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Modular CP...is it worth it?

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Wienerdog:
Coming from a guy who is 80% done with his 2 year upright project with a rotating control panel, the simpler the better.  If I started over, I would use make the full panel swapable, so I would not be limited, but so that it would be easy to switch out the entire panel. 

Unless you are following someones designes EXACTLY, there is alot of work that goes into the precision required for rotating and modular panels, unless you are okay with large (3/8") gaps between the moving parts. 

ericball:
Another advantage of modular is you can add controls over time.  You can also easily have multiple button panels with different layouts (e.g. SF, MK, NG) and have buttons on the left or right (very nice for southpaws) as desired.

telengard:

--- Quote from: armax on February 17, 2005, 07:38:16 pm ---I've been debating between individual modular controller panels or just swappable CP tops.  I've seen Doc's work and like it but I wonder if there really are enough different configurations for controls that 3 or 4 CP tops couldn't handle.  I've been weighing them out.

Modular CP pros:  1.  quick and flexible CP configurations
                   cons:  2.  Takes away from the arcade experience due to looks (no artwork and often times it has seams.

Swapable CP top pros:  1.  artwork
                                      2.  Keeps the arcade feel and looks
                                      3.  No piecemeal or frankenpanels
                            cons:  1.  Bulkier to store

This is just what I've quickly come up with.  Any thoughts on this subject?


--- End quote ---

I have a modular panel and I am very glad I made the switch from swappable.  I think modular panels are easier to store than full swappable panels.  Mine have barely noticable seams and I used black pica vinyl for covering which a lot of games used.  I made up for the lack of artwork in the rest of the cabinet.  To me it's worth the trade off.  The feel and placement of the controls comes into play a lot more than the CP artwork.  Some nice fella in here (Nannuu) made some modular Defender artwork for me and I'm hopefully going to add that soon so that would negate one of the cons.

I wouldn't trade my modular panel for anything.  I am now able to play almost all the games I enjoy with their original controls and control layouts.  What could be better besides the real thing?    :)

If you are looking for the different layouts ( and I don't even touch on all of them ) check out my panels page.  Please note that I've since switched from molex connectors to ethernet which is much simpler to deal with.

http://users.adelphia.net/~bsturk/mame/controls.html

I have many more controls I haven't hooked up yet (spy hunter yoke, SW yoke, Xybots joystick, Pole Position Wheel ).  You get the picture.  To do this with anything but modular controls you'd have a lot of huge full panels and not a lot of flexibility.

It seems to come down to form/function.  I love the looks but enjoy playing them more.  YMMV.

mahuti:
Telengard's modular CP is one of the best that I've seen. Still not for me, though.

NoOne=NBA=:

--- Quote from: telengard on February 17, 2005, 10:15:45 pm ---It seems to come down to form/function.  I love the looks but enjoy playing them more.  YMMV.

--- End quote ---

Exactly.

I have yet to hear anyone say they were unhappy that they went with modular.
Most of the early adopters of modular STARTED with swappable, and weren't happy.

I had some really nice art on my swappable panels, but opted for artless (for the time being) modular panels to get the FUNCTION that I wanted.

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