Jolly Rogers Home Arcade

[JollyRogers]

Howdy,

I am starting my first arcade project: The Jolly Rogers Home Arcade.

I bought the Project Arcade book about a week ago and now I am hooked. I'm starting with the control panel first. I'm much more comfortable with electronics than wood, but I'm looking forward to learning all of the facets of this hobby. Oh, and I'm a video game addict. I suppose that goes without saying 

If you don't mind, please take a look at my control panel layout. I have attached it in pdf form.  I have never built a control panel, so please be generous with those comments. Don't worry about hurting my feelings, just say it like it is. It's the only way I'll learn.

Harr,
Jolly

[leapinlew]

Initial thoughts are that the joysticks are on the wrong side?

[leapinlew]

One other question - what are you doing about joysticks and 4 way games?

[JollyRogers]

I thought about the joysticks on the other side. Is there some advantage to having the joystick on the left side? I'm more comfortable with the stick on the right side. Is there an issue here of which I'm not aware?

As for 8-way and 4-way, I bought the newest Ultimeric, magnetic joysticks. They bost having an 8-way/4-way switch that can mount onto the panel. I thought I'd give them a try. Hopefully, they will eliminate the need for two types of joysticks.

Anyone have any experience with these?

-Jolly

[johnperkins21]

I thought about the joysticks on the other side. Is there some advantage to having the joystick on the left side? I'm more comfortable with the stick on the right side. Is there an issue here of which I'm not aware?

Virtually every game ever has the joystick on the left side of the buttons. Tapper had the taps on either side and a joystick in the middle, but that's the only anomalie I can think of right now. If this is just for you, I say build it however you feel most comfortable, but any friends you have over will have a very difficult time playing this.

[leapinlew]

I thought about the joysticks on the other side. Is there some advantage to having the joystick on the left side? I'm more comfortable with the stick on the right side. Is there an issue here of which I'm not aware?

As for 8-way and 4-way, I bought the newest Ultimeric, magnetic joysticks. They bost having an 8-way/4-way switch that can mount onto the panel. I thought I'd give them a try. Hopefully, they will eliminate the need for two types of joysticks.

Anyone have any experience with these?

-Jolly

I had the magstik+ - I didn't care for them because of their short throw. It made fighting games very difficult for me. If you check out the joysticks in the arcade for fighting games you'll notice they have a long throw (at least thats how it is in the US). They did switch from 4 to 8 way with no issues at all for me. My friends though.... they never could figure out which games needed to be in 4 way and watching them try to lift and twist the magstik made me wince as they twisted/lifted/pushed/pulled that stick in all kinds of ways. The stick is fine, but just wasn't for me.

I suppose Atari 2600 joysticks were held in the right hand and you would push the button with your left finger.... but there aren't many(any?) games that had the joysticks on the left. As previously mentioned, sometimes they would put buttons on either side of the joystick. If you look at any video game or console game you'll see the joystick/d-pad on the left with buttons on the right. It's what people are used to.

It is your video game.  You do what you want. If you plan on having friends over to use it - get their feedback. Lots of times they give it whether you want it or not!

[JollyRogers]

Actually the Atari is exactly what I was thinking of. I'm an old woman so my frame of reference goes back quite a while.

However, I have noticed, by looking through the other projects, that joysticks are always on the left. This makes me think there must be some good reason to do so. Can anyone elaborate on this? Does it take finer motor control to push buttons than to manipulate a joystick (assuming a right-hand dominated world.

Maybe I'm just weird. I suppose I could compromise by putting the player 2 joystick on the left side...hmm....

[leapinlew]

Actually the Atari is exactly what I was thinking of. I'm an old woman so my frame of reference goes back quite a while.

However, I have noticed, by looking through the other projects, that joysticks are always on the left. This makes me think there must be some good reason to do so. Can anyone elaborate on this? Does it take finer motor control to push buttons than to manipulate a joystick (assuming a right-hand dominated world.

Maybe I'm just weird. I suppose I could compromise by putting the player 2 joystick on the left side...hmm....

I agree with you... but for some reason - joysticks are on the left. It's what everyone is used to with games with buttons. I have noticed that when people play Ms. Pacman they switch up to the right hand a lot.

Whats cool about having a dedicated 4 way stick is that you can have buttons on either side.

[johnperkins21]

Depends on the games you want to play. If there are more than two buttons, I'd say a right-handed person will definitely want the stick on the left. I personally have more finger control with my right hand, and moving the joystick takes slightly less precise control, especially in fighting games.

If you plan on sticking with games that only use two buttons or less, I don't see an issue, but try moving a joystick with your right hand and pushing 6 different buttons with your left, it's pretty difficult.

Just my .01 cent (probably not worth the extra penny).

[deadkenndys1105]

I play pacman with my right hand and I like the joystick on the left because it give you more arm rest room.  I like my mag-stick but its the one were you switch it with the leaver.  I ordered the wrong one but its not a big deal.  The only time I like a joystick in the left hand it when im playing robotron.

[mlyday]

Gauntlet had the buttons on the left and joystick on the right.  I think more people feel comfortable the other way around.  Are you left handed?