Critique my CP Layout

[kelemvor]

Well, I have my controls ordered so am laying out a simple 2-player CP.  Just a joystick and 6 buttons each plus the coin/start buttons and a pause/quit button.

Mainly concerned with spacing and things.

CP dimensions are taken from the Project Arcade book and are 18" x 34" with the corners cut off.

There are 1.5" between the centers of the player buttons.  3.5" between the center of the joystick and the center of the first button.  I tried to center the whole unit for each player so they are equidistant from the edges of the CP (4" or so).

The buttons on the top I just made far enough away to not interfere with anything and they are 2" apart on center to decrease the chance of hitting the wrong one by mistake.

Anything I'm overlooking or might want to reconsider?

I will make a mock up on scrap wood or cardboard when the actual buttons and such arrive but just wanted to get some initial feedback.

Thanks!

[leapinlew]

Your not trying to reinvent the wheel or anything... it's a pretty safe layout. Make sure everywhere the joystick/buttons are there isn't any bracing or mounting brackets and you should be good to go.

It's a clean CP and it looks good.

[Tahnok]

I agree, it's a pretty standard layout. My only thought is maybe spread the players apart some, take advantage of the full CP size (just make sure you don't extend past the boundary of the CP box). Also, it would allow for a trackball, should you ever decide to add one.

[unix4hire]

I like the button placement for the players, but I would not put the pause and quit button side-by-side for fear of hitting quit when you need to quickly hit pause to grab another beer.   

[kelemvor]

I like the button placement for the players, but I would not put the pause and quit button side-by-side for fear of hitting quit when you need to quickly hit pause to grab another beer.   

Hopefully I'll get my buttons tomorrow and be able to do a cardboard mock up.  I want those two to be near each other but not too close that you might hit the wrong one by mistake.  So maybe I'll just make them a bit farther apart.

[MaMeNnO]

I have a layout that looks much like yours, but it's not that wide (24").
Are you planning on designing the art for the CP yourself? That's one of my challenges right now.

[kelemvor]

I have a layout that looks much like yours, but it's not that wide (24").
Are you planning on designing the art for the CP yourself? That's one of my challenges right now.

I have no idea how to do anything graphically related so No.  I'll either just paint it half red and have blue or something or see if I find anything to download that would work.

[javeryh]

I like the design a lot.  I'd definitely rethink the placement of the exit and pause buttons though - someone is bound to hit exit when they want to pause and grab a cold one!

[mvolke1]

It's good and clean.

My only suggestion would be to make sure you leave enough room for a trackball and mounting plate if you need to go that route. 

I'm of the opinion all machines should have a trackball, but that's just me. 

Good choice on the Mag Stick Plus. I love mine. Short stroke, but good control.

[tommy]

I like it, not too much clutter.

Goodluck.

[shmokes]

I'd ditch the coin buttons and use the coin return buttons on your coindoor (if you have a coindoor).  I agree about the pause and exit remarks; I'd probably move exit off the panel . . . either to the top of the cabinet or on the back or side of the control panel.

[postalp123]

Also make sure your dead-set comfortable with the convex layout of your player's button scheme, I thought I would like it to until I tried it, now I stick with the tried and true Rectangle 6'pack.

[More Cowbell]

How many games need a P2 coin? That seems like a button that isn't needed all that much unless you're just trying to make it more accessible to P2 for multiplayer continue games.

[Tahnok]

How many games need a P2 coin? That seems like a button that isn't needed all that much unless you're just trying to make it more accessible to P2 for multiplayer continue games.

Exactly. I've found that people understand a lot more quickly if they have their own coin insert.

[miles2912]

Everyone is going to have a different opinion about the layout.. The only one that counts is yours in the end.  You need to make a full size mock up using cardboard and think about how your favorite games would play out on it. 

Can you do everything in a front end?  Will you need Mouse buttons to launch other programs?  Jukebox?  Daphne?  Karaoke? Nintendo Emus?  Do any of the games I like need a second coin button?  Can I map that key to something else?  How cool would a spinner be?  Maybe add a topfire or dedicated 4 way in there - they can share the same interface.

It is all about how you want to play the game and enjoy the cab.


D-

[Spaz Monkey]

Buttons too close to the joystick... maybe.