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My ideas for a 2 player control panel, stop me before I do something stupid.
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taz-nz:
Ok I've been using MAME since a complete ROM set fitted on one CD, and been talk about build my own control panel for at least the last 5 years, I think the time has come that I'm finally going to get myself some real controls to game with.



Basic control panel layout

The plan is to have:
Two Happ 49 way joysticks with rotary adaptors.
Two GP-Wiz49 Eco Interfaces
One Happ 2.25" trackball with USB interface or hacked Microsoft Trackball explorer.
Two TurboTwist 2™ Spinners with weights (plus two 5" Mini-Racer™ Steering Wheel)
Six button per player (yellow & blue)
Two player start buttons (white)
Two Coin-Up buttons (black)
Two Admin buttons (black)
Two Pinball buttons (black)

Now I figure the 49 way joysticks with GP-Wiz49 Eco Interfaces with DSR will give me the most flexability for joystick input types in one joystick and from what I understand they are even passable as an analogue joystick to some degree.

Now being one to never make things easy for myself, I'm thinking of going for an optical rotary adaptors hack on the joysticks, with the same basic setup as used for the mechanical rotary hack with most of parts coming straight out of HAPP's catalogue, with only the custom staff extension needing to be machined for the rotary assembly. (I have friend that's a extremely good machinist that will happily make any custom parts I might need)

To interface the optical rotary assembly I'd probably purchase two master version of the TurboTwist spinners, one for each player and attach the rotary sensors as the slaves. The cost saving on the interfaces should cover most of the cost difference for the optical rotary assembly over the mechanical assembly.

Why optical rotary ? From what I understand the mechanical rotary setup ends up being converted to analogue type output by the interface boards anyway, and as there are problems with matching the mechanical setup click for click in game, I'd rather have the more flexible and tuneably optical setup. (and cut down on a few wires while I'm at it)

The player buttons are layed out how I think they'll work best for how I like to play, and the Spinner are located so that, they can be fitted with the Mini-Racer steering wheels and be used for car games like Bad lands and World rally without conflicting with the joysticks.

I'll probably end up using a Microsoft Trackball Explorer, true optical 2" trackball instead of a arcade trackball to save space.

I think the basic layout should work, but I'll value anyones input on my ideas.








Minwah:
Seems pretty good to me.  Personally tho I would use UltraStik's instead of 49-ways as you can achieve all the same plus true analog.

That said I'm not sure how easy it would be to modify these to have optical rotary capability - probably not that easy as the shaft doesn't protrude through the circuit board.  Someone here might prove me wrong!
Malenko:
your buttons are crooked, you need 4 pinball buttons (left/right flipper, left/right nudge) , and I dunno how well the spinners will work in that general vicinity. 2 GGG spinners and wheels? you must be loaded
Lilwolf:
the spinners may get in the way of the 3rd and 6th buttons. 

Also the buttons that you would want to use for the spinner are on the wrong side (assuming your used to stick on left, and buttons on right)

And I strongly recommend buying some cheap wood and trying your ideas out.  (you can also do it with cardboard but you can't test it too thurough.)  But partical board 4x8 sheet is about 4 bucks... try out your ideas for a few days and then cut the good stuff.   I say this because I've redone my 2player fighting control panel like 5 times...and I don't have all the items on it you do :)
BobbyG66:
I would those buttons away from the front of the trackball.
You will hit them during GT or bowling games.
I have an exit key up there on mine. It sucks when I am having a good round of golf, then I exit out.
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