Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: rivacom on March 24, 2008, 04:10:00 pm
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I'm working on my first Mame cabinet, got the board this weekend and will most likely start outlining everything this week and start cutting. My question is, I am planning on ordering the control panel buttons and joysticks. I've seen so many setups and options I'm actually quite lost. So I just wanted to make sure I'm all set on my setup here. I'm going with
20 Push Buttons (2x6Buttons players, 2x4player buttons)
4 COMPETITION JOYSTICK, Are these ok joysticks for any of the fighting games?
4 Player start push buttons.
2 LED push buttons(player credits)
Ipac4 - with usb.
My question is the only other things I would need for the CP are wires correct?
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You might want to add a few admin buttons (i.e. Pause, Exit, Tab, etc.)
In my opinion, if I were to redo my CP I would first get a bunch of iL supers, Ponyboy sells them on the Buy/Sell/Trade forums. (I find that the Happ supers feel really nice, they are the exact same as iL supers)
Hope this helps,
Xb0x3r
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You may want to add a couple of more LED push-buttons if you're going 4-player panel. Some games (ex: TMNT) had a specific coin slot for each player. If you don't want to get extra buttons, though, you could always remap MAME.
And admin buttons are helpful but not necessary with the shift functions of the encoder. "Exit" is the most useful. "Pause", too, I suppose.
You might want to add a few admin buttons (i.e. Pause, Exit, Tab, etc.)
But never, ever "Tab" unless you like people changing your internal MAME settings. Remember, if there's a button on your panel, it will get pushed.
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NO tab, NO pause.
How many times did you get to pause the game in the arcade..
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He could always put the admin buttons on the bottom, left-side of the panel .. that's where I'm putting mine; out of the way, yet accessible if needed :)
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or since he has an IPAC he could just hold start and push down to pause...
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or since he has an IPAC he could just hold start and push down to pause...
That's how I do it. Zero admin buttons, everything's shifted. Though if and when I redo the panel, I may add a dedicated EXIT.
TAB is useful for quick control setups without whipping out the keyboard, but make it some undocumented button combo (shift) only you know of.
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NO tab, NO pause.
How many times did you get to pause the game in the arcade..
I'm for authenticity in a lot of ways. . . but I think I would draw the line at giving up my pause button.
The idea of using a shift button for pause is tempting at first -- but on second thought I'd like pause available for guests too, with a clearly labeled button. Why not?
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Exit , pause and an macro for tab.
Just my .02
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I have a multi-purpose button button next to the Player 1 start. In-game, it can be used to pause, exit (when pressed with Player 1 start) or held down in conjunction with up/down for volume control (thanks to Cabvol). In MameWAH, it is used to select a different system.
Other than that one button, I have a shutdown button on the top of my cabinet wired to Player 1 Button 8, and a TAB inside the coin door (shifted for F2 dipswitches--player 2 start button is the shift for F3 reset). The TAB button becomes "options" when in MameWAH.
Player 1 Start plus left on joy 1 is tilde settings.
Other shifted features to come once I set up the computer more....
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I have just done my first cp....exit is a must!!! I am missing the exit button. seperate coin buttons for each player should also be considered. Pause looks to be a personal preference...i say no as, as physotec says how many times did you use it in the arcade, however now days with people constantley bothering you...well....why not.
Also, if you are going to play Neo-Geo games consider your layout...7x buttons for 1/2 player may need to be considered..
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exit is a must!!! I am missing the exit button. seperate coin buttons for each player should also be considered.
My exit is a shifted function (P1 Start plus Pause) so it can't be pushed by mistake. As for coin buttons....you're talking about being arcade accurate by not having a pause button, yet saying there should be coin buttons. Wire up coin mechs and keep a cup of quarters/tokens near your machine. It feels right to plunk in a quarter and hear proper sounds.
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I had a tough time deciding on this too. I would suggest only having a pause/exit button (but thats only my opinion).
I did make one control panel admin buttons. When people were playing on the cabinet, they would hit them wondering what they do, and end up messing the settings and it was rather hectic at times to deal with.
My next CP will only have a pause button and no other admin buttons. I figured that I will get all my games setup at first with a keyboard on the side, and hide the keyboard once all the games are all setup. If i have to do any changes to the system (which is pretty rare), I just pull out a keyboard.
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Ok so if I modify this,
24 Push Buttons (2x6Buttons players, 2x4player buttons, 4 Admin buttons(mounted on the side out of reach))
4 COMPETITION JOYSTICK, Are these ok joysticks for any of the fighting games?
4 Player start push buttons.
4 LED push buttons(player credits)
Ipac4 - with usb.
Is there anything else i'll need to get this control panel working? Recommend what size wire I should use? I was thinking of adding a track ball as well, can this be added to the ipac?
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As far as admin buttons...I just got my cab together and I am already sick of explaining to people how to exit a game because I did not include a dedicated exit button... If I had it to do over again I would include a dedicated exit button. I think you have to look at in terms of other users than yourself... Admin buttons that you will use exclusively should be shifted buttons, and buttons that you want everyday users to be able to access should be dedicated.
My $.02 for the day...
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That's why I have a very nice looking instuction card on my bezel that explains how to exit games, change the volume, etc.
It's an edit of the MAME Vortex cards over at localarcade.
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Yes, that would work...
Now all I need is players who read instruction cards ;D
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Can anyone recommend the comp. buttons or the ultimate buttons more? I want a feel close to the mortal kombat/ marvelvscapcom games, and the only real difference i see is the button height, which one does everyone prefer, or which ones were used in the arcades?