Critique my arcade controller.

My arcade cabinet arrived last friday:

http://www.dirty.org/users/tommy/arcade/cabgutted.jpg

The control panel is pretty beat up, so I'm going ahead and making my own from scratch. I've never attempted anything like this before, and was wondering if what I have planned is a) doable and b) worth it.

Here's a rough idea of what I want:

http://www.dirty.org/users/tommy/arc...trollayout.gif

1. Main player controls.

2. Player start buttons. Rectangular, LED backlit.

3. Menu buttons. 'Insert Coin' 'Back' 'Pause' 'Select' etc.

4. Side mounted buttons for pinball games.

5. SmartJoy PS2 to USB adaptors mounted in the front of the control panel. Both to be connected to a USB hub, and then on to the PC. For use with console emulation / specific controllers (dancepads etc).

I really enjoy pinball games, so I really, really want those side mounted buttons on there. Would regular microswitch buttons be ok for that?

So yeah, any comments or ideas would be much appreciated :)

For your pinball buttons, I believe regular microswitch buttons would be okay. I recommend you hit the BYOAC and Killercab forums. Those guys seem pretty knowledgeable in building arcade cabinets.

Japanese layout? :(

The normal HAPP cherry switches were the same thing we always used when we needed to repalce buttons on our pinball machines.

You may need more space between the stick and the buttons.

Yeah, i'd move the player 1 buttons under his menu buttons, and do the same with player 2's stick. Otherwise its sweet.

I can't critique it until you put some shitty videogame artwork all over it, then I'll say it sucks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Razor Ramon

Japanese layout? :(

---

You mean the arch button layout? I only went with it because that's how the original cabinet's controls were laid out. Is there a better alternative? Like I said, I'm a fucking noob when it comes to cabs - I don't even know if I prefer a straight layout to the arch.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Josh

You may need more space between the stick and the buttons.

---

Yeah, that 'diagram' is by no means to scale. I might copy Tain and do a shoebox mock up before I take drill to wood. I'll post pics when my parts arrive.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cigsthecat

I can't critique it until you put some shitty videogame artwork all over it, then I'll say it sucks.

---

Hah. It's going to be matte black, probably red buttons and a red balltop.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Detour

You mean the arch button layout? I only went with it because that's how the original cabinet's controls were laid out. Is there a better alternative? Like I said, I'm a fucking noob when it comes to cabs - I don't even know if I prefer a straight layout to the arch.

---

The arch is common in Japanese arcades like so
http://image4.play-asia.com/170/PA.82364.003.jpg

The fighting game enthusiasts at the Shoryuken forums prefer this layout because it fits more naturally to the right hand than the straight layout we're used to seeing in the US arcades. Ultimately, the decision to go with a straight or curved layout will depend on your own personal preference.

Straight buttonggg layout is the way to go.

Atleast that's what I prefer.

And do some research before you start cutting/drilling! There are some good threads on TNL, as well as the suggestions above.