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Control Panel Limitations *** 3 designs to choose from - opinions please

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Zobeid:


--- Quote from: ex_directory on March 12, 2008, 07:33:27 am ---
Another option would be to go 4 button in this shape


Any experience on this - what are the downsides?


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That's exactly the button layout that I'm shooting for.

Advantages. . .   It allows your hand to approach the joystick from a wide range of angles without bumping into any buttons.  There's also one button (the leftmost) that you can hit fairly easily with your joystick hand if necessary -- this would be useful for playing Defender (reverse button) or Battlezone (fire button) as examples.  If you have another control in between the sticks (in my case it'll be a spinner) then it gives good clearance for that too.

I think this layout makes it easier to remember which button is which during gameplay, but maybe that's just me.  For one-button games, you can use the lower button.  For two button games, use the left and right buttons.

And finally, this layout is the only really proper way to play Vanguard or Space Zap.

Disadvantages?  Well, as others have pointed out. . .  You can't play those ugly "beat em up" games that the young whippersnappers seem to like, heaven knows why they do.


Ian:

Take a look at this for any ideas.

http://dmatanski.deviantart.com/gallery/

other than that, I don't see a very comfortable solution unless you want to have some sort of extension.

ex_directory:


--- Quote from: Franco B on March 12, 2008, 01:08:54 pm ---Well you could either wire up a D sub connector or similar for those few buttons or a more simpler (but longer swapping) option would be to use bullet connectors for the individual buttons.

Either way shouldnt add more than a minute for the swap, the d sub would be the better option as it would only take a couple of seconds.

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Is the way to do this take a vga extender (male and female ends), chop in two and then connect bare wires accordingly or is there more to it?

Ian, great link, how does he get the buttons so close to the trackball in this CP - or is it just an optical illusion  8)



BASS!:


--- Quote from: ex_directory on March 12, 2008, 12:04:41 pm ---OK, taken on board suggestions so far... also found a great limited CP design post with a trackball by csa3d here...

Without a mount I think I can get it in...



Underneath would look like this...



No room for spinner and no obvious room for mouse buttons without it looking ugly so far though.

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I would look into a smaller trackball (other then the happ 3") Like the happ 1.5" and then you could use a turbotwist spinner, which has an extremely small footprint.


paigeoliver:

Front of the panel admin buttons on that style of cabinet are a mistake, they constantly get bumped into during gameplay.

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