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Please critique my control panel layout...

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stuckpixel:
I'll echo what everyone has said and say ditch the shift button. If you really want to do chording for admin functions, you can always chord with P1 Start + P1 buttons, as you really shouldn't  be hitting them simultaneously ever.

Mock the CP up in cardboard or something first. What kind of trackball are you using? If it's a high-lip, then you should be fine but if it's a standard TB, test to make sure you aren't going to be whacking your hand on the spinner/buttons.

Personally, I'd also say you don't really need the dedicated trackball buttons, as you could just use those for your P1/P2 starts or something like that. But, some people plan on being in windows a lot more than others so if that's the case then it's really a judgment call.

Depending on whether you like the more traditional SF setup, you might want to look at the bfauska button layout. It's super comfortable, and looks nice. With my build, I offset the bottom row to give me something that's still really close to Street Fighter, but that will also allow me to play Neo-Geo style comfortably. (I've attached the original bfauska PDF)

Good luck with the build and be sure to post lots of pictures/build updates!

Jimbo:
Wow, thanks for all the responses and tips. :)

My dilemma is that I'm left-handed, so I'll almost always want to use the trackball/spinner in my left hand, but I also want all my right-handed friends to be able to use the cab too.  What I think I'll do is create a seperate control panel for the trackball and another one for the spinner.  I'm making the control panels before I build my cab, so if I'm careful about width I should be able to get a nice swappable panel system setup.

So I think I'll go with 3 panels:

1 )  2 x Mag-Stick Plus with 8 buttons each, plus P1/P2 start (thanks for the advice about the admin buttons, I'll keep them under the panel or on the side, or use the P2 start as a shift).  I've decided on 8 buttons per player because I will want to run some of my favourite playstation 1 games on the cab.

2 )  Trackball in centre, plus 3 x buttons on both sides of it (for me and my right-handed friends), plus I might have 2 mouse-mapped buttons underneath the trackball too (since I want to play Amiga games on the cab, and ScummVM games).  P1/P2 Starts on this panel (for alternate play), with admin buttons underneath/on side/shifted.

3 )   Spinner in centre, plus 3 buttons each side of it and P1/P2 starts, admin buttons as in no. 2 above.

I never play pinball, but I think I'll also stick some pinball buttons on the side of panel 1 too.

Thanks again for all the advice!  If you can see any problems with my proposed new setup, be nice to hear your opinions.

Jimbo

TOK:
Have you tried the trackball layout with both hands? The reason I ask is that I'm left handed too, but find that it doesn't seem to matter with control layouts. If you think about it, right handed people should be at a huge disadvantage with the typical stick/button layout since they're doing the find controls with their left hand but nobody seems to mind.

unclet:
I would not put the mouse buttons in front of the the trackball.   I would also add some pinball buttons on the side.

shardian:
The shift button near controls is a BIG no-no. Other people will absolutley DESTROY your settings accidentally, and on a regular basis. There really is no reason why you should need shift functions "on the fly" as I am gleaning is your purpose. The IPAC's use of P1 start as the shift key is useful, but I find I only like that on smaller panels that are meant to look "original". It would be in your best interest to hide the shift button on the underside of the cp, on the side of the cp, or possibly even in the coin door (though that could make it difficult to use.) I also recommend a "cut-out switch" for the shift key, ESPECIALLY if it is accessible by people that don't know how to use it. During a party, you could flip the switch to off and noone could mess up your machine.

Other than that, there really isn't anything horrible or revolutionary about your CP. Do a mock-up, and if you feel you like having dedicated mouse buttons, then keep them. If not, ditch them. We can tell you all day long what to do, but until you personally have messed with it hands on, you don't really know what you want.

Just a few pointers for you to consider. Good luck and ENJOY!

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