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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: monkey puzzle on November 10, 2011, 06:19:09 pm

Title: Trackball panel layout
Post by: monkey puzzle on November 10, 2011, 06:19:09 pm

I am going to make a trackball only control panel for my mame cab (in addition to my joystick panel). Does anybody know of any good layouts for this. I can't seem to find any good examples. Should I have 3 buttons? Where should I place the trackball, in the middle or to one side? I am right handed but am not sure which hand to use the trackball with. Never really played any trackball games at the arcade except marble madness.

Title: Re: Trackball panel layout
Post by: mgb on November 10, 2011, 06:43:53 pm

I would say that if you're only gonna have one trackball, why not put the trackball in the middle with 2 buttons on each side (paralleled).
Or you can go two trackballs for the best marble madness action.

Title: Re: Trackball panel layout
Post by: quarterstringer on November 10, 2011, 07:28:38 pm

If you want to play Missile Command, you'll need 3 buttons with the trackball on the right side.

Title: Re: Trackball panel layout
Post by: mgb on November 10, 2011, 08:58:00 pm

Oh yeah, I can't believe I overlooked that. I was trying to think of what trackball games use 3 buttons and I forgot one of my favorites.

Title: Re: Trackball panel layout
Post by: monkey puzzle on November 11, 2011, 02:07:55 am

Ok, do you think I should have trackball in the middle with 3 buttons each side, or just trackball on right with 3 buttons to the left?

Title: Re: Trackball panel layout
Post by: mgb on November 11, 2011, 07:22:00 am

I'm right handed and now that I think about it, I think I would go with the Misille Command setup with the Trackball to the right and the 3 buttons to the left

Title: Re: Trackball panel layout
Post by: LeedsFan on November 14, 2011, 03:34:38 am

If I was building that panel I'd put the TB in the middle with three buttons either side. That means any left or right handed player can play any TB game (including Missile Command) just fine. The two-player Marble Madness panel sounds kinda fun.... but in reality how often would you play 2-player Marble Madness? The expense and hassle of building such a panel would not be worth it at all. Not for me anyway.

Title: Re: Trackball panel layout
Post by: ids on November 14, 2011, 09:47:05 am

3 trackballs, fwiw: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=70639.0 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=70639.0)

Title: Re: Trackball panel layout
Post by: monkey puzzle on November 15, 2011, 12:40:21 pm

Thanks for advice. I've decided to go for 3 buttons on left, trackball on right. I would have gone for 3 buttons either side, but I've run out of buttons, and don't really want to buy 2 more from overseas.