Help w/ Mameroom 4 Player Control Panel

[grumlenz]

Hello everyone, first off I just want to say this is a great forum and a great source of information. I have learned a lot over the short time I have spent here reading through posts and info. Thanks to all who contribute!

My situation: I ordered a UAII cabinet kit and a 4 player control panel from Mameroom. I added the extra $20 to customize the layout. I figured this would be pretty easy but looking at everyone's pictures on here I am more confused than ever. I would appreciate any input. Here is a picture of how it would come if I left it as is: http://www.mameroom.com/images/Quad_lg.jpg I am wondering what suggestions you have as far as changing the layout/buttons and if anyone has used this panel the way it comes, what you thought about it. My basic questions:

1: Do I need 7 buttons for each player (what am I missing by going with less, or going with less on players 3 and 4). How many should I have?

2: I don't plan to use the trackball a whole lot, just a little Golden Tee here and there, should I move it? Maybe behind the player 1 conrols? Like in this picture: http://www.mameroom.com/examples/23495-IMG_0559.jpg Should I keep the panel rounded (like the mameroom stock image or have more square corners like in this picture)? Just don't want to be bumping elbows, if I leave the trackball as is, how's the elbow room?

3. Do I really need the separate 4 way joystick?

4. How often is the spinner used? Should it be moved more central?

5. Should I add pinball buttons to this control panel? I love pinball, however I am not at all familiar with visual pinball yet.

A little more info on my setup: I just purchased a used XPC with a P4 3.8 GHZ processor, 2 GB RAM, 250GB hard drive, 128 MB video card w/ S Video and DVI.

What I want: I want to run emulators for NES, Super Nintendo, N64, Playstation, Atari, MAME, Sega Genesis, Sega Master System, Pinball? (have not looked into this at all yet), and possibly a few others I am forgetting, maybe Dreamcast. I have Maximus Arcade and some emulators already and am currently configuring everything. What version of MAME can I run on this setup? Sorry for asking a lot of questions, I did my best to research through this forum and found a lot of answers, just looking for a few more from you guys who have been through this before. Thanks for any help!

[Flake]

Well its really a matter of personal preference but IMO you DO need a dedicated 4-way but I've never liked the standard placement mameroom.com has for theirs.  Plus I dont like anything to be in the way of the trackball for golden tee games.......although I dont play that as much as I thought I would.

No you dont need the 7 button layout unless you are real NEO-GEO nut who has the NEO standard 4 button layout.  I have 7 buttons and I've never used them except when I was experimenting on button mapping for defender - it actually works fairly well for that.

Here is a pic of my panel before it was completely finished.  No complaints so far........

[grumlenz]

Thanks for the info, your panel looks very nce! So if I went with 6 buttons instead of 7, I wouldn't be losing any capability? I am not really crazy into neo geo where that layout is that important to me, I just want the best capability with all emulators. Any games or emulators that require 7 buttons vs. 6?

[Flake]

You know, thats a good question.  I never really was into some of the consoles so maybe a 7 button layout would be preferred for something like that - hell in that case maybe you 8 or 9.  I have seen other panels with 8 buttons before.  You might want to investigate that further.

But as for arcade games - 6 is all you need.

[Kordova]

I have the same contol panel.  Did the custom design as follows.

4 players with 6 buttons a piece
Player Start and Coin for each player
Trackball in Center with Two buttons above for mouse

I left off the spinner and 4-way stick as I can either restrict an 8-way or use the left/right of the trackball for spinner.  Not must into spinner games like Tempest, so I left it off.  Added admin and pinball buttons on the sides though.

[Visitor Q]

Here is my CP and honestly I would not change a single thing other than I would not have bought the push/ pull spinner, would have just gone with a regular one. It's not 4 player but at least you can see what I choose as it would be the same for 4 player, ya know with the extra two players of course.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=87205.0

^ That's my project thread incase you are looking for more pix. 

[grumlenz]

Thank you for the replies!

Kordova: do you find that with players 3 and 4, that there is a need for the 5th and 6th buttons? I was considering going with 4 so I figured I would ask. I don't know how much I will use the spinner, but I will probably add it, I was thinking somewhere above the player 2 buttons, so it's out of the way of the trackball. And if I do a dedicated 4-way, probably put that above the player 1 buttons where it's open and not in the way.

Visitor Q: Your panel looks great, I like the overlay a lot! How many buttons would you say are necessary to go along with the spinner? Would you suggest giving it it's own buttons or just using buttons from one of the players? Also, how many do you suggest to go with the dedicated 4-way? Just wondering if I should share buttons or add more or what.

Thanks very much for your help.

[Kordova]

No, I'm not sure I have ever found much need for them as far as mame goes.  Console, yes. I went with 6 mainly just to stay consistent with the look.  Symmetry is a very big thing with me for some reason.

[jeffremiller]

I too went with the Mameroom quad and customized it to my needs.

I was never a big fan of admin buttons or coin buttons on the face of the CP... so I removed them and/or put them on the side.

As you noted, the 6 buttons for player 3 & 4 are for console emulators mostly.  I also use one for each player as a shift function so shift-Player 3 is Add coin for player 3.

As far as the pinball buttons, I really didn't like the way the mameroom quad had them at an angle, so I made some metal brackets to make them perpendicular to the front.  Also gave me an opportunity to add nudge buttons for eachside as well (those function as add coin for player 1 and player 2.

I also opted not to include a dedicated 4 way as my player 1 & 2 sticks are mag stick pro.  They are switchable and have worked out very well for me.

I will take some pictures of the actual CP and the brackets tonight if you like.

Added pic of the pinball button brackets.

[Visitor Q]

Visitor Q: Your panel looks great, I like the overlay a lot! How many buttons would you say are necessary to go along with the spinner? Would you suggest giving it it's own buttons or just using buttons from one of the players? Also, how many do you suggest to go with the dedicated 4-way? Just wondering if I should share buttons or add more or what.

Thanks very much for your help.

Thank You.

Honestly the buttons next to the spinner I use for admin functions so if you want to ditch them you can. When I play spinner games I use the buttons for player one as you suggested. I find it more comfortable and not as cramped when playing.

For the 4-way minimal 2, 3 is what I have. BTW... I love my dedicated 4-way! The U360s are nice but nothing is like having that restricted feel of the 4-way, I am so glad I bought it and I use it often!