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First arcade control project questions
purpledrillmonkey:
Hi to all,
Ive been reading endless pages of this forum, the byoac site, and dozen of other sites to get the most comprehensive understanding of this wicked hobby that I could. I finally got my copy of Project Arcade on Friday, and I read thru the whole thing that day... thanx to Saint for such a great resource!
Anyways, I have an Ipac on the way from Ultimarc, and I am about to place my order for my control panel parts and purchase some material. I do have a couple questions I couldn't seem to find answers for:
1. With regards to the 'Neo Geo" button on the average 7 button layout what dimensions are common for this button? I'm using 1.5" on-center spacing for the other 6 buttons so is a 1.5" spacing at a 45° angle recommended? I have noticed a number of people who seem to locate this button differently than this, but I haven't found any concrete dimensions for it. I have printed the layout 1:1 scale and it seems alright with 1.5" spacing at 45° so I would guess you will all recommend to go for it if it's comfortable ;) but I'm interested to get more input.
2. I can easily acquire 1/16" Lexan or 1/8" Acrylic, and can acquire 3/4" MDF or 5/8" MDF. Any recommendations on what combination to go with for my overlay?
3. Easier to use a Forsner bit or Spade bit for CP holes? (In the overlay plastic as well?) More a woodworking forum question i know ;)
4. I would prefer not to have visible coin-up buttons on my CP. I see everyone recommend to put them there, but what I would like to do is have the coin-up function on shifted p1 and p2 start commands... is there a reason I should not do this?
5. Aside from not being able to remove it as easily, is there a good reason NOT to glue T-molding to the CP?
6. I'm sorry, but I just gotta ask and I know there is no real answer - HAPP competition or super? I'll be playing primarily fighters (SF, KI, Marv vs Cap, etc..) shoot-em ups (Raiden :) ) and beat-em ups (TMNT, Simps, X-Men, etc..) which stick would you recommend ignoring the 4-8 way switching ability of the super? I was originally sold on Supers, but I started reading past posts saying Competitions were popular for fighters. I'm more concerned with whether or not one of these sticks would really suck in my CP for fighters, beat-em ups, and shoot-em ups as opposed to which one would be just slightly better. And please stick to Super vs. Competition; I know they are far from the best, but for now that's what I'm getting. (My plan is to move them to 3p and 4p slots on the next CP i build with U360's replacing them for 1p and 2p)
7. Are there any good Canadian companies to order arcade components from?
Ok I think that's all for now... Sorry to be so long winded, and I hope there are semi-intelligent questions. I'll be posting my plans and hopefully build pics in the coming weeks as things get going.
Thanks for any help and advice you can provide!
protokatie:
--- Quote ---1. With regards to the 'Neo Geo" button on the average 7 button layout what dimensions are common for this button? I'm using 1.5" on-center spacing for the other 6 buttons so is a 1.5" spacing at a 45° angle recommended? I have noticed a number of people who seem to locate this button differently than this, but I haven't found any concrete dimensions for it. I have printed the layout 1:1 scale and it seems alright with 1.5" spacing at 45° so I would guess you will all recommend to go for it if it's comfortable Wink but I'm interested to get more input.
--- End quote ---
I just ordered my stuff from andy a few days ago, an set up a basic layout in MS paint (of all things). I am green, but I recommend that you "steal" some cardboard and set up some practice layouts. This is what I will be doing.
BTW if the link I provide works, look at it:
http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m105/protoplatapus/?action=view¤t=basiclayoutsmall.jpg
This is my layout plan for a 7 button control. (for everything from TMNT through SF2 and also NEOGEO games)
Jdurg:
If I recall properly, I believe the proper distance (center-to-center) between buttons is 4 cm. From the center of your joystick to the center of the first column of buttons should be 8 cm, I believe. I'd have to go home and check my panel to see what I used.
u_rebelscum:
2. If you're doing 3/4" T-modeling, I suggest 1/8" + 5/8", or 1/16" + 3/4". IMO, I'd go 1/16" lexan because it's thin and it's lexan, but as I don't like plastic covers much, take my answer with a grain 'o salt.
3. Easier, or better? ;) I prefer Forsner bit as it makes a cleaner hole, but it is more tiring than with spade. If you have a drill press, I say Forsner; if hand drill, ehh, how strong are you, and do you mind the more $ for the Forsner? Not sure which is better for plastic, though I've heard both work.
4. How many "outsiders" are going to play? Are you going to label the buttons? Is it going to be a ipac/gwiz shift button, or a mame combo buttons? If shift, is it going to be a separate shift button? It's much easier for a new person to use separate coin buttons, unless the shift/combo is clearly labeled and it makes sense. That's why most have the coin buttons separate.
6. If you like to fel the corner, go competition. Me, I don't need the corners, and perfer the supers. But I'm not much into fighters either; I perfer shmups.
purpledrillmonkey:
--- Quote from: protokatie on January 14, 2008, 04:00:33 am --- I recommend that you "steal" some cardboard and set up some practice layouts. This is what I will be doing.
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Yeah, this thought crossed my mind as well and I do think it is probably a pretty good idea. Thanks for the input!
--- Quote from: u_rebelscum on January 14, 2008, 06:50:42 pm ---4. How many "outsiders" are going to play? Are you going to label the buttons? Is it going to be a ipac/gwiz shift button, or a mame combo buttons? If shift, is it going to be a separate shift button? It's much easier for a new person to use separate coin buttons, unless the shift/combo is clearly labeled and it makes sense. That's why most have the coin buttons separate.
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It would be an I-pac shift. The shift button would be a seperate admin button and the shift would be labeled or at least explained.... this thing would never be used while i'm not around. I thought about it some more and a coin up button on the front of the CP box might be the way I go with it... I just dont like the coin up buttons being prominent... the whole pushing a button for a credit just feels like cheating to me ;) I'm certainly not having them once I build my cabinet a few months donw the road ;) Coin door for sure!
--- Quote ---6. If you like to feel the corner, go competition. Me, I don't need the corners, and perfer the supers. But I'm not much into fighters either; I perfer shmups.
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This is what I have also read.... now, how much 'feel' is there to the corners? The circular feel of the supers I can imagine in my head, but how much 'corner' are we talking with the comp? Like, a kind of 'valley' that you feel as you circle the joystick (something like a octagonal restrictor plate feel?) or would it be more akin to a full on square range of motion feeling? IE - does a "quarter circle forward" feel like a 'quarter circle' or more like a 'quarter square'?
Also, thanks for your input as well!