With space on the third panel only being committed to PC peripherals there isn't much to trick out. I haven't completely decided what brand and layout of keyboards I'm going to commit to at the moment, but I do know that I have a general idea what I want.
- I'm going to need all the components to connect to the PC via USB. This is essential because wireless keyboards and pads have earned terrible reputations for both remaining connected to their receivers and keeping their batteries charged. I also have to closely manage the clutter below the deck in order to have room for the fourth panel.
- Regardless of what brand of keyboard or mouse I buy, it needs to have been designed for the purpose of gaming. Any gamer will tell you without hesitation, that a gaming keyboard/mouse can significantly impact performance. They have extra keys, preset bindings, profile support for multiple games, macros, and smoother layouts for single handed input.
- Also, every other deck is going to be illuminated so I feel pretty strongly that I will have to choose a illuminated keyboard. My angst with this is the fact that the illuminated gaming keyboards I've found so far that meet my high aesthetic standards, don't necessarily meet my higher performance standards. I'm not concerned though. The research associated with this project has reassured me that there is almost always a commercially available retail solution to those persistent enough to find it.
- I will have to find a way to adhere these items to the deck top that will not interfere with user comfort, functionality, or the seamless appearance of the cabinet in total.
The control box will house the USB gamepads that will operate the consoles' emulators. There are tons of these things on the market. After a quick evaluation of consumer ratings, I decided to go with a set of gamepads designed to replicate the weight, function, and feel of a XBox 360 controller. In that respect the model is inaccurate, because it shows Playstation controllers. The truth is, I'm just not that good at 3D modeling and the best model I could find in the online warehouse was the one shown. I could have gone with a number of other controllers shaped similar to the Playstation 3, and Super Nintendo gamepads, but I think the choice I made is perfect medium ground of all the options. This way I have a gamepad that has a compact design so I can fit several inside the control box and performs versatile enough to fit the total variety of all my emulators. They pf coarse have wireless varieties of these, but I think once again I'm going to stick with the more reliable wired options.Another item that can't be illustrated on the digital model is the wire-hole I'll have to cut for gamepad cords to be routed through panel during play. This semi-circle gap will reside in the center front where the deck meets the control box. I've tried a couple times to draw it in, but Sketch-Up has a design limitation that does not allow the 'routing' of shapes on curved surfaces. So you'll just have to use your imagination to visualize this.
