BattleZone Cockpit concept

[IronJuggernaut]

Below is a link to my concept drawing of a BattleZone cockpit. I have
begun to design plans for it and measure existing wiring harnesses of
the sacrificial periscope stand-up. Being a teacher and having access
to a woodshop/metalshop is proving to be very convenient. That, and
"Matty-t" has offered to assemble a 22-inch vector for the project.
Would love to hear some constructive criticism....

http://www.brentradio.com/images/Battlezone/BZcockpitconcept001.JPG

....many Thanks to "Brent" for the image hosting.

[Pat D.]

Did you use an existing cockpit to design yours? You may find the
seating arrangement sucks unless you took into account the angle of the
monitor etc. I hate a game where you have to "reach" to get the
controls and see what you are doing. I think ideally the seat will be
adjustable fore and aft although you may have to compromise on a fixed
seating height.

I like the idea. I'd do the same if I had the space. Keep us up to date.

Pat D.

[si]

Great idea! I think you should place the controls on the side by the
top of each leg, that way you waon't need to lean forward. Maybe a
rumble pack fixed under the seat would add a little extra.

[Air Lair]

Since I'm a fan of the game and also spent around seven years in an
National Guard armor unit, I'd figure that I'd throw my two cents in.
First of all I would make the cockpit totally enclosed and dark inside
by either having a door on the side or a curtain. The more I think
about it, I think a door or hatch type assembly would be better. The
whole point about being in an actual tank is the claustrophobic
environment. On top of this still having to lean up against the
periscope would keep it realistic as well. The trainers we used were
like this and very effective. I'm guessing from the outside it would
look much like a large box, but I'd concentrate the design on the
inside to make it as realistic as possible.

Larry

[guinness]

If that elongated thing is a scope...then I think that scope is weird for a
cockpit...especially since the seat-to-eye comfort will only be good for a
select few unless you plan on making the scope retractable\extendable. I
would remove the scope and put one of those image expanding plexis in front
of the monitor that make the image much bigger...like the roadblasters
cockpit does. Sound placement is definately an opportunity for any cockpit
design as well...woofer under the seat!

tim (NH)

"Pat D." <patd...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:U_9Zg.1901$3C6.221@trnddc04...

[IronJuggernaut]

Here's some details from my idea;

* The concept is that the cabinet look like one of the in-game tanks.
The "thick" lines that run along the edges of the drawing will be
painted a flourescent green. The rest would be black with small
mechanical designs here and there. The cab can dis-assemble into 3
parts (turret with main gun, monitor housing, seat housing).

* Working coin mech on side by seat similar to Pole Position cockpit.
Marquee to be on direct front at slight incline angle.

* Monitor will be open faced similar to cabaret style. I'd like to have
others be able to watch gameplay whilst waiting to deposit quarters.

* I have planned in a 3-piece Altec Lansing computer speaker setup to
give that stereo sound. Yes, the bass unit is going underneath the seat.

[andrewho...@gmail.com]

i think the only cooler thing to have on this cockpit would be the
barrel of the
tank on top linked to the periscope so that when it turns the barrel
turns. pretty much only useful to
those standing by waiting to play but man what a conversation piece!

the cockpit design looks awesome!

andrew
of the taitovox kids
(formerly the stratovox kids)

[amre...@hotmail.com]

Wow. Nice idea. I too considered making a BZ cockpit 2 yrs ago, when I
was working on the Battlezone Side art and CPO's.

My idea was to model it on an Atari FireFox Cockpit because it was as
angular as the tanks in the BZ game.

And, I felt that the cockpit design would have to be enclosed over your
head, and maybe even a bit claustrophobic - like a real tank, with
the twin joystick controls either side of the players seat, or jutting
out of a central control panel with possibly a letter box viewing
hole/periscope like a real tank.

But putting them either side of the seat would make it difficult to get
in/out, and sodding painful if you slipped and sat on one !

BUT HERES A THOUGHT. IF SOMEONE WANTS TO TAKE ON THE CREATION OF THE
COCKPIT, I WILL ADAPT THE EXISTING BATTLEZONE SIDE ART TO FIT/SUIT
THE NEW CAB.

Any takers ???

Archer.

[big dog]

Hi,

Yes I agree, it must be inclosed.

Great ideas,
Mark Capps

[Matty-t]

I like it. The only thing I would do is mount the control panel on a
sliding drawer suspension system. So you can slide it close to you, and
lock it.

That way it's easy to get in and out of, and you can adjust it for
each players size requirments. It also allow you to still sit back and
let others watch the play.

Then there is also that idea of mounting one joy on an extension of
each armrest.

- Matt