does anyone have different colored translucent buttons on their CP?

[Rudi]

I'm planning my next project, a four player upright.  I REALLY like the Neon Mame, but don't want to create a knock-off.  I'm thinking of using different colored buttons for each player, but don't know if that would look too busy.  Has anyone done this yet?  I can't find an example of this under Examples.  Another option is use all red, or all green.  I can't decide.

If anyone has a CP with multi-colored translucent buttons on their CP, can you post or PM me with a photo?

Thanks,
-Rudi

[markrvp]

It's my opinion that it looks classier to stay with one color in groups, i.e. all of player 1's buttons should be one color, all of player 2's buttons should be one color, etc. 

NEON MAME is a testament to the cleanest, nicest way to do it IMHO.

[DaveMMR]

I agree with mark, all one color per player is the best way to go.  However, if you want to change colors on a whim, you can always look into the Electric Ice buttons at Groovygamegear with RGB LEDS.  Though, be forewarned, there's still work to be done on multi-unit functionality for the LED-Wiz device (unless you use Powermame). 

[Rudi]

I agree that all of a players buttons should be one color:

Ex:
Player 1: Red
Player 2: Blue
Player 3: Green
Player 4: Orange

..or something like that.

But I was thinking even that may appear too busy.  In my opinion blue is the best color to use if you only want to use one color.  But, green or red might be nice.  Thats why I wanted to know if someone had done either of these designs already.

Another reason is that I got two cheap green plama disks, 6" wide, and was going to mount them on the sides of the cab.  Should I make all the buttons green too?  How good to green buttons look glowing?   Or maybe different color buttons, but with red neon glowing below the CP, and a blue marquee.

Decisions, decisions.... I've got a headache....

-Rudi

[Timoe]

Here's one

[KillerArcades]

Here's mine, nothing but good reviews so far...

[pointdablame]

I made a desktop controller with a 7 button layout.  It had 3 blue buttons up top and the NeoGeo colors on the bottom row.  I thought it looked pretty cool, but I can see how some folks would think its a bit busy.  In fact, I don't think I'd do it again, but I did like it.

I have some extra buttons at home, I can pop some different colored translucent buttons into my current desktop controller if you'd like.  I think I have most of the translucent colors around if you have a preference.  Let me know if you'd like some pics.

[Rudi]

Pointdablame:  Thanks for the offer, but SKondris's picture give me an idea of what I was thinking.  I'm planning on building a 4 player CP, but just one level.

SKondris:  Thanks for the picture.  It's exactly what I was looking for.

-Rudi

[hypernova]

Same colors as you had written.  Mine are:

[Rudi]

Hypernova: What you have is basically what I had in mind.  Thanks for posting it.  It give me an idea of "is this what I want?".

-Rudi

[Chris]

I'm in the minority, I guess.  I always find it strange to see these relatively monochrome, machines, black with one color of button, when my memories of '80's arcades are a riot of color.

My machine has buttons in the Neo-Geo colors, with purple in place of yellow because the yellow stood out a bit too much from the rest of the panel.  I have purchased my translucent buttons but I haven't installed them yet.

It's worth noting, though, that most people think my panel is particularly ugly because of all the button colors, so this may not be a good guide...

[KillerArcades]

One thing I notice about hyernova's and mine, is that certain colors are hotter than others between our two CP's. For example, in mine (though quite a bit overexposed by my friend who took the shot to help really pull out the colors), the green and blue are by far the brightest and most colorful on my CP.

however on Hypernova's, the green seems much less bright and the blue is almost white.

So, my point is that even after seeing a couple of illuminated CP's, the final result is going to depend quite a bit on the buttons you use, the position of your LED's, and the resistors you choose, etc.

Those all affect the color, 'hotness', and overall appearance of the buttons in the end.

But, if you're just wanting an idea of how to have the colors look when they're grouped by player, etc. yeah, that seems to be the more common approach, otherwise you'll have a bright pack of skittles scattered all over your CP.

[Rudi]

I like the colors of Hypernova and yours.  That is probably what I will do.

The other thing I have to work out is how bright I need for the various colors.  I was shooting for a total 7000msd for the LEDs, but since you mention it I will probably have to experiment with different brightness levels for each color so they balance out.

Also, how did you mount your LEDs?  I was planning on either taking PVC pipe, enlarge the inside from 1" to 1 1/8", and cutting it into rings.  I've got to find the link, but someone used a sheet of 1/4" plastic and a holecutter to create the rings.  Either case, then drill 3/8" hole horizontally to mount the LEDs.  Which method did you use?  Too bad no one can mass-produce these stupid little pieces of plastic for a few cents each.

-Rudi

[Rudi]

Chris,

If what you've got is what you want, that's all that matters. 

Personally, I do think it is a bit busy, but that's just my opinion.

-Rudi

[KillerArcades]

I keep meaning to take pictures, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. sorry.

But, here's a rough explanation of how I mounted mine:

I found some nice nylon hose at homedepot that was roughly the right size, just a tad on the large size as far as the diameter was concerned, but close enough and thick enough that I had no trouble getting the buttons nut to hold it on nice and secure.

This 'nylon hose' (I'm fairly certain it's nylon anyway) is like a semi-maliable clear plastic tube/water hose that I used my PVC cutters to cut into rings.

Then I drilled two holes on opposite sides (mostly opposite) and just set the LED's directly into it.

It wasn't a perfect solution, but it was very easy to work with /drill/cut, etc. and it held the LED's great, nice natural grip between it and the bulbs, and it was really cheap.

The more professional solution of course is to use those GGG pre-mounted, pre-soldered LED boards, etc that just go straight onto the button, but I'm not into those because they mount the led up underneath the center and are aimed straight up. I prefer the HAPP translucent buttons and with the LED's shining straight up them, they'll burn out your retina pretty good.

I light the lighting I got by using two LED's coming in from the sides and then just refracting/reflecting all through the button. This avoided any sort of whiteness or hot spots in the center of the buttons, etc.

Again, it's all a matter of opinion.

No matter how you end up doing it, it's gonna be quite the fun task to get all that soldering done!!! I remember doing mine, and I swore I'd never do one again without someone willing to pay me some serious money!

[Chris]

I found some nice nylon hose at homedepot that was roughly the right size, just a tad on the large size as far as the diameter was concerned, but close enough and thick enough that I had no trouble getting the buttons nut to hold it on nice and secure.

This 'nylon hose' (I'm fairly certain it's nylon anyway) is like a semi-maliable clear plastic tube/water hose that I used my PVC cutters to cut into rings.

Wow, what a great idea!!!

I was going to cut rings out of a nylon cutting board.. was NOT looking forward to that task!  This sounds so much easier!

I have the Happ translucent buttons and colored LED's; right now I'm still debating on the implementation: do I just light them all up or go to the effort of doing a lighting controller?

[Rudi]

I plan on using LED-wiz, but I have to do more research.  Right now I have to see if Johnny 5 will not only display which buttons/joystick directions are used in a game, but if it can tell LED-wiz to only light them up.  Also, I might need 2 LED-wiz devices.  Will Johnny 5 control 2 at a time?
This is what I've got to figure out.

About the collars for the LEDs.  I found a company that makes plastic disks.  They've got a stock item that may be perfect.  They're sending me a sample so I can test it.  If it works out it will be a pre-made solution, just drill the holes for the LEDs and that's it.  I'll post my results when I get the sample.  Oh, and they would cost about $.40 or $.45 each.

-Rudi

[horseboy]

I plan on using LED-wiz, but I have to do more research.  Right now I have to see if Johnny 5 will not only display which buttons/joystick directions are used in a game, but if it can tell LED-wiz to only light them up. 

I am not sure how you would light up joystick directions, but as for buttons... that is the plan.

 Also, I might need 2 LED-wiz devices.  Will Johnny 5 control 2 at a time?

Theoretically it should, but he doesn't have 2 to test.

[KillerArcades]

Well, I'm not sure if Johnny will do that or not yet, but I know that PowerMAME does all that, and I think it even handles multiple LED-WIZ's now.

I didn't really dig the final results that I got out of it, apparently, not all of the rom-control info was 100% - or I just couldn't get my LED cfg files correct, or something, because I didn't seem to get results that were 100%, etc.

I ended up just having mine start up with an animation (running a single LED-WIZ) and then just stay on the whole time, and not illuminating various control setups, etc.

But, I do know from my research, that Yes, you can do the joystick directions as well. Read up a bit in the PowerMAME forum and you'll learn about everything you can do, etc.

Good luck!

PLEASE let us know about that pre-fab disc, that would be perfect!

[NickG]

I'm planning my next project, a four player upright.  I REALLY like the Neon Mame, but don't want to create a knock-off.  I'm thinking of using different colored buttons for each player, but ...

Thanks,
-Rudi

One idea is to mix and match only two colors. green/blue example:
player one has solid blues
player two has solid greens
player three has blue pushes inside green rings
player four has green pushes inside blue rings
This may look more like a fancy dominoes set than a buncha yummy skittles.
Another school of thought is to mix in definition from your cpo with more neutral shades with parts of buttons in black, white, clear, etc.

[Rudi]

PowerMAME is an option.  I could easily be wrong, but I thought I heard that future development would stop.  I still have far to go.

About the collars.  I have not recieved the sample washer yet.  I will have to call them again and bug them.  I think they just blew me off.

-Rudi