The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: RandyT on February 21, 2008, 03:24:39 pm

Title: Now Ready! - "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: RandyT on February 21, 2008, 03:24:39 pm: (http://www.groovygamegear.com/Store_Images/web_beast.jpg)

This idea has been kicking around awhile, and we just got the equipment and materials in to do it properly. I'm pleased with the result, so I had to show it off :)

This is a variation of the TokenTop knob designed for the TurboTwist2 Spinner. It has all the same features (Accu-Twist, solid stainless construction, etc.) but instead of the inlaid token, it features a translucent graphic which captures the light reflected from the underlying spun metallic surface of the knob. The image is heat and pressure bonded into the surface of the outdoor grade vinyl substrate, and is therefore very durable and scratch / moisture / UV resistant.

The "Web Beast" design was sent to me quite some while ago by PoDunkMoFo and is just one of several designs that are planned. I'd like to offer a good selection of designs, so I'm looking for suggestions on what type of artwork you would like to see on a spinner knob.

I'd also like to mention to any control panel manufacturers out there that we'd be happy to provide a custom version (company logos, etc) for small quantities of these at no extra charge.

Thanks for taking the time to check it out and I look forward to hearing any comments.

RandyT
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: Lutus on February 21, 2008, 03:36:26 pm: Will these be the same price as the TokenTop? I know, kinda jumping the gun...

I am looking for something more....... I guess universal is a good term. Something nearly exactly like this but without the beast face, in other words, just the blue grid. Stuff like that.

Looking good though.... I am sure the Artwork guys could get you about 1000 ideas!
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: Daniel B. on February 21, 2008, 03:55:32 pm: Randy,

Is there any plans for "one offs" to be run? Obviously you would need to print many to fill the space on the stock, but say you have 20 guys all want one custom one.....

Just throwing it out there
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: RandyT on February 21, 2008, 04:03:56 pm: Quote from: Lutus on February 21, 2008, 03:36:26 pm
Will these be the same price as the TokenTop? I know, kinda jumping the gun...

Yes, same price.

Quote
I am looking for something more....... I guess universal is a good term. Something nearly exactly like this but without the beast face, in other words, just the blue grid. Stuff like that.

Noted. Certainly that approach will lend itself to many designs, so it's a good direction to start in. Thanks.

Quote from: Daniel B. on February 21, 2008, 03:55:32 pm
Is there any plans for "one offs" to be run? Obviously you would need to print many to fill the space on the stock, but say you have 20 guys all want one custom one.....

That would be the limiter. I'd need to run "one-offs" in groups or while running other stock images. Because of the extra time involved in doing them (File transfers, artwork adjustments, etc) , I'd be happier doing them if it was original art and the person gave permission to have it included in the stock offerings for the rest of the community to use as well, but I'll try to accommodate regardless.

RandyT
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: Daniel B. on February 21, 2008, 04:16:11 pm: Is there any design specifications that must be met? What type of file are you needing/resolution etc?
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: ahofle on February 21, 2008, 04:29:12 pm: Quote from: RandyT on February 21, 2008, 03:24:39 pm
so I'm looking for suggestions on what type of artwork you would like to see on a spinner knob.

(http://www.localarcade.com/arcade_art/data/thumbnails/6/Tron_Spinner.jpg)

;D
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: Ginsu Victim on February 21, 2008, 04:33:02 pm: ^What I was thinking, but wanted to see who would say it first.
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: waveryder on February 21, 2008, 04:42:23 pm: What size/colour/complexity requirements are you looking for?
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: RandyT on February 21, 2008, 04:49:16 pm: Quote from: ahofle on February 21, 2008, 04:29:12 pm
;D

As long as the white was to be shiny-metal and you are happy with something similar, it's a possibility.

Quote from: waveryder on February 21, 2008, 04:42:23 pm
What size/colour/complexity requirements are you looking for?

For this model, the images can be the size of a token (.984") and the resolution should be at 1200 dpi minimum. More is fine (even preferable), as I can always scale it down to fit. Scaling up is not so good.

RandyT
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: TheShanMan on February 21, 2008, 05:37:18 pm: Quote from: ahofle on February 21, 2008, 04:29:12 pm
Quote from: RandyT on February 21, 2008, 03:24:39 pm
so I'm looking for suggestions on what type of artwork you would like to see on a spinner knob.

(http://www.localarcade.com/arcade_art/data/thumbnails/6/Tron_Spinner.jpg)

;D

I know I'm going to say "duh" once someone gives an answer, but I can't think of what this is from (looks very familiar though)?
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: RandyT on February 21, 2008, 06:15:08 pm: Quote from: TheShanMan on February 21, 2008, 05:37:18 pm
I know I'm going to say "duh" once someone gives an answer, but I can't think of what this is from (looks very familiar though)?

Right click, properties ;D
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: iano on February 21, 2008, 06:32:04 pm: Yes, i'd definitely be interested in buying a Tron one.

:)
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: TheShanMan on February 21, 2008, 06:34:28 pm: Thx. If I had to venture a guess it would have been tron, but since I haven't yet built a swappable panel for playing tron I didn't recognize it. I might just be all over that one if it looks good in final form! I'm hoping to find an original tron stick and I was considering a token top knob for my tempest spinner, so that certainly would be very fitting for that panel!
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: RandyT on February 22, 2008, 09:31:46 pm: (http://www.groovygamegear.com/Store_Images/MAME_Electron.jpg)

Ok, two more to check out. The one on the left is obviously the MAME™ design. The one on the right is the "Electron" design. This one was drawn from scratch, using the graphic shown earlier as inspiration. It's not a copy, so if you want exactitude, look elsewhere. But I think it conveys the essence nicely.

Any other ideas / comments?

RandyT

*MAME™ is a registered trademark of Nicola Salmoria. This product is not endorsed by, nor affiliated with, the MAME Development Team. Used with Permission.
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: ahofle on February 22, 2008, 10:25:53 pm: OMG, how'd you do that so fast?!?!

:notworthy:
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: mccoy178 on February 22, 2008, 11:13:24 pm: I would be very interested in two "one offs" that are identical for my machine. Please let us know if that becomes a viable possibility. :applaud:
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: The 80s Man on February 23, 2008, 12:33:35 am: How about this one.
(http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/144/mamespinnersvr0.th.jpg) (http://img144.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mamespinnersvr0.jpg)

(http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/3945/spinnermamedu2.th.jpg) (http://img295.imageshack.us/my.php?image=spinnermamedu2.jpg)

RandyT, if you like it you can have it.
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: TheShanMan on February 23, 2008, 02:40:41 am: Randy, how durable is the graphic? Will the graphic wear off over time? Can it chip off? And if I got one of these and at a later time wanted to convert it to a token top, would gluing a token over it be just like a standard token top knob? In other words, is this the exact same as a token top minus the token and plus the graphic?
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: fjl on February 23, 2008, 02:45:13 am: How about a knob with LED lighting so it can be used with the LEDwiz?
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: RandyT on February 23, 2008, 02:24:46 pm: Quote from: ahofle on February 22, 2008, 10:25:53 pm
OMG, how'd you do that so fast?!?!

Good hardware and ignoring of other projects :)

Quote from: mccoy178 on February 22, 2008, 11:13:24 pm
I would be very interested in two "one offs" that are identical for my machine. Please let us know if that becomes a viable possibility.

Send me an email showing what you want.

Quote from: The 80s Man on February 23, 2008, 12:33:35 am
How about this one. RandyT, if you like it you can have it.

Looks very nice. It may be a little too subtle for the process and the size, but I'll run a couple off and see what happens. Thanks!

Quote from: TheShanMan on February 23, 2008, 02:40:41 am
Randy, how durable is the graphic? Will the graphic wear off over time? Can it chip off? And if I got one of these and at a later time wanted to convert it to a token top, would gluing a token over it be just like a standard token top knob? In other words, is this the exact same as a token top minus the token and plus the graphic?

Durability is tough to quantify. Anything short of directly etching into metal will "wear off over time", but these are very resilient. I used a finger nail to rub about 20 times on the face of the graphic with moderate pressure and it didn't do a thing to it. Force sufficient enough to bite into the underlying PVC substrate, will of course damage it and the image. However, this would take an intentional act designed to destroy, and it would not be "incidental" in nature. As further protection from incidental damage, the image is inset a little over 1/16", so you would really never come into contact with it during normal use.

Quote from: efjayel on February 23, 2008, 02:45:13 am
How about a knob with LED lighting so it can be used with the LEDwiz?

I know how to do this, but it's going to take some specialized parts and materials. I think it's eventually going to happen, just not any time soon.

RandyT
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: Ummon on February 23, 2008, 02:30:21 pm: Quote from: The 80s Man on February 23, 2008, 12:33:35 am
How about this one.
(http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/144/mamespinnersvr0.th.jpg) (http://img144.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mamespinnersvr0.jpg)

(http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/3945/spinnermamedu2.th.jpg) (http://img295.imageshack.us/my.php?image=spinnermamedu2.jpg)

That kind of graphic I really like.
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: TheShanMan on February 23, 2008, 02:34:24 pm: Quote from: TheShanMan on February 23, 2008, 02:40:41 am
If I got one of these and at a later time wanted to convert it to a token top, would gluing a token over it be just like a standard token top knob? In other words, is this the exact same as a token top minus the token and plus the graphic?

Still would like to know about this. I think based on the picture that this must be true, but would like some confirmation.
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: RandyT on February 23, 2008, 05:00:33 pm: Quote from: TheShanMan on February 23, 2008, 02:40:41 am
If I got one of these and at a later time wanted to convert it to a token top, would gluing a token over it be just like a standard token top knob? In other words, is this the exact same as a token top minus the token and plus the graphic?

Sorry, missed this one. Yes, exactly the same. But I would peel the graphic out before gluing down a token to make sure it bonds properly.

RandyT
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: fjl on February 24, 2008, 06:31:48 am: Quote from: RandyT on February 23, 2008, 02:24:46 pm

Quote from: efjayel on February 23, 2008, 02:45:13 am
How about a knob with LED lighting so it can be used with the LEDwiz?

I know how to do this, but it's going to take some specialized parts and materials. I think it's eventually going to happen, just not any time soon.

RandyT

Make it so. I just hope it doesn't mean having to buy a whole new spinner. It'd be nice if I could simply by the parts that will allow me to upgrade my current TT2 to have a lighted knob.
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: RandyT on February 24, 2008, 12:30:02 pm: Quote from: efjayel on February 24, 2008, 06:31:48 am
Make it so. I just hope it doesn't mean having to buy a whole new spinner. It'd be nice if I could simply by the parts that will allow me to upgrade my current TT2 to have a lighted knob.

When I get around to doing this, the "upgrade" approach is the one I will take.

RandyT
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: Grasshopper on February 24, 2008, 12:45:09 pm: Why not design a knob that has a removable round piece of plexiglass inlaid on the top? Customers could then print out any design they wanted on a standard inkjet printer and place it under the plexiglass.
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: RandyT on February 24, 2008, 02:47:41 pm: Quote from: Grasshopper on February 24, 2008, 12:45:09 pm
Why not design a knob that has a removable round piece of plexiglass inlaid on the top? Customers could then print out any design they wanted on a standard inkjet printer and place it under the plexiglass.

This is something I have considered, but the challenge is the method in which the plexi "locks" into the top and is removed. If by friction, then it would be very difficult to remove once installed. Too loose and it could fly out when spun fast.

I'll continue to look at it as an optional configuration. The nice thing about these graphics is that they are somewhat translucent and take on a "metallic" appearance once applied. Something that is not as simple to achieve on an inkjet.

RandyT
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: Ummon on February 25, 2008, 09:17:38 pm: Quote from: RandyT on February 24, 2008, 02:47:41 pm
This is something I have considered, but the challenge is the method in which the plexi "locks" into the top and is removed. If by friction, then it would be very difficult to remove once installed. Too loose and it could fly out when spun fast.

RandyT

I like the translucent idea. But changeable graphics could be cool, too. The cover disc could fit tightly, and have a very small notch or hole at the periphery that could be picked at with an awl, small screwdriver, etc.
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: SodaPopinksi on February 26, 2008, 01:26:13 am: Those look SO nice! :cheers:
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: Minwah on February 26, 2008, 05:51:17 am: How about this?:

http://www.localarcade.com/arcade_art/r-arcade-1-control-panel-overlays-6-atari-pole-position-steering-wheel-centre-badge-566.htm

It's a steering wheel badge but it could be made smaller, and the 'real' version uses silver (foil) instead of the white I used, which would look great using the metal as the silver logo.
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: TPB on April 18, 2008, 05:08:05 am: Randy,

It's been almost 2 months since this announcement.

Yet nothing is mentioned on the TokenTop page on the GGG website :

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=86&products_id=280

Has this new product innovation been scrapped ?

Hopefully not. :(
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: RandyT on April 18, 2008, 02:14:53 pm: Quote from: TPB on April 18, 2008, 05:08:05 am
It's been almost 2 months since this announcement.
...
Has this new product innovation been scrapped ?

Man, time flies....apologies for the delay.

No, these are indeed going to be available very soon. In all honesty, the web site part is the biggest hold-up on this one, as I could provide any of the designs I have shown here at any time. But I will definitely try to have them up before the end of the weekend.

RandyT
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: RandyT on April 23, 2008, 03:41:17 pm: Sorry this took so long. The original three designs have been added to the store (http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=86&products_id=316). I'll try to do more as time permits.

RandyT
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: fjl on April 24, 2008, 04:23:14 pm: Quote from: efjayel on February 23, 2008, 02:45:13 am
How about a knob with LED lighting so it can be used with the LEDwiz?
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: ahofle on April 24, 2008, 04:33:23 pm: Quote from: RandyT on February 24, 2008, 12:30:02 pm
I think it's eventually going to happen, just not any time soon.
Title: Re: Now Ready! - "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: Havok on April 24, 2008, 10:23:17 pm: Nice! I'm definitely going to pick up one of the Electron knobs!
Title: Re: Upcoming Product Variation: "TT2 Designer Series" Knobs - GroovyGameGear
Post by: thatitalian on April 25, 2008, 08:06:10 am: Quote from: Minwah on February 26, 2008, 05:51:17 am
How about this?:

http://www.localarcade.com/arcade_art/r-arcade-1-control-panel-overlays-6-atari-pole-position-steering-wheel-centre-badge-566.htm

It's a steering wheel badge but it could be made smaller, and the 'real' version uses silver (foil) instead of the white I used, which would look great using the metal as the silver logo.

I like this Atari design! Would be nice the have this in different colours (maybe red) with a space invader inside. You could even offer the same design in different colours with different arcade icons in the centre, like pacman, mame logo, etc...