Control Panel Layout Idea

[Red 5]

In an effort to keep things under control and not go down the FrankenPanel route, I have the following.....

I went with four button each as I do not really play games with more that 3 but I thought 4 might be better.

Joysticks are Mag Sticks.

Comments.........

Jon

[Ginsu Victim]

I don't know where to start.....

You won't be playing Golden Tee or World Class Bowling without breaking fingers. It looks like player two has to use the joystick in his right hand, so that's weird.

It's original, I'll give you that, but I'm puzzled by your layout.

[Red 5]

I don't know where to start.....

You won't be playing Golden Tee or World Class Bowling without breaking fingers. It looks like player two has to use the joystick in his right hand, so that's weird.

It's original, I'll give you that, but I'm puzzled by your layout.

I have never played Golden Tee. I will have to give it a try.

I agree about player 2. But since player 2 will be my wife most of the time and she is left handed, she thinks this might be better for her.


Thanks for the comments.

Jon

[doctorhifi]

Looks like you may have chosen symmetry over utility?
I agree with Ginsu Victim and suggest you will rue the day you placed your trackball in that cofiguration.

[Red 5]

Looks like you may have chosen symmetry over utility?
I agree with Ginsu Victim and suggest you will rue the day you placed your trackball in that cofiguration.

How much space should you have between the TrackBall and the Spinner? Right now I have it at just over 4.75"

Jon

[DashRendar]

Me personally, I would have only 3 buttons in a row.  I think (for me) that 4 in a row like that would be harder to reach with one hand.

Maybe do it like:

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Or:

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[markronz]

I concur with what others have said.   If you are building this arcade with the intention of just you and your wife solely playing it, then great, whatever works best for you.   If you have friends who will be coming over and playing with you, like at all, then I would reconsider your layout.   I just know that I couldn't handle the wrong sided joystick.   And even other lefties might not like it too.  When you go to a real arcade, they don't pander to lefties either.   So they likely have been using "righty" controllers all their life.   So I would think that this would even feel weird to them.   If they've never played video games before, well then I guess it's fine too.

If you placed the controls in this way simply for aesthetic reasons, or for symmetry you should definitely reconsider.   You can still achieve a very clean symmetric look without flip flopping the buttons like that.  I attached a picture of my control panel.   The controls are symetric, even though the joysticks are on the same sides.  

I would have to agree with others on the golden tee / bowling comments as well.   That's the one regret of my control panel is that I put the exit button at the top, above the track ball.  So when I give the trackball a good push, I have to pay attention to not hit the button and accidentally exit the game.   In your case, they might stub their fingers on other controls that are on top.    If you have the trackball there just for games like centipede and etc, then maybe it will be ok, but even still.   I find it's best to plan ahead just in case down the road you want to play these other games.

The big piece of advice that I give to everyone, and I can't stress this enough.   BUILD A TEST CONTROL PANEL.    It doesn't matter if you use ply wood, card board, whatever.  Just build it and play a few games with it.   If the controls are uncomfortable, it should be apparently pretty quickly.  

With control panels it's a very personal thing.   So if you're pleased with how this CP operates as you have it currently laid out, then go for it!

[doctorhifi]

How much space should you have between the TrackBall and the Spinner? Right now I have it at just over 4.75"




I can't say for sure but I know from my own experience that even though I have nothing above my trackball except the glass covering the TV, I've had a few overzealous people whack the glass (slightly) playing Goldentee and bowling.  

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=67989.0;attach=107193;image

[Ginsu Victim]

I agree about player 2. But since player 2 will be my wife most of the time and she is left handed, she thinks this might be better for her.

I'm left-handed and that would mess me up.

[Red 5]

Ok, taking the comments so far I made some changes.

I'm going to cut a few button combos.

Jon

[Ginsu Victim]

Trackball is too high up now.

[syph007]

Ya the trackball should be as far from screen as possible, and nothing directly above it for optimal use. 

[Red 5]

How about this?

jon

[Ginsu Victim]

Better, though I think your player one joystick is too close to the edge when it needn't be.

[markronz]

Huge improvement from when I last saw your layout.   

Player 1 I guess is close to the edge, but if everything is spatially accurate in your diagram, and I'm sure it is, you don't have much choice.   You could probably move it over about maybe and inch I would think though...

[Red 5]

Ok, I moved player one over an inch.

I'm using AutoCAD and everything is drawn 1:1

Jon

[Ginsu Victim]

I think we have a winner. 

[markronz]

Looks good!   

[syph007]

Yup looks good.  The only other think you 'might' do is add a 6th button since you do have the room.  Never know you might want to at least try some of the fighters... I mean since you already have 5, 6 isnt a ton more.

[bkenobi]

Is your wrist going to lay on P1 buttons when using the spinner?

[Red 5]

Yup looks good.  The only other think you 'might' do is add a 6th button since you do have the room.  Never know you might want to at least try some of the fighters... I mean since you already have 5, 6 isnt a ton more.

One of those buttons under the 3 is going to go away. I only have 28 inputs right now (I-Pac).

I'm going to burn a couple of panels in the morning and see which feels the best.

Jon

[Red 5]

Is your wrist going to lay on P1 buttons when using the spinner?

Yeah, as you can see the Oscar spinner takes a little more room, so I just can not place it anywhere.

I might make a panel with the TT2 and see how that works, I just really want to use the Oscar though.

Jon

[Gamester]

My question is what are you going to use as the "fire" buttons for the spinner?  With the spinner there, it doesn't seem feasible to use the Player1 buttons...  Are the player2 buttons close enough to use them comfortably?  You might want to consider a button or two to the right of the spinner.  There wouldn't be any worries about accidentally pressing them like there is with admin buttons, since they wouldn't need to be active for trackball games.

Also, not sure what spinner you're using for your sketch, but being as tight as you are on space, you might want to consider using the GGG TurboTwist2 spinner, which is probably the smallest diameter spinner body out there (not much bigger around than the buttons).  (EDIT: you covered this option while I was typing my post)

My $0.02

[Ginsu Victim]

One of those buttons under the 3 is going to go away. I only have 28 inputs right now (I-Pac).

You only have 21 taken up so far on that panel.

[Red 5]

Here is another version with the spinner moved to the other side.

[Red 5]

One of those buttons under the 3 is going to go away. I only have 28 inputs right now (I-Pac).

You only have 21 taken up so far on that panel.

Coin door, flipper and bump are not in the panel.

[syph007]

Yup looks good.  The only other think you 'might' do is add a 6th button since you do have the room.  Never know you might want to at least try some of the fighters... I mean since you already have 5, 6 isnt a ton more.

One of those buttons under the 3 is going to go away. I only have 28 inputs right now (I-Pac).

I'm going to burn a couple of panels in the morning and see which feels the best.

Jon

But the pinball buttons dont need dedicated inputs.  Why not wire them in parallel to P1 game buttons?

[Ginsu Victim]

Yup looks good.  The only other think you 'might' do is add a 6th button since you do have the room.  Never know you might want to at least try some of the fighters... I mean since you already have 5, 6 isnt a ton more.

One of those buttons under the 3 is going to go away. I only have 28 inputs right now (I-Pac).

I'm going to burn a couple of panels in the morning and see which feels the best.

Jon

But the pinball buttons dont need dedicated inputs.  Why not wire them in parallel to P1 game buttons?

Yep.

[Red 5]

But the pinball buttons dont need dedicated inputs.  Why not wire them in parallel to P1 game buttons?

Ok, I was unsure what most did on those. That makes sense.

Jon

[Red 5]

Ok, I made some progress today.

I just cut the player one side.

Jon

[DashRendar]

Looking good Red.   

[Red 5]

Here it is loaded.

I really like the feel. I think I'm going to add the 6th button for sure.


Jon

[syph007]

Cool, a metal CP, we don't see a ton of those.  Is this going on an existing cab or a new build?

[Red 5]

Cool, a metal CP, we don't see a ton of those.  Is this going on an existing cab or a new build?

It is an existing cab. A Super Buster Bros conversion.

[DaveMMR]

Here it is loaded.

I really like the feel. I think I'm going to add the 6th button for sure.


Jon

You'll probably be glad you did in the long run.   ;-)

[BamBam]

I don't know where to start.....

You won't be playing Golden Tee or World Class Bowling without breaking fingers. It looks like player two has to use the joystick in his right hand, so that's weird.

It's original, I'll give you that, but I'm puzzled by your layout.

I have never played Golden Tee. I will have to give it a try.

I agree about player 2. But since player 2 will be my wife most of the time and she is left handed, she thinks this might be better for her.


Thanks for the comments.

Jon

Touche'   

[Red 5]

Here is what I hope is the final version. 6 buttons per player.

Jon

[Ginsu Victim]

That looks perfect.

[doctorhifi]

Nice!