Newbie Guide To Building A Control Panel

[planetjay]

Sent to me in the chatroom by StarGoddess222 and officially endorsed by Howard Casto!

[Howard_Casto]

Why was this posted?  Because not only is it hilarious but it's the truth.  Newbs eyes are always bigger than their digits.   Silly newbie, all you need is a modest 2 player control panel. (No exceptions!)  

[paigeoliver]

That panel is totally missing light guns and steering wheels. Not to mention the obligitory 4-way in an out of the way place (Bonus points if it is one of them cheapo "flip the actuator" one with a long throw).

To really complete it, you also need to add rotary sticks (both mechanical and optical), Assault Tank controls,Dedicated Defender up/down 2-way, a single 49 way optical stick, 6 rows of emulator control keys, a mouse and keyboard just sitting there, a 6-speed shifter, a Thayers's Quest keyboard, Addam's Family Shock Machine handles, pinball flippers and plunger, Pod Racer handles, Top Skater skateboard, and the seat out of a San Francisco Rush.

For best effect use a Galaxian cabinet, with a 14" PC monitor in it.

[Howard_Casto]

For best effect use a Galaxian cabinet, with a 14" PC monitor in it.

And be sure to keep the monitor vertically oriented.  Lord knows there are a ton of 3+ player vertical games.

[CthulhuLuke]

Where's the roller coaster, I remember when I was a newbie, oooo those roller coasters I used to ride.  Damn they were fun.  Most essential step in any newbie guide to building a CP.

[CitznFish]

Am I missing something here? Where are the gas and brake pedals? The dual light guns? the 9-slot coin door?

[paigeoliver]

Oh, and we musn't forget a crossbow from "Crossbow" (positional gun). And no control panel is complete without a pair of Wizard of Wor 2x4 joysticks.

Two Golly! Ghost! guns (with the viewer screens), along with a Battlezone periscope, Lunar Lander handle, Major Havoc roller, a Pachinko handle, a slot machine handle, Mocap Boxing gloves, a Nes Power Pad, twin power gloves, a Puppy Pong spinner, and a full two player Mahjonhg layout.

That is the only way you are ever going to play everything!

[SirPoonga]

forgot the 720 controller, the enduroracer/paperboy handlebars, the super monkey ball banana, analog afterburner joystick, and large bowling ball trackball.

[u_rebelscum]

Where's the four trackballs and four spinners?  I don't even see a dually of either.

That front line spinner/rotary?

A horse-thingy for that horse racing game?

I am glad people remembered the 720 controller and Boong Boonga Butt, though.

 

[skirge66]

hmmmm...I am new to this, and have found this board to be a great resource, not only for the information, but for the large amount of respect that all of you generally show to even the newest members.

...now this... here I find some of the more knowledgable and experienced folks openly making fun of and being insulting to those people that are here to learn from you people. you guys have the knowledge, and the experience, you give the inspiration to newbes to take on a project like this. you guys talk about how this hobby is all about personal preference...and here you are slapping people around because they don't have the same preference as you?

you guys are better than this, i've seen it, i beleive it, many other newbes have too...we come back time and again, because of the caliber of people that frequent this forum. now i know several of you may not care for what i've said, but is true. you guys were newbies once upon a time too, how would you have felt about it back then?

comedy is all fine and good, but you should stick to what suits you guys best. helping those people that need the help. there is a reason why this is the best forum and resource on the web...and that reason simply each one of you that generously donates your time and knowledge to someone like me...that doesn't know all the in's and outs of taking on a project like this even if my end goals don't match your own.

skirge66  

[Frostillicus]

This is a pretty funny subject actually, since everyone's first reaction to building a cab is 'I want to play everything!!'.  Hey my first CP was a massive beast with a sidewinder stick, spinner, 40 buttons, trackball, pinball buttons, lights, cup holder, etc...but now I know better.  It felt like I was sitting at a desk.   I scrapped it and moved on (to 3 panels! BWAHAHAHA!).

So it's all in good jest - more like we are laughing at ourselves and the newbie tendency than anyone specifically.  
Those diagrams pretty much sum it up, LOL

[hyiu]

skirgee66....

I understand what they mean... haa haa... that was really funny....

I guess at some point of time... we're all newbies... and at that time (me included...) we always want to create the PERFECT cp so that I can play ALL games perfectly....

as frosti... said... I don't think they're really making fun of newbies..... just some plain fun and they want to share....

its cool.....  

hey... I have a suggestion... haa haa...

instead of making a HUGE panel....
maybe we should make a huge panel with a big hole in the middle.... then the player can actually climb into the hole in the middle and he'll be surrounded by controls all over him in all directions !!!... then I'm sure he'll be in heaven....
(I know I will be... haaa haa haa haa....)

[skirge66]

oh sorry...in that case, let's mount it in a hacked up dig dug cabinet and don't forget to add that horse riding interface, and the deep sea fishing rig, and the underwater harpoon sled...

sorry, long night of video editing (side note, i'm not an editor)

[rampy]

Didn't firetruck have specialized controls too?

FWIW maybe we need a name besides "newbie" to describe this type of "rookie" mistake... I want to pin it on the generation "Y"ers...  =P or something.

It's not so much newbie-ness (although there's a correlation, it just might not be causal relationship) maybe it's more of a k3wl dude 3lit3 leecher mentality? (or not... I'm reaching here, anyone help me out with what I'm trying to say... ?)
*shrug*
rampy

[Xamfear]

WOW Paigeoliver! Love the cp!!!!!!  Do you have the measurements so I can implment this?  I was thinking about going modular, but wow, now that I realize I can do it all in one cp, well thats the way I'm gonna go.

Do you think .5 liner miles of wire will be adeqaute?   I also want to get rid of the seats and put in a rotating (ala 1up) riding interface (Horsies, hang-on bike, etc)  

Has anyone figured out how to hack a whack-a-mole mallet and get it to work without ghosting?  Andy!  Could you make me a whackPAC?

Thanks
Xamfear

[Brad Lee]

Andy!  Could you make me a whackPAC?

whackPAC

>giggle<

[HeadRusch]

Skirge, don't sweat it.

There are plenty of great people who help here.  And, there is also a selection of elitist @-holes here as well.  Good thing you didn't ask about pre-built arcade sticks as I once did way back when.  Luckily the ratio of fartknockers to decent people here is weighed heavily in favor of the good guys

This is a mocking post for people who show up here, and dont think about what they really want.  They want every control under the sun to handle every game.  They wind up with a control board that has six square feet of controls on it, which is totally uncomfortable to play, and when they find out how much work needs to go into it, they run for the hills.

[Smittydc]

And hey, can I have a frontend for this that makes it EASIER to use mame?  

 

[CitznFish]

if you can't laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at?  


it's all in good fun and I just don't see how this can be insulting to anybody. The world needs thicker skin.

[hevnsnt]

oh sorry...in that case, let's mount it in a hacked up dig dug cabinet and don't forget to add that horse riding interface, and the deep sea fishing rig, and the underwater harpoon sled...

sorry, long night of video editing (side note, i'm not an editor)

You know what.. I still read this board, I think this was a shot at me.  Yes I am a newbie, Yes my CP is big, Yes I like it, and Yes you can kiss my --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules--.

Edit: I mean the quoted txt, not the entire post..

[Vertekal]

hmmmm...I am new to this, and have found this board to be a great resource, not only for the information, but for the large amount of respect that all of you generally show to even the newest members.

...now this... here I find some of the more knowledgable and experienced folks openly making fun of and being insulting to those people that are here to learn from you people. you guys have the knowledge, and the experience, you give the inspiration to newbes to take on a project like this. you guys talk about how this hobby is all about personal preference...and here you are slapping people around because they don't have the same preference as you?

I'm a big no0b preparing to build my first cabinet, and this thread was funny enough to make me spit sushi all over my monitor  

But the question is: Where are the kayak paddles for Rapid River? And the skis for Vs. Slalom? and the overhead Beachhead helmet w/ screen & controls? and the motion sensors from MoCap Boxing and Police 911? And the mechanical arm for the arm wrestling game?

[phizzle]

Hell im a generation Y'er im only 16, I dont like the cp tho, it doesnt have a skateboard, skooter, or bicycle, what about ddr pads?

Common guys, get your act together.

A room full of monkeys could make a better cp then you.

[SirPoonga]

Didn't firetruck have specialized controls too?

Nope, just optical steering wheels and a button.

[anthony691]

Wow... I think they were just joking around and I think they may need to remove a few of these posts to prevent a small war.

Hevnsnt, you really have already been flamed at more then your fair share and you really don't have to take that. It really was just a joke! J-O-K-E. I'm sure they will apologize... I didn't see it as a real attack per say, but it was in poor taste.

I think Hevnsnt have been completely scorched through so why don't we LAY OFF OF HEVNSNT!

[hevnsnt]

hehe yeah!  

btw: progress is going very slowly now.. Ever since I hooked up my CP and everything worked, everytime I go out to the garage, I play instead of build.

[anthony691]

Wait one second! Where is the PropCycle bike!?!

[Xamfear]

Wait one second! Where is the PropCycle bike!?!

It's on the "1up" style seat spinner whcih rotates between horses, hang-on bikes, and stunrunner seat.  You could have modular snap on pedels to modify the hang on bike for PropCycle if you like.

[rampy]

Wait one second! Where is the PropCycle bike!?!

It's on the "1up" style seat spinner whcih rotates between horses, hang-on bikes, and stunrunner seat.  You could have modular snap on pedels to modify the hang on bike for PropCycle if you like.

That brings new meaning to the expression, "sit on it an rotate"  =P

rampy

[CM]

.... And the mechanical arm for the arm wrestling game?

ok now we are talking!  I want diagrams for the Oscar Arm Model2 by tomorrow!

[crashdmj]

Im a newb and I am appauled!!  




Just kidding...i thought it was funny.

[skirge66]

You know what.. I still read this board, I think this was a shot at me.  Yes I am a newbie, Yes my CP is big, Yes I like it, and Yes you can kiss my --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules--.


hevnsnt...i am very sorry,  this comment was in reference to the post involving you, but not nearly the way you interpreted it, it was more intended to poke fun at how sensitive people were to what you did with your project, and not you and your project directly...i for one don't really care what other people do with their money, or things they buy with their money.


this was not a personal attack on you, i can see how it was misinterpretted as such, and for that i am sorry, i do not know you and will not attack your character, and as for kissing your --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules--, again...i don't know you

on a side note...is it possible to add a boom with a hanging chair with foot rest and a fridge? i know these aren't cp requests and probably should have started a new post for them, but hey, i'm only a newbe  

[Gopherboy]

To all,


My cp is damned big. (damned heavy too). Only has 2 joysticks and 8 buttons a side but it is elbow room that counts    (oh - haven't finished it yet...)

Anyways, to get to the point, these kind of posts I think are good. Not because they are funny, but more so because they point out to people that it is not neccessary to have your panel configured for every game ever made.

The fact is, that if you build (or attempt) to build a CP capable of playing so many diverse games, it will not only be awkward, but cramped and ugly as well. Not to mention a nightmare for any friends who come over to play!!! The best option, as many people on this board agree, is to have multiple or interchangable panels. You only need 1 IPAC if done caferfully anyway.

The main cost in a panel is the buttons and joysticks - the building materials are generally quite cheap by comparrison. That is if you just finish your board with contact or laminate.

I would much rather have 3 panels finished in laminate or contact than have one 'uber-panel' finished with artwork and plexi, but with a million buttons on it! And, in the end, it really wont cost that much more.

This hobby (obsession?) is all about personal choice. If you like playing with the stick on the right then play with the stick on the right. (Even if that does make you spawn of the devil...) If you want a hundred buttons so that you can play mahjong, then do it. Not every bit of advice on this forum is meant for everyone. I would argue that a lot of people posting here on this thread dreamt of a super-panel that would do everything. Many probably even attempted it. The point is that they have learned that it is not the best way for them.

After all, most questions on this board largely call out to more experienced people to ask how they have gone about things. Most questions are not right/wrong but depend on opinion yet people still want these opinions. The 'you don't need a huge 1,000,000 button panel' opinion is just one and this post, unless I am mistaken will make at least a few so called 'newbies' realise that no, they don't really need all those buttons on one panel.

Of course, those that do want a do-everything panel should go ahead and try. One of the reasons such a panel is considered undesireable is that there has been (at least that I know of) no designs that both look good and are functional like this. I, and I am sure that everyone in this forum and especially this post will watch eagerly anyone who undertakes a 'do-it-all' project. And not because they want to say "I told you so!", but rather because a lot of this hobby was developed through experimentation - sometimes costly and anyone who can come up with a workable soultion will be celebrated much the may Lusid is.

gb

[Howard_Casto]

Actually it wasn't an attack on anyone in general. Just a response to the crazy, unpractical ideas we hear in the chatroom that sg, rampy and myself spend several hours talking people out of.  

Innovation is one thing but making a 4 player control panel with 8 buttons per player when 0 4 player games (arcade or console) actually use more than about 4 buttons per player.  There are other issues too; I actually have a mirc script I explain this so much.  

This is not towards anyone, but EVERYONE.  All newbs are guilty of this, but we find the humor in it anyway and sg was nice enough to mock this up so everyone could get a kick out of it.  

If it offended anyone then good, I hope you cry to mommie about it.  As a matter of fact post your address and we'll come by to point and laugh!  

[planetjay]

As a matter of fact post your address and we'll come by to point and laugh!  

Like your car RUNS!          

[Howard_Casto]

Like your car RUNS!          

I'll come buy burro if I have to.  Or ride you to their house cause your certainly big enough to carry me.  

[planetjay]

Like your car RUNS!          

I'll come buy burro if I have to.  Or ride you to their house cause your certainly big enough to carry me.  

Speaking of burros.... How have you been?

[Howard_Casto]

Like your car RUNS!          

I'll come buy burro if I have to.  Or ride you to their house cause your certainly big enough to carry me.  

Speaking of burros.... How have you been?

speaking of....

oh nevermind you win this round, but i'll be back!

[u_rebelscum]

I don't know who everyone else is "matching fun of", if at all, but I know who I was making fun of: myself.

When I was first thinking of making my CP, I wanted a single CP a little different than my hotrodse with:

• 2 trackballs (three if possible for rampart)
• 2 360 degree spin steering wheels (three if possible for ssprint & offroad)
• 2 spinners
• 2 analog joysticks
• 4 8-way joysticks for 4 player and 2 player dual joystick games
• enough buttons per player placed "well enough" for most games

(notice I forgot the 4-way and trigger sticks ;) )

Next I wanted to add:

• 2 12 direction rotary sticks
• 1 720 controller
• 1 trigger stick

( notice I still forgot the 4-way )

Then I found is site, looked at my plans, and ended up ROTFLOMHL.

Currently, I'm thinking switchable CPs, nine of 'em. Seriously:

• 2 player, 7 button per fighter CP (hotrodse-like)
• 2 trigger (8-way) & spinner, 4 normal buttons per stick (vindicators & Tron)
• 3 trackball, 2 buttons for side TBs, 3 buttons for middle TB
• 2 360 degree steering wheel, 3 buttons per player
• 1 270 degree steering wheel, throttle, 4-way gear-shift, 5 buttons
• 2 analog stick with thumb or trigger buttons, 3 other buttons per player
• 2 8-way 12-rotary, 4 buttons per player, + 1 4-way
• 4 8-way joystick, 4 buttons per player.
• a 720 controller, 4 buttons

Lightguns could work with almost any these CPs, and two pedals at the bottom of the cab won't get in the way for when I get going on the cab. ::)

I already have the first two listed, and a "test" CP with one TB, so I'm a quarter through the list.  But it's so hard not to "test" the current CPs some more instead of building the next one, let alone building the cab.  :-\


FWIW, notice how many of all my "wish" CPs have at least one analog input. If you ever wonder why I do Mame:Analog+. ;)

[Brax]

You forgot to pick on fat people and anyone that doesn't look like you....

Nice job on helping the new people. Have you two ever consider working on a suicide hotline?
 

[rampy]

You forgot to pick on fat people and anyone that doesn't look like you....

Nice job on helping the new people. Have you two ever consider working on a suicide hotline?
 

This is that sarcasm thing i've heard about, huh?

rampy

PS who are you referring to (two)?