2p-4p drop in option?

[tonyarcade]

Ok, here's the thing...I've been researching this MAME thing for months now...and keep going back and forth on what I want...Everytime, I try to find a simpler layout, but with diversity...

So here's a premise I'd like feedback on:

A swappable CP for 2 p, that can be overfit with a 4p panel.

The premise is based on my notion that a 4p panel is, or should be, bigger than a 2p for armroom. But the notion is also that a 4p wouldn't get as much use as a 2p to warrant full-time dedication...

My design theory is to build a box that allows for drop in panels.
So let's say the 2p width is like 30 (I dunno what realistic is, so it could be 35, or X, it doesn't matter)
Anyway, the box to hold the 2P is 30 or X.

 ie.        \_______/

My 4p premise would be to build this...

    --------------------------------
    \____                       ___/
             \__________/

drops into 2 p spot...

What do you think?

Tony

[Sephroth57]

hmm from your illustration i cant really tell what you mean. but why do you not want it 4 player all the time? if youre gonna extend the CP just sometimes why not just leave it that way? itll be more clean looking and less hassle.

[flampoo]

Yeah. And you'll save a lot of money by just making one 4p panel. Ask yourself if it's worth the hassle.
But based on your diagram, it looks like it could work. How would you secure the base of the CP? If you're doing a lot of button-mashing, just placing the base in a groove probably won't give you enough stability.

[tonyarcade]

A couple of reasons...

One is I want a tb and spinner, too. And I don't like the clutter of it all together from layouts I've seen...

Other consideration is space and mobility. I have a pretty cramped basement and as I plan on building this two doors down, getting it down narrow stairs is a concern.

I'm also not really sure I need a 4p at all... but would like to be able to have option later...

The drop in idea is basically just that. Instead of dropping in a 2p in the hole of the box, you drop a 4p in. But since there's some overhang, the bottom most part of it would probably be the only part that fits in the box...

I assume most 4p cps are bigger than 2s...am I wrong?(assuming adequate arm space)

[fredster]

Build a box type and put wing nuts into it.  

The original simpson or MIDWAY MK style cabs were like this.  Build it and then if you want to change out, open it up and remove the wing nuts.

Put your other Panel on, secure it.

Each should have it's own IPAC or whatever and maybe even it's own KEY CONFIG setup.

[flampoo]

That would work, but it's easily $100 tied up to a CP he might never use.

[Spaced Invader]

I had a similar idea for a cab I'll be building this summer (I have 2 more to complete first). I think it's an interesting idea; build it and post some pics. Anyway, I chose to use slide in wings...something like this...

[Sephroth57]

i dunno, for what its worth i think 4 player CPs are really unnecessary. I have a gauntlet dark legacy and its meant to be 4 player, its still a little close when you actually have 4 people playing. and how many games in MAME have 4 players and are actually fun? I think you should just go for a 2 player and put a spinner and whatever else you want unless youre obsessed with a certain 4p game

[tonyarcade]

I like that wings option, too...

The four player games basically come down to a few in my mind...

Gauntlet and Simpsons, maybe 1-2 I can't think of...

like I said something I'd likely play only when there's a party or guys hanging around my bar...which I am not sure is enough to warrant the dedicated four.

I guess I could jsut keep it to two and have to take turns if four want to play...

I dunno...

If it's not easily swappable, why bother?

How did the wings config work out for you, or is it only in prototype stage?

[flampoo]

Gauntlent, Simpsons and X-Men are the only 4p games that I can think of worth installing a 4p CP. Maybe some sports games, too? Then again, I'm more of a fighter and NG fan myself. My opinion is biased.

[crashwg]

maybe you could make a 3&4 player set of controls that can be attached to the sides of the cab and be connected with a db15? or a couple of hacked usb gamepads and usb ports on the sides.

[slicer_d]

Really think about how often you use it I'm personally going to just make two ps2 joypads attachable for players 3/4 this lets people play simpsons and x-men put doesnt require any extra panels or joysticks.  And with the ps2 pads all you need to guy is a usb converter for like 20 bucks (assuming you already have ps1/ps2 pads) and you are good to go.

Here is the one I have I think I'm going to buy another soon its works with everything including ddr and old ps1 pads.

http://www.levelsix.com/detail.aspx?ID=2

[crashwg]

slicer_d, i noticed on the page you linked to it says that you can use a playstation light gun with ps2 light gun software.  i'm not quite sure what that means so have you tried using a playstation gun with this in any way

[NoOne=NBA=]

If you're building the entire cabinet, I'd go the box route.
Instead of building a "hole for your control panels to go into, you basically just build a flat piece of plywood sticking out that you can bolt the control panel BOXES to.

Here's a diagram from Scott's Unicade that shows what I'm talking about.
A narrower 2-P panel would go flush to the sides of the cabinet, but you could swap it out for a wider 4-P version down the road if you wanted.

[tonyarcade]

The more I think about it, the more I like the USB pSX options for players 3 and 4...

And (correct me if I'm wrong) i'm sure there are plenty of other joysticks, etc. I could use with a USB converter if I didn't like those pads...

For Gauntlet and Simpsons, you're basically talking only a few buttons needed anyway. Not anything that's too non-intuitive for those unused to PSX controllers...

-Tony

[Lilwolf]

The only trouble with the USB player 3 and 4 (other then they should be player 1 / 4) for me is the ONLY time I play 4 player games is when my kids have friends over.

And I wouldn't want to hear the fights of who got the real controllers...

Spending a little more time to stop the kids from bitching is a good thing in my book  

[tonyarcade]

They can learn to share then.

I'm not looking forward to four kids playing my machine unsupervised...

 

[slicer_d]

slicer_d, i noticed on the page you linked to it says that you can use a playstation light gun with ps2 light gun software.  i'm not quite sure what that means so have you tried using a playstation gun with this in any way

I think this option is only for the ps2.  The think really serves double duty.

1. Its a dual ps1/ps2 controller ---> usb converter

2. It will also allow you to attach two original PS1 lightguns to your PS2 via the usb port and then it has that extra yellow rca video plug that acts as a pass through for the lightgun.  So if you were wondering if it work work with ps lightguns for mame I would assume NO unless somebody had figured out how to get the ps2 usb lightguns working.  I have not tried it myself but I have heard that it works just fine.

[slicer_d]

The more I think about it, the more I like the USB pSX options for players 3 and 4...

And (correct me if I'm wrong) i'm sure there are plenty of other joysticks, etc. I could use with a USB converter if I didn't like those pads...

For Gauntlet and Simpsons, you're basically talking only a few buttons needed anyway. Not anything that's too non-intuitive for those unused to PSX controllers...

-Tony

If you are implying that they will work with other 3rd party PS joypads then yes they will work.  But off the top of my head I cant think of a single controller that has less than 6 buttons that would hook up via a usb port.  You can convert Saturn, Dreamcast, N64, xbox, and Gamecube but they all have 6+ buttons and most pc usb controllers have 6+ buttons as well so I dont know where you would find a cheap controller with less than 6 buttons.