good control panel design?

[Chris2]

I've been working on the design of this control panel for a while now, and I think I've got my final design. I'm only wondering if those who have built control panels similar to this one could tell me how much spacing they put between control sets. The panel is built for Mugen, such is the 4 player/8 button layout. The main thing I really want is for four people to be able to all comfortably play on this panel. The panel surface is 52" by 26", while each button set has about 6 inches between the closest set. I figure I'll get some kind of artwork for it later on, though I can't really think of anything, so any suggestions are welcome. Here's a picture:



P.S. The buttons are also to be black. Yeah, black buttons and black joysticks. So sue me for being dull.

[mccoy178]

Something doesn't seem right about the spacing you have there if that is 56" wide.  That is plenty of room for four players and with the layout you have, I don't know why the P3 and P4 controls are above P1 and P2.  Did you look at the control panel thread at the top of the main forum?  Something just doesn't look right for that large of a width.

[severdhed]

one thing I am seeing is that it appears as if your buttons are really far apart.  it looks like you could easily move them closer together to get a better feel and more room to work with.  i have played around with a few different layouts and spacings.. I went with a 6 button layout, but the theory is the same for 8 buttons.  I have 3 inches from the center of the joystick hole, to the center of the first button hole.  then all the buttons have 1.5 inches, center to center.  if you put  more space in there, you would really have to stretch your fingers or move your hand alot, plus you are wasting alot of space.

[Green Giant]

Cut the corners off the front giving it a three faced front.  It will make it look better and make it more comfortable for players 3 and 4.  Unless of course they like playing with a wooden corner in their crotch.

[cls]

i dont really understand that each player gets 8 buttons thats way to much.. 8 buttons for player 1 and 2
and 6 buttons for player 3 and 4 would be enough...
spinner trackball? start button extra keys maybee?

[xmenxmen]

Are there really any 3 to 4 player games that used for than 3 buttons.  I have mine with 4 button on the 3/4 player and end up using the 4th button as coin button instead.  Still have not ran into a single game (that we played) that required more than 3 buttons. 

Don't forget that you will need 4 seperate coin button, unless u use a 4 slot coin door.  It's a requirement in most mutiplayer games.

If you need to, steal some ideal from slikstick.....to get an idea where to go...

[Trebeck]

A great thing to do is to get you and 3 buddies to stand in front of your board and then pretend to play and have everyone switch positions.  Draw out the sticks and buttons positions as they stand there.  I found that elbow room was the thing that designed my (to be built) 4 player top.
If you can place the board on an existing cab, that works even better because everyone can see the screen angle.
Elbow bashing is inevitable, but at least you can be comfortable.

-Beck

[Malenko]

I'll never really get the need for more then 7 buttons for players 1 and 2 (unless you're running a playstation EMU) and players 3 and 4 dont need more then 4 buttons.  Its more common to find the start buttons all in a row along the top along with either coin buttons or coin mechs. Your buttons are FAR too spaced out

I've attached (again) my favorite rough sketch of my CP (just 1 player)

[javeryh]

Make a cardboard mock-up before cutting the wood.  It will help you get a feel for things.  I go with 1-3/8" center-to-center for my buttons which leaves about 1/8" between button bezels (I like them close, I guess).  Also, 52" just seems huge to me but I guess you need the space for 4 people.  I'm working on a 34" wide CP layout and it seems big...

[Chris2]

I read your advice and modified my design. I was going to use 8 buttons for various emulation until I realized there was nothing I wanted to emulate on other systems. So, I moved the 8th button next to the start button, designating it a coin button. I kept the hybrid Neo Geo/Street Fighter hybrid, though I'm thinking of moving the middle row of buttons up half an inch, making the setup more ergonomic. The reason I put 6 buttons on each set is because Mugen, not only being four player, also uses the 6 button Street Fighter layout. Now then, here's a picture of the current design. I'm planning to cut off the corners, after sitting there myself and realizing the potential pain involved.

[severdhed]

that is looking much better....much, much better.

[Dire Radiant]

What exactly is the point of the half-acre of dead space at the back? Do you really need to be that far away from the monitor to see it clearly?

[f4phantomii]

I always liked the look and layout of this control panel, based off the SuperCade panel I believe.

Many features of it inspired my 2-player CP with some mild modifications.



You can read more about it here....

http://www.willcoxonline.com/mame/controlpanel/controlpanel.htm

And for reference, my CP:

[javeryh]

I've always wondered if it is uncomfortable to use the controls on the second tier close to the screen.  It seems like you would have to lean forward quite a bit...  anyone know?  I love the look of those things...

[Chris2]

What exactly is the point of the half-acre of dead space at the back? Do you really need to be that far away from the monitor to see it clearly?

Sorry for not mentioning this earlier, but this thing isn't going on a cabinet. It's part of a plan to make a self-enclosed Mugen/Mame box. I'll probably make a sort of shell that the Control panel fits into, then stick some sort of computer inside the enclosure, giving me a portable(albeit very large) Mame box. Trust me when I say that my next project is definitely going to be a lot smaller.