Stepmania controller

[paigeoliver]

http://www.stepmania.com/stepmania/

I am thinking about building a special Stepmania controller for my cabinet. Not a set of dance pads, because that would be way too expensive, take up too much space, and probably break all the time.

So instead I want to make a control panel on a stand that I can put in front of my regular panel when I want to play stepmania. It will basically be like an extension of the cab. I am thinking a separate coin door, a subwoofer (with a neon light around it), and a control panel on top.

The control panel will just be two sets of 5 buttons in the "Pump it Up" configuration.

Which should look kind of like this
 

O O  O O
 O    O
O O  O O

I don't want no little bitty buttons. I want big buttons. Preferably ones that light up. It would also be nice if I could put arrow graphics inside them.

Anybody have any suggestions as to which specific buttons to use?

[Brad Lee]

http://www.happcontrols.com/pushbuttons/954002xxxxz.htm

These are like 3-1/2" diameter and lighted, of course from Happ they're like $25each.
Plus I assume you want to be stepping on these, and unless you weigh uner 3 or 4 pounds, I imagine they would shatter

I just dont see anything for this application being as durable as real pads or some 3rd party replacements

[paigeoliver]

No No No.

Not going to be stepping on anything.

Going to be playing them like the Bongos instead. Don't have the room for pads.

[SirPoonga]

Look at the square lighted buttons placed like happs has.

[paigeoliver]

I wonder if you can put graphics inside those 2" square buttons?

And $6 a button is still pretty darn steep. Maybe I can find some on ebay cheaper (or maybe the electronics junk/surplus store over on the other side of town has some?).

[SirPoonga]

Those buttons are the ones you see on megatouch bartops.  Yeah, you can put graphics in them.

[shmokes]

If you send Happ the artwork they will put the graphics in themselves, but it's like $60.