Main > Main Forum
Williams Multi Control Panel Layout
jukingeo:
--- Quote from: Kevin Mullins on January 02, 2010, 03:31:12 pm ---
So are you planning on having a "third" joystick on your panel then ?
--- End quote ---
No I refer to the right joystick as the 'center' joystick because that is pretty much where it is in relation to the panel. I do have intentions on making this joystick different as well. It has to have both 8way and 4 way capability. Most 4 way games have this joystick in the 'center'. So sorry if I threw you off by saying 'center' joystick.
--- Quote from: Kevin Mullins on January 02, 2010, 03:37:19 pm ---
Ain't none of them 100% Williams anyways.....so no harm done. ;)
--- End quote ---
Oh, yeah, referring to newer Multi-Williams, yeah. There was quite the mess when Williams closed down their pinball division at around the turn of the century. I don't know when they stopped making video game machines. Outside of the Multi-Williams, I have not seen a Williams branded video game in a long time. I know that Williams is still in business, but they only make gambling machines now.
--- Quote from: CheffoJeffo on January 02, 2010, 03:08:45 pm ---I did not know this.
I have Illustrator 8.0 but must learn how to use it one of these days. :P
--- End quote ---
Usually with vectoring programs you can do this. However, the programs Photo Shop and Illustrator are Eeeexpensive. Out of my pocketbook range that is for sure.
However, I didn't know that Gimp (Linux) could handle vectors. I have to see if they have one for Puppy Linux. Once the aftermath of the holidays pass, I have to work on getting my Ubuntu machine back up.
But I think I can make a cardboard mockup using the Defender dimensions. So I can start off with something.
Geo
Kevin Mullins:
--- Quote from: jukingeo on January 03, 2010, 12:57:55 am ---No I refer to the right joystick as the 'center' joystick because that is pretty much where it is in relation to the panel. I do have intentions on making this joystick different as well. It has to have both 8way and 4 way capability. Most 4 way games have this joystick in the 'center'. So sorry if I threw you off by saying 'center' joystick.
--- End quote ---
Ah, I see now. Makes sense.
Was scratching my head thinking "man, how is he gonna cram three sticks on that panel ?".
--- Quote from: jukingeo on January 03, 2010, 12:57:55 am ---I know that Williams is still in business, but they only make gambling machines now.
--- End quote ---
Yeah... WMS... I have worked on a few of those too.
spystyle:
So there is all this talk about the layout of the controls being uncomfortable, is someone going to make a perfect layout?
I get the impression the button closest to the left stick should be closer for Defender but further for other games, could this problem be solved by simply adding another button?
Let's see some solutions to this ergonomic dilemma :)
Here is my idea :
And what about an easy-on easy-off restrictor that can be slipped over the joystick shaft to make it into a 2-way for Defender and Stargate ?
Also, have there been any complaints about the height of the Defender stick? Wasn't the original Defender stick lower than a regular 8-way?
CheffoJeffo:
Interesting ideas ...
For me, the challenge of the MW panel is balancing the vastly different gameplay -- Defender and Joust sticks are both pretty short, but nothing beats 4" Wicos for Robotron. Add to that sticks for Bubbles, Blaster and (if you're running jrok's board) Sinistar and things can get very messy.
If I were actually any good at Defender or Stargate I would probably need to have two MW cabs (one with just Defender and Stargate and one for Robotron/Splat/Bubbles/Blaster).
spystyle:
Swappable panels would be very easy to make :)