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Looking for black "Coin" or ".25" buttons
MaxVolume:
Yikes! I didn't mean to stir up a steaming pile of meadow muffin storm (might as well do it myself, since I know that's what the forum software's gonna change it to, right? ;) ).
Yeah, if you make a conscious choice to put admin buttons on your control panel, great. I just wonder how many times people claim "I want them there" when they didn't really know they didn't need a separate button for every function, and they don't all need to be a full-size arcade button right there on the control panel... any switch closure will do.
Anyway, yes, this thread was about where to find coin buttons and all I contributed to it was the fact that I don't like them, so I apologize. As for coming across as "pretentious", try intelligent. I'm sick of people reacting that way when I use big words. I use phrases like "masking ignorance" for the same reason I use button combos in MAME... because I know how. Just because I participate in the arcade hobby, it doesn't mean I automatically have to be a knuckle-dragger who likes beer and heavy metal.
I did say, though, that I do like the illuminated buttons that are made to look like coin returns, and I also like the idea of microswitches behind actual coin returns. It almost seems like my preference not to use them is coming under as much or more fire as other people's preference to litter their control panels with superfluous buttons.
Look, I get it... I've just done a horizontal MAME cabinet where all fighting games have to be played against the CPU because it's a mini and only a single player's worth of controls will fit. I also have to play racing games with a trackball because there wasn't room for a steering wheel and I don't wanna build multiple panels. We all make compromises. What I'm also doing is hiding a few lesser-used buttons behind the coin door because I'm the only one who'll ever need them, and even then I'll hardly ever use them.
If people are getting mad at me for my honest advice on control panel design, you're gonna be really pissed when that fateful day comes that someone other than you tries to play a game with a control panel designed for you, accidentally hits TAB in the middle of a game, and tells you your cabinet sucks because you can't play a game without knowing which buttons NOT to push.
When that happens, I'll be here to accept any and all apologies. :P
mcseforsale:
Back OT...I'm wondering about the vinyl rub-ons that are for sale on the FS forum. Do they hold up well? I'm asking because my white 1 and 2 player buttons (They're Happ 1 and 2 player buttons) are now just simply white. :banghead: The players are gone. I'd get the vinyl ones, but I just wonder if they are able to withstand the pushing...
AJ
Mysterioii:
To each his own man, I honestly wasn't looking to start a swordfight either. I have nothing against anyone offering advice but at the same time I really do advocate the "do what you want to do" approach. You mentioned hiding some lesser-used buttons behind the coin door... that's great. You're customizing your setup to match your vision of what you want, which kinda sorta is the whole thing I'm driving at.
Like I said, I didn't even label my admin buttons, they're black on black. I know what they do... but you're right, on those rare occasions where people might be playing it I generally have to tell them which one exits the game and ask that they don't touch the other ones. ;D The biggest issue is kids... but that's literally like a once-a-year issue if that. We had a couple of Christmas parties and little kids will get on there and hit stuff and you know how it goes. In fact, it's inspired me to add a hidden keyswitch that will let me just kill the admin buttons.... It's not on there yet but I'll probably add it when I rebuild the CP. (Yeah I know what you're gonna say... just don't have them there... :lol But like I said I really truly consciously want them there).
I think if I were to give my most honest opinion to people it would be to be prepared to build your CP twice... Come here, do your research, ask questions and listen to the advice people give you. Carefully think things out and gather all the hardware and controls that you plan to use. Build the thing and play it for six months or a year. Then be willing to rebuild it when/if you realize things aren't quite the way you like it. Hopefully you might just need to cut and drill the top panel, but you may decide you don't like the controls you bought and might need to make other adjustments.
My current cab is a mameroom.com Ultimate Arcade II kit with a custom panel layout so it's just that plain black finish... at this point I'm kinda glad that I haven't put artwork on it yet and didn't cut a plexi overlay. I'm definitely changing things around as soon as my 2-year-old gives me the spare time to tackle it. If I'd done artwork and plexi I'd feel a little more locked in. Right now it's just a black box and I'm not that attached to it, I think I'm ready for my take 2... but I'm keepin' my admin buttons.... :lol
:cheers: Cheers man.
Mysterioii:
--- Quote from: mcseforsale on July 20, 2012, 02:18:35 pm ---Back OT...I'm wondering about the vinyl rub-ons that are for sale on the FS forum. Do they hold up well? I'm asking because my white 1 and 2 player buttons (They're Happ 1 and 2 player buttons) are now just simply white. :banghead: The players are gone. I'd get the vinyl ones, but I just wonder if they are able to withstand the pushing...
AJ
--- End quote ---
The ones you have, were the players lightly etched into the surface or just a flat layer of paint or something? I know I said it before but I find it hard to believe SOMEBODY in the community doesn't have access to a laser engraver/etcher that could burn these images ever so lightly into the buttons. Then brush a little paint in there, wipe off the excess and viola. Yeah I know, I don't have one either. :lol But someone like a Randy, Andy or Bryan, it might be up their alley. Custom button images, etched in, on any color button... There's gotta be a market there, though maybe a teeny tiny one... ;D
MaxVolume:
I get what you're saying... I think the black-on-black thing is great if you really must have admin buttons up top, and the killswitch is a great idea, too. If you get too fancy with MAME control assignments it can be a task if you ever want to disable them. For the most part, all my "cheats" will only deal with global settings so they'll be easy to reverse if necessary.
As for building the control panel twice, as much money as I've spent on this one I really don't see any chance of doing it again. That's why I completely agree with your point about doing research here (and elsewhere) ahead of time. There are some minor "haste makes waste" issues that I've had because this project has been over a decade in the making, but had I not spent that time checking out other projects and mostly learning what NOT to do, I don't think this would have been a satisfactory project at all.
That's why I've been so outspoken against the "do what you want" mentality, because that all too often leads to something you'll be at best dissatisfied with and at worst disappointed with later on. Say what you want in terms of me projecting my goals onto others, I seriously doubt that disappointment in something that you've worked hard to build is anyone's goal here. I'm not making any incorrect assumptions that everyone's goal here is to have FUN, and given my experience and years of researching these kinds of projects, things like too many buttons, etc. run counter to that goal. I'm basically just trying to save people from themselves, really.
I've also taken more than a few stabs at myself and my own projects, so don't think I'm on some kind of high horse talking down to the masses. I'm (perhaps a bit too) passionate about this hobby, and I do know a thing or two about it. Forgive me for trying to share what I know... I'm only trying to help others. The conflict just seems to be arising out of others being resistant to accepting my advice.
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