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Can I squeeze a track ball in there?

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Malenko:

I have about 24" of CPO width. Can I move the controls far enough apart to squeeze a small track ball in there? Its not so much I want the trackball for the games (though, it would be nice!) I want it there more the usage of the mouse. I have no good pictures of my CPO but I had a hotrod there that fit almost perfect (1/8th inch gap on each side) so if you need a visual www.hanaho.com has pix of the hot rod.

Can it be done or will it be too cramped and gaudy to merit.  I dont mind using a small trackball, I dont need a 3" one.

here is the quintessential bad webcam picture:





Guaranos:

Personally, I wouldn't do it.  Even the 2 1/4" trackballs require some significant space under the control panel.  You might be able to physically squeeze it into there, but player 1's joystick hand will be banging against the side of the cabinet, and player 2's joystick will be getting in the way of attempts to spin the trackball to the right.

stuckpixel:

Mock it up. That's really about the best thing to do, go track down some cardboard and make a mockup to see if you'll be hitting your hands on stuff or whatnot.

I had to pull the trackball out of my bar-top design after the mockup, because while it'd physically fit, playing anything other than centipede wouldn't be possible.

If you were looking primarily for a windows mouse, and you wanted something small, take a look at the Logitech Marble Mouse. I was planning on hacking one for the bartop project. It's a 1.5" trackball, and after I took mine apart, it looked like it'd be manageable to get it working in an arcade CP. Happs also makes a 1.5", but it runs around $100 instead of the $20 for the marble mouse.



scotthh:

I have attached photographs of two 24" CPs. I don't think there is room for two joysticks with multiple buttons (it looks like you have a NeoGeo set up) and a trackball in the middle.

In my second CP, the trackball is not centered, it is offset to the right (nearer to the spinner with the steering wheel). This leaves enough room for the joystick and buttons to be used comfortably.  I have a 3" trackball, and without the steering wheel, Golden Tee can be played comfortably.

If you only want the trackball for mouse functions, I agree with the other posters, you'd be better off with a wireless mouse/trackball.

Malenko:

what I have is basically a neogeo layout with an additional top row of buttons (think of it as a neogeo and SF layout combined into 1)  I didnt know how small they made track balls but having one too small would defeat the benefits of having for gameplay instead of just a mouse.  I currently have both a wireles KB and mouse (every mame cab should) I guess I'll build a dedicated bartop for the trackball games, but thats WAY further down the road.

how big of a foot print does a spinner need? I do sorely miss Arkanoid.




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