newbie control panel

[bafio_babooshka]

Hello All,

I have been eyeing this forum for quite some time now and I would like some help on a control panel I'm thinking of build for a mame cabinet.  I'm planning on building my mame cabinet this upcoming winter, I'm just now in the planning and what the cost is going to be stage.  I would like to build an all in one control panel for 4 players.  Here are the main parts I'm planning on getting not including wiring and wood.

I-PAC 4 Interface
U-TRAK Revolutionary new arcade trackball
Optional Trim Bezel for U-Trak
SpinTrak Rotary Control
Knob for SpinTrak
2 Mag-Stik Pluses
2 Competition Joysticks
30 Classic Pushbuttons
4 Start Logo Pushbuttons

Does this look like it's covering everything that I'll need?  I was going to also get a 4 way joystick but when I read more I figured using the Mag-Stik would eliminate that need.  I have a few more questions going forward with the design.  Is the Mag-Stik Plus worth getting over the Mag-Stik and is it as easy as it sounds to switch from a 8 way joystick to a 4 way joystick?  Another question is I have seen people using 7 buttons instead of using 6 buttons per player, why the 7 buttons?  Also, will an I-PAC 4 be able to connect to all 34 pushbuttons and 4 joysticks or will I need to do something different there?  One last question I have is below I have a very simple layout of the control panel I'm thinking of going with, does it look like it will work ok?  For the credit buttons I'm thinking of hiding them on the bottom of the control panel, I'm also trying to decide if I should try and use a working coin machine or not.



These forums have been very helpful!  I'll make sure to show pictures of my little project when I'm done.

[severdhed]

looks like a good plan....

first, to answer your questions:

the ipac 4 has 56 inputs, each joystick = 4 inputs, so 4x4=16 + 34 = 50, so you still have a few inputs left over.

you may want to do some reading on the magstik.  it seems as if alot of people buy them because they are switchable, and end up replacing them because they dont like the feel of them.   also, the magsticks will look physically different than the happ sticks.

if i were you, i'd either get U360s for player 1 and 2, or get all happ 8way sticks, and install a dedicated 4way (ultimarc J-stik makes an excellent 4way)

as for admin buttons...it is my belief that Less is more.  i'm not sure what exactly you are planning on with the UP/Down/list buttons, but those can all be accomplished with your existing controls.  for instance, instead of up and down buttons, why not use the joystick up or down?  map one of your regular buttons to change lists.  pause and exit are must have buttons, but Start is not.  most front ends will use the player 1 start button to launch the game, so you wont need a dedicated start button.


also, make a cardboard mockup of yoru panel to make sure the layout works for your.

[bkenobi]

I use 7 buttons on my 2p CP.  Basically, the 4 bottom ones are used for Neo Geo games and the 6 button part is for Capcom 6 button fighters.  I personally use my lower 4 buttons to play everything that is 4 or less buttons and only use the 6 button setup for 5 and 6 button games.

[bafio_babooshka]

Thanks for the quick answers.  I am alittle confused does the UltraStik switch automatically depending on the game to a 4 way or 8 way joystick?  Also, from what I read if I get the Optional Wiring Harness for the two UltraStik 360 joysticks then I should only need the I-PAC 2 to connect the 2 Competition joysticks and remaining buttons. 

Thanks for clarifying on the 7 button layout, and yep I will be doing a cardboard cutout before I start working on the actual control panel.  I may or may not change the frontend buttons, I go back and forth because I like a clean look of less buttons too.  That's the main reason I'm thinking of not going with a dedicated 4 way joystick and also why I'm placing the credit buttons on the bottom of the control panel.  I also like the idea of having all of my frontend buttons right in the one spot like I have it at the same time.  I'm also considering putting the frontend buttons up into the bezel like I have seen other people do.

BTW up and down simply go up and down the list on the frontend.  List will be used to sort the game lists from 4 player to 1 player, from sports to shooter and so on.

[DaveMMR]

BTW up and down simply go up and down the list on the frontend.  List will be used to sort the game lists from 4 player to 1 player, from sports to shooter and so on.

As severdhed said, those buttons are unnecessary.  The joystick handles moving through the list quite well (and that's the first thing guests will try and use anyhow).  On top of that, any action button can switch a list quite easily (you can put "instructions" on the front end layout).   Avoid gratuitous buttons, it leads to confusion, extra work, and a "cluttered" appearance.   

Secondly I'd move the spinner up and away from the trackballl.  You have plenty of room to work with.

Lastly, move your buttons a little closer together.   They look a little too spaced out from the graphic (that's assuming it was measured. If that's not the case, sorry). 

Other than that, it looks good. 

[arzoo]

Thanks for the quick answers.  I am alittle confused does the UltraStik switch automatically depending on the game to a 4 way or 8 way joystick?  Also, from what I read if I get the Optional Wiring Harness for the two UltraStik 360 joysticks then I should only need the I-PAC 2 to connect the 2 Competition joysticks and remaining buttons. 

Yes - with additional software the u360 can be switched based on the selected game. It supports 2-way, 4-way, 8-way, analog, mouse, or any custom map you create.

[severdhed]

the u360s are awesome. i put off spending the money for them for a long time, but i eventually broke down and decided to go for it..and man am i glad i did.  they work great.  they work as well in street fighter 2 as they do for donkey kong, and they are awesome for qbert

[bafio_babooshka]

Thanks for all the help everyone.  I think I'll go with the 2 u360's now and the competition joysticks for the other two.  Now that you mention it that spinner would probably work better moved back more away from the trackball.  That picture really is just a simple layout plan, no measurements involved with it.  What I'm going to do is when I order all my parts I'll make a true layout plan with measurements and cut everything out with a piece of cardboard making sure it feels and looks right before I go and do the real thing.

With my frontend buttons I'll leave out the Up, Down, and List buttons.  I'll keep the Start, Pause, and Exit buttons.  I'll probably put these buttons on the bezel to give the control panel an even cleaner look to it. 

I'm planning on starting this project this fall/winter just depends when I get the money for all the parts.  Adding everything up the control panel alone will cost around 450 dollars    It'll be major fun to build though!  I still have to decide a theme for my mame cabinet.  I'm leaning towards making one with stuff I liked from the 80's growing up Ghostbusters, TMNT, Thundercats, ect.  Simpsons is also my all time favorite arcade game so I might do something there as well.

[Ginsu Victim]

Thanks for all the help everyone.  I think I'll go with the 2 u360's now and the competition joysticks for the other two. 

If you're ordering U360s, you might as well make player 3 and 4 the J-stik ball-tops so that everything will match.

[severdhed]

Thanks for all the help everyone.  I think I'll go with the 2 u360's now and the competition joysticks for the other two. 

If you're ordering U360s, you might as well make player 3 and 4 the J-stik ball-tops so that everything will match.

i agree.  the j-stik should look identical to the u360..if you care about stuff like that

[bafio_babooshka]

Yea it'll probably look better with all the joysticks looking the exact same, I'll keep that in mind when I get everything ordered.

[arzoo]

Adding everything up the control panel alone will cost around 450 dollars    

You can do better than $450 - light up your buttons with LEDs! 

[bafio_babooshka]

I'll keep that in mind if I ever want to add the bling.  For now 450-500 bucks for a control panel will get me in a bunch of trouble as is 

[bkenobi]

Just tell her that you will be saving money if you buy the LED buttons, sticks, and Trackball now.  If you have to buy it later, you will have wasted the money on these controls 

[Ginsu Victim]

If you have to buy it later, you will have wasted the money on these controls 

And some of us see lighted pushbuttons as a waste of money in the first place....

[bkenobi]

I don't disagree.  I've contemplated lighted buttons, but I like the way my CP is set up just fine so I see no reason to spend the extra couple hundred dollars.  Just because some people have lighted joysticks, buttons, trackballs, spinners, etc. DOES NOT mean that you have to do it too.

In the end it's your cab.  Build it however you want it to look and enjoy it!

[severdhed]

i think full lighted pushbuttons are a waste of money..however i did opt for lighted exit and pause buttons.  it allows them to be obviously different than the rest, plus that way i could easily label them..  i highly recommend the novagems from groovygamegear. 

[bkenobi]

I do have lighted coin reject buttons, but those had lights already installed.