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I would like some advice/input/thoughts/mounds of cash...

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lharles:
PCtech...you rule.  :)

destructor...I don't want to 'lie down on' the panel...although I probably could.  :)  What isn't shown on that picture is the cut outs to accomodate the cabinet walls of the cabinet it's going into.  I'm planning on rounding the edges too.  As for the two joystick games, I was thinking that I'd set the inputs on those particular games to use the 1 player AND 2 player joysticks, as they're in fairly close proximity.  As for the trackball buttons, I was thinking of it as being for both game use and 'mouse' functionality.  Three buttons seemed reasonable.  ? 

BobA...I'm actually planning to mock it up, but with styrofoam instead of cardboard.  :)  Snowy goodness!

unclet...Yes, the farthest to the left is player 3 and the farthest right is player 4.  The trackballs would not be used in a scenario where player 3 and/or 4 are playing.  You've addressed my biggest concern in the whole thing, where to place players 3 and 4.  :)

As for the pictures, I don't know why they seem so difficult to see.  ?  I placed a direct link to the large version of it to get a better idea, it's under the image itself...the link that is.

:)

Thanks for the advice/thoughts!


unclet:
I clicked on the link and I only get a very slightly larger photo than what is displayed in this post ..... oh well.

Hey, check my post above since I added a couple more ideas .....

Also, here is a picture of what I meant ..... even though you did not ask for one  :P

MikeT:

Not trying to be negative here but having just finished a 4 player CP I can say this one looks a little over the top. I spent almost $900 on mine, and you have some big costs there. The trackballs are at best $100 each with shipping, tax, and mounting plates. I also got much of my stuff wholesale from Happ. If you can't get them on Ebay then you are looking at about $170+ each. I did add about 120 LEDS and a LEDWIZ but that was less than $120.

I wouldn't go more than 18" - 19" deep and 42" wide. More than that and it's too heavy and wide. Plus the 3 and 4 player won't be able to see the TV.

One other thing to consider is that player 1 and 2 should be at least 18" apart and more like 20" for a comfortable playing experience.

I would also consider making your 4 ways on a raised level so you can play them without the 8 ways getting in the way.

Don't put any buttons above the joysticks. That would be really hard to play.

Please mock this up - I think you may be surprised at the difficulty to play it with the odd button placement.

lharles:
First of all, good morning!  At least it's morning where I am.  Always nice to be working in a server farm at 2 in the am...ugh.

Anyway,  unclet, thanks for that new image.  That is pretty enlightening.  I think I will make use of it.  :)

I wish I had a more effective way to describe why the depth of this thing is the way it is.  I'll take a picture of it and post it so you can get an idea where I'm at, at this point.  However, I will be reducing the depth of it and changing the config of the buttons around the trackballs, as well as changing the orientation of the 3 and 4 player setups...thanks to your expert advice.  :)

MikeT, I'm with ya' on the cost.  I've actually been collecting parts from various sources for about six months now.  I've got approximately 40 buttons, two 3" trackballs, (and a third for parts - got all three of them for $40...WOOT!), 3 spinners, (an original 'Tempest' spinner and what is apparently a 'Mad Planets' spinner), somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 joysticks, (no kidding - I bought a 'lot' of parts on evilBay and wound up with a whole gaggle o' functional joysticks), two mini-pacs...and on and on...

Considering that I'm not very good at the carpentry aspect, (as I've babbled on endlessly about on the 'Everything Else' board ;) ), I'm reluctant to try and build the raised pieces.  It did occur to me though.

As for the buttons above the joysticks, those were originally supposed to signify the 1-4 start buttons and coin buttons.  I think with unclet's help I've changed my mind about that piece.

Thanks again for all the help and advice so far!

Lharles

lettuce:
lharles, what prog is that us used to design your CP? Also you might want to move P1&2's controls up more, theres nothing worse that your wrists leaning right on the edge of the CP when playing, which i fear will happen where you have yours placed at the moment, you want them at least 4 1/2 inches up from the bottom of the CP (thats measure from the middle of the lower set of buttons to the edge of the CP)

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