cabs. 1 for 4 way games and another for trackball/8 way fighter games. If 2 cabs isn't an option, a swappable panel may be your best bet. If not build a cab from scratch - showcase I'm thinking.

[eastbayarb]

I would make modifications to the cab to accomodate for 4 players. One being I would make the cab taller by either putting it on top of a TV stand/shelf, or just extending it from the bottom and adding shelves. Or I will eventually just get a larger cab entirely.

Now as far as hacking PSX controls, can someone point me to a step by step tutorial ? Did a google search but some tutorials were just pictures and didn't really do a step by step.

thanx guys

[Scott84]

You should just buy a 4 player cab and sell the parts inside to curb the cost...

You COULD alter that cab to fit 4 players, but it will be cramped.... and it will have some serious viewing angle issues.

A 4 player cabinet with 6 buttons per player is cramped as it is!

[leapinlew]

You should just buy a 4 player cab and sell the parts inside to curb the cost...

You COULD alter that cab to fit 4 players, but it will be cramped.... and it will have some serious viewing angle issues.

A 4 player cabinet with 6 buttons per player is cramped as it is!

I agree - you should buy or build.

What your trying to do is like trying to modify a new mustang to handle 8 passengers.

[jelwell]

I want to build a 4 player control panel with the following specs (I currently have a BYOAC X-Arcade Duo in an Aero City cabinet):

1. 6 buttons per player (or 6 buttons for player 1 and 2, 4 buttons for player 3 and 4)
2. Two Trackballs
3. Spinner
4. Multi platform compatible (PC, XBOX, Gamecube, Dreamcast, PS1/PS2)
5. One or 2 flight sticks
6. One 4-way stick
7. Two topfire joysticks (for games such as Smash TV or Total carnage that require 2 joysticks).

Anyone have any suggestions on how to tackle such a project or what parts I need or tutorials I should read? I have read through alot of different web pages and such, but nothing for a 4 player version with the specs I want.

I think you have 2 options:
1) Configurable / rotating control panel.
2) Cut down on some requirements.

You've got way too much listed for a single control panel.

SmashTV doesn't use a topfire joystick (I can't recall if Total Carnage did - I do remember there was a button for dropping bombs). Just so you know, there's no reason to get a dedicated 4 way joystick these days when there are so many 4/8 way joysticks available - not to mention analogue joysticks.

Here are some designs to avoid:
http://www.wickedretarded.com/~crapmame/3.html
http://www.wickedretarded.com/~crapmame/4.html
http://www.wickedretarded.com/~crapmame/6.html
http://www.wickedretarded.com/~crapmame/30.html

Here are some designs to consider:
http://www.mameworld.net/massive/NEWMAMEY/controls.htm
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,35938.0.html (Notice the leftover parts - he couldn't fit it all)

As for Multi-platform, I would try either to pick up a couple controllers that support all your consoles in one. Or get an ipac with console adaptors

Here's my control panel (built with Smash TV in mind). Note that another trackball would have made it *even* wider and more crowded. A spinner could probably have been crammed up top with or instead of my control buttons.
http://singleclick.com/gallery/v/Joe-Elwell/album324/DSC06590.jpg.html
good luck,
Joseph Elwell.

[Scott84]

Just grab a 4 player cab... after reading that post, and reading what i had said earlier....

Your looking at way too much work...

How many people do you know wanna play cramped arcade games?

[CheffoJeffo]

Even with a four player cabinet, that many controls on a panel is going to be virtually impossible to manage .. there is a good reason that there are no web pages with tutorials for those specs. Better advice would be to scan the Project Anouncements or the Examples page and have a look at designs (and CrapMAME is also worth a look).

Not sure how you were thinking that you could mod an AeroCity for that. Your reasonable choices are to go with a modular CP design or multiple cabinets (my personal preference).

Cheers.

[motorfish]

Well, I think this pretty much answers your question. I used to have an Aero City cab, and just getting two full grown players to fit at it was a challenge. Also, putting a wooden control panel on an all metal cabinet would look odd, as well as be a major pain in the ass to do.

Take everyone's advice. Just get/build a cab for the specific purpose that it's intended for. Making a 4 Player Aero City cab is a disaster waiting to happen. Don't let it happen! ^_^

As far as puting a PS2 PSX and an X-BOX in a cab, Ultimarc makes great control adapters for these systems.

- Dan

[eastbayarb]

Thanx all for the advice guys!

I sold the Aero City Cab and I got another one for $60 (just the cab, no monitor, no game) that is full sized. The control panel looks like it used to be a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 player (or maybe even 4), and seems to be able to house up to a 25 inch monitor.

Now that I have more room to work with, there are now more possibilities.

I have a question, are there any 2 player trackball/spinner/flight stick arcade games? As far as the jpac to xbox/psx adaptor (I assume it can do ps2?), will those support 4 players? Is there a Dreamcast adaptor (I do play my Dreamcast quite frequently due to it's VGA compatibility and especially for Street Fighter III).

Thanx!

[Scott84]

Do you got a pic of the cab?

[motorfish]

A TMNT cab should be plenty big enough.

The nice thing about the Aero City cabs is that they made a very satisfying "boom" sound when I would get pissed off and smack the cp whith my knee, what with it being hollow metal and all.

- Dan

[Teebor]

You mentioned earlier that you used X-Arcade stuff, even though its not the best and some people have said that it can be laggy with consoles the X-Arcade stuff has a whole suite of adapters to fit the most common consoles and you can with a little programming use two 2 player kits to make four players.

Only problem is to make full use of the consoles you may require shoulder buttons for some games which can boost your total buttons per player to EIGHT!!! 
But of course its your option whether or not you use them.

As for two player trackball games my favourites are Marble Madness and Rampart but there are a few others, not many though.

[leapinlew]

Now that I have more room to work with, there are now more possibilities.

No.... there isn't. You still can't jam all that stuff you want onto 1 cp.