Can I fit a two player control panel with 20 buttons on a CP 24 inches wide?

[harveybirdman]

Background:  My project will be an full-size version of something like Woodshop Flunkey's American Ace, at least in shape if not in breadth of workmanship and detail.

I want my panel to have at least 8 buttons per player (counting coin in and player start) and perhaps as many as ten.

Right now I'm using an HP P9627A as my monitor, because it was free and the wife and the budget don't allow me to ignore that kind of resource. With an actual screen width of 15 inches, this limits the width of my total main cabinet assembly to around 24inches before the monitor size starts to look really silly.

However I don't want a machine that I can't play comfortably next to another grown man.  So in the opinion of the forum can I do this kind of panel in 24 inches? perhaps with angled joysticks? Is the solution to build the CP wider than the cabinet?  What do you think?

[GregD]

You can but youbwill be shoulder to shoulder.  No trackball of course.  Don't angle the sticks.  Do a cardboard mockup.  I don't understand the whole eight player buttons thing but to each their own.

[harveybirdman]

So GregD got me thinking.  It's been months since I downloaded my set of playstation ISO's and honestly I've not played any.  The games I most want to play are classic SHMUPS and Beat em ups so 6 player buttons it is.

Here are some mock ups, I have to say this is a very helpful exercise.  It has got me thinking about comfortable heights, design elements, potential hang ups, and well it's nice to feel like I'm building something since I don't have the actual materials to get started on the real thing yet.

Arcade Cab mock up panel by harveybirdman1, on Flickr


Arcade Cab mock up full view by harveybirdman1, on Flickr

[kahlid74]

It'll fit but it will also be tight.  To be honest, most games were fairly tight so it shouldn't be a super huge deal.  The key is to keep the buttons to only 6 per player and then have the coin/player start on the top or maybe on the front/side of the CP.  Also, don't forget to add the squares for your joystick.  They are often much bigger than you think.

[Dervacumen]

My 2 player CP is 23.75".  I have a 3" trackball in the middle.  If I removed that I could easily fit 6 buttons per player in a standard six pack configuration.  And playing isn't really cramped as long as each of you can stand a little off to each side.

[harveybirdman]

Control Panel Mock 1 by harveybirdman1, on Flickr

first mockup of panel, plenty of room to stand next to the wife so I don't have any comfort worries going forward.

If I go with this design the blue coin in buttons would double as "change emulator" buttons in Mala and coupled with some clever CP artwork (arrows) would remain fairly intuitive for that dual function.

I'm thinking the "admin" button would be the esc key to return to FE and quit Mala.

Also I'm considering more buttons in pinball positions.  The only major concern now is where the heck the interface goes. 24 x 7.5 leaves little room under the panel and I want it to be clean.  I could move the admin row of buttons to the front of the panel but I am afraid I'll have incidental gut contact.  Barring some serious time at the gym I don't know if I accept that option.

I suppose I could mount the interface lower in the cab, but I generally detest a birds nest of wire under a panel.  And the craftsmen around here set the bar pretty high.  After all posting the build pics to emoticon applause is part of the draw, and I doubt many of you would be impressed by needless runs of wire.

[Dervacumen]

I don' think you'll necessarily have a birds nest of wire under the panel.  I would suggest wiring the panel as laid out while keeping it tidy, and all those wires routed to a central location so you have one big bundle zip-tied or otherwise bundled together, then terminated with molex connectors.  Then you can mount your interface lower in the machine.  Here's what I mean:

[harveybirdman]

I wish I was as awesome as Woodshop Flunky at sketckup, but I pretty much suck at it.

Here is what I have so far I have some other ideas, I'm going to try to make a small scale model this weekend and start a project announcement thread.


prototype2 by harveybirdman1, on Flickr

[emb]

Have you considered having the control panel being wider than the cabinet by about an inch or two on each side? That can buy you an extra 4 inches.

My cabinet is 23.75" on the inside (25.25 on the outside) while the control panel stretches out by 2" on each side. The comfort level is perfect.