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!

 

[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]

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.

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.

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?

Groovy Game Gear

I would think about adding an extra button, 7 each, for the neogeo layout.  It comes in handy when playing some emulators.

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.

Use a high-lip trackball, not the high-ball.

I already have bought the 3" ball from Ultimarc - is that the high-lip one?  Too late to change now anyway!

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.

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.

Any thoughts on pinball buttons?

Never really was into pinball either!   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.

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.

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

[Jimbo]

I think I'll try and move the spinners to the left slightly as suggested... see how that looks/feels.

What do you think about adding 2 buttons to the right of each spinner... make it easier for racers (accelerate/gear-shift)?  Do most people use the wheels with their left hand?

[kegger]

I like the layout but I agree with chrisindfw in that the wheel placement looks to possibly interfere with the buttons when playing.

Nice job though...

[NoOne=NBA=]

I would move the Pause button to the top-center of the CP.
That will give easier access for both players, and will prevent confusion.
I would also try to make the Exit button less visible, but still out of the way like you have it, so that it won't be hit accidentally in the heat of battle.

[LeedsFan]

The high lip trackball has the black ring surrounding the ball itself poking up higher through the trackball plate when it's installed.... hence "high-lip". The lip stands up through the hole by about 3mm. This is good for adding artwork and then plexi to bring the whole panel flush with the lip.

The high-ball trackball that Ultimarc supply has a slightly different internal allowing the ball itself to be higher up. Therefore more ball protrudes through the hole. Some people like it like that, some don't. Personal choice. If too much ball sticks up then trying to get fast spins may result in you hitting the side of the ball too low down (if you see what I mean) and actually not getting much spin at all, and maybe causing some pain. 

I went with the high-lip ball from Happs just for the ease of applying plexi to be flush with the lip.

I think the panel itself looks quite good. Personally I would lower the first pair of buttons slightly so that your fingers rest naturally on buttons one, two and three. I know they look neat in a symmetrical domino fashion like that, but it's just not comfortable to me. Also when playing spinner games.... there doesn't seem to be any place to rest your wrist. That may be something to consider. It might be a problem, it might not (certainly not when the steering wheel is attached). Just something to think about.

[Xiaou2]

 Remember,  that when you play a trackball game and get really excited - your hand may tend to fly
great distances.    In such a case... you might slam your hand into the front of the monitor.

 Id say you may be better off to add more space at the back of the control panel..  as to give more
room for flying hands , from heavy trackball spins.

[Jimbo]

Thanks for all your feedback!

I've made a few changes: -

- Lowered the first pair of buttons for each player as suggested.  Feels much nicer
- Reduced gap between joysticks and buttons (gives more room at the side of the panel where there's a small 5mm lip due to the cab's side panels).
- Swapped positions of the start buttons and admin buttons.  I figure the start buttons are only used by one player so they can be in the corners.  I don't see it being a problem with admin buttons in the center, and at least it makes the pause button more accessible to both players (thanks for suggestion).
- Moved spinners into center of joystick/buttons so they're less likely to get in the way.

Questions: -

Do you think its worth adding dedicated spinner buttons on the angled front "spinner" panel?

The red admin buttons are for PAUSE and EXIT... any suggestions as to which one should go on the left and which on the right of the trackball?

Any other feedback or suggestions welcome... I'll start to build very soon!

 

[LeedsFan]

Adding extra buttons alongside the spinners is personal choice. I prefer less buttons to make a panel look less busy... but playability is paramount. If you feel the right hand is stretching too far to get to the buttons as it is now then sure, ass some alongside the spinners.