That beautiful half way point / point of no return

[LightningBolt]

The point when you have something tangible and working and it all fits together perfectly.  Still have to paint, do t molding and wire it up.

[Malenko]

so, how often do you hit the 4way with your elbow from the player 1 side?

[jdbailey1206]

Why do you have a 4 way there?

[yotsuya]

Why do you have a 4 way there?

To play 4-way games. Duh. 

I'd use carriage bolts instead of screws, unless you're going to fill in those holes. Even then, I'd still use carriage bolts.

[jdbailey1206]

Why do you have a 4 way there?

To play 4-way games. Duh. 

I use a restrictor.    

[yotsuya]

Why do you have a 4 way there?

To play 4-way games. Duh. 

I use a restrictor.    

I just built me a 4-way only cocktail cab. 

[Skinnysloth]

I wouldn't feel comfortable playing on the player 2 side.  I like to rest my hand on the panel when holding the joy stick and those three buttons would bug me to no end.

[yotsuya]

I wouldn't feel comfortable playing on the player 2 side.  I like to rest my hand on the panel when holding the joy stick and those three buttons would bug me to no end.

After reading your post, I thought about it and really agree with you. 

[jdbailey1206]

Why do you have a 4 way there?

To play 4-way games. Duh. 

I use a restrictor.    

I just built me a 4-way only cocktail cab. 

I heard Sams Club has a pair of nice stools that would look great with it.  A little exspensive for my tastes.   

[yotsuya]

I heard Sams Club has a pair of nice stools that would look great with it.  A little exspensive for my tastes.   

[LightningBolt]

so, how often do you hit the 4way with your elbow from the player 1 side?

Never, my elbow is a mile behind it

[LightningBolt]

Why do you have a 4 way there?

To play 4 way games?

[LightningBolt]

Why do you have a 4 way there?

To play 4-way games. Duh. 

I'd use carriage bolts instead of screws, unless you're going to fill in those holes. Even then, I'd still use carriage bolts.
[/quote

I was going to but thought nah don't need accuracy that bad for the price so just going to cover them when I put the overlay on

[Malenko]

Why do you have a 4 way there?

To play 4 way games?

I think he meant "why did you put the 4 way where you did?" not "why do you have a 4 way?"
Which was the same point I was making, your layout isnt very functional.

[LightningBolt]

Why do you have a 4 way there?

To play 4 way games?

I think he meant "why did you put the 4 way where you did?" not "why do you have a 4 way?"
Which was the same point I was making, your layout isnt very functional.

It's perfectly functional..the 4-way is around about the same position is on actual Ms. Pac-Man machines. Nothing gets in the way of anything so it all works out well.

The only thing I might change is removing the yellow button next to the 4-way, I didn't realize my right hand would hit the yellow button frequently. I shouldn't need more than 2 buttons for 4-way games anyway right?

[Malenko]

It's perfectly functional..the 4-way is around about the same position is on actual Ms. Pac-Man machines. Nothing gets in the way of anything so it all works out well.

It looks like P1's right elbow would hit the 4 way, or (s)he'd have to stand somewhat awkwardly, the button layout isn't helping either. Its angled in such a way it would encourage the right elbow to stick out further to maker the hands line up with the buttons. If your elbow doesnt hit it, you must be tiny and/or have T-Rex arms.

For P2, the 4 ways buttons completely get in the way of anyway of resting the joystick hand at all. The awkward button angle actually helps the player from having their left elbow go anywhere near the 4way stick.

Your panel, you dont have to justify your choices to me.

[LightningBolt]

It's perfectly functional..the 4-way is around about the same position is on actual Ms. Pac-Man machines. Nothing gets in the way of anything so it all works out well.

It looks like P1's right elbow would hit the 4 way, or (s)he'd have to stand somewhat awkwardly, the button layout isn't helping either. Its angled in such a way it would encourage the right elbow to stick out further to maker the hands line up with the buttons. If your elbow doesnt hit it, you must be tiny and/or have T-Rex arms.

For P2, the 4 ways buttons completely get in the way of anyway of resting the joystick hand at all. The awkward button angle actually helps the player from having their left elbow go anywhere near the 4way stick.

Your panel, you dont have to justify your choices to me.

I'm not understanding the P1's elbow comments..are you guys sticking your elbows on the control panel? The elbow is a mile behind the control panel.
I am neither tiny nor have T-rex arms.

For P2 the hand/wrist are above the buttons, pretty much at all times because of the position (control panel on the floor, someone sitting next to it) and when I remove the yellow button, even with the hand resting it won't hit the other buttons.

Which awkward button angle, I'm confused? Everything is ergonomic. The 6-pack of buttons are angled counterclockwise 10 degrees which is much more natural position for the wrist to be in.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, when you say elbow are you referring to someone's forearm?

Also just to clarify this is just an arcade stick, it's not going on a cabinet.

[Saneless]

I wouldn't feel comfortable playing on the player 2 side.  I like to rest my hand on the panel when holding the joy stick and those three buttons would bug me to no end.

After reading your post, I thought about it and really agree with you. 

Same.. I didn't understand the value of hand/wrist resting space until I built a prototype.  Had I not done that I would have moved down the 4 way stick I originally had planned up a bit and would have regretted it forever.

If you don't think it's an issue, then you know how you'll use it best.  You've got the buttons, and if you've got the rest I'd play around with it for a bit before you go further.

[Generic Eric]

Consider changing the coloring to red, yellow, green,  blue to match Neo-Geo.

[jdbailey1206]

I definitely meant to say why do you have a 4 way.    I agree with Malenko.  I feel that playing on your CP would pose some problems.  Just by looking at it I feel your right forearm would rub against the player 2 joystick.

On the subject of joysticks why do you have a 4 way smack in the middle of the CP?  Are your battops not 4/8 way sticks?  Or did you place it there so you could have a balltop?

And when Malenko was talking about the buttons I believe he wanted to know why your 1/2 player buttons were at a diagonal while your 3rd(?) player buttons were in an ergonomic form.  And I too could see myself hitting the 3rd player buttons while using the player two joystick.  Oh well. 

Otherwise its a clean CP.  And if youre happy run with it. 

[Louis Tully]

.

[LightningBolt]

I definitely meant to say why do you have a 4 way.    I agree with Malenko.  I feel that playing on your CP would pose some problems.  Just by looking at it I feel your right forearm would rub against the player 2 joystick.

On the subject of joysticks why do you have a 4 way smack in the middle of the CP?  Are your battops not 4/8 way sticks?  Or did you place it there so you could have a balltop?

And when Malenko was talking about the buttons I believe he wanted to know why your 1/2 player buttons were at a diagonal while your 3rd(?) player buttons were in an ergonomic form.  And I too could see myself hitting the 3rd player buttons while using the player two joystick.  Oh well. 

Otherwise its a clean CP.  And if youre happy run with it.

You guys aren't seeing just how big this control panel is its 30" wide and no arms come anywhere close from hitting other joysticks.

No the joysticks are not 4/8 ways they are il euro sticks. The 4 way is in the middle because it's the perfect spot for it..more accurate like ms  pacman cabinets and completely out of the way of players using the 8 ways.

[HanoiBoi]

I think the main thing to take away is that people who have been around the forums a while are suggesting that the location of the 4way and the 3 buttons might not be ideal.

I would suggest holding off on the painting and t molding for now.  Wire it up and play some games.  Bring friends over too and see how they do. 

Also, depending on the games you play most, try some 4 way games on your 8 way stick.  Many are still very playable.  And you may not feel the absolute need for the 4 way.

Without knowing what you've read on the forum, check out slagcoin and checkout the control panel thread.  Might give you some good layout ideas.

Lastly, just curious about your t-molding.  The CP looks pretty darn thick.  How big is the t-molding?

[LightningBolt]

I think the main thing to take away is that people who have been around the forums a while are suggesting that the location of the 4way and the 3 buttons might not be ideal.

I would suggest holding off on the painting and t molding for now.  Wire it up and play some games.  Bring friends over too and see how they do. 

Also, depending on the games you play most, try some 4 way games on your 8 way stick.  Many are still very playable.  And you may not feel the absolute need for the 4 way.

Without knowing what you've read on the forum, check out slagcoin and checkout the control panel thread.  Might give you some good layout ideas.

Lastly, just curious about your t-molding.  The CP looks pretty darn thick.  How big is the t-molding?

I have tested it though, literally space for miles around everything, no bumping into anything at all. The 4 way is essential. The layout is perfect too, ergonomic, I spent hours on it.

3/4"

I still have no clue how anyone's elbow bumps into anything on these things.

[LightningBolt]

[mgb]

While I think the 4-way in that position does look slightly odd, its seems to me it'd be very functional.
as much as I prefer the look of just 2 joysticks, the functionality of a dedicated 4-way makes good sense. I never really cared for the old way of mounting the dedicated 4way up over the 8 ways. The square restrictors of most 4way, 8way switchable sticks get kind of annoying if you ask me.
If this design works for you, go for it.
what are your plans for covering it? just bondo and paint or will you be using a vinyl cpo?

btw, I've gotten to the half way point and failed and went back to the beginning plenty of times 

[LightningBolt]

While I think the 4-way in that position does look slightly odd, its seems to me it'd be very functional.
as much as I prefer the look of just 2 joysticks, the functionality of a dedicated 4-way makes good sense. I never really cared for the old way of mounting the dedicated 4way up over the 8 ways. The square restrictors of most 4way, 8way switchable sticks get kind of annoying if you ask me.
If this design works for you, go for it.
what are your plans for covering it? just bondo and paint or will you be using a vinyl cpo?

btw, I've gotten to the half way point and failed and went back to the beginning plenty of times 

Yes the 4-way way up at the top makes no sense to me. This way it is positioned similarly to how it is in pac-man machines.

We are going to paint it and then I'm putting a vinyl generic CPO on it for texture.

[jdbailey1206]

btw, I've gotten to the half way point and failed and went back to the beginning plenty of times 

This has never happened to anyone else here.  Ever.