custom CPO and marquee -- classic Atari themed - looking for suggestions

[lordfrito]

Looking for some feedback and suggestions on a custom CPO I am making.  The CPO and marquee are basically mashups of some classic atari artwork from the early 80's.  Think Space Duel, Gravitar, Asteroids, etc...   I've tried to create artwork that maintains that look and feel, while customizing it to my MAME cabinet.

Here's a link to the marquee.  Xevious and Quantum elements ontop of a Space Duel background.  I've actually already sent this out for printing.


Here's the first cut of the CPO.  Note the Gravitar inspired border.  You probably will recognize most of the elements.  I really like the Eurostyle font, it just seems to make sense.


I decided I wanted a more "boogie nights" style border.  This required me to resize many of the elements.  I'm dropping a couple of buttons from my panel, as I don't have them mapped anywhere anyhow.  Here's my second cut


I'm starting to think the CPO is too busy.  So I decide to go for a more minimalist approach.  This is my 3rd cut.


Not sure if the color symmetry is correct... I try flipping the reds and the blues.  This is my 4th cut.


At this point I've tried so many things I'm not sure what is working and what isn't.  So I'm looking for some input, what do you like, what you don't, what to keep, what to kill, etc...  The buttons,joysticks, trackballs are fixed, cause the cabinet is already built.  So I have to work around those locations. Note the big empty space around the trackball -- again this is the way the trackball is so I have to work around it.

Thanks
John

[drventure]

I kind of like the first "boogie nights" cut



It's complex, but I don't think its "cluttered".

Either way, I like the direction!

[lordfrito]

Here's the sideart I'm working on for the cabinet.  The cabinet is a defender cabinet modified to host a larger control panel.  I have two styles, I prefer the one on the left, but am interested in what others think



I've gotten the marquee and control panel in, and they look fantastic.  Here's some shots of the cabinet for those interested.  Note that I don't have all the control panel buttons on yet, but they are on order.

[lordfrito]

OK I've installed the new buttons and some new front panel artwork.  Note that the keyboard slides out

[Number21]

Thats pretty cool artwork.  For the side art I like the one on the left.  That will be one awesome cab when all the art is on it.

[lordfrito]

Do you have the raw file for your marquee?  I really, really like it but I'd need to tweak the layout a little bit for my cabinet. 

Yes i have it, the vector work was done in Corel Draw, you are welcome to it

[robpeek]

Could I please get the Vector work as well?
I absolutely love the artwork!!!

robpeek@gmail.com

[sean-o-mac]

Uh, I got to say something here.  Hope I dont hurt your feelings man.  Why didnt you do a standard 2 stick 4 or 6 button layout and have the art conform around that?  Looks like you conformed the buttons around the artwork.  I mean, the art work is great but the buttons look uncomfortable.

Not trying to be a di*k.

[zorg]

do you mind, if I propose to host the vector stuff you've done on vectorlib ?

[venkman]

your side art is great..

i just made up some Atari style art for my JAMMA cab CPO.
I did it a little simpler than you tho. haha

[taylormadelv]

I like it. Busy but I think that works. The one thing I kept looking at was the buttons under the trackball. Does your hand rest on those buttons at all, or does it clear them? Nice spinner placement!