Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: crashdmj on July 15, 2003, 02:24:52 pm

Title: Design help (pic inside)
Post by: crashdmj on July 15, 2003, 02:24:52 pm
Ok so I need help placing a Ms Pac-Man/Galaga Replacement Joysticks (4-way), and a betson refurb trackball. I am not too sure on the dimensions so I just used the 1:2 ratio stencils in the downloads section. The 4-way is in the upper left and the trackball the upper right. I was thinking of using two dedicated trackball/mouse buttons. Any ideas?
Derek
Title: Re:Design help (pic inside)
Post by: rampy on July 15, 2003, 02:25:57 pm
why aren't you using the regular size stencils?  Just curious...

*shrug*

rampy

Title: Re:Design help (pic inside)
Post by: crashdmj on July 15, 2003, 02:35:08 pm
Well I loaded it all up on Visio and it was all stretched for some reason, and me being the impatient one loaded up the other one and went to work.
So in short, I was impatient.
Derek
Title: Re:Design help (pic inside)
Post by: rampy on July 15, 2003, 02:38:27 pm
ahh...  oh well... this isn't a hobby for the impatient man...

anyways.. I dunno there aren't a lot of "holes"/space  except for above players 1 and 2 buttons... really...  (unless you reallly alter you layout...) but maybe someone else has a more creative solution.

*shrug*

Rampy

PS just a random thought.. you could always move your player start/coin up buttons to the "front"/face/edge side of your control panel ...

Title: Re:Design help (pic inside)
Post by: traknfieldSUPAstar on July 15, 2003, 02:52:33 pm
Is it absolutely necessary to have 7 buttons for player 3/4 controls? .... I'm still trying to find informatiot about any 4-player arcade game that uses more then 4 buttons per player... but if you're using your cp for consoles then i guess it's cool... that's one humongous cp by the way
Title: Re:Design help (pic inside)
Post by: AlanS17 on July 15, 2003, 02:55:41 pm
Regardless of if there games that use 4 buttons or not... If you can't think of any does it really matter? If there are any do you think there is more than 1 or 2 at the most? What do you think the odds are of ever finding that game and playing it if it does exist (AND if it's emulated).
Title: Re:Design help (pic inside)
Post by: crashdmj on July 15, 2003, 03:03:31 pm
Im putting my Dreamcast in the cab, fun fun. The CP is 48x20 and it actually doesnt look half bad on my 4player D&D cab.
Derek
Title: Re:Design help (pic inside)
Post by: Aceldamor on July 15, 2003, 04:25:53 pm
Regardless of if there games that use 4 buttons or not... If you can't think of any does it really matter? If there are any do you think there is more than 1 or 2 at the most? What do you think the odds are of ever finding that game and playing it if it does exist (AND if it's emulated).

I think since he's going to use a dreamcast, he prob wants the multiple buttons for multiple player DC titles.....


Crashdmj:

I would have to agree with rampy on this one, (*shrug* copyright Rampy) I would move your coin and player buttons to the top of each player and angle the Red and Yellow players to match the angle of the cp.  That should fee up enough room for your other stuff in the middle. At that point all you have to be awarre of is the placement of the trackball so you can use it freely without banging your arm on the other joysticks. ;D
Title: Re:Design help (pic inside)
Post by: SirPoonga on July 15, 2003, 04:32:53 pm
is this a stand alone cp or part of a cabinet?  If so what does your cabinet look like?
Title: Re:Design help (pic inside)
Post by: IIOIOOIOO on July 15, 2003, 05:36:07 pm
Post reading service offered by Ryan...
Im putting my Dreamcast in the cab, fun fun. The CP is 48x20 and it actually doesnt look half bad on my 4player D&D cab.
Derek

Title: Re:Design help (pic inside)
Post by: SirPoonga on July 15, 2003, 05:47:27 pm
Post reading service offered by Ryan...
Im putting my Dreamcast in the cab, fun fun. The CP is 48x20 and it actually doesnt look half bad on my 4player D&D cab.
Derek


I suppose, reading the entire thread would be helpful :)


Ok.  What do you plan on playing with the tball?  Would you play bowling, gtg, horseshoe games or just centipede, marble madness, and missle command?

Why are your edge players not angled?  that seems odd.

Title: Re:Design help (pic inside)
Post by: RacerX on July 15, 2003, 05:58:14 pm
This doesn't answer your question, but one thing I noticed is that it looks like if you leave the two outer joysticks straight like that, you're going to be standing too close to the two people playing the inner joysticks.  You may want to mount the outer joysticks at an angle to avoid this.  (Unless you're playing with a couple of hotties.)   ;)
Title: Re:Design help (pic inside)
Post by: crashdmj on July 15, 2003, 06:20:48 pm
How do you guys mean angle the joysticks? If I angle them then I can't play smash TV correct?

When I get home tonite I'll move the player start and coin buttons up and do a lil "house keeping" on the CP.

As for the trackball, I'll pretty much play whatever is available, my buddies wanted it for Golden Tee.
Derek
Title: Re:Design help (pic inside)
Post by: crashdmj on July 16, 2003, 12:30:50 am
Or do you mean angle the buttons.....whoops double posts...forgive me
Derek
Title: Re:Design help (pic inside)
Post by: paigeoliver on July 16, 2003, 03:09:01 am
I would place the 4-way right next to the player one joystick. And let it share buttons/wiring with that stick. I had it that way on my last cabinet (with less than 1/2" between the bases of the two sticks), and it worked out great.

You could also move the player 2 station over slightly and add a 4-way there as well. There are a few 2-player simultaneuos 4-way games (Hyper Pac-Man is a good one), and most Puzzle games are better with a 4-way (Money Puzzle Exchanger!!!), plus that would keep things looking even.

My advice to everyone is to never skimp when it comes to 4-way sticks. Some of the best games are 4-way and my vertical 4-way cabinet has always gotten more play than my horizontal 8-way one.
Title: Re:Design help (pic inside)
Post by: toilet on July 16, 2003, 08:11:07 am
Since players 3 and 4 only need more than 4 buttons for the Dreamcast you could probably nix the 7th Neo-Geo button on their controls.

Other than that I'd also say move the coin and start buttons up top since you won't actively use them during gameplay. May as well make them the least accessible components and give the room to the more important pieces.
Title: Re:Design help (pic inside)
Post by: tmasman on July 16, 2003, 10:27:34 am
This is what I'm hearing people say...
- Rotate the player 3 & 4 controls
- Only 6 buttons on PL 3 & 4
- start buttons moved out of the way
- TB in the center
- 4-way not too far from player 1

It's a crappy mock-up image, but it gets the point across.
Title: Re:Design help (pic inside)
Post by: RedSquirrel on July 16, 2003, 10:38:38 am
That looks... huge. You sure it isn't gonna be too big? How important are 4 player games to you? I'm making a 2P cab, but I'm allowing it so a 3rd and 4th player can use a pad for these games.
Title: Re:Design help (pic inside)
Post by: F|end on July 16, 2003, 10:42:51 am
Sorry for this stupid 'english matter' question but what's the difference between refurbishing and restoring!? :P

Title: Re:Design help (pic inside)
Post by: crashdmj on July 16, 2003, 11:59:48 am
Ok so maybe I'll admit it's a little too big (see pic). But I am still in college and live with 4 other people who are pretty video game savy (sp??), so it will get it's 4 player use. I dunno in the future I will prolly cut it down to a 2 player but for now I kinda like it.

Whiskeroids- They are one in the same

Tmasman- I was thinking of doing that however some people have brought up the problems of 1) Pushing up while looking at the screen and having the joystick move to the upper left (expecting it to move up) and 2) no 2 player smash TV

so I am going to make some more mock-ups (only $5 for the MDF) and see if i can tweak the buttons instead of the joysticks for player 3 and 4. Why do you say only use 6 buttons on player 3 and 4, wouldn't it look more symmetrical (sp??) with all players having the same layout?
Derek

edit* excuse the mess in the background