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What's up with the angling?
DaveMMR:
--- Quote from: amendonz on February 18, 2012, 04:16:16 am ---er no, not gamepad I was talking about playing with a arcade stick on console.
--- End quote ---
The thing with that (whether it's gamepad or arcade stick), those are something you hold in relation to your body. They are not screwed down to anything. But the fact of the matter is that an arcade machine's controls are not like a console's where you can move it around, bring it closer or change the angle to accommodate your position.
I think a lot of newer, younger builders are thinking "consoles" when planning their arcade machines instead of "arcade". That's why, as Howard said, you're seeing many 8 BPP (buttons per player) setups on extra-wide panels with gratuitous angling. You don't sit in close proximity to your friend playing a console - so you can't be too close to anyone at the cabinet. You look down and see your arcade stick eschew while you're playing - you translate that to the control panel.
Builders who think "arcade" when building arcade machines tend to emulate the most versatile real-world arcade layout depending on their needs. This would typically be your standard 6-button Street Fighter layout, the Neo-Geo layout or a simple two or three button row. The spacing between players is minimal: enough so players have the room needed but can still see the screen straight-on. And, VF notwithstanding, the sticks are installed straight (up at 12 o'clock) because the designers have no idea where the player will be standing - having the reference point a stationary object (monitor) means joystick motions are intuitive no matter where you stand.
I think the best piece advice for people designing control panels for arcade cabinets is remembering that you're making this - not this. Otherwise, there might be some frustration down the road.
As for the Virtua Fighter layout - I'm guessing it may be due to the fact that this was around the time Sega was clearing starting to lose it's mind. ;)
Vater:
While I definitely think straight alignment with the monitor is best (and will be doing so when I build my CP), I don't see anything inherently wrong with angling the sticks and buttons...except when there's no indication they're angled, as in the case of VF. I find it astounding that there's nothing angled on the CP art--even the button labels are parallel with the screen!
If someone wants angled controls on their CP, I couldn't care less; I'm never gonna play their cab. Seems that some arcade purists can get pretty bent out of shape over silly stuff. :lol
CheffoJeffo:
My only contribution here is a solid :cheers: to vater for being the first person that I have ever seen to find a concrete example of angled sticks on a factory cabinet.
Vater:
Heh, thanks, although had I not bought a VF cab and happened upon this thread the other day, the profound affect of the angled sticks on my VF CP wouldn't have even entered my mind. :lol Good timing, I guess.
CheffoJeffo:
Well, to be fair, the sticks are Happ Ultimates ... it's not like anybody would actually notice the angling!
;)
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