CP Layout theories

[steve42]

I know that all of the Control Panels you guys have designed are based on your own personal experiences (what did I like about the Defender CP, what did I hate about the Joust CP, etc.).

For those of you who have built your first cabinet, did you start with a desktop CP to beta test the layout so you could scrap the top and try again, or did you find someone else's template and just build one hoping it was going to work out for you?

I have two projects I want to start. 

The first will be a dedicated jukebox (furniture quality) based on the early 1950s era jukes (lots of woodgrain with few lights) to go into our living room.  It will feature only small square A-J and 0-9 pushbuttons and left/right arrowheads for paging through the screens.  I plan to add a coin slot for token use.  No other buttons will be used, but a drawer or side door will hold a wireless keyboard and mouse for advanced control needs.

The second will be a MAME cabinet.  I was never a big video gamer (I played more pinball than anything), so I don't have a preconceived notion of button layouts, other than knowing that I want side buttons for flippers and bumps. 

So anyway, how did you decide the layout you wanted to use?

Steve

[HaRuMaN]

make a cardboard mockup

[steve42]

make a cardboard mockup

Will a cardboard mockup be durable to stand up during gameplay?  I would assume it would take a few rounds of your favorite games to find out that you don't like the placement of the controls.

[jeremymtc]

I am about to begin construction on my own first MAME cabinet project, and face similar quandaries. I've been using a HotrodSE desktop controller for the better part of 10 years, so I am using its layout as a kind of starting point. However, I am adding control schemes which were not present on the HotRod, so there will be a certain amount of trial and error involved most likely.

Control panels are pretty easy to fabricate, so my own advice would be to use common sense to establish a preliminary layout based on the types of games you'll play most, and then test and modify from there.

[Paul Olson]

make a cardboard mockup

Will a cardboard mockup be durable to stand up during gameplay?  I would assume it would take a few rounds of your favorite games to find out that you don't like the placement of the controls.

I used hardboard when I made my mockup. It is thick enough that you can test your layout, but it is also easy to cut and drill. A 2' x 4' sheet is about $5. Well worth the cost.

[Necro]

Second the hardboard.  I'm using that and have used it as well.  You can actually use it for quite some time...

(it's just ugly as hell)

[thomascirca]

I used cardboard when designing mine. It works well, and its cheap. Depending on your cabinet, you can use it temporarily to test gameplay. I would also recommend using a shoe box or something similiar. It really just boils down to what game of CP you want. Four player? Two player?o you want to build a franken panel with every arcade accessory on it?

BTW here's what my setup looked like when I was testing things: