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Dr. Mame - Portable Control Panel

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Xiaou2:
 Happy Holidays  :)

 
   Sadly, life has took some rough turns for me lately...  and so finances are not
available for uber big projects...  so I realize that it may be a long time before
my huge cab design will be realized.   

 Until then,  I do have most of the parts to make a temp panel...   so I think I will
at least build that for now.

 One thing that I would like, is to be able to take the panel over to friends homes...
but, at the same time... I dont like to lose the ability to play as many as the classics
as possible... and with the correct controllers.

 So, the title  'Dr. Mame'  is somewhat fitting...  as it may be like a Mad Scientist like
panel / briefcase unit.

 
 One thing I did realize long ago... is that the typical  Frank-n-Panel  has its drawbacks...
Usually in comfort and playability.    For if the controllers are too far away from you, it
will really strain you,  and you will tire too quickly.   

 The other problem is  Trackball space.    A game like  Marble Madness  required furious
fast rolls of the ball to make the time limits.   If you roll hard and fast,  you may end up
smacking you hands into other controls that are nearby.  (or even the monitor glass)   


 So, my Idea was to sort of  Divide the panel into Two sides.     That way,  all controls
are within reasonable grasps of each other - from either side you play from.


 Heres the rough Idea Sketch:  (which should be pretty much the correct scale)


 (Current Dimentions:   19"  x   35"  )


(my designs are not to be used commercially without my express written and
signed permission)

Xiaou2:

 Ok, what you have from the bottom up:

2 Spinners  mounted horizontally  for  Racing and Spinner games.

2 Flip-Up  Trackball Units.    (This solves the extra space needed :)  )

2 Wico 8way  LEAF  Joysticks   (for the best possible  Robotron  Sessions)

2 Happ Comp's.    (General Fighters and others)

1 Wico Leaf  BUTTON   (for classic fast shoot games)
7 Happ Micros  (arranged for  Neo Geo and Street Fighter type setups)


 Now - to play the rest,  you simply flip the panel to the other side:


2   8way  Rotary       sticks
2   Dedicated 4way  sticks   (for best control in  Pac Man and other classics)
2   Analog Trigger    sticks   (Any analog or flight game)
2   Digital  Trigger    sticks   (Assault,  and other classics )
2   More spinners

 Why 4 spinners?    Well,  for one.. there was no way to have the spinners reach
both sets of controls.     They were mounted on the side - so as not to take up
hand and arm space needed for comfort.     But the best part.. is that by turning the
panel  90 degrees to the monitor...  4 people can play  Warlords  or  Supersprint
type games.

 

Xiaou2:
Now,  if you notice,   you can see that both  Digital and Analog  sticks seem to
overlap the other controls...    But those sticks are very tall,  and will not really
be in the way of the other controls.   If for any reason they are a hair short,  I
could always make a small raised platform for the bases of them.

 The only thing that I can see not being usable is a combination of a Trigger Stick
and a Trackball.    I think there is only one game that used it..  but if anyone else knows
any more... Id be curious to know what Id be losing. 

 Also..  Im not sure if any games need dual  4 ways.   I just popped 2 in there for
now...   but I still have to do more research.     Also, if there are any other games I
could not play well..  Please post them and why.    Id like to finalize this as close
as possible.

  The Main Buttons  should be able to be reached fairly easily by either side.   However,
I might choose to add a few more buttons that are closer for certain areas.   I still have to
make a test mockup panel to make sure of things.

 Any comments, ideas, questions...etc..  please post.   Thanks :)

 

Xiaou2:
 Additional Things not shown /  Other  Ideas ...

1)  Carry Handle that pops out of the side of the frame  (?)
2)  Headphone Jacks  (?)
3)  Vibration (bass-shakers)  (?)
4)  Possible Mini Pot wheel   w/   Return to center spring
5)  Pedal  'Input ports'
6)  LCD Topgun holders bottom mounted?
7)  USB ports (for 3rd & 4th players gamepads)  ?
8 )  Integrated PC  (?)
9)  Removable  Snap-Lock  top cover ?
10)  Pinball buttons / Plunger / Sensors.. etc.
11)  Internal Fans with external Air holes that Cool players hands
12)  Admin Buttons (hacked micro mini usb  keypad that pops out ?)

Jimbo:
Hi there!

Nice ambitious project!  :applaud:

One question... with the spinners... if you are mounting them on the sides, and maybe using them for racing games, are you thinking of using the GGG TT2 spinners with the mini-racer wheels?  If so I'd be concerned that the mini-racing wheels would actually stay on the spinner knob as you play (probably much easier to pull them off if the CP sides are dead vertical to the floor).  Maybe it would work better if you angled the sides 45 degrees or something, so gravity has more effect (and the spinners would probably be easier to use too).

 :cheers:

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