Comments on my CP project

[old-computers.com]

Hi Guys
Could you make some comments about my (fake) control panel? I have used the CP of www.jakobud.com as he's done something very similar to what I had in mind, and then I modified the whole thing using Photoshop to match my ideas (My control panel can also be viewed here : http://www.old-computers.com/olivier/images/control_panel.jpg)

The concept was to be able to use most games:
- arkanoid type games of course using one of the spinners
- tanks games, with two joysticks (those on the left for example) controlling the wheels of the tank, while still being able to fire (with top fire joystick)
- Guerilla Wars type games, where you can pivot the body of the hero, while also moving it in any direction. This can be achieved by moving the hero with a "top fire button joystick" (so I can fire), and pivoting it with the other hand using the spinner. This can even be done with two player games (Optipac & Mame Analog+ I guess)
- all other type of games can ble played of course... but these are more common explanations (4 directions joystick, trackball, 4-players games, etc.)...

What do you think?

[paigeoliver]

The spinners are too close to the buttons, they are a lot larger underneath.

Player 3 would have his elbow in player ones side constantly (as would player 4 to player 2 to a smaller extent.

I would personally forget about having 4 players and go for 3 instead. It would be much less cramped.

Then I would do the stations like this.

Player 3 - leave where it is.

Player 2 move over to where player 4 is and change to a top fire.

Player 1 stick right in the middle where the trackball is now.

Move the trackball between player 1 and two.

Put the 4-way between player 3 and player one. That allows the 4-way to be accessed much easier and share buttons with player 1.

Ditch the second spinner altogether and move the other one in between player 3 and the 4-way, or leave them where they are (which is right for tron and rotary joy games, but wrong for everything else as the regular buttons are not really easy to hit).

That layout would be much more playable. You would lose the ability to have 4 people play at once, but how often would that really happen anyway? (it would be really cramped on that panel).

Oh, and you can put pictures directly in your message, like this.

[paigeoliver]

Alternate change to maintain 4 player with slightly less cramping.

Move the trackball down to the edge of the panel (ditching the dedicated trackball buttons (wire them up at the top, or as start buttons or something), and slide the player one and two stations closer together.

[paigeoliver]

Finally. Since apparently Jakobud made that same basic panel, I hope he can chime in about actually having 4 people at that panel.

[neuromancer]

Hi Guys
Could you make some comments about my (fake) control panel?

I think player 2 and 3 are too far from the edge.

In your list of criteria, you don't say anything about actually having 4 players. If you're not, then you could use the same parts and build two panels. Each one could be tailored for differernt types of games, and you could switch between them.

I think you have made too many compromises in your design, and it will be sort of playable for most games but unenjoyable for all of them.

Bob