slik-stik

[blub]

I'm getting ready to buy a slik-stik co2 control panel....any suggestions on improved layout or equipment I should ask for?

[RobotronNut]

i have a customized SlikStik Classic on order.

i started out with a CO2-based design, but ended up concluding that, when just one player is playing, you end up pretty far off-center much of the time. i tried some custom layouts, but kept focusing on the center of the panel and ignoring the periphery, so i scaled back to the Classic size. i may some day design a CO2 as a "2-player-only" panel, a job i think it could do very well.

another application that i think the CO2 could excel at would be the "coffee table" or "pedestal" panel, which is not rigidly attached to a cabinet. then you could just slide the panel right or left, to use off-center controls, while still being centered in front of the monitor. in fact, my inital use will be in this mode, but i designed my panel to be attached to a cabinet eventually.

i would give you the same advice as is given to people doing their own custom layouts: make a full-size print-out or mock-up and see how it feels. keep on "test driving" designs until you're confident you'll be able to play all the games you want to play comfortably. i found many problems this way. since i don't yet have my panel, only time will tell if my panel works out the way i hope, but i'm pretty confident...

you can see some of the thought process i went through here.

[farmecologist]

I have a C02 model, which I have been modifying quite a bit lately.   

You are correct.  The thing is WIDE.    However, it is perfect for playing two person SMASH TV, which is one of my favorite games.   Most of the 'classics' are played with the center joystick/spinner/trakball/buttons anyway so the 'off center' issue really doesn't apply to me that much.  I'm also planning on replacing the center stick with a mag-stick plus so I can use it to play 8-way games if I want to.

I also should add that my cabinet is over 27" wide..and I have a 29" presentation monitor in it.  Therefore, the off center issue is even less apparent.

[Zakk]

This isn't BUY YOUR OWN ARCADE CONTROLS
It's BUILD YOUR OWN ARCADE CONTROLS.

As you can see by the other posts, people end up altering the panel anyway, so why not save a lot of money and do what the rest of us do:

BYOAC!!

There, now you can buy me a beer with the money I just saved you.

[RobotronNut]

This isn't BUY YOUR OWN ARCADE CONTROLS
It's BUILD YOUR OWN ARCADE CONTROLS.

i guess mine is a case of "DESIGN your own arcade control," rather than "BUILD your own arcade control." i'm happy to pay someone else to construct it.

[Zakk]

Not trying to upset you there fella, it's just that at 600-700 bucks USD...wow that's almost what I spend to build and entire project, including computer.

[RobotronNut]

no offense taken. we're all friends here.

[DrewKaree]

I haven't actually looked because I don't care to check out their website, but if it's truly $600-700, I will build you that panel for half their cost if you pass me your design. 

[farmecologist]

Gee, if they really are $700 now they I would say STAY FAR AWAY.   However, I was able to get a fairly good deal on mine, which is the only reason I purchased it.   They really are well constructed panels.  However, I certainly would NOT spend $700 on one!

I'd also have to chime in and say that you have to figure in what your time means to you.  Sure, I could have built my own panel.  However, at the time I just didn't have the time to tinker with it.  I certainly wanted to though!  Sigh..two kids and a more than full time job sure cuts into your hobby time!