Trackball & Spinner Control Panel

[RetroBorg]

I want a control panel with both a Trackball & Spinner on it, I am right handed and want to mainly play Missile Command, Centipede, Golden Tee, World Class Bowling, Arkanoid & Tempest.

My question is where is the best place to put the Trackball and Spinner?

[Minwah]

This is very much debatable, so I will only say what I have done (although I haven't quite finished it yet)...

I have a CP I call my 'analog panel'. From left to right I have: UltraStik, then 3 buttons.  Roughly in the centre (slightly to the right) is my trackball. Then finally the spinner is between the trackball and the right hand edge of the CP.

Unfortunately I don't have a picture, and the controls are not currently installed as I am trying to design a CPO* for it...

* if anyone with vector skills is available for hire I could do with some help...

[javeryh]

This is what I'm working on right now (it's almost a direct copy of Knievel's layout and many others).  Spinner is on the top row to the left (put it on the other side if you want to use your right hand to control it) and the trackball will go in the middle.  It all depends on the dimensions and what type of games you want to play.  I'd say at the very least to not put the spinner directly above the trackball because if you play games like golden tee where you might be smacking the crap out of the trackball you wouldn't want to hit the spinner on the follow-through.

[GAtekwriter]

Just curious - I'm right handed and I've always used my left for a spinner - is this typical of most right handers?  Also, it seems to me that many spinners on old arcade games were on the left and buttons on the right - so maybe I just never had a choice?  Hmmm... any right handers prefer using a spinner with the right hand?

Jim

[javeryh]

Just curious - I'm right handed and I've always used my left for a spinner - is this typical of most right handers?  Also, it seems to me that many spinners on old arcade games were on the left and buttons on the right - so maybe I just never had a choice?  Hmmm... any right handers prefer using a spinner with the right hand?

Jim

I'm left handed so I can't help but in my experience if something is designed a certain way I just adapt.  Playing the Wii is a bit cumbersome because I can't aim/control my right arm with the Wiimote but I'm getting used to it.  It would feel very strange if arcade joysticks were on the right and buttons on the left even though a righty probably designed the first CPs... if that makes any sense...

[Minwah]

Just curious - I'm right handed and I've always used my left for a spinner - is this typical of most right handers?  Also, it seems to me that many spinners on old arcade games were on the left and buttons on the right - so maybe I just never had a choice?  Hmmm... any right handers prefer using a spinner with the right hand?

There seems to be a good mix of games which have the spinner on the left, some in the centre and some on the right.

I think a spinner is something which is pretty easy to use with either hand...

[Droler]

I have a somewhat different layout due to the fact I hated the way my spinnder was located on the last CP I built.

Against some misgivings about where I ended up installing it, I am very happy with the location and feel now that it's built. Apologies for the crappy photo - bad camera:



It's over player 2's buttons, which unless player 2 gets really spastic during Marvel vs. Capcom or something, it never gets in the way - but if you're playing Tempest or Arkanoid, you get a nice unstrained reach for the spinner plus the buttons on the left. It really doesn't look very convenient, but this panel's only 26 inches wide and 17 inches deep, so it's not a stretch to reach everything.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I would definitely center the trackball.
Most trackball games have the trackball in the center.
Lefties will also be much happier with you if they can use their dominant hand.

With regards to the spinner, I personally would put it to the left of the trackball.
Most spinner games had the spinner on the left, or centered.
The notable exception to this is Tempest.

If you connect the trackball and spinner to separate inputs, you could use them separately to play racing games, Blasteroids, etc...

I would set up the controls as shown on the attachment.
The 4 buttons on the right are set that way for Star Trek.
You could get away with only three buttons on the right, if you wanted to map one of the buttons on the left to photon torpedoes.

[RetroBorg]

Thanks everyone of their input and opinions there's lot's to think about there.

I'm probably leaning towards NoOne=NBA= setup at the moment, but I also like how Minwah has a joystick on the left which would allow me to play Tron.

I think I might start playing around with CP Sketcher and see what I can fit in.

Thanks guys. 

[RayB]

I have a somewhat different layout due to the fact I hated the way my spinnder was located on the last CP I built.

Against some misgivings about where I ended up installing it, I am very happy with the location and feel now that it's built. Apologies for the crappy photo - bad camera:

One real "spontaneous" right-handed spin on that track ball will smack your hand right into that red joystick.

[Minwah]

I'm probably leaning towards NoOne=NBA= setup at the moment, but I also like how Minwah has a joystick on the left which would allow me to play Tron.

A few others you might want to play are Snake Pit (4-way stick + trackball) and Off The Wall (Sente version, stick + spinner).

I'm using an analog stick on this panel as I like real digital sticks for digital games, so my main 2 player stick panel cannot play analog games.

[RetroBorg]

If I do put a joystick on it, it will be the UltraStik.

[Droler]

I have a somewhat different layout due to the fact I hated the way my spinnder was located on the last CP I built.

Against some misgivings about where I ended up installing it, I am very happy with the location and feel now that it's built. Apologies for the crappy photo - bad camera:

One real "spontaneous" right-handed spin on that track ball will smack your hand right into that red joystick.

I thought it might as well, but there's no way unless you have really big hands. It's really out of the way in spite of appearances.