Project: Multipede Control Panel Opinions Needed

[FrizzleFried]

OK... so I restored a Centipede cabinet from the hell that was a NASTY Calibur .50 atrocity.  Unfortunately all the wiring inside was hacked and converted to JAMMA.  I decided to drop a 60-in-1 board that I had sitting around in to the cabinet as it utilizes a trackball and has both Centipede and Millipede on it.

Currently it has a single J-Stick (Ultimarc), 2 buttons and an original Happ trackball.   After getting the trackball up and running I realized that many games can be played with a trackball.  Even games you didn't think would be possible...and it's actually pretty friggin' fun!

All the Pac games play fine with a trackball.  Galaga plays fine with a trackball (of course the TB doesn't change the speed of the ship,  just direction).... etc.

I was going to originally put together a custom CPO using the original Centipede CPO and adding an extra 2 mushrooms.  The TB would be in one mushroom,  the Jstick in another,  and the 2 buttons at the top original location and right next to it.   I even have 2 "Volcano" buttons to add...but they would have to be moved to the top right of the CPO on my custom CPO.   This setup would look ALMOST stock,  and I would be able to utilize the trackball for Centipede, Millipede, Super Breakout and Arkanoid and the joystick for the other games.

...after discovering the trackball works in many of the games I thought perhaps this cabinet would be better suited by just running the STOCK CP...with the STOCK CPO....a trackball and a single button.  All the TB games would still work fine and then I can go through the other games and determine which work OK with a trackball and remove the ones that don't.

But I am tore.  I was ALMOST looking forward to showing off my custom CPO which I have been working on...but I think a stock CPO would look good as well...and the theme would be better suited that way.

ARGH!

What you do folks think.  Custom CP / CPO with 1 joystick 2 buttons and a TB or just the stock Centipede CP / CPO?!

Thanks!

[Ninten-doh]

My 2 cents...

a) If you go with the Multipede marquee/theme, then go with the custom cp.  You've already "customized" it, so you might as well customize the cp as well.  It's the same general idea as the original cpo I assume, so I think it would look good as a custom Multipede

b) If you want it to look like a dedicated Centipede, then use the original cp & cpo and get ahold of the original marquee.  I'm sure you'll LOVE that idea after forking over the dough for the mamemarquees custom one.   

Again, just my opinion, but you either keep the whole thing looking dedicated or go with the full customization.

 

[FrizzleFried]

My thinking is along the same lines but I am looking to see if others can convince me different.  You are right,  I am not about to cough up more $$ for a Centipede marquee especially after taking the time, effort and dough to get the custom one done....

[stuckpixel]

Just my .02, but playing galaga/pacman/etc on a trackball would feel really really wierd.

[FrizzleFried]

Just my .02, but playing galaga/pacman/etc on a trackball would feel really really wierd.

Stuck...

If it were my only cabinet than the decision would be an easy one.  Frankly,  I already have multiple machines that play Pac Man,  Donkey Kong,  Galaga,  etc...as they were intended to be played.   The trackball controls for these games would be more of a novelty.

I was surprised at how well I did in Ms. Pac with the TB though...and I even managed to get to the first elevator level on DK the first time I used the TB (which with a Jstick isn't anything to brag about,  but with a TB?).

[Kaytrim]

Frizzel,

I did a custom CP for Dad's bartop similar to what you are proposing.  Stick with it it will be more enjoyable in the long run.

TTFN

[FrizzleFried]

Welp...your input has helped me get off ---my bottom--- and complete my custom CPO.  Here is what I came up with from a mixture of a 2-player custom MAME CPO and the original CPO artwork.  The stick will fit right in to where the "burst" is.  Buttons will be at top...normal Centipede location plus one right next to it.  I MAY go with 3 buttons only because Super Breakout and Gun Smoke both use 3 buttons...plus it makes it easier to navigate the DIP SWITCH menus.

Whatcha think?