Posted by Michael Bobroski on September 23, 1999 at 18:33:31:
In Reply to: Re: Suggestions / Critique requested... posted by Torgo on September 23, 1999 at 16:45:03:
: The trackball seems oddly placed as well. I find that when I use my trackball, I get pretty aggressive on it (marble madness). I like to have a lot of room around the trackball, so that when I follow through on trackball spins, my hand does not bang into anything.
Very True... You should definitely consider swapping the trackball and spinner -- I have my spinner in the upper righthand area of my control panel, and it works out fine. (You don't seem to go 'crazy' with a spinner like you do a trackball).
: Also, why are you going to use four way sticks for p1 and p2? Eight-ways are going to give you much more versatility, as most games use them. Perhaps you should try the Universal sticks to get the best of both worlds.
Do not in any way use the Universal stick. I bought one, and it's horrible for any type of game play. Go with the Supers -- They give you perfect 4-Way and 8-Way control without having to do/change anything.
: Have you considered multiple panels, instead of trying to cram everything onto one? It only takes me about 10 seconds to swap my panels, so it does not hinder my play experience. (about as much as wandering around the arcade, trying to figure out which game to stick a quarter in next.) Really, I think having a more comfortable panel will give you a much better experience, and will feel more authentic. If you are struggling with your controls because they are all crammed together, I bet your enthusiasm to play will quickly diminish.
If you don't consider multiple panels, why not try extending your panel a few inches on each side? It worked out great for me. I have enough controls on my one panel to play the majority of games. I may eventually design a second (swappable panel) with the more obscure setups such as flight yoke, steering wheels, trigger joysticks, etc...
Good luck!
-Mike