Main Restorations Software Audio/Jukebox/MP3 Everything Else Buy/Sell/Trade
Project Announcements Monitor/Video GroovyMAME Merit/JVL Touchscreen Meet Up Retail Vendors
Driving & Racing Woodworking Software Support Forums Consoles Project Arcade Reviews
Automated Projects Artwork Frontend Support Forums Pinball Forum Discussion Old Boards
Raspberry Pi & Dev Board controls.dat Linux Miscellaneous Arcade Wiki Discussion Old Archives
Lightguns Arcade1Up Try the site in https mode Site News

Unread posts | New Replies | Recent posts | Rules | Chatroom | Wiki | File Repository | RSS | Submit news

  

Author Topic: Critique My Control Panel  (Read 1494 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

crackbone

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 30
  • Last login:April 30, 2010, 02:50:05 pm
  • I want my own arcade controls!
Critique My Control Panel
« on: May 04, 2003, 04:36:05 pm »
Hey everyone!
Been lurking here for quite a while now, picking up ideas.  I've got my wood cut, the PC ready, and I'm about to "pull the trigger" on putting this thing together.
First, I'd like some opinions on my CP layout.  The graphics may look familiar, props to the guy who posted these.  I'm still tweaking them for the final design.
It's 34"x19" for reference.


The P1/P2 start, and various Mame buttons will be in the upper left.  I'm also trying leave some space for a spinner above the trackball at a later date (comeon with that tron spinner, Oscar!!!!)
The shapes to the right of the trackball are for 3 buttons.  Missile command, if I'm not mistaken, uses 3 buttons, right?




Thanks,
Crack



Nailz

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 571
  • Last login:April 23, 2014, 08:55:03 pm
Re:Critique My Control Panel
« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2003, 04:46:53 pm »
Hey there, welcome....  Looks like a good start.  For cleanliness I would probably ditch the 3 buttons next to the trackball for Missile command and use what you already have for your player 1 buttons (that is unless Missile Command is the one game you love above all other).  Have you thought about what OS and front end you will use?  If you are going to be using any type of windows at all, you should consider a couple of buttons next to the trackball for the mouse though.  You should also start thinking about your spinner placement now, as you don't want it too close to the trackball for obvious interference reasons when you start getting carried away with Missile Command or Golden Tee or whatever.

Just my thoughts, good luck!

crackbone

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 30
  • Last login:April 30, 2010, 02:50:05 pm
  • I want my own arcade controls!
Re:Critique My Control Panel
« Reply #2 on: May 04, 2003, 07:02:58 pm »
Nailz-

Yeah, I'll be using XP, so I'd like to have at least two buttons for the trackball.  It's got three button connects, so I figured why not?

I'm thinking that the spinner can go between the joysticks, a little higher up than perfectly even.  Golden Tee won't be a real consideration, so I think crazy trackballing will be limited. :)

Apollo

  • Yes You Can Have A Custom Title
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1877
  • Last login:May 27, 2021, 10:49:02 pm
    • Eight Bells
Re:Critique My Control Panel
« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2003, 09:27:39 pm »
It looks like you are using 8-way joy sticks. What kind are you using and have you thought about what effect they will have on 4-way games ( pac-man, crazy kong etc? ).

Zakk

  • Gosh, that's a real nice... ooh look, a penny! -- That Zakk is Just Mean
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2472
  • Last login:Yesterday at 11:53:46 pm
Re:Critique My Control Panel
« Reply #4 on: May 06, 2003, 09:07:12 pm »
Just a thought, I've found that since the trackball isn't the main control on the panel, it shouldn't be right in the middle.  I prefer to put the player one stick as close to center as possible, since this is how 90% of the gaming will happen (generally).  It makes for a little more cramped gaming with 2 players, but not too much of an issue.  The best 2 player setup I've done so far, and has turned out to be very playable, is http://www.mameworld.net/massive/Cabinet/Chookmame/chookmame.html  (Sorry Mameworld blocks image pulls) so  I guess it depends on how much space you have for each player, and how much two player simultaneous playing you will do!
« Last Edit: May 06, 2003, 09:51:07 pm by Zakk »
Back for nostalgia, based on nostalgia.

Frostillicus

  • Arcade Artist
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1291
  • Last login:April 18, 2023, 07:36:29 am
    • My MAME cabinet site
Re:Critique My Control Panel
« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2003, 09:40:06 pm »
I would move the trackball up and lose the three buttons down below since they look like they might get in the way of player 2.   My first panel has the trackball in the center and a spinner above that.  It's worked pretty well so far  :)