Help with control panel design

[pharmd99]

Hi,
I'm building my first MAME bartop and need help with the layout of the control panel.

Items to include:
Omni-stik - joystick
U-Trak - trackball
Spinner
5-6 buttons

Because it is a bartop the control panel is 18" wide by 7.5 inches deep

I've chosen about 100 games from the mid 80's to early 90's

This is what I have so far, picture is to scale

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

[Gamester]

Maybe it's just me, but that button configuration seems a little odd.  What did you base it on?

[drventure]

You might want to have a look at the Benderama

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=84113.0

Similar intent, and a nice cp layout

[pharmd99]

Not sure if I should make them straight or curved.....any advise?

[Yvan256]

Since your CP is only 18" wide, I would do the following: move the spinner and trackball in the middle and put the buttons on the right. And if you plan on playing any Neo-Geo games, you should rotate your buttons layout 90 degrees counter-clockwise. Then the top row of buttons would loosely fit the buttons pattern of the 3rd revision of MVS cabs.

I know the buttons will then seem to be too far apart, but that's on paper and you should try to do at least a cardboard prototype before dismissing an idea. IMHO the distance between the joystick and the buttons would be more comfortable than your proposed current layout.

[pharmd99]

Thanks everyone, this site has been a big help and inspiration to me 

[pharmd99]

going forward with the build

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=97932.msg1033608#msg1033608