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Not having a trackball, big mistake?

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releasedtruth:
I'd really like a trackball, but the 6.5" mounting plate curbs my space on the 24" CP I have. Standard layout, 2 joys, 6 buttons per. I wanted a 3" translucent blue or even 2 1/4" but saving .5" on the plate is no help. Will I miss the trackball or should I figure out a way? I'd hate to miss out on anything. I have 4 buttons mounted around the top of the cp for other functions.



brophog:
You'll find one of the more annoying aspects of this is that you absolutely must balance out your wants. There are so many desirables that you can't have it all (although some have tried!).

DaveMMR:
Big mistake?  No.  Trying to fit everything on one panel is - especially a 24" one. 

Brophog is correct is saying that there's that annoying stench of 'comprimise' in every minute of design of your control panel layout.  Some people try to stick everything on one panel and forget that comfort should be 'priority one'.

Unless you really have a specific game in mind, you're going to be using the standard 8-ways most of the time (especially now since there are good solutions that can make them act more than acceptablely as 4-ways).  You could always go with a dedicated panel for other controls and swap panels when the need arises.  The downside is that there's a bit of an incovienence involved if you want to play a quick game of Missle Command after a long SFII session.  On the upside, your won't clutter up the panel with excess controls, which in turn, makes the panel look better (appearance is important, IMO, as these cabs usually draw attention to themselves in a living room or den) and play better (no joysticks in the way of your Golden Tee swing).   Also know that too many buttons and controls on a panel leads to confusion to friends and family who may want to play on your cab.  Less is definately more.

Yeah, comprimise is a PITA, but necessary.

And although you didn't ask, I would reconsider the joystick 'angling'.  Straight, parallel to the screen is *always* best. 

missioncontrol:
there's nothing more annoying in looks to see someone try to cram everything possible onto a cp... sure there will be games you wish you had a trackball for but if you don't have room then you can allways make a swapable CP with a trackball....

Animeka:

--- Quote from: DaveMMR on August 01, 2006, 06:07:09 am ---Big mistake?  No.  Trying to fit everything on one panel is - especially a 24" one. 

Brophog is correct is saying that there's that annoying stench of 'comprimise' in every minute of design of your control panel layout.  Some people try to stick everything on one panel and forget that comfort should be 'priority one'.

Unless you really have a specific game in mind, you're going to be using the standard 8-ways most of the time (especially now since there are good solutions that can make them act more than acceptablely as 4-ways).  You could always go with a dedicated panel for other controls and swap panels when the need arises.  The downside is that there's a bit of an incovienence involved if you want to play a quick game of Missle Command after a long SFII session.  On the upside, your won't clutter up the panel with excess controls, which in turn, makes the panel look better (appearance is important, IMO, as these cabs usually draw attention to themselves in a living room or den) and play better (no joysticks in the way of your Golden Tee swing).   Also know that too many buttons and controls on a panel leads to confusion to friends and family who may want to play on your cab.  Less is definately more.

Yeah, comprimise is a PITA, but necessary.

And although you didn't ask, I would reconsider the joystick 'angling'.  Straight, parallel to the screen is *always* best. 


--- End quote ---

I have a 24" panel, I'm trying different layouts (See "Another Layout Question" thread) and the one I currently have works just well with a 3" trackball, a spinner, a 4 way and 2 8 ways. Thru trial and error, making mockups of the panel and playtesting them is the only way to do it...

Yes, it's all about compromises, I had to deepen the panel in order to fit everything but it works and is very playable and comfortable.

Marc

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