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Author Topic: Some input on my layout  (Read 1687 times)

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DaveMMR

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Some input on my layout
« on: July 20, 2006, 11:46:27 pm »
Since I won't be able to do a mock-up for a week or so, I wanted to get some input on my layout (pics on bottom).   It doesn't include the artwork (and I left off the start buttons on the joystick panel by accident).  You can see that in my PA thread here.

The panel is 25 inches wide and about 10 inches in height.  The gray area is unusable space (panel clamps, side support) and measures about an inch and a half.  The joysticks are going to be 49-ways.  The trackball panel has one 3-inch ball on each side and three buttons in the middle.

Basically, is the distance from joystick center to leftmost button center okay (it's about 3 inches) apart?  Any other forseeable problems?  Any and all input, comments, critism, questions, etc. are welcome.



« Last Edit: July 20, 2006, 11:49:56 pm by DaveMMR »

Havok

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Re: Some input on my layout
« Reply #1 on: July 21, 2006, 10:30:33 am »
You may want to reconsider the 7 button layout. I went with 7 on my joystick fighter panel, so I could have neo-geo and street fighter games, but found that I made due with the default setup which assigned the 6 buttons to all the kick\punch combinations...

ahofle

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Re: Some input on my layout
« Reply #2 on: July 21, 2006, 10:46:32 am »
Are those two buttons to the left of the first trackball?  Because I'd definitely put buttons to the left of each trackball (well at least to the left of the FIRST trackball).  I assume you are left handed?  You'd either have to use the right trackball for player one or roll the left one with your left hand for games like missile command and centipede.  But you probably already know that. :)

yugffuts

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Re: Some input on my layout
« Reply #3 on: July 21, 2006, 12:30:15 pm »
I went with an alternate 7 button setup, like so

   o  o  o
   o  o  o
o

Use the bottom 4 for Neo Geo, and the 7th button also is nice as a "Run" button in the later MK games.

BlinKY1337

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Re: Some input on my layout
« Reply #4 on: July 21, 2006, 01:45:08 pm »
I went with an alternate 7 button setup, like so

   o  o  o
   o  o  o
o

Use the bottom 4 for Neo Geo, and the 7th button also is nice as a "Run" button in the later MK games.

or to block  :cheers:

DaveMMR

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Re: Some input on my layout
« Reply #5 on: July 21, 2006, 02:34:58 pm »
Thanks for the input guys.  A few responses:

Quote
You may want to reconsider the 7 button layout.

I actually wouldn't even go with the 7-button layout if it weren't for those few SNES I may want to play down the road (A,B,X,Y,L,R,Select and Start, which will be the regular Start button of course).  The select is used very infrequently so I may ditch it - still thinking about it.

Quote
Are those two buttons to the left of the first trackball?  Because I'd definitely put buttons to the left of each trackball (well at least to the left of the FIRST trackball).  I assume you are left handed?  You'd either have to use the right trackball for player one or roll the left one with your left hand for games like missile command and centipede.  But you probably already know that.

The two buttons to the left of the first trackball are the Atari start cone buttons, not action buttons.

This panel was a bit of a heartbreaker.  I originally wanted it to be a two player setup with each player having a full three buttons.  Unfortunately, space was a little tight and it ended up being way too cramped and ugly.  So I had to ditch one set of buttons (though I'm keeping the left trackball because I really, really like Marble Madness). 

So, yes, it is a pseudo-ambidextrious layout.  The right trackball is the main trackball for Centipede, Missle Command, etc.  The left will really only see play during MM.  And I am right handed.

Quote
I went with an alternate 7 button setup, like so

   o  o  o
   o  o  o
o

Use the bottom 4 for Neo Geo, and the 7th button also is nice as a "Run" button in the later MK games.

I may give that setup a try.  It'll space things out a little more.  Are there any other benefits to that layout over the 3-4 layout? 

Thanks.  :cheers:







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Re: Some input on my layout
« Reply #6 on: July 21, 2006, 02:56:49 pm »
I have a slikstik control panel with that 7 button layout and have found it very useful although I use the coin button for select and the player 1/2 button as start.  I kind of wish I had 8 buttons now for psx emulation.  But I think I am just going to use a couple of wireless logitech controllers for that now.
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DaveMMR

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Re: Some input on my layout
« Reply #7 on: July 24, 2006, 07:14:58 pm »
I've been rethinking a few things after mulling over the input and may decide to opt for a six-button layout over a seven for a few reasons:

1) Space - I do want to move the buttons a little further from the joystick.  Removing one column (the seventh), I'll gain an extra inch and a half (rounding off here).

2) Necessity (or lack thereof) - I'm not a Neo-Geo fighter fanboy, and I'm sure the fourth button will be fine mapped to the top-right.

3) Simplicity - It seems to be add an extra bit of confusion for others to see a button hanging off in space.  It does make more sense, ergonomically, though.

4) My humongous, pot roast hands - may be bothered by the extra button  when I'm using the SF layout as the main buttons.  Well, actually, it shouldn't with normal gameplay, but I'm the jerk in the arcade that used to slap buttons when the occasion called for it (e.g. angrily speeding up the "Continue timer" so I can enter my initials and walk away, defeated).

Any further comments or constructive criticism is welcome.