CP heights

[Brumaz]

wasnt sure where to post this..

I am currently in the planning stage of my cab (with project Arcade book in the mail!), and I am just wondering about peoples variations to CP height. I have done a search but didnt come up with very much.
I am 6'4 and would like to have the cab and screen heigh enough to be comfortable, but not too high so all my short friends cant see the screen or reach the joystick!
I am thinking of having the controls at about 42 - 43" from ground. I have height adjustable stools that should be fine to sit at also.
are there any other experiences, good or bad, with cp and screen height?

cheers for any advice, its a great forum! 

[patrickl]

I asked this a while (long time) ago and I got very mixed responses. Guess it's just like the slant of the CP. Some like it almost horizontal and others like it almost at 45 degrees (and of course then all options in between). Seems to be a bit of a personal preference.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=17422.0

[dislecksea]

Well, I am about 6' 3".  I am now working on my second cab and on my first I did exactly what you are doing - I attempted to make the cab more comfortable for me standing up.  I think that this was pretty reasonable since I had always misspent my youth standing at cabs in the arcades.  Hence I jacked the entire thing up a few inches (sorry, dismantled it so I don't remember how high).

However, I discovered something.  Most people would have rather been able to sit on a stool to play, especially for long play sessions where they were jumping from game to game to game ("Ohh, I have not played that in years.  And then there is that one.  And that one...").  Unfortunately, I could not find stools that I felt were suitable for playing at my cab.

Therefore, my advice is to consider what is comfortable when sitting at a stool rather than what is comfortable when standing at your full height.  I believe you will discover the difference between you and your friends is not so great this way.

Of course, this assumes that your cab will have a CP that sticks out so that you have somewhere to put your legs (e.g., not a classic Pac Man style).


Just my 2 cents.

[Vigo]

I am 6'4 and would like to have the cab and screen heigh enough to be comfortable, but not too high so all my short friends cant see the screen or reach the joystick!

I would recommend you make your cab to be "opened up" so you won't be staring at the marquee instead of the screen. The Gauntlet cab is a good example of how you can keep the screen low enough, but still be easy to see from your height. The angle of the monitor and pulled back marquee are great ways to open up the viewing area.

I am thinking of having the controls at about 42 - 43" from ground. I have height adjustable stools that should be fine to sit at also.

 

I don't have any measurements off hand for you, but I would reccomend going to some location that has arcade machines, and just bring a tape measure and measure the height of machines that you find comfortable.

 

[lloydcom]

When I was designing my cab, I made a support like a shelf with discarded wood.  I imagined where * I* would like the control panel.  Where you want it and where you find it comfortable is important, and can be different.

Where my hands were in relation to my body, standing or sitting on a stool, I made measurements where my arms were in keeping to the CP.  I went away and came back to it several times.  Each measurement was different every time.

Now you might wonder why this type of attention to detail, could benefit you.  I found out that playing with joysticks on a control panel is very important, to stop fatigue.  Cramping in your shoulders or aches in your back if you make the panel too low, and strains from your arms if too high.

If you bought a cab shell you would assume a pose that would be comfortable, but if you are designing a cabinet, you would want to incorporate all stances.   Could be depending on your mood.

I sometimes play standing favouring on one leg, or apart (playing robotron  ) or sitting on a stool, each way I play is accommodated in the height measurement of the control panel.

Now I use a X Arcade control panel fitted in a custom cradle.  I can can access the pinball buttons without stress (not helping the fact there is practically no room to cup your hands on the edges) or having a serious streetfighter session when a mate comes round.

So just try my method, tape measure in hand and some wood arranged like a shelf, raise your arms to a comfortable angle where your CP would be, measure, go away an hour or so, and repeat.

I guarantee that you will find the correct height you seek.  I'm 6'3" and when I get the cab on - its murder getting me off it.  So comfortable and a blessing if you sit at a desk all day.

Let us know how you get on.



I'd post a pic of my cab - but you guys would laugh too hard and bust a gut and need stitches.

[Brumaz]

I have just setup a temp CP to test heights out, and playing at 35" standing up my hands are aching after 10 minutes. mabey I am just out of practice! 
Some good advice though (great link thanks patrickl) , and a good stool sitting height looks the way to go. It will definitely be an protruding cp, so legs can fit in underneath. It will probably end up around 38-40" which i am guessing is pretty normal ?

the last arcade I went to recently to get some height ideas only had: shooters, and racers Its a sad sight to see.

[kelemvor]

Take a trip to a local arcade or bowling alley or some palce with a bunch of games and just try them out.  Get a feel for what they have and see if something works and then just measure it.  Don't make it too high though or your shorter friends might have trouble.

[SodaPopinksi]

I'm going with 42" for my cab, it feels just right when I walk up to it and place my hands on it, not too low and not too high.

[_) (V) (-)]

And remember to factor in any casters or 'feet' you'll add to the bottom of the cab.