A bunch of questions - newbie warning !

[ogisha007]

I'm trying to build an arcade cabinet from scratch (not totally from scratch, since I would probably get the cabinet wood parts done by someone else) and, as all the noobs, I have some questions i would like to ask:

-This whole thing about keyboard encoders has confused me pretty much, and so i ask a simple question: how many buttons will I be able to push simultaneously without any problems, and does this vary from encoder to encoder?

-I want to build a cabinet for 2 players, 7 buttons each, a trackball, spinner, etc. I would love it if you had recommendations for the joysticks(8-way), buttons(would like microswitches), and the trackball.

Sorry if I've made you mad with my noobish questions , but bear in mind that I'm only 14 yrs old and got a lot of questions (should be ordering Project Arcade soon to demystify some stuff  )

More questions will probably follow, since i'm a little tired now (going to take a nap)

[pointdablame]

Welcome.

Go read the Wiki on this board, you will answer a TON of your questions, including some that you probably didn't even know you had.  You can find the wiki here: http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/

You should also check the stickied threads in each forum as your questions have been asked a lot before, you'll find a lot of good info in those threads.

To answer some of your questions very quickly though,
- Number of button presses will vary by encoder, but most (if not all) commercial encoders do not have ghosting and blocking problems that you'd have with a keyboard encoder.  So basically, don't worry about it.
- Don't ask for recommendations on joysticks.  There is no "best" one.  You need to try some and also figure out what types of games you play most.
- Happ horizontal microswitch buttons are pretty much the standard microswitch button people get.
- I like Happ trackballs better than Betson/Imperial or others, but they are all pretty good.

Now go read

[hypernova]

14?

Familiar with the classics?  I didn't know people that young knew what an arcade was.  Good luck on your build!

[Q*Bert_OP]

14?

Familiar with the classics?  I didn't know people that young knew what an arcade was. 

 
Most of my machines are older than I am...

[ogisha007]

14?

Familiar with the classics?  I didn't know people that young knew what an arcade was.  Good luck on your build!

@hypernova
Well, it's a long story, and it involves stuff that possibly breaks the forum rules, so i best not talk about it  (i live in Serbia, so a classsic is probably not in a cabinet but on a hard disc or burned CD, sadly   Not that i wouldn't buy and play on originals, it's just that they're pretty much not available and the arcades are pretty lame, most of the machines not working properly... and so on). Oh, and thanks on the good luck

@pointdablame
Thanks for the explanations and the link, I've already got most of the stuff about in my head, I just need to make a final plan and order stuff, I will take my time though, since I have to study for my exams and stuff...