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Prototype CP - Please Comment - Possible future offering.

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Hiub1:
Everybody has got some good suggestions. One thing that I noticed was that the ball top is just extremely tall, it almost looks awkward. Maybe it is just my personal preference, what do you guys think?

Other than that, I think cost will be the biggest factor here, so keep it under $60-70, $50 would probably be ideal since it is almost half the price of anything else, but I have no clue how much it costs you to make them.

Keep up the good job!

Fred.

RandyT:
Thanks for the input so far.  I guess I need to address a few of the things that have come up.



--- Quote from: SeaMonkey on December 19, 2004, 01:23:46 am ---Looks nice. Sharp and tight.

How much?

--- End quote ---

No price has been decided upon yet.  Too many configuration options to set a single price, but it would be on par with what the market has shown to be reasonable. 


--- Quote from: Gunstar Hero on December 19, 2004, 02:08:48 am ---Pretty cool!

Maybe do a spinner/trakball one?

--- End quote ---

If I start doing these, then other models will definitely follow.


--- Quote from: Daniel270 on December 19, 2004, 02:21:16 am ---Another suggestion.... what about varying the designs (trackball, spinner, 4 way, 8 way.... etc)?

--- End quote ---

I will certainly have a version available for the Prodigy line. (4/8 way switchable)   The other designs will follow some time afterwards.



--- Quote from: Xiaou2 on December 19, 2004, 07:00:19 am ---
 You may be better off getting rid of the curved front sides. I used to work at an arcade... and T-moding used to pop off after a while... esp when in short sections and curved sections.

--- End quote ---

The T-molding has been properly relieved for both radii.  Had I not done that, it would not even had stayed in the groove long enough for the picture ;) .  It's currently not under any stresses that would cause it to pop out of the groove.


--- Quote --- Id straighten the button layout as well. Most all arcade fighters use a straight pattern. Same goes for the very keyboards most of of use to type here. You get better performance from the straight button layout as well. Not to mention that many people fingers are different lengths

--- End quote ---

While I wanted the panel to be able to be used for fighters, it wasn't the main goal of the design.  The pattern is only subtly off straight and nowhere near some that I have seen.  I have a very similar pattern on my cab and it has never caused me the problems you speak of.  And while most peoples' fingers are different lengths, it would be tough to argue that their middle fingers aren't at least slightly longer than the others. :)


--- Quote --- Button color scheme is a bit odd.

--- End quote ---

It was 5-second decision.  Went for a Neo kind of thing with the colors and filled in the rest with what was unique to the other three.  These would be built to order with an individuals color preferences anyway.


--- Quote --- Not sure what the middle button is.. but it looks odd and lonly out there in the middle feild. I think its a pinball plunger? I think it would look better near the left or right sides either way.
 
--- End quote ---


Yeah...A PINBALL plunger.  That's the ticket!  Umm......sorry :D

No, but that would be a good use for it too!  My thoughts were more of a "shift", "Shazaaam!", etc... type of button.  If I didn't need to take a picture of it, I would have chosen black.


--- Quote --- Cost seems to be a big factor in anyone buying a product like this. To drop costs - you could really remove all the tmolding except what is circling the top.

--- End quote ---

We're talking pennies for the amount of T-molding that is on the side of this panel.  And probably only about 10-minutes to prep and apply it.  IMHO, it's worth it for what it adds to the appearance.

But that brings me to something else...

This was an attempt to make a very small, very functional and attractive panel using real arcade controls and construction methods.  I'm not looking to go head-to-head with Pelican or even X-arcade for the bottom rung of the market.  For example, the joystick in the unit you see pictured has a polished Stainless Steel shaft and a custom translucent red ball fitted to a Happ "Competition" base, while the sticks on the bargain units can be purchased overseas for $2 each (or less) all day long.  The buttons use Cherry microswitches, and so on.

This product would be geared toward an individual who doesn't have the time or skill to build it themselves, but has the desire (and means) for a quality unit that won't take up half of the living room.  That's not to say that I won't eventually look into some low-end components for an economy version, but someone looking to save cash will always be better off building for themselves.



--- Quote from: Hiub1 on December 19, 2004, 09:27:12 am ---One thing that I noticed was that the ball top is just extremely tall, it almost looks awkward.
--- End quote ---

The bottom of the ball is about 2" off the surface of the panel.  The top would be equal to a Happ stick if it were mounted in a metal panel. 

In practice, it feels fine.  No knuckles scraping on the panel, etc...  Currently, there is a recess in the bottom of the panel.  I will probably do away with it in a production model, which should drop the ball down a little.


Thanks to everyone who commented so far.

RandyT

NIVO:
heya Randy, looks good so far. I just have a minor issue, and it really is an issue that can be ignored by most folks im sure. Where your 7 button layout is; personally I prefer the six buttons to be in a straight line and not arched. Now I know it wouldnt be cost effective to you to run two layouts(1 arched, 1 straight). Just something else for you to consider. Again, its really not a serious issue, just how I prefer to play(the old fashioned standard way hehe)

RandyT:

--- Quote from: NIVO on December 19, 2004, 06:59:56 pm ---Where your 7 button layout is; personally I prefer the six buttons to be in a straight line and not arched. Now I know it wouldnt be cost effective to you to run two layouts(1 arched, 1 straight). Just something else for you to consider. Again, its really not a serious issue, just how I prefer to play(the old fashioned standard way hehe)

--- End quote ---

I actually own and run the CNC machine that cuts these panels, so having several panel design options is not out of the question.  While custom layouts would be a bit of a pain,  keeping a stock of several options wouldn't be that bad.

I'll put it on the list.

RandyT

krick:
I could care less about the straight vs curved layout.

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