What do you think about my control panel?

[paulkortne]

It's just a sketch right now.  Only the top of the panel is close to being in proportion.  If you see any possible problems with the button setup, please tell me!

[paulkortne]

Oh, and "POWR", "SAVE", "LOAD", and "EXIT" are all on the side of the panel

[Jakobud]

I'm sure it looks very nice

[SirPoonga]

a link to a pic would be nice    

[SNAAAKE]

copy and paste it
You could see it..

However i dont anything that interesting with the panel..

[SirPoonga]

your free webhost doesn't allow linking to pics.
and the host is REALLY slow, took my 5 refreshes for the pic to come up.

Not bad, nice and simple layout.

[Ben]

Here's a link to the image for those who can't see it.

Ben

[paulkortne]

Sorry about the pic now working.  I don't know what happened.

About the control panel, I only wanted to show the button layout so people could coment on it.  Later, I'll show it with the background picture.

I'm trying to design a very simple, yet useful layout, with only the minimal controls needed.  The size of the panel will be equal to those of the MK games.

[eightbit]

If you want a minimal button layout eliminate the administrative buttons. If you want the administrative buttons I'd move them to all one side so that they are easily reached by player one.

You didn't mention what you want to use it for. If its only for Mame you can totaly eliminate extra buttons and just use a key combo for the extra functions.

[paulkortne]

"You didn't mention what you want to use it for. If its only for Mame you can totaly eliminate extra buttons and just use a key combo for the extra functions. "

Sorry about that.  I want to make it as authentic as possible to a real Midway Mortal Kombat II cabinet.  That means no more buttons than I need.  That's why I have the non-gameplay controls on the side.  But I want to keep the "pause" button in the middle to both players can easily reach it.

I would like to have people use tokens to use my machine.  And I wouldn't want them to have access to anything more than:  Exit the game, Pause, Save, and Load.

On the button layout:  I want to play Street Fighter as well as MK, so I have the SF button layout.  

[u_rebelscum]

Make sure to check and see if the spinner gets in the way of player 2's joystick arm.  Can't tell without the drawing at full scale, plus it could vary depending on how the user holds the joystick.

Also, a single exit button might make it too easy to accidently exit a game.  How about map it so you need to press the pause & the exit button at the same time (at least in mame), or use an encoder with a shift/shazaam button (and pause be the shift button)?  

I like the administration buttons on your CP.  IMO, I think it's a Bad Idea to have any of the action keys double as administration keys, but I know others disagree with my veiw.  I just hate having any chance of being in the middle of a game and someone (me or someone else) press a key that will make an action button that's being used in the game: exit, bring up the mame UI, reset, goto the test screens, or otherwise mess up the game (but pausing is okay).  Killing a game accidently once a year is far too often for me.

[Sasquatch!]

Make sure to check and see if the spinner gets in the way of player 2's joystick arm.  Can't tell without the drawing at full scale, plus it could vary depending on how the user holds the joystick.

In the same line, I always strongly suggest making a mockup of some kind and making sure that it feels right to you.

[paulkortne]

"Also, a single exit button might make it too easy to accidently exit a game.  How about map it so you need to press the pause & the exit button at the same time (at least in mame), or use an encoder with a shift/shazaam button (and pause be the shift button)?"

I just got a much better idea:  I'll make Save= Player 1 Start + Pause button, and Load = Player 2 Start + Pause.  Exit will be Player 1 + 2 + Pause.  And for the power, I'll make a switch on the every back of the cabinet.  Thanks for reminding me of that!  I can't wait to build this thing!

[AceTKK]

It will be a huge pain if you're playing alone to try to hit Player1 + 2 + Pause every time you need to exit a game.  I suggest placing all the administrative controls on the side of the panel where player 1 can easily reach them, but you'll never accidently press them.  Leaving the pause button where both players can get at it is a good idea though.

-Ace-

[Tiger-Heli]

I'd also worry a little about something accidentally pressing the side buttons and ending your games.

Another idea would be to use smaller (non-arcade) momentary pushbuttons and have them in a recessed panel on the side, FWIW.