HELP: What are your MUST-HAVES in a control panel?

[kvncooper]

Thinking about building my first cab, and I just wanted to know your MUST-HAVE features in a control panel?

How many buttons? Digital/Analog? How many joysticks? Digital/Analogue? One 4-way and two 8-way? Or interchangeable? Trackball? Spinner? Extras?

Would really appreciate your input.

I'm totally confused as to what I should be putting into my panel. I have a good idea but I don't want to miss anything out.

I basically want it to work with as MANY arcade classics and new games as possible.

Thanks.

[ChadTower]

You're working backwards.  The starting point should be:

What are your must have games?

Then work the control panel to suit the requirements. 

[kvncooper]

You're working backwards.  The starting point should be:

What are your must have games?

Then work the control panel to suit the requirements. 

I understand what you're saying, but what if I don't have the answer to that? If you can imagine that I am building it for someone else, and I just want to get as much functionality as possible.

Thanks.

[ChadTower]

Then you need to get that info, IMO.  Requirements are important.  It's just standard engineering practice.

If you just want a generic do all CP, there are billions of examples all over the forum... just pick one and copy it.

[leapinlew]

Chads right. (huh, that sounds funny)

You need to know what games you want otherwise you end up with this:

[XyloSesame]

What are your must have games?

I understand what you're saying, but what if I don't have the answer to that? If you can imagine that I am building it for someone else, and I just want to get as much functionality as possible.

I'd have to agree with identifying the must-have games.

I'm still designing my panel and accumulating the needed parts for it. I started this thinking I'd put together the absolute do-all Frankenpanel, then quickly realized that there is no true OSFA panel. I've wasted time and effort going at this backwards when I should have listened to everyone here in the first place... You have to know at least some general types favorites to effectively put one together.

Unless you're planning on a rotating or modular panel system.

Or a barely usable six-footer.

Or plan to do a lot of talking and drawing, but no building.

[javeryh]

I'll bite... I'd say Knievel's CPs are the most versatile with enough to play trackball and spinner games as well as traditional 2 player fighters and all the 4-way and 8-ways.

The next one I build is going to be an off-shoot of that.  I'm going to ditch the 4-way and opt for 2 U360s but everythign else will be basically the same.

[kvncooper]

You've given me some great advice. I wish I could say what games its for but I honestly cannot tell you.

I'm just looking for a CP that can work across the board.

[ChadTower]

You've given me some great advice. I wish I could say what games its for but I honestly cannot tell you.

We don't have that type of Clearance.

I'm just looking for a CP that can work across the board.

That's what we're trying to tell you.... there isn't one.  There is simply too many games for that.

[kvncooper]

You're right. I'm asking for something that can't be given.

Just checked out Knievel. Holy ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---! This guy is awesome.

[kvncooper]

Does Knievel do custom work for people? i.e. build control panels and/or full machines

[Green Giant]

1.  If money isn't a big issue, get two U360's.  That will cover every type of joystick and have them autoswitch so you will never have to know what a game requires.

2.  Then get a trackball for golden tee, bowling, and whatever else.

3.  Spinner is popular for lots of people and take up little space.

4.  7 buttons for player using the standard layout seen on these boards.  6 for street fighter and the bottom seventh to make a neogeo layout.

5.  Then some admin buttons, namely exit and pause.  Enter game can be player one, but coin buttons are a nice thing to have.

6.  Pinball flippers on the sides take little space and are easy to do.

7.  If you don't mind spending more cash, get all electric ice buttons from groovygamegear with at least two ledwiz's.  Mala and other frontends can automatically light the correct controls in the original colors for every game you have.  Once again is great to have since you will never have to ask or answer what the controls for a game are.

All those handle probably 98% of what you want to do.

[XyloSesame]

Does Knievel do custom work for people? i.e. build control panels and/or full machines

yeah, he'd be perfect for your "exciting opportunity"! 

[kvncooper]

Does Knievel do custom work for people? i.e. build control panels and/or full machines

yeah, he'd be perfect for your "exciting opportunity"! 

 

I curse the day I posted that!! haha

[kvncooper]

1.  If money isn't a big issue, get two U360's.  That will cover every type of joystick and have them autoswitch so you will never have to know what a game requires.

2.  Then get a trackball for golden tee, bowling, and whatever else.

3.  Spinner is popular for lots of people and take up little space.

4.  7 buttons for player using the standard layout seen on these boards.  6 for street fighter and the bottom seventh to make a neogeo layout.

5.  Then some admin buttons, namely exit and pause.  Enter game can be player one, but coin buttons are a nice thing to have.

6.  Pinball flippers on the sides take little space and are easy to do.

7.  If you don't mind spending more cash, get all electric ice buttons from groovygamegear with at least two ledwiz's.  Mala and other frontends can automatically light the correct controls in the original colors for every game you have.  Once again is great to have since you will never have to ask or answer what the controls for a game are.

All those handle probably 98% of what you want to do.

Awesome! Thanks man!

[XyloSesame]

Does Knievel do custom work for people? i.e. build control panels and/or full machines

yeah, he'd be perfect for your "exciting opportunity"! 

 

I curse the day I posted that!! haha

it's going to take a while to live that one down.

and be careful with your avatar choice, too...

[Hoopz]

Chads right. (huh, that sounds funny)

You need to know what games you want otherwise you end up with this:

I've looked before Lew, but I don't recall seeing a two-way stick for Defender.  Did I miss it?  May have to plan an expansion on that thing. 

And I'll say that I have a 4-player CP with a Tron Stick, Tron spinner, 4-way joy and trackball.  Plays most everything I want to play.

[TAG]

If whoever this cabinet is for has any interest whatsoever in playing Tron, then a trigger joystick (or at least a top fire one) is a must.  Otherwise, you'll need a third hand for shooting the tanks, spiders, and MCP cone.  It's useful for several other games, as well.

[one2three]

Chads right. (huh, that sounds funny)

You need to know what games you want otherwise you end up with this:

Love that design, mind if I use it? I have a 12" monitor lying around I could use with this CP in my new mame cab.  


Although you won't (feasibly) be able to get everything incorporated without making a Frankenpannel, you can get a large chunk of supported games by making a two player with 6 buttons each, trackball, and spinner. You could also have a keyboard tucked away for use in some PC games, admin, etc. There are also programs (i.e. autohotkey) that will alow you to map other buttons for specific games.

Bottom line, if you want to have a cab that looks like something you might see in an arcade, then keep it minimal.

Oh ya, I recomend you build your CP yourself. If you want to purchase one, then try some of the vendors that sell CPs, but really a lot of the fun is in designing and building it yourself.

Good Luck,
1

[Kajoq]

I suggest 2 players 6 buttons each.  And if you like a lot of older games / golden tee,  Toss on the trackball/spinner as thats the popular thing to do.

I just finished building myself a control panel with 2 players 8 buttons each (will be getting a ps2 adaptor for my JPAC soon, and I liked the custom layout I got with the extra 2 buttons) and a few admin buttons for good measure.

[Apollo]

Here's your control panel, the joys are 4/8 way switchable from Ultimarc.

[Kangum]

for me i guess a must have would be a trackball. it doubles as a mouse and is really handy to have in those wtf just happened situtations. some opt for a pull out keyboard draw but both is handy.

my coctail uses six buttons and has been adequate although i dont play many fighters so i dont know if im missing out on anything in terms of needing more.

i definatly want to add some pinball buttons to the side though.

[kvncooper]

Thanks for all your input guys.

This is a truly awesome forum!

[BobA]

Your description is very similar to a quasimoto panel.  Link

I have always thought that their panels had too much choice but it sounds like something you just asked for.  If you are not sure if you want mame or console or digital or analog then they have it all.

[More Cowbell]

Also, don't make the same mistake that some of us made. You must, at all cost, include the Boong-ga Boong-ga controller.
http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=12696

[DaveMMR]

I'm going to offer my suggestions by spring boarding off of Green Giant's.

1.  If money isn't a big issue, get two U360's.  That will cover every type of joystick and have them autoswitch so you will never have to know what a game requires.

Agree.  That should be the biggest cp expense because they are just all around great for so many types of games.  If you can't afford them get a second job and work it until you can.  Only purists scoff at their switching ability.

2.  Then get a trackball for golden tee, bowling, and whatever else.

If you don't have the room don't sweat it but a TB is probably the second most useful control on a panel.

3.  Spinner is popular for lots of people and take up little space.

I agree.  It's something you can safely ditch if money is a concern.  But space is no longer an issue with the Turbotwist2 spinner so look into it if you think you may want one.

4.  7 buttons for player using the standard layout seen on these boards.  6 for street fighter and the bottom seventh to make a neogeo layout.

A lot of people do 7, but unless you're a super hard-core Neo-Geo Fighter Fan (e.g. King of Fighters), a 6-button SF layout is sufficient.  Nothing wrong with 7 if you have the space though - but don't knock yourself out slapping it the extra button if you barely need it.

5.  Then some admin buttons, namely exit and pause.  Enter game can be player one, but coin buttons are a nice thing to have.

You don't technically "need" admin buttons depending on your encoder's shift capability (Ultrastick has a built-in one), but some people like them.   It's all preference.  Not too many though, or you'll end up with Skittles.

6.  Pinball flippers on the sides take little space and are easy to do.

You like pinball - put em on.  You don't - forget it. 

7.  If you don't mind spending more cash, get all electric ice buttons from groovygamegear with at least two ledwiz's.  Mala and other frontends can automatically light the correct controls in the original colors for every game you have.  Once again is great to have since you will never have to ask or answer what the controls for a game are.

I gotta say.  I love my LED wiz and Electric Ice buttons, but sometimes I wish I hadn't invested in it.  It's going to be great and awesome looking once I get it all set up (lots of little wires, lots of software set-up), but I feel I may have been done already if I didn't put so much thought into how to incorporate the lights into the panel.  (BTW: I started working with these back before Mala and other FE's starting implementing their own software).

So I agree - it's really cool.  But be prepared to add an extra day's work to your cabinet (and an extra hundred dollars or more).  It is worth it - but it's also something that can wait for the upgrade.

[_) (V) (-)]

Why you guys clownin on' my layout man?



 
Awesome!

[DjinniMan]

Why you guys clownin on' my layout man?



 
Awesome!

Where's the Star Wars yoke? :/

[shardian]

It also depends on how "game savvy" the person you are making it for is. If they are a casual gamer who doesn't care about the details, 8-way sticks will be fine. They don't have to worry about switching, or special software, or configuring or anything. They won't really care if control isn't 100% accurate, since they probably aren't a gaming wiz anyways.

Having said that, 2 8-ways, 6 buttons per player, and a trackball will let you play pretty much anything - while at the same time keeping the control panel simple and intuitive.

[Kremmit]

Don't listen to all the belly aching about 8 way vs 4 way, either.

1 - Your friends do not want to play your crummy arcade cabinet.  End of discussion.

2 - If you have enough manual dexterity to turn a screwdriver, you have enough to play a 4-way game correctly on an 8 way stick.

My opinions only, of course, but I really lean towards a less is more approach.

PinballJim is wrong about #2 (in my opinion). 

People that are born blind say they don't "miss" eyesight.  If you've never played Donkey Kong with anything but an 8-way joystick, you might not miss the 4-way stick either.  You need a 4-way or you're playing the 4-way games with a handicap, whether you realize it or not.

Oh, and he's also wrong about #1.

[deadkenndys1105]

Well if you ask me standard fighter controls work for me.  Even though most of the time my cabinet is running games with 2 buttons I like being able to run a fighter without having a franken panel.  I hate these cps that look wrong.  When I sat down and planned my cabinet I said I wanted it to look like I just got it out of an arcade.  Well that didn't really happen because I didn't know that much about how arcades are built and my cabinet can't be called a peace of art but I am going to be rebuilding soon and am already planning everything out including the custom artwork.

[Malenko]

I have 2 8ways with 7 buttons, the standard  "hotrod" config it plays pretty much everything. I really love the 7th button, it makes a great run button for mortal kombat 3 AND in addition to being the neo geo layout on the bottom it also makes a great turbo button for NBA JAM and NHL Open Ice (74 and 5 are my nba jam buttons)

[weasel-like_animal]

I wanted a huge panel with all the bells and whistles, 4 sticks, a million buttons... its just not needed. I'm doing mine now after much deliberation, with 2 8-way competitions and 6/7 buttons each. If i can fit a track ball, I'll do that. Also, few admin buttons. K.I.S.S. 

[CM]

New panel = no spinner.  Yeah you heard me.    After basically not using the one I had on my previous panel for several years, I redesigned without one and reconfigured spinner games to use the trackball instead.   I find the result much better personally.