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Yet Another: "Does this sound right?" Control Panel Thread

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StarChild:
Hi Everyone :)

I've been lurking around for a few weeks since I discovered the wonders of MAME a few weeks ago.  I've been carefully designing my cabinet and researching my control panel and I think I've finally come to my final configuration.  I was hoping I could get some "buy off" on what I'm planning to do with my controls to ensure it's feasible and realistic.  <grin>

So here's the rundown:

It's going to be one of those "most-in-one" style panels.  it's my first cab and I want to prove the concept (to myself) and then I might consider building something fancy with swapping/modular panels.  So here's what I'm considering along with my thoughts.

Windows XP will be my OS (it's what I know)

I-PAC4  USB

Sticks 1 & 2  (inside pair)
T-Stik Plus to give me the 4/8 way switching on the fly
7 Buttons in the "Fighting/NeoGeo" layout

Sticks 3 & 4 (outside pair)
Happs Rotary Sticks (Ikari Warriors!)
4 Buttons

The Happs USB trackball
(will also act as the mouse for the OS)

Oscar's Vortex Spinner and Tempest Knob w/USB interface
(If I understand correctly, XP will see this as the same control X <or> Y axis the mouse uses)

Buttons for:
Players 1-4
4 Administrative
(exit, enter, ok, pause or somesuch)

Analog Stick
(prob a Sidewinder)

Druin's Rotary stick interface
(I think I've exceeded the limit of the IPAC if I'm counting buttons and sticks correctly in regards to using the native 12+12 inputs for the two rotaries)

I'll prob use a 4 entry coin slot with the reject-coin-button-as-credit mod done to reduce the clutter on the panel.

I'll be entirely USB with (most likely) a wireless keyboard/mouse interface which can be tucked away and stored seperately from the cab.

Am I forgetting anything or does this sound to be sound/complete?

I'd really appreciate any input or insight some of you experienced folk might offer.  I'd not bother asking, but as you can see...this is going to hold a moderately heavy pricetag for all of this stuff and I'd like to do it (mostly) right the first time.  <grin>

-*

Trimoor:

--- Quote ---I've been lurking around for a few weeks
--- End quote ---
So that was you? I thought I saw some myterious shadows lately.... ;)

Welcome to the forum. I'm Trimoor, an evil genius bent on taking over the world.

Before you get rotary sticks, check out my BYO rotary stick mod. (I'm terribly vain.)
http://www.trimoor.com/rotary_joystick/index.htm

Also, most everyone will tell you not to use 12 position rotary sticks.
They are very difficult to interface. (Not impossible, there are a few guides floating around.
I reccomend optical rotary.
This may also solve your ipac problem.

Please, please don't put O and K buttons on the panel.
There are other, better ways of getting around this. (Do a search.)

XP sees all mice as one single mouse. If you move two at once, they 'fight' to control the cursor. MAME can see them seperately.

cdbrown:
If you get the optical rotaries then also get an Optipac from ultimarc.  A nice little interface for all you optical devices.

That sounds like a lot for a control panel.  Make sure to carefully lay it out to ensure everything will fit and that you're not uncomfortabel using the controls.  Do a full size mock-up on cardboard to really test it out.

Also, if you want a panel with everything on it then go for it.  Some people will try and cut you down by saying you've got too much but you said that it's going to be a "most-in-one" panel.  The most important thing is make sure all the controls are usable ergonomically.

Good luck
-cdbrown

danny_galaga:
perhaps a quick sketch to illustrate the layout of your control panel? some of us are a little slow and need a purdy pikcha to help

StarChild:

--- Quote from: Trimoor on September 30, 2004, 12:46:06 am ---
--- Quote ---I've been lurking around for a few weeks
--- End quote ---
So that was you? I thought I saw some myterious shadows lately.... ;)

Welcome to the forum. I'm Trimoor, an evil genius bent on taking over the world.

Before you get rotary sticks, check out my BYO rotary stick mod. (I'm terribly vain.)
http://www.trimoor.com/rotary_joystick/index.htm

Also, most everyone will tell you not to use 12 position rotary sticks.
They are very difficult to interface. (Not impossible, there are a few guides floating around.
I reccomend optical rotary.
This may also solve your ipac problem.

Please, please don't put O and K buttons on the panel.
There are other, better ways of getting around this. (Do a search.)

XP sees all mice as one single mouse. If you move two at once, they 'fight' to control the cursor. MAME can see them seperately.

--- End quote ---

Thanks, Trimoor!  hehehe, that was prob me you saw.  I don't sign up for a lot of forums online, but you guys seem like a friendly bunch and I've been itching for a project and 4 player Gauntlet has been calling my name :)

I'd been debating on the rotary vs. optical and I think you've just pushed into the other (right;)) direction.  I wasn't sure how the optipac interface would work in the setup. but it sounds as if they would act as a "spinner" style control with an control axis via the two serial ports on the machine to keep them seperated.  (I think?)  From what I've been reading, this will give me all the joys of the rotary sticks, but also the extra SNK game which uses the smoother interface.  (name eludes me at the moment?)

LOL, don't worry...I won't do the 'O' & 'K' buttons.  I figured there's a way around it...I just hadn't discovered it yet.  I'll keep poking around...learning more and more each day.  <snicker>

BTW, that mouse/joystick mod is very cool :)

-*


--- Quote from: cdbrown on September 30, 2004, 01:10:27 am ---If you get the optical rotaries then also get an Optipac from ultimarc.  A nice little interface for all you optical devices.

That sounds like a lot for a control panel.  Make sure to carefully lay it out to ensure everything will fit and that you're not uncomfortabel using the controls.  Do a full size mock-up on cardboard to really test it out.

Also, if you want a panel with everything on it then go for it.  Some people will try and cut you down by saying you've got too much but you said that it's going to be a "most-in-one" panel.  The most important thing is make sure all the controls are usable ergonomically.

Good luck
-cdbrown

--- End quote ---

Thanks, cdbrown :)  I think I'm going to go with the opticals instead as you guys are suggesting w/the optipac.

I'm definitely going to do the cardboard mock up of the panel.  It sounds big, but I'm going to use a 27" TV as the monitor, so a larger panel won't look TOO awkward.  I'll prob see how it all fits on one level and maybe toy with the double-decker scheme like the Supercade utilizes (http://www.cybercoma.com/supercade/)

I've got almost all of the controls possible here in this config except for the steering wheel(s), light guns and dual trackballs, yoke.  There's enough spinners on it for someone to play "etch-a-sketch" :lol: (the visual on that kills me), but it's prob a waste of time to try.

I'm sure when this is all done and I get bored again, a super sprint/ivan stewart's, etc.. type cab will be in the cards, but for right now the "versatility" of this one should hold me off  :D

-*

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