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Newbi advice
LeedsFan:
I have no experience of the 4" trackball but I believe Happs were selling the 3" High-Lip version recently for just $55 dollars (not including mounting plate). I would personally move the spinner to the top left area but of course it has to be comfy for you to play. You also have to think about if you play vigorously on the trackball. Your hand will easily hit the spinner and trigger joystick if you do.
Is there any reason the trackball can't be brought forward towards the front of the panel? And try to line up the player 1 and 2 sets of controls. I wouldn't like to play Smash TV or Robotron with off set joysticks like that. If you ditch the trackball buttons you could have them a little closer together as well.
divemaster127:
I would use the happ 3" usb over the 4 1/2 trackball, the 4 1/2 is very very heavy its a monster
DaveMMR:
I pretty much agree with everything everyone else said.
- The joystick/button sets should be a mimic of each other, preferably with buttons laid out along a horizontal axis instead of a diagonal one (thing about how you rest your hand while playing). Some people make their buttons ergonomic (middle buttons stagger up a bit), but they generally stay left to right.
- The extra buttons for the mouse/spinner are unnecessary as the main buttons are quite certainly up to task (most emulators/programs/games are configurable - especially MAME).
- 3" trackball is definitely the way to go. 4-1/2 inch is too big IMO. Also, since you (or you will) have the real estate, I'd move it down a bit lower for more space. Many games require a wild flailing of the ball (e.g. Golden Tee) and you don't want other things in the way.
- Segregate that spinner a bit - up and out of the way of the trackball.
Otherwise, a good start! :)
TOK:
The shape and size of my panel look pretty similar to yours. I put the trackball closer to the player and put the spinner down on the right. The major difference is the lack of a trigger stick. The low spinner placement on mine is to keep it clear of the trackball for golf and bowling games. By your layout looks like Tron games might be important to you though.
ids:
Fozzy - what are you using for the little black lip around the trackball? I'd been thinking of checking out grommets (eg http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=1&p=50444&cat=3,40894,41369) but they are kind of wide.
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