Woodworking n00b - New Top

[Bigun]

I have the cabinet posted below:



As you can see, one user input will not cut it.  I will need mutiple buttons, with multiple joysticks, and a trackball... ergo, the top will need to be bigger, and so will the support below.  Problem is, I am a complete woodworking newb. 

I went by harbor freight and bought the following:

Hole Saw bits (a set)
A cordless drill, sander, and jigsaw
A router

I have a list of questions off the top of my head:

What kind of wood to use?
How do I attach the wood at the joints?  Nails?  Glue?  Both? Something else?

If I can have some generalized points, it would help.

[javeryh]

I'm not sure what you mean by "one user input will not cut it" - it looks like you have plenty of room for 2 players on the CP.  Anyway, to answer your questions, I think you should use plywood to make a new CP box.  I'd get "cabinet grade" - most likely birch - so that you start with a somewhat smooth top but you should still sand it down if you are going to apply a finish or vinyl or some type of artwork overlay.  Glue is perfectly fine as far as joining two pieces goes but if you have a nail gun some small brads could help hold the pieces in place while the glue dries (but you certainly don't need to do that).

[Bigun]

I plan on having 4 players... and what I mean by "one user input" is one button... that's all it has right now.

Two outside players will have 3 buttons, two in the middle will have 7, and a fifth center joystick with 4 buttons to control game selection, and a trackball for games like centipede and bowling.

[steveh]

why would you want a special joystick to control menus?  just use player 1.  or use the trackball.

[Bigun]

Well, seperate buttons would be required to pause the game, enter and exit menus, and to turn on and off cheats..... what's one more joystick to prevent some confusion.

[steveh]

if you have the room then do it.  Im just sitting and thinking about how im going to layout my arcade panel.  to have a dedicated joystick for menu's is out of the question for me.  it is wasted space.