Another: Opinion on my first CP layout

[DamageCase]

Gday,

I am planning to build a custom arcade / Gaming PC and was looking for opinions on my control panel layout. I dont need a spinner or trackball so I stuck with a basic 2 joystick layout. I will put 2 pinball buttons on the side panels... I wanted to leave enough room in the centre of the panel to use a wireless mouse and also to clip on a Logitech G25 wheel when needed.

I am unsure at the moment on a few things:
1) Are the spacings OK? Can you forsee any issues? I know the layout is not quite the norm but I thought it was more logical to have the 7th button on the left.
2) I bought a mini-pac to connect it all up. Do you know if the "mouse buttons" on the minipac can be re-assigned?
2) I am still deciding on the "function" keys (depending partly on how many buttons I can reassign)... It will definitely have the start buttons. The credits/pause/escape are still being decided on; I know I can use the pinball flippers for credits in a pinch.

Cheers

[leapinlew]

Is this layout for fighters? If so, I wouldn't use magstiks without trying them out first. I don't use pause/quit buttons anymore, but I could see the point of having them. What about credit buttons?

Except for that, pretty standard stuff.

[vidmouse]

Some of the best advice I got when designing mine...
lay it out on cardboard full-size and test it using a friend.

The angle of the buttons seems a little off to me (tilted too far counter-clockwise)
P1/P2 spacing looks about right.

[javeryh]

I highly recommend not putting the "quit" button anywhere near any of the other admin buttons.

[Malenko]

I've personally never liked "arc'ed" button layouts. I like the standard Street Fighter layout with the extra "neo geo" button to the bottom left.  makes the 6 button fighters, the neo geos games, and games like NBA JAM have an ideal layout.

your best friend is a couple of cut up pizza boxes with the buttons poked through it.

[Green Giant]

Definitely relocate the quit button.  I wire mine up to two separate buttons on either side of the control panel where you have to hit both at the same time to exit.  That way if I am playing with a friend and kicking his ass, he can't just exit without me wanting to as well.  Also noone can sneak up and tap the exit button to ruin a new high score. 

[fjl]

Interesting idea, Green giant. I just see one flaw in it where a normal person that doesn't know about that will not know how to quit the current game and change to another one. Unless your "quit" screen mentions the need to press two buttons simultaneously.

DamageCase, I like the idea of the 7th button being on the right instead of on the left. I find repositioning my hand so the index fingers uses the 7th button on the left quite awkward. I guess I could just use my thumb but that feels kind of weird. Only downfall is that my CP is kind of cramped already so the 7th button will end up being closer to my trackball if I decided to put it on the right. But I'll test as I go and see what fits better.

As for your panel, I personally would not go with that close of a layout with p1 and p2 start including the admin button and pause so close together. I currently have mine where p1 Start and Credit P1 are right above the P1 joystick and buttons. The same for P2. I have no pause button. That's accessed through the shift buttons. And Quit/Escape is way to the top-left of the control panel. Away from wandering fingers to accidentally click.

[DamageCase]

Thanks for the opinions guys... Sorry for not replying sooner.

I have built the panel and have been working on the start of my cabinet (starting with the bezel). I have attached photos for those that are interested.
Screen is 20" LCD... And yes those are the LCD topgun sticks.

It is all in very early stages... the holes are where the framing is screwed on the back of the bezel that is holding things in place.
The CP has its acrylic on with the protective backing still on... Thats why the edges look ripped.

I will be using a 4 button layout more than the 6 button... But I thought it is better to have it than not

[Malenko]

not to sound dickish, but why bother posting and asking before making? 

[DamageCase]

Well I did read the comments before I made it... I just didnt reply before cos I did not have anything to add.

I thought this was a community that liked to help out with ideas and such.... thats why I asked beforehand...
I took the comments/ideas and modified to a compromise... Altered the angle of the buttons slightly, the "admin" buttons on the top are the coins and start buttons - I can use the shift feature of the minipac for the pause and quit.

[leapinlew]

Thoughts on the magstik?

[DamageCase]

It seems quite playable so far... I dont have a lot to compare it to though.
The only thing I can think at the moment is they are a little short... I'm gonna have to route it in underneath to give another cm or so.

[falkensmaze]

DamageCase, I like the idea of the 7th button being on the right instead of on the left. I find repositioning my hand so the index fingers uses the 7th button on the left quite awkward. I guess I could just use my thumb but that feels kind of weird. Only downfall is that my CP is kind of cramped already so the 7th button will end up being closer to my trackball if I decided to put it on the right. But I'll test as I go and see what fits better.

Just a note, the 7th button on the left is gr8 for defender smart bombs because "obviously" you will use the reverse button much more unlike the original CP which made you use our thumb for reverse !so  your right hand can do 1, fire 2, thurst 3, reverse... i also  couldnt put 7th button on right due to t/ball mount plate  

[ARTIFACT]

Is this layout for fighters? If so, I wouldn't use magstiks without trying them out first.

Interesting... I just ordered some Mag Stick PLUS (for the fact that you can switch 4/8 ways from the top) and I read what you just posted...

Are mag stick / plus bad/different/weird for fighters? why?

thanks!

[leapinlew]

Is this layout for fighters? If so, I wouldn't use magstiks without trying them out first.

Interesting... I just ordered some Mag Stick PLUS (for the fact that you can switch 4/8 ways from the top) and I read what you just posted...

Are mag stick / plus bad/different/weird for fighters? why?

thanks!

The short throw makes it near impossible to pull off a lot of the moves. If you played the street fighter series in the states - the supers feel pretty close to what we used in the arcades.

[severdhed]

pinbal buttons make excellent pause buttons...

[ARTIFACT]

The short throw makes it near impossible to pull off a lot of the moves. If you played the street fighter series in the states - the supers feel pretty close to what we used in the arcades.

ARGHHHHH ....

I ordered them without thinking twice about it... Mhhh

[DamageCase]

Well a few months down the track and here is a pic of how my cab is coming along... Construction is pretty much complete. Just on final clean up and then painting

The cab is it 3 parts... The control panel, top and bottom. I planned it this way for easier movement (like fitting through doors... Plus its pretty much all 18MM (3/4") MDF so it weighs a ton but it is nice and sturdy.
All of the electronics are in the top. The cupboard in the base is for storing the steering wheel, mouse & anything else I need to store.

I have also gotta make up some holsters for the light guns - They will sit on either side of the keyboard drawer / under the control panel.

I hope that you guys dont shoot it down too bad... Remember, It is aimed at being used for Mame as well as other emu's and PC games.

[Apollo]

The Mag Stick Plus' are very like the T-Stick plus' that I have in my cabinet as far as short throw. I play SF and MK and find that it is not too difficult to pull off special moves it is just a little different and takes some getting used to. The biggest thing I found with the T-Stick Plus' is that it is quite hard to hit the straight directions compared to the diagonal directions which is a bit of a pain (makes games like Berzerk, Commando etc a little tricky).

I think Andy's top switching design is pure genius but I wish he would go the next step and design a medium throw joystick with the diagonals just as easy to hit as the straight directions then he would have the world's greatest joystick and I would buy a pair immediately.