CP layout question

[AzureKnight]

I'm working on the design of a 4 player CP and I have a question.  I plan on laying things out so that player 1 and 2 are front and center with 3 and 4 on the wings (so 3, 1, 2, 4).  For reference, I'll be using the Mameroom 4 player CP (http://www.mameroom.com/ProductDetail.asp?ID=QUADCONTROLLER)  which curves to either side.

I've read pretty heavily on the site and found that for players 3 and 4 it seems to be recommended by most (not all) that you align the joysticks to still point straight up and down and not angled at the screen.  My question comes into play on the buttons.  Should the buttons also be aligned perpendicular to the screen or is it most common to angle them even though the joystick isn't.

I know there is no consensus and I'll get a lot of do what feels right to you...but to be honest I most likely will have Mameroom precut the CP for me (at least that is my plan unless I get some good recommendations why not to do this.)  This means I want to decide before I can really play around with it too much.  Everyone here has so much more experience, so I'd love to tap into that knowledge and try to get this right the first time through!

In case I wasn't clear I made a quick image of what I mean:

Option 1
On the left you can see the buttons are all angled which means the buttons are out of alignment with the standard setup for the joystick.

Option 2
On the right you can see the buttons are all aligned Left to Right along with the joystick.

Thanks in advance for any and all opinions!

[kronic24601]

This is (more or less) what I have done with my panel. I also had an original wrestlefest cab that n angled them this way. I have played with it a bit and it seems very straight forward/simple to me. However, I have seen real cabs go both ways on this, and you sort of have to re-invent how to play them on that particular machine ... so there probably isn't a "wrong" answer... but to me ... you push up toward the monitor from where you are standing. Otherwise P3 actually is pushing left to go up, and P4 is pushing right (and so on).

My 2 cents

[AzureKnight]

Thanks kronic,

That was actually my original plan, exactly what you have mentioned.  Then I started reading older posts here and it seemed that most people favored the other approach (True North for Up so to speak).  I'm really on the fence over this one, but I do have some time to decide while I finalize the parts list and graphics.

[kronic24601]

Ya I read the same thing, then I found a number of cabs that did one or the other, I always had a slightly harder time with the "other" approach (less natural at least)... but in reality, I think it's whatever makes sense... also I think that whichever you choose, you will get used to it and grow to like it.

[jholman76]

google crap mame and that will show you how to NOT build one...

NSFW. Naughty words, and vulgar distaste for someone's hard work.

[AzureKnight]

I read through the crap mame just last week after finding a link to it in one of these threads.  I certainly want to make sure I don't end up on there
!

[kronic24601]

AHHA! Even CrapMAME author thinks the sticks should be angled!

http://wickedretarded.com/~crapmame/30.html

[Ginsu Victim]

AHHA! Even CrapMAME author thinks the sticks should be angled!

http://wickedretarded.com/~crapmame/30.html

I think what he means on that page is that the player has to face an awkward way to play. The angle of the combined controls is very odd for players 3 and 4.