Revision of cp design for review

[gatordad]

This is my first cp design, and I wanted some feedback.

I am just starting my planning.

I am fond of the classics so Robotron, Asteroids, and Defender are a must, as well as a few fighters.

Any Constructive advise?

Thanks
Gatordad

[fjl]

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=67322.0

[javeryh]

Center your trackball and get rid of those mouse (?) buttons.  Also, kill the dedicated spinner and 4-way buttons - you can line them up so it goes 4-way, spinner, 3 action buttons up top in the center.

[Kaytrim]

Center your trackball and get rid of those mouse (?) buttons.  Also, kill the dedicated spinner and 4-way buttons - you can line them up so it goes 4-way, spinner, 3 action buttons up top in the center.

Yea loose the extra buttons.  You can use the player 1 buttons for that.  That is unless you plan on using the trackball in Windows.  Then you might want to keep them.

TTFN
Kaytrim

[gatordad]

Center your trackball and get rid of those mouse (?) buttons.  Also, kill the dedicated spinner and 4-way buttons - you can line them up so it goes 4-way, spinner, 3 action buttons up top in the center.

Yea loose the extra buttons.  You can use the player 1 buttons for that.  That is unless you plan on using the trackball in Windows.  Then you might want to keep them.

TTFN
Kaytrim

I am planning on my cab doubling as a jukebox, so yes windows has to be controlled from the cp.

Question can I use those as mouse buttons as well as in Missile command with a Shift or Shazzam function or is there an easier solution.

A little insight about the top of my design, On the slikstik they have an asteroid layout which I thought was cool, but  by moving the dedicated 4 way to the left of the buttons it is almost identical to the defender cp.

And I wanted to keep the defender layout as close to original as possible as that is one of my fav's, it is almost the same layout for asteroids

[Anubis_au]

what software are you planning on using for the jukebox?

[gatordad]

what software are you planning on using for the jukebox?

I haven't decided yet, but currently everything I have is organized in itunes.

[gatordad]

Finally got around to making some changes, what do you guys think?

[Xiaou2]

 The Spinner will be to straining to reach that deep for long
durations of play.   Instead,  try moving it directly above the
left players joystick.   In fact, you could have dual spinners
that way,  for dual racing games like Supersprint.

 Move the 2nd players joys  and buttons  about 1.5" to the
right.   That will give more space so that when rolling the
trackball very hard -  you wont slam into the right players
stick on accident.  '

 Move the trackball up an inch or 2.  So that if your have comes
in at an angle, you dont accidentally hit the front corner of the
cab.

 Straighten the buttons so that they all line up.   
 
 Its a common mistake that many curl their buttons to try to
adapt to the shape of their fingers would seem to rest.   In the
arcades,  all the buttons are aligned.   Also, your keyboard keys
are also aligned straight.

 You simply bend the middle finger a little naturally, so that you
are able to fit the shape.   If you use a round setup,  your
middle finger being stretched further will be hitting more diagonally ,
 instead of straight down.  This results in loss of power and speed.

 Also, Ive noticed that you tend to place your fingers in a straight
line even if the buttons are curved.  This will cause you to hit the
wrong part of the buttons   (IE: not directly in center).

 And finally,  the space between the buttons should also be very
small.  Maybe 2mm.  Otherwise, you again may hit the wrong part
of the button,  and or have to stretch your fingers way too far
apart to hit all 3 at once. 

[Green Giant]

Move the trackball up an inch or 2.  So that if your have comes
in at an angle, you dont accidentally hit the front corner of the
cab.

 Straighten the buttons so that they all line up.   

Leaving the trackball where it is is probably ok since you need the extra space for Golden Tee; however, you will want to add a lip.  Almost all the big panels have a slight extension which will give you some resting space for your palm when on the trackball.  The lip also helps divide the panel between players 1 and 2.  You can make it straight or curved depending on your woodworking skills.

You may have already been planning this but just not shown it on your layout.

Also, I second the straight button design.  All the great arcade games had the buttons in a straight design, and they probably surveyed doctors and crap like that for the most ergodynamic design so you could continue pumping in quaters without your carpal setting in.  Curved fits your hand straightened out, but pressing buttons with the end of a stretched out hand gets very tiresome.

Try making a cardboard layout and see for yourself though.  In the end what you like is the most important thing.  All we can do is comment, its doubtful anyone on here will every actually play on your cab.