optimum button assignment for 6 buttons

[Crayola]

So I am building an arcade.. I have 6 buttons for each player.

Two rows of three above one another. The joystick is to the
left of the buttons. How would you assign them? I mainly play classics
so mostly 1 or 2 button games but I occasionally play a fighter.

I was thinking..

456
123

Would this work for fighters like Killer Instinct?

Thanks,
Crayola

[DirtyDachshunds]

That is what I use, but some members here also like.

123
456

Most games will be 1-2 buttons, so it comes down to whether or not you want those buttons on the bottom of top row.

That configuration works great for fighters.  I've had to manually set button configs for some fighter games as I always like all my kicks to be the bottom row and all my punches to be the top row.

[garnerb350]

Have you thought if maybe you might like a 7 button layout?

                         123
                         456
                       7

Some people perfer the 7 button layout for Neo-Geo games and dont forget the run button on MK3 

[Rick]

That is what I use, but some members here also like.

123
456

Most games will be 1-2 buttons, so it comes down to whether or not you want those buttons on the bottom of top row.

I also had this question, but my only concern with this layout are the '1-2 button' games.  Would I not, now, need to reach over buttons 4 and 5 to get to these?

[Jack Burton]

I'm weird.

By default I use:

312
456         


My reasoning for this layout is that I play a majority of 2 button games like shmups, side scrollers, and beat em ups. 

When I always played these games in the arcades the buttons were always farther away from the joystick than the 1 button would be in a standard 123 setup.  So I move the buttons over a couple of inches to get them back to about where they would be at.  It just feels right to me. 

When I play SF or a 3 button game of course I go back to

123
456

[upprc04]

That is what I use, but some members here also like.

123
456

Most games will be 1-2 buttons, so it comes down to whether or not you want those buttons on the bottom of top row.

I also had this question, but my only concern with this layout are the '1-2 button' games.  Would I not, now, need to reach over buttons 4 and 5 to get to these?

Yes, but pressing them won't do anything.  It will also give you more room to rest your wrist.  So, depending on the depth of your control panel it may be worth it.  Just need to feel it out for yourself and decide whatever works well for you.  

[DirtyDachshunds]

That is what I use, but some members here also like.

123
456

Most games will be 1-2 buttons, so it comes down to whether or not you want those buttons on the bottom of top row.

I also had this question, but my only concern with this layout are the '1-2 button' games.  Would I not, now, need to reach over buttons 4 and 5 to get to these?

Yes with the
123
456
layout you will have to reach over 45 to get to 12.  That's why I use
456
123, but a lot of people thing it is more natural to reach for the top left button as the first or main button (like reading left to right, top to bottom)...I, however, am not one of those people

[Rick]

I'm not a big fan of dead buttons, so the first time I fire up a game, I'll always custom map out the controls.  So your typical 2 button game will be like this:

212
121

I'll go as far to map out the inputs to both sets of controls if it's one of those alternating players type games.

Damn, man.  That's a smart idea!

 

[severdhed]

i have the first button at the top left, since that is naturally where i want to reach for it.  like this:

123
456

as for reaching over the bottom row, why does everyone always make a big deal about that...it's not really much of a reach and it's not like they get in the way.  i guess maybe if you like to press your hand flat against the panel, then that could be an issue, but when i put my hand down on the panel, i don't press my entire palm down on it, so my fingers are naturally curved and the bottom row sits right below the part of my hand that isn't touching the panel.

as for remapping unused buttons, that is a great idea.  i was just rewiring my panel last night and testing out a few things and i though about doing that, but i wasn't sure it if was worth the effort.  people sometimes ask which buttons to use, but usually you tell them once and they are good.  (or the press the buttons that don't do anything and then move on to the ones that do)

[Ginsu Victim]

Mine are

456
123
    4

I'm weird, I know.