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Bella's Arcade [FINISHED]
theCoder:
As I was reading your last post, I was thinking exactly what MinerAl wrote. I used three of the Radio Shack 1/2 inch buttons on my last project and it worked out well. They take a 1/2 inch hole, and have about a 5/8 inch bezel. I mounted mine 1 inch apart. Unless you have already purchased the player 1 & 2 buttons, I would go with 4 small admin buttons, across the top right with labels underneath. For what its worth...
leapinlew:
I vote that you leave it how it is. I like it, and I think it'll make sense to your young daughter.
psychotech:
Well, I'd say you should stick to that "Final design" above but use smaller admin buttons. Those small buttons really save space ..and they're not that different from the real buttons. That layout looks good otherwise :applaud:
For a cp -layout with minibuttons etc... http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=56653.0
;)
javeryh:
Thanks for the comments! I posted this in the main forum but I'll copy it here:
Well, it's time for the daily update. Last night I finished making a mock-up of the CP with the 4 buttons on the left. Here it is:
The top of the CP is right at where the bottom of the T-square is located. The bottom of the CP more or less goes right to the bottom of the panel (I just need to rip it straight but if you look closely you can see the pencil line). Also note that all of the admin buttons will be black on the final CP - I just didn't have enough extra lying around.
I'm thinking it is one button too tall and that I need to seriously consider relocating or removing the coin button so only 3 buttons are on the right. It's not that I don't have the room for it - this is strictly on proportions by eyeballing it.
Mini-button issue: I have thought about using mini-buttons but this cab isn't for me. In fact, my last cab made good use of the minis for admin purposes:
I know there's not much difference in what a mini button does versus a regular one (you just press it, duh!) but for some reason I think the size will make it easier for my daughter to understand and to press. My goal is to keep everything on the same plane (no buttons on the front) and all of the buttons the same size. I know this isn't the ideal solution for a regular cab but I think it is what will make it easiest for her.
I'm leaning towards the shorter "L" shaped design I posted above or possibly removing the coin button altogether and just hoping she can understand that you have to insert a quarter if you want to play. Probably the "L" shape for simplicity's sake and sacrifice a little bit of the overall layout.
Any thoughts/comments?
theCoder:
I have found that kids are very quick learners when it comes to gaming and computers. I though my son would have a hard time picking up the concept of a mouse when he was 2 years old so I picked up one of those huge Microsoft trackballs especially designed for kids. He blew right past the need and was successfully navigating windows within a few days (window open, double click to run, etc.) with a regular mouse. Kids are smarter than some adults give them credit for. My wife teaches pre-school and I hear some amazing stories.
You are wise to consider the ergonomics of the CP. The size of the buttons for example is an issue. Small uncoordinated hands work better with larger buttons. If you are planning on making all of the admin buttons the same color, I would recommend making large, different colored borders around them. Color in user interface controls is much easier to learn and remember than words or position. Color with recognized symbols is even better.
What is your rational for keeping everything on the same plane? Why not put the coin button on the front or wire something up to the coin return button? Again, kids learn fast.
How about putting the player 1 & 2 buttons on the top left and move the esc. button to the row on the right. That would reduce the row of four by one and balance things out a bit.
Just some ideas...
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