first project : baby steps

[centech]

First post, been lurking a while.. Just thought I'd say hello.

Hello.

I'm starting on my first project, a control panel. I have an old pc and 17" CRT that I can use it with. I'm planning to order a custom designed panel kit from mameroom.com and wire up all the controls myself.

This is a working copy of the not yet finalized design. Still debating a few things, like if I really need a spinner, and whether to add an extra joystick to the P1 area for 2 stick games like robotron.



I know the colors are all over the place.. I haven't decided on the actual colors yet just playing with some ideas.

[drventure]

Welcome aboard, Centech!

Off to a good start.. Just curious why the two extra buttons beside the trackball? Why not just center it and rely on iether the p1 or p2 set of buttons. Looks like they'd be close enough to not be ucomfortable.

Also, were you going to have admin buttons like pause and exit on the sides or do they also need to go on the top somewhere?

[TOK]

My layout is real similar to yours, and has worked out well for me. I moved the buttons up slightly so that the extra button (gray on your layout) could easily be used as a thumb button for games like Defender, Smash TV and Rescue. Also, I did away with the separate trackball buttons and made them the bottom row of the player 1 side.

I don't play a lot of spinner games, but I put my spinner down in the lower right below where the player 2 buttons are on your layout.

[centech]

Yeah, I'm not sure about the trackball buttons tbh. I considered removing them all but thought it might be a bit easier to have the extra buttons to map for trackball games so I don't need to change the primary P1 controls. I've thought about getting rid of the trackball all together since I only really like 2 trackball games (Crystal Castles and Centipede).

As for admin buttons, I hadn't really thought about it. I would probably prefer them on the side though. I will probably get rid of the green coin insert buttons on the top and mount them on the front of the panel. I really like the look of the top row just having  the 1p/2p start  buttons. It is really important to the 'arcade' feel for me. So yeah, maybe I'll put a set of 3 buttons or so on one side for admin stuff.

[centech]

I think I've settled on this....



I canned the extra buttons for the trackball and spinner and moved the spinner and the dedicated 4-way around a bit for a cleaner look and hopefully more convenience.

Not visible are 2 buttons for coin insert on the front and 3 admin buttons on the left side.

[TOK]

Do you plan on playing Golden Tee games on it? If so, the 4 way and spinner might be in the way.
Your layout is nearly identical to mine now, but I put the spinner just a bit more to the right. No 4 way though. I played so much Golden Tee that I ended up going out and buying a dedicated machine. Its kind of liberating, because its a game that screws up many otherwise fine control layouts.

[centech]

Well, I plan on having golden tee available but its not a game I'm in love with or anything. I could move the spinner a bit more to the right I suppose, just don't want it to interfere with the P2 controls. I could also move or just remove the 4-way joy. Is it really that important to have? I only included it because everyone seems to, but I'm not sure I see the issue with just using an 8-way on 4-way games.

[foleykoontz]

Well, I plan on having golden tee available but its not a game I'm in love with or anything. I could move the spinner a bit more to the right I suppose, just don't want it to interfere with the P2 controls. I could also move or just remove the 4-way joy. Is it really that important to have? I only included it because everyone seems to, but I'm not sure I see the issue with just using an 8-way on 4-way games.

You for sure will when you play something like Donkey Kong and get stuck going up ladders because you're holding it a little to the left or right. Man that gets annoying...

[TOK]

I got used to the 8 way Comps, but I've seen people that are playing for the first time having a little trouble with 4 way games like require precise directional control... Mainly hitting the ladders in DK.

[centech]

By the way, has anyone tried putting an overlay on a mameroom CP? Looks like they come with vinyl already on them, is it easy to glue an overlay onto that or would I have to try and strip/sand/something the top first?