Re: Did you do any testing ...


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Posted by BillyBoy on 21, 2000 at 7:16 PM:

In Reply to: Re: Did you do any testing ... posted by bill connolly on 21, 2000 at 10:26 AM:

: I had to move player 2 joystick away from the trackball to the outside edge of the cabinet.

I ran into this also, but neither my wife nor I were willing to compromise and play "left-handed" (we both like joystick in left hand, buttons with right hand).

The result was I had to go to a large 29" width. One, I think probably unique, feature of my control panel, is that, due to the size and layout, and the fact that, for right now it is a stand-alone cp to be used with the everyday control panel, the player 1 controls are actually the right most set, and the player 2 controls are to the left.

I know it sounds odd, but it works out that these leftmost controls are actually closer to the centerline, so I decided they should be for player 1.

Some initial raw pics are available at

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=944627

BillyBoy

But I haven't really played any games with this layout. I think I will do a mockup on a scrap piece of 1/4 plywood and play some games before I start cutting the plexiglass.

: Thanks for your feedback.

: : Bill,

: : My panel design is very similar to yours in contents but not in size. I have 2 sticks, 7 buttons each (a SF 6 button layout, plus a dropped 7th button for thumb / Neo-Geo style), 2 spinners, and a CompUSA trackball.

: : I did extensive "testing" with a 1:1 cardboard mockup (my wife and I sat down next to each other and bumped elbows and pushed and shoved each other till things were layed out for comfortable 2 player action).

: : The absolute MINIMUM width I found I could use was 29".

: : I only mention this because It would be a pain to finish the construction only to find playability compromised by cramped conditions.

: : And my most important point: the real squeeze is not fitting everything in comfortably on top - it's having room underneath for all the mounting plates, nuts, wiring etc.

: :
: : IMHO, the REAL trick setup is not swappable CP's but modular, hot swapable, universal interface controls. ie one panel, but depending on the game you want to play, grab and plug in the trigger joy and spinner, or 4 way and 2 buttons, or 2 8 ways, or whatever.

: : BillyBoy

: :
: : : I know what you mean. When I first started my cabinet it was gonna be 2 sticks and 6 buttons each. As I was building the cabinet, my control panel idea kept growing. Problem was space, I have a 10" by 24" panel. Using Visio I laid out the panel and think I have a workable panel that includes…
: : : 2 - 8 way joysticks
: : : 6 buttons for each joy next to the stick
: : : a 7th button for each joy on the side of the cabinet (pinball)
: : : 2 coin in and 2 player start buttons on the front of the cabinet
: : : a 2 1/4" trackball
: : : 2 spinners
: : : 2 4 way joysticks, one turned for Qbert,
: : : A switch for swapping between trackball and spinners

: : : I am waiting on the trackball and 4 way sticks before I construct my panel, still doing other work on the cabinet. When done I will have a website with pictures, have taken 19 so far. In the mean time if you want I can email the visio file or a small or full size JPG file of the control panel design. Note the pinball, coin and start buttons aren't on the files because they aren't on the control panel itself.

: :
: : : : I have looked at the cabinets and was wondering if
: : : : anybody has attempted a "DO ALL" control setup.
: : : : 4 Joysticks ( 2 player Smash tv, Robotron)
: : : : ( 1 stick maybe a Pistol Grip type)
: : : : ( for games like Tron)
: : : : 6 play buttons ( are there games that need more?)
: : : : Trackball
: : : : Spinner
: : : : 1 4-Way joystick
: : : : 1 removable Stearing/Flight controler ( something
: : : : ( that attaches and can be removed)

: : : : SO is this possible? How would a guy do it? one
: : : : of the PC interface kits out there handle all this?
: : : : Any machines out there already have this? ( with Pics)

: : : : Im going to build a machine soon ( got an old 600 P-III) i just upgraded for the project, and just got a 21" of the Net for it.

: : : : I want it all.. but not sure i can have it..
: : : : so I am hopping somebody will tell me im insane, or
: : : : maybe point me in the right dir :)

: : : : Love this webpage, lots of info

: : : : ClockWOrk




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