First control panel - Feedback please

[guamguam]

I'm starting my first arcade cabinet build and would like to get some feedback on my control panel design.  I'm basing the cabinet on Taz's slim mame cabinet (http://tazmame.wordpress.com/).

My all time favorite arcade game is Galaga, so I'm using that as a theme for my artwork.  I worked on a control panel and overlay design over the weekend and would like any suggestions/comments as to its design and control layout.  I'd like to avoid making any major mistakes when I start building it.

I've attached a jpg of the design to this post.

Thanks for any feedback.

[PL1]

Welcome aboard, Guamguam.

Looks pretty good.

What are the buttons to the right of your coin buttons?

To add some action, perhaps have a few of the "Galagans" swooping down and firing.   


Scott

[guamguam]

I was planning to map those to left and right click for mouse buttons.  I wasn't sure if I should label them that way or not.

[DrChek]

I was planning to map those to left and right click for mouse buttons.  I wasn't sure if I should label them that way or not.

Unless you had another use for the coin buttons not in a game, why not make the coins mouse clicks? That would save you two buttons on the panel.

[PL1]

A label like "R MOUSE" might fit better than "RIGHT MOUSE".

Also, depending on your software choices, the mouse buttons may not be necessary after your initial setup/configuration.


Scott

[guamguam]

Unless you had another use for the coin buttons not in a game, why not make the coins mouse clicks? That would save you two buttons on the panel.

I'm going to remove the dedicated mouse buttons then.  I have seen a lot of panels with space for mouse buttons, so I added them.  I suppose I can always hookup a wireless mouse if needed.  Thanks for the info.

Frankly, the only reason I have 6 buttons for each player is that seems to be a common number in designs that I've researched.  I don't typically play fighting games, so I'm not sure if I really need that many buttons.

[DrChek]

Unless you had another use for the coin buttons not in a game, why not make the coins mouse clicks? That would save you two buttons on the panel.

I'm going to remove the dedicated mouse buttons then.  I have seen a lot of panels with space for mouse buttons, so I added them.  I suppose I can always hookup a wireless mouse if needed.  Thanks for the info.

Frankly, the only reason I have 6 buttons for each player is that seems to be a common number in designs that I've researched.  I don't typically play fighting games, so I'm not sure if I really need that many buttons.

Depending on the Trackball you use, it will function as a mouse in the OS so you get a functional mouse for "free".

90% of arcade games that aren't fighters, especially the classics, can be played on three buttons or less. Not saying you should dump the other buttons, just telling you what you'll find in practice.

[guamguam]

Depending on the Trackball you use, it will function as a mouse in the OS so you get a functional mouse for "free".

90% of arcade games that aren't fighters, especially the classics, can be played on three buttons or less. Not saying you should dump the other buttons, just telling you what you'll find in practice.

I've got a trackball from GroovyGameGear, I should be able to hook the coin buttons up to the mouse buttons on the encoder and just map them to coin inside Mame, correct?

[DrChek]

Depending on the Trackball you use, it will function as a mouse in the OS so you get a functional mouse for "free".

90% of arcade games that aren't fighters, especially the classics, can be played on three buttons or less. Not saying you should dump the other buttons, just telling you what you'll find in practice.

I've got a trackball from GroovyGameGear, I should be able to hook the coin buttons up to the mouse buttons on the encoder and just map them to coin inside Mame, correct?

Yep.