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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: francmusic on January 16, 2006, 06:07:11 pm

Title: Defender control panel - 2 players
Post by: francmusic on January 16, 2006, 06:07:11 pm
I'am looking for some examples (vector files) of Defender control panel redesigned for 2 players. How to make two players panel with 7 buttons/player in original Defender dimensions?
Title: Re: Defender control panel - 2 players
Post by: soulblazer28 on January 18, 2006, 11:44:49 pm
I thought about this for a while myself. In a typical 7 button fighter configuration, player 1 button 7 could be used for the reverse, and player 2 button 7 could be used as the inviso, while strong-punch, fierce punch (sf terms) would be thrust and shoot respectively.  Maybe it might work, maybe it would feel too uncomfortable. 

I decided to just make a dedicated stargate panel instead, moving the hyperspace button a few inches right of the shoot button where it is more easily accesible, and in the middle of the panel will be a four way joystick.  The minimal cost for this extra panel is small compared to the joy of playing Stargate again and trying to break that 2.2 million barrier of mine. Though I dont expect my skill and reflex would have improved after 15 years. *sigH* how i miss those Yllabian dogfights.

Of course I haven't actually built them yet, parts are in route to build the prototype :)  But just a thought.
Title: Re: Defender control panel - 2 players
Post by: erikthecat on January 19, 2006, 08:26:05 am
i don't think there is enough space on an original size panel for everything:)
Title: Re: Defender control panel - 2 players
Post by: mahuti on January 19, 2006, 09:23:08 am
My cab; click here (http://homepage.mac.com/mahuti/defendercade/PhotoAlbum46.html)
Title: Re: Defender control panel - 2 players
Post by: Havok on January 19, 2006, 11:33:32 am
My cab; click here (http://homepage.mac.com/mahuti/defendercade/PhotoAlbum46.html)

Not to de-rail the thread, but I like your fighter layout on your cab - I am planning a similiar removable panel on my cab, the panels will be 24 x 10, which looks to be around the same size as yours. Do you have a visio diagram of your layout, or measurements?

Now, back to the thread at hand...

I don't see why you couldn't use the fighter panel for defender, I guess it just depends if you want an "authentic" layout or not.
Title: Re: Defender control panel - 2 players
Post by: tristan on January 19, 2006, 11:43:07 am
The Defender panel is 24.5"X8. I was working on a redesign, but I may change it again to be 4 button Neo-Geo layout. I have a full sized .tiff file if anyone is interested:


Title: Re: Defender control panel - 2 players
Post by: pmc on January 19, 2006, 07:47:10 pm
i don't think there is enough space on an original size panel for everything:)

It fits. I have a 2-player six-button fighter layout on that panel. Looks alot like these other guys' panels. Works great although elbow room is a little tight.

-pmc
Title: Re: Defender control panel - 2 players
Post by: slycrel on January 20, 2006, 07:06:22 pm
I have a fighter style layout on my cab as well.  It fits, but it's a bit tight.  I accidentally drilled my start buttons in the wrong place so I actually have two extra buttons at the top.  I had to be a bit creative (with a saw) when fitting it into the original cabinet after that though.

I also have vector art (in adobe illustrator) of the sideart for Defender I picked up from somewhere.  If anyone cares.  :D
Title: Re: Defender control panel - 2 players
Post by: mahuti on January 21, 2006, 01:08:09 am
you can get that defender art from the Arcade Art Library. Link in my sig.
Title: Re: Defender control panel - 2 players
Post by: francmusic on February 16, 2006, 03:14:47 am
Ok. I think it's my final version of my defender-styled  CP artwork for 2 players  :D
What do you think? It's will be panel for defender cab, so I chose simple, classic graphics.
(http://www.francmuz.webd.pl/panel/defender_station.jpg)
I tested pushbuttons and it's working very good and confortable.

Thanks soulblazer28  for your suggestion. :)

Next step is replace all "non-defender" color pushbuttons on black pushbuttons for better looking.
Title: Re: Defender control panel - 2 players
Post by: quarterback on February 16, 2006, 10:49:49 pm
Ok. I think it's my final version of my defender-styled  CP artwork for 2 players  :D
What do you think?


I tested pushbuttons and it's working very good and confortable.

To me, those buttons all look very far apart from each other.
Title: Re: Defender control panel - 2 players
Post by: francmusic on February 17, 2006, 07:36:34 am
1) Circle on my image is only mounting hole for pushbutton (1.13 ") so it's not bezel size.

2)
 
_123
_456
7

From pushbutton centre #1 to #2, #2-#3, #4-#5, #5-#6 distance is : 4,5 cm (1,77").
Between #1-#4, #2-#5, #3-#6  : 4,5 cm too.

Only from centre of #4 to #7 is 5 cm (1,96 ").
For Defender, only Hyperspace placement is not so good. Others are ok.
For others games it's ok.
Title: Re: Defender control panel - 2 players
Post by: soulblazer28 on February 17, 2006, 10:07:50 pm
You dont play stargate? No inviso :(

I'm planning to do the same for my cab except my fire/thrust will be on the first row (button 2-3) so the seventh button acts as the inviso. I'll have to try to see how comfortable it will be to play while having buttons 5-6 "in the way". I was going to build a separate panel but I'm not so sure anymore. I dont even wash my lunch dish to serve dinner....

How many times do you really press Hyperspace in defender?  I think I use it maybe 3-4 times during the course of a two hour game, and half the time its instant death anyway. In your setup, I'd probably map the hyperspace to button 3 on the second player. It's easier to get to.

Also, if you have it built already, I'd love to know how well you're going to hit that reverse button in the long run. I was thinking i'd have to cut away into the joystick base to get the button closer. I know there was one guy in the forum that did that before.
Title: Re: Defender control panel - 2 players
Post by: francmusic on February 18, 2006, 01:55:00 am
Mame offer to config keyboard definition for each game separetly and it's great. For stargate invisio will be used of course but without extra description on panel artwork (it's defedner-based panel  ;) )
It's true. Hyperspace is rarely used.

The centre of reverse button is 9 cm (3.5 ") from centre of joystick.
For me it's ok.
It's not easy to install reverse button closer to joystick. Look at inside photo of my panel.
(http://www.francmuz.webd.pl/panel/0.jpg)
(http://www.francmuz.webd.pl/panel/2.jpg)
(http://www.francmuz.webd.pl/panel/reverse.jpg)
Title: Re: Defender control panel - 2 players
Post by: francmusic on March 15, 2006, 03:05:51 pm
Ok. Here you are more pictures:
What do you think? How to put together wood and plexi? Glue or screws?

(http://www.francmuz.webd.pl/panel/cut.jpg)
(http://www.francmuz.webd.pl/panel/plexi_drill.jpg)
(http://www.francmuz.webd.pl/panel/plexi_1.jpg)
(http://www.francmuz.webd.pl/panel/plexi_2.jpg)
(http://www.francmuz.webd.pl/panel/full_1.jpg)
Title: Re: Defender control panel - 2 players
Post by: Havok on March 16, 2006, 01:12:11 pm
That looks great!