Need advice on my control panel plans

[F3N1X85]

Hi guys, I'm a first time builder. Got the software down, now I'm planning my control board. Found a place that will make a custom unit with the holds i need, just need to provide the layout using their free layout tool. Below is an image of what I have planned. Please take a look and lemme know if i have too much/not enough, poorly placed items, etc. FYI the emus im running are MAME, NES, SNES, and Genesis. I've decided on 7 buttons to cover at LEAST the SNES pad which has 4 face buttons and 2 shoulder buttons. I added the 7th because I read that neogeo games have a 7 button scheme and I haven't tested all my roms to verify how many each use, I figure the extra button won't hurt. The middle balck button is my equivalent of the ESC key, and the white keys are the 1st and 2nd player, each with a coin button. Also considering adding visual pinball, so I may also add a front button for the ball plunger and one on each side for the flippers. Also, the black thing to the left of the track ball is a spinner. Thanks for takin a look.

[DeLuSioNal29]

I like the location of the spinner.  The look of it isn't so aesthetically pleasing, but it's VERY practical.

The buttons concern me though.  Being at an angle would cause the players to stick their elbow out a bit.  It's not an issue with the player on the right, but the left player would most certainly jab the other player more easily than if it were straight.  It also makes me tend to turn my body a bit left while playing (to make them straight while I am playing) which would throw the joystick off since it's straight up.  My advice, keep them straight.  Or perhaps if you MUST have them ergonomic, maybe a curved layout would suffice.

Also, keep in mind if you are getting this done through MAMEROOM and you are planning on using the Turbo Twist 2 from Groovygamegear.com, you'll have to put a button in place of the spinner knob in your final layout, since the TT2 fits into a standard button hole.  The worst would be if you were to order it with the standard spinner hole (bigger) and then the TT2 wouldn't fit.  You could always make the hold bigger, but not smaller with a drill.

Good Luck!

DeLuSioNaL

[Endaar]

I think my right arm would be resting exactly where the spinner is located, so I'm not too fond of the location. Also, I'd consider moving the Exit button, because you will hit it accidentally while using the trackball. Put it somewhere out of the way; mine is in the upper-right corner.

Get the pinball holes cut; five buttons are cheap enough and they're nice to have.

[F3N1X85]

Thanks u guys for the feedback! I made some slight adjustments based on ur advice. Hows this look:

Get the pinball holes cut; five buttons are cheap enough and they're nice to have.

Are 5 buttons needed for Visual Pinball? I assume 2 per side and one front.

[NelsonPJ]

For Visual Pinball I use six buttons on my cab: Plunger button, Left and Right flipper buttons, Left and Right "bump" buttons, Front "bump" button.

[F3N1X85]

For Visual Pinball I use six buttons on my cab: Plunger button, Left and Right flipper buttons, Left and Right "bump" buttons, Front "bump" button.

Good to know, thanks!

[DaveMMR]

Solid layout there (the second revision).  No "button forest" and everything is laid out intuitively.  Try it out for any "tweaking" on cardboard but I don't think you'll have any problems with that. 

[Endaar]

Looks good, but mock it up in cardboard. I think most of us who have done so made at least a couple of changes afterwards.

[F3N1X85]

Solid layout there (the second revision).  No "button forest" and everything is laid out intuitively.  Try it out for any "tweaking" on cardboard but I don't think you'll have any problems with that. 

I'm actually makin a board outta scrap wood. I have the emus and front end set on a pc. Gonna be a while before i get a real cab and board. Gonna buy em both from a site. I've tried to find cabs online but none near me. And i live in an apartment so building a cab is outta the question. I'm getting the scraps from my dad. Even so, def gonna mock it up before i drill.

[GaryMcT]

I prefer the neo geo thumb button farther away from the other buttons, but that's a personal preference (and the result of huge hands).

Looks like a really good layout!

[F3N1X85]

-deleted-

[severdhed]

looks good to me

[mytymaus007]

Looks great!!! if you are into TRON get a happ trigger flight stick youll want it after finish your CP and start playing games trust me i didnt want one at first thank god i left enough room for one. I had to take everything out to cut the hole for the stick.
Also if you like Qbert and Congo bongo you'll need a 4 way rotated 45 degrees which you have enough room above the player one buttons

[GaryMcT]

If you want qbert and congo bongo, get an ultrastik 360 instead of adding another stick.