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Please critique my control panel...
Jimbo:
Hello everyone!
I'm at the stage now where I need to get the CP done for my project here.
I've worked out a 2-player design using the space I have and ideally want the following controls: -
- 2 x U360s
- 6 x buttons per player
- 1P and 2P start buttons
- Pause and Exit buttons (shown as red in the pics)
- 3" high-ball trackball
- 2 x TT2 spinners w/token-top and 5" mini-racer wheels
The CP top is angled at 5.2 degrees, and there is an additional front angled panel for the 2 spinners at 30 degrees. I've designed it so that I can top-mount the trackball and U360s, and have artwork/plexi on the top section. I plan to continue the artwork on the 30 degree angled section and the front panel.
The only thing I'm thinking of adding are some buttons to the left and right of the spinners, to help when the mini-racers are attached.
Please take a look and any comments/criticisms/suggestions are welcome! :)
:cheers:
chrisindfw:
Not bad. But the thing that sticks out the most to me is how will the spinner without the wheel get in the way of normal play? It looks like it will be on the wrists.
How do the wheels attach? Ive never seen removable wheels and I like it! Do you have a link to where one can get them?
Green Giant:
Everything looks pretty good for the most part.
I would think about adding an extra button, 7 each, for the neogeo layout. It comes in handy when playing some emulators.
Use a high-lip trackball, not the high-ball.
Add some coin buttons, you can wire a switch to disable them if you just want the coin at some time. You can also hide them or use smaller buttons to make them less noticeable.
Any thoughts on pinball buttons?
Also, if you are limiting the buttons because of the 8 offered by the U360's, you still have 3 from the trackball and possibly 3 more from each TT2. Mame can recognize those just as easily as the arcade pushbuttons, so don't be concerned with that.
Jimbo:
--- Quote from: chrisindfw ---But the thing that sticks out the most to me is how will the spinner without the wheel get in the way of normal play? It looks like it will be on the wrists.
--- End quote ---
Well I tried it out on a full size paper mock up and it seemed ok, as your wrists kind of come in at an angle from the sides of your body, so mananges to miss the spinner by an inch or so.
--- Quote from: chrisindfw ---How do the wheels attach? Ive never seen removable wheels and I like it! Do you have a link to where one can get them?
--- End quote ---
Groovy Game Gear :)
--- Quote from: Green Giant ---I would think about adding an extra button, 7 each, for the neogeo layout. It comes in handy when playing some emulators.
--- End quote ---
I thought about that but I never really played any NeoGeo, and I thought 6 would be enough. Seven might make it look a little too crowded too.
--- Quote from: Green Giant ---Use a high-lip trackball, not the high-ball.
--- End quote ---
I already have bought the 3" ball from Ultimarc - is that the high-lip one? Too late to change now anyway! ;)
--- Quote from: Green Giant ---Add some coin buttons, you can wire a switch to disable them if you just want the coin at some time. You can also hide them or use smaller buttons to make them less noticeable.
--- End quote ---
I'm going to use the coin door and have a bunch of coins in a jar handy :) I think I'll wire up coin inserts to the shift buttons too.
--- Quote from: Green Giant ---Any thoughts on pinball buttons?
--- End quote ---
Never really was into pinball either! :P The CP is to be swappable as I'll make some other dedicated panels sometime in the future. As it currently stands if I add pinball buttons it'll be a PITA to swap panels.
--- Quote from: Green Giant ---Also, if you are limiting the buttons because of the 8 offered by the U360's, you still have 3 from the trackball and possibly 3 more from each TT2. Mame can recognize those just as easily as the arcade pushbuttons, so don't be concerned with that.
--- End quote ---
Ah didn't know about the buttons for the trackball and TT2.. may come in handy, thanks! :) I also have an IPAC4 handy, so I may use that. Might come in handy when I want to map buttons for C64 emulators to keys such as the C= key, space bar, run-stop etc.
Thanks for your feedback!
Kajoq:
Only thing I noticed about it is the same issue with the spinner.
Maybe move the spinners both ~1" to the left to get them lined up in the gap between the stick and buttons. Other than that, looks pretty solid to me