Quick interface layout question

[Bobulus]

Hello! Long time MAME admirer, first time Arcade Controls poster.

I'm not quite ready to put up a project thread yet, because I'm still in the design phase, but I've got a question regarding the spacing of joysticks and buttons.

I was looking at LuSiD's files, the joystick template file in particular, and I'm slightly tweaking it to fit seven buttons (bottom row of 4, top row of three), since that seems to be a good compromise for a first cabinet.

I'm wondering how close I can safely get the buttons to the joystick, before it becomes uncomfortable for the user. I don't have the parts in front of me (need to make some final decisions before I order everything), and so I don't know how far the 'throw' of the joystick is, and I don't want to be, for example, pushing it hard to the right and jamming my index finger if it's on the left-most button. (Leaning towards the Ultrastik 360, bat-handle, if that helps. Don't know yet if I'll go with a restrictor or the extra-long shaft yet. Probably the )

I also tweaked the design to round the button layout a bit, hopefully make it a bit more comfortable to the hand? Would like to see what people think of this versus 4-in-a-straight-row. This is all still really rough. I plan to refine the design a bit once I have the parts and can put them into a cardboard mockup. For now, I just need to figure out rough dimensions, so I see what sized control panel I need to incorporate into my design.

[Honkyharris]

Your layout looks good. I'm a firm believer that this is one of those things you won't fully understand untill you build a mock-up. Another option is to print out a to scale layout and place your hands one the paper. Look to see how comfortable it is that way and you could always tweak it to get it close for your dimensions.

Honkyharris

[Bobulus]

Thanks. I'm really slowing myself down with over-planning I think.

I need to make a project thread and get some input on buttons before I can order buttons.
I need to make a rough cabinet design before I can make a project thread.
I need to learn one of the 3d modeling programs so I figure out how to modify the LuSiD plans to fit my ideas before I can I make a rough design.
etc, etc.

I really need to just bite the bullet and order some stuff.

[Honkyharris]

Trust me once you start ordering stuff your motivation will go through the roof because not only will you have more you can work on, but you'll have to test the items out as well to make sure they actually work.

Honkyharris