Need Help Getting Started

[MARINE1142]

Ok getting reading to start my cab and had some questions before I begin first I would like to play many different games on the unit and will a 8 way stick affect a game only made for a 4 way action or will it work fine for both.
Then second of all I found these plans on the net of what I want my cab to look like execpt for the CP but it says the CP stands at 35" this feels very uncomfortable much rather have it at 42.5" the total height of the cab on the plans are 74" with the CP at 42.5" this seems odd what do I do.

[Xam]

Not real sure of the answer on CP height.

You can play 4 way games with an 8 way stick...just don't expect the best results. When you try to go up with a four way you go up. Playing with an 8 way here, you might actually be pushing up+left or up+right and not know it.
The result is your character usually stands there and gets jacked up. Best off finding a true four way or looking at some of the different convertable joys. Many people on the boards have nothing but good to say about the MsPacman/Galaga reunion joy made by Happ. I think divemaster or ponyboy could hook you up with one.

Xam

[MARINE1142]

So there is joystick that is a 4 way and then what do you do to make it act like a 8 way I think that is the best way to go what do you guys think.

[PCtech]

Well, the 8 way joystick will allow you to play a 4-way game, but you might notice some hesitation when you hit the corners.  Here is an example using Donkey Kong (4-way game)

Imagine running up to the ladder and quickly moving the joystick up, to avoid a flaming barrel...but instead, you accidentally hit UP+Right (pointing North East), and Mario doesn't move.

Basically if you play a 4-way game, and use one of the diagonals, it may not register.  A lot of folks put a dedicated 4-way stick somewhere on their panel for this reason.

Here is a link to where some of the 4-way joystick games are listed.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=49864.0

As far as  height goes...as long as you are comfortable...you could probably extend the bottom of you cab by 7.5" on the bottom (think of it as putting a 74" cabinet on a box that is 7.5" tall).  If you still want the cab to be 74", then you may want to try another method...plus my suggestion would make the cab almost 7' tall  

Good luck!....post pics when you start, that way we can give you encouragement / ridicule (not allways in that order)  

[PCtech]

Well, the 8 way joystick will allow you to play a 4-way game, but you might notice some hesitation when you hit the corners.  Here is an example using Donkey Kong (4-way game)

Imagine running up to the ladder and quickly moving the joystick up, to avoid a flaming barrel...but instead, you accidentally hit UP+Right (pointing North East), and Mario doesn't move.

Basically if you play a 4-way game, and use one of the diagonals, it may not register.  A lot of folks put a dedicated 4-way stick somewhere on their panel for this reason.

Here is a link to where some of the 4-way joystick games are listed.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=49864.0

As far as  height goes...as long as you are comfortable...you could probably extend the bottom of you cab by 7.5" on the bottom (think of it as putting a 74" cabinet on a box that is 7.5" tall).  If you still want the cab to be 74", then you may want to try another method...plus my suggestion would make the cab almost 7' tall  

Good luck!....post pics when you start, that way we can give you encouragement / ridicule (not always in that order)  

[leapinlew]

I agree with Xam. At first I thought I could handle playing a game like Ms. Pacman with a 8 way stick. I mean, more directions = more fun, right? The thing is, when I tell that b!tch to go up - I don't want her ignoring me. This is what happens with a 8 way stick. Most people play 4 ways by rolling the stick. If your going left, and you want to move up, you roll the stick from the left position to the up position. If your in 8 way mode, she sticks when you roll the stick and hit the diagnol. The only way to get her unstuck is if you return to center and then press up. Usually this takes too long and your on your way to being a ghost turd, or ghost rape, or whatever it is those ghosts do when they capture the Misses.

On a 8 way
Frogger takes extra hops
Mario gets stuck on the ladder in Donkey Kong
Popeye has a hard time with the stairs
etc.

Either have a dedicated 4 way, or a convertible 4/8 way if you want to truly enjoy the classics.

[Havok]

I never have a problem playing 4way games with my 8way, but then I use P360 opticals, no clickey joys for me...

[MARINE1142]

Ok so the plan no is to have a 4 player CP with 4/8 convertable joystick  with a track ball in the center with 7 buttons on each station that sounds good now back to the beginning most  of the plans I have seen the base is as deep as the height of the CP now 42.5" is perfect for the CP for me but that seems too deep a cab and 7' sounds good on the overall height now the width of the cab should be able to hold a 27" TV but the CP might be bigger does that impose a problem? Oh yeah one more thing were do I get a 4way 8way convertable joystick?

[leapinlew]

Do you plan on playing console games with this? The reason I ask is because players 3 and 4 don't need 7 buttons if your only doing arcade.

"Where to get a good 4 way/8way joystick" - this is a tough question. You can go to Ultimarc and look at their joysticks that switch from the top of the panel. I have these sticks and switching back and forth is really slick. However, I am not going to use these sticks any more. They have a really short throw and don't work that well for the fighting games I like to play. If your going to have a panel that large, why not consider adding a 5th joystick in the middle to one side of the trackball to do act as a dedicated 4 way?

[MARINE1142]

So I guess what I m looking for is a control stick that is friendly enough to play pac man super mario bros and can be changed to play mortal kombat or street fighter anyone out there doing this and have a good joystick and can tell what it is and were to get it.

[PCtech]

The thing is, when I tell that b!tch to go up - I don't want her ignoring me.

Try telling her the opposite direction...

[Havok]

So I guess what I m looking for is a control stick that is friendly enough to play pac man super mario bros and can be changed to play mortal kombat or street fighter anyone out there doing this and have a good joystick and can tell what it is and were to get it.

It really boils down to preference. The P360 is simply the best for fighters, and does a good job for the 4way games. Check Divemaster or Ponyboy here on the boards (B/S/T Forum) to get the best prices.

[leapinlew]

So I guess what I m looking for is a control stick that is friendly enough to play pac man super mario bros and can be changed to play mortal kombat or street fighter anyone out there doing this and have a good joystick and can tell what it is and were to get it.

What your looking for is what everyone is looking for. To me, it doesn't exist. I have a dedicated stick for 4 way. You know that you only use 1 stick for nearly every 4 way game right? It doesn't take up much room on a 4 player control panel.

[Xam]

I never have a problem playing 4way games with my 8way, but then I use P360 opticals, no clickey joys for me...

From my understanding...when the 360's are in 4 way, the diagnals are in effect "disabled". Though you may still have a small "dead" zone, you aren't trying to force a 4way to make 8 way decisions. SO it does make sense that the 360's would perform much beter than a standard clicky.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

[Xam]

The thing is, when I tell that b!tch to go up - I don't want her ignoring me.

Try telling her the opposite direction...

You mean tell the beotch to go down? How would that hel....OHHHHHHHH! LOL!

Xam

[MARINE1142]

I was doing some thinking and I dont think I m going to go with a 4p CP I dont think there are any games I would play that would have 4p that we could not do with 2p and that should open up some room on the cp. Now if I stick to this plan is it better to put player one and player two stick and buttons spread apart to the outside edges of the cp and put a track ball in the middle and then a 4way joystick on the left of that with its own buttons(how many buttons?) or is there a better way can someone share there CP lay out with me to get some ideas of what i want?

[Jeff AMN]

I was doing some thinking and I dont think I m going to go with a 4p CP I dont think there are any games I would play that would have 4p that we could not do with 2p and that should open up some room on the cp. Now if I stick to this plan is it better to put player one and player two stick and buttons spread apart to the outside edges of the cp and put a track ball in the middle and then a 4way joystick on the left of that with its own buttons(how many buttons?) or is there a better way can someone share there CP lay out with me to get some ideas of what i want?

Go to the Project Announcements forum and look around. Project Arcadeus has a great layout that you might be interested in borrowing ideas from.

[MARINE1142]

That is pretty sweet lay out is the tip joystick the 4way only and do you only need 2 buttons with any game that needs a 4way?

[Jeff AMN]

Yeah, the joystick on top is the 4-way and you really won't need more than two buttons for any 4-way games. Heck, many of them like Pac-Man don't use any buttons!

[Tiger-Heli]

I never have a problem playing 4way games with my 8way, but then I use P360 opticals, no clickey joys for me...

From my understanding...when the 360's are in 4 way, the diagnals are in effect "disabled". Though you may still have a small "dead" zone, you aren't trying to force a 4way to make 8 way decisions. SO it does make sense that the 360's would perform much beter than a standard clicky.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

You are wrong and you are right!!! 

Your comments about how the P360's work in 4-way mode are correct, however; this involves dis-assembling the stick to flip the actuator around.

What Havok is saying is that HIS P360's work fine in 4-way games even though the sticks are in 8-way mode.  I have heard others say this about other sticks as well, it somewhat comes down to how precise you are with your motions. . .

[ShinAce]

P360's have smaller than normal corners, I find. That could explain why they work well. Not to mention they're so stiff you need to slam the directions.