Need help designing a panel/interface suggestions!

[Honzo]

Ok, well i'm trying to grasp just what controls i need to be happy but its really frustrating when there are so many!  So i'm looking for some suggestions!

I'll start out by saying i'm not planning on playing any race games or any games that use flight yokes so that eliminates those.  As far as light guns go, I may consider adding one in the future, but since thats just a matter of installing a holster for the gun, it's unimportant at this stage.  I also don't plan on playing any pinball simulators, just not my style 

Ok, now what i do want to play...  one of the musts is a 4 player layout.  I also hear i might want a dedicated 4 way stick for the older games like dk and the pac mans so this is something i'd like too.  Also, have to have the track ball for centepede so thats a must.  I've been told i should put a spinner on as well for good measure. I don't really remember many games having these but i guess i might as well include one. Also, the opti-pac has spaces for multiple trackballs and spinners, but how many do i really need? how many games use more than one of each?  I've also read i should include some admin buttons, but i haven't played around with mame enough to understand the need for these so could someone elaborate on this for me?  With this info, i came across this panel:



...and i'm almost certain it suits my needs, but would like to know if its lacking anything/ has excess anything that i should include/exclude.

Now as far as interfaces, what is best for a set up like this?  I was thinking the mini-pac was perfect since it supported a trackball and spinner on one board, but it doesn't support 4 players  .  The ipac4, does, but doesn't support trackball and spinner    Since the opti pac supports more than one track and spinner, should i really use that? or could i use a minipac and ipac2 for the 3rd and 4th player?

thanks for any tips! i really appreciate them!

[drventure]

To me, that far left player looks like they'd be cramped, but, hey, how many times will you really have 4 players?

Personally, I kind of like the split level approach here
http://cosmicjive.net/arcade/super/control_panel.shtml

That's what I patterned my cp from, though mine's a tad different. The biggest thing is that it puts the spinner in a better position in my eyes. But, if you play certain trackball games, that position might not work for you (busted knuckles and such)

About the trackball and spinner, I picked up the HAPP USB track and Ultimark USB Spintrack. They work GREAT, and no need for an additional controller board, they're just USB devices.

I used an IPAC4 and have more than enough inputs for all they buttons. An my two main sticks are Ultimarc Ultra 360s so they are also USB devices.

Of course, I have to have a 7 port and 2 4 port USB hubs to drive it all, but that's easy