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Author Topic: Control Panel Layout Idea  (Read 3209 times)

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Red 5

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Control Panel Layout Idea
« on: October 14, 2009, 12:46:27 pm »
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
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Ginsu Victim

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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #1 on: October 14, 2009, 12:59:11 pm »
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.

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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #2 on: October 14, 2009, 01:24:57 pm »
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
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doctorhifi

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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #3 on: October 14, 2009, 01:51:27 pm »
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.



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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2009, 02:01:17 pm »
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
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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2009, 02:03:06 pm »
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:

@@@
 @

Or:

@@
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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #6 on: October 14, 2009, 02:15:42 pm »
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!

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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2009, 02:21:08 pm »
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

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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2009, 02:57:19 pm »
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.

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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #9 on: October 14, 2009, 03:41:56 pm »
Ok, taking the comments so far I made some changes.

I'm going to cut a few button combos.

Jon
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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #10 on: October 14, 2009, 03:51:48 pm »
Trackball is too high up now.

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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #11 on: October 14, 2009, 03:56:15 pm »
Ya the trackball should be as far from screen as possible, and nothing directly above it for optimal use. 

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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #12 on: October 14, 2009, 04:06:43 pm »
How about this?

jon
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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #13 on: October 14, 2009, 04:24:08 pm »
Better, though I think your player one joystick is too close to the edge when it needn't be.

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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #14 on: October 14, 2009, 04:53:08 pm »
Huge improvement from when I last saw your layout.   :applaud:

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...

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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #15 on: October 14, 2009, 05:33:06 pm »
Ok, I moved player one over an inch.

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

Jon
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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #16 on: October 14, 2009, 05:34:43 pm »
I think we have a winner.  :applaud:

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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #17 on: October 14, 2009, 05:51:32 pm »
Looks good!   :cheers:

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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #18 on: October 14, 2009, 07:04:33 pm »
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.

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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #19 on: October 14, 2009, 07:08:42 pm »
Is your wrist going to lay on P1 buttons when using the spinner?

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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #20 on: October 14, 2009, 07:38:45 pm »
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
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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #21 on: October 14, 2009, 07:41:22 pm »
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
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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #22 on: October 14, 2009, 07:42:29 pm »
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

« Last Edit: October 14, 2009, 07:46:49 pm by Gamester »
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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #23 on: October 14, 2009, 07:49:51 pm »
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.

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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #24 on: October 14, 2009, 07:50:04 pm »
Here is another version with the spinner moved to the other side.
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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #25 on: October 14, 2009, 07:51:29 pm »
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.
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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #26 on: October 15, 2009, 07:52:25 am »
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?

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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #27 on: October 15, 2009, 08:33:55 am »
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.

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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #28 on: October 15, 2009, 09:00:19 am »
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
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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #29 on: October 15, 2009, 01:24:43 pm »
Ok, I made some progress today.

I just cut the player one side.

Jon
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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #30 on: October 15, 2009, 01:26:10 pm »
Looking good Red.   :applaud:
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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #31 on: October 15, 2009, 01:27:41 pm »
Here it is loaded.

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


Jon
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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #32 on: October 15, 2009, 01:34:06 pm »
Cool, a metal CP, we don't see a ton of those.  Is this going on an existing cab or a new build?

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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #33 on: October 15, 2009, 01:43:22 pm »
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.
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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #34 on: October 15, 2009, 07:44:27 pm »
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.   ;-)

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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #35 on: October 16, 2009, 07:25:16 am »
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'   ;)
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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #36 on: October 19, 2009, 09:33:08 am »
Here is what I hope is the final version. 6 buttons per player.

Jon
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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #37 on: October 19, 2009, 09:50:47 am »
That looks perfect.

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Re: Control Panel Layout Idea
« Reply #38 on: October 19, 2009, 10:19:33 am »
Nice!