CP Admin Buttons

[Woodshop Flunky]

I'm consider building my CP like the picture below.  One primary and two secondary buttons.  Also, One and Two Player buttons (the white ones on the left).  The yellow button was originally for coin, but I think I'm going to tie that to the coin door.

I don't want things to get cluttered, but I don't mind putting a few admin buttons across the center top of the CP.

Question to you guys... What admin functions get used the most and what would you choose if you could only choose three?

(I'll be using MALA if that makes any difference)

Thanks!

[mgb]

I personally like it simple with just Pause/shift and one other button for exit that would require the pause to be pressed at the same time to eliminate unwanted exits

[Donkbaca]

All you need exit

[PsychoMikey]

Exit and Pause are the admin buttons i use daily.

[MPH]

Agreed. Pause and exit. Hide the other ones (e.g. reboot PC, reset game, etc.)

[8BitMonk]

I agree, Pause and Exit but I'd also keep a coin button up top. Though it may seem like no big deal, using the coin mech to rack credits is a pain after awhile.

[Woodshop Flunky]

The pause and exit buttons make sense to me.

I agree, Pause and Exit but I'd also keep a coin button up top. Though it may seem like no big deal, using the coin mech to rack credits is a pain after awhile.

I've seen some folks who had rigged the coin mech to serve as a push button, and it seemed neat, but I've wondered how convenient that would be.  There's just something in my mind that doesn't like the idea of being able to do the same thing two different ways. 

[Marsupial]

for me the pause button pulls out the arcade feeling, same with coin buttons.
I use real coin mecs with arcade tokens.

I have an admin key that serves as a shift function, the volume, exit, and few other config buttons are shifted functions of the normal buttons; just turn the admin key if you want to access exit to change game.

Keeps the arcade as genuine as possible without loosing the possibility of changing or configuring games.

[Woodshop Flunky]

for me the pause button pulls out the arcade feeling, same with coin buttons.
I use real coin mecs with arcade tokens.

I have an admin key that serves as a shift function, the volume, exit, and few other config buttons are shifted functions of the normal buttons; just turn the admin key if you want to access exit to change game.

Keeps the arcade as genuine as possible without loosing the possibility of changing or configuring games.

Do you mean an actual "physical" key?  Do you have any pics of that?

[Savannan]

my current working arcade cabinet I have 1 admin button.. assigned to ENTER a game.. i programmed ipac when pressing 1 and ENTER it exits..  and when I press 1 & 2 it pauses.  1 admin button is a minimum...but if your keyboard encoder has a shift function you can add more hidden functionality.

[Donkbaca]

I think you should have a dedicated exit buttons, shift buttons are confusing

[mgb]

I don't think its confusing with simply a pause/shift button and an exit.
push just the pause to pause the game, push both to exit

[shateredsoul]

yup, pause, exit, and possible genre (so you can cycle through your games more easily in some front ends).

I personally would not put a shift button on the control panel. You only need anything else when testing, for that you have a kb. Put hidden commands on your cp and wait till you get a button masher.

[D_Harris]

I'm all for simplicity also.

Trying to remember what each button is for when if comes time to use "shift" to get access to functions you rarely need to use can be a pain.

And unless you include all admin functions on your control panel it wouldn't be worth it if you still have to pull out the key board for even one more button.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

[Hurray Banana]

I agree with keeping it unclutered, but on my vertical cab I have 4 Admin buttons:

Power on PC, Left mouse, Enter and Escape

It worked on this one because I placed them on the back panel

I also have coin1 and coin2 buttons (as well as a token controlled coin door)

[Marsupial]

for me the pause button pulls out the arcade feeling, same with coin buttons.
I use real coin mecs with arcade tokens.

I have an admin key that serves as a shift function, the volume, exit, and few other config buttons are shifted functions of the normal buttons; just turn the admin key if you want to access exit to change game.

Keeps the arcade as genuine as possible without loosing the possibility of changing or configuring games.

Do you mean an actual "physical" key?  Do you have any pics of that?

see the key in the center top? that's the admin key. Its a keyswitch I got at a surplus store, very similar to that:



For me, the idea is to replicate an arcade machine, not a multigame console.
Having the possibility to pause or exit straight out of the bat is not what arcade machines are. The admin key is required to get out of any games, makes a more natural feel to the arcade machine.
I wouldn't do otherwise.

I guess its a matter of personnal preferences.

[leapinlew]

This is what the CP looks like on one of my Mame machines:


1p+2p = exit
1p + down = pause

There is a hidden button under the CP box that inserts a credit. I've had the machine for several years.

[Turnarcades]

There are a million ways to do it and good arguements for both keeping all admin buttons 'shifted' and for having physical buttons. From our perspective, we've always favoured having physical admin buttons but then our control panels were designed to account for these extra buttons so it's not for everyone.

We have independant credit buttons for each player as they double-up as joypad buttons on other platform emulators, and our admin buttons of choice are 'Enter', 'Escape', 'TAB', and 'P' as they suit our extensive software setup. If I had to drop one though (and we might soon do) it would be 'Enter'.

[BobA]

When discussing CP admin buttons it is almost aways with reference to MAME.   If you are going to run other emulators or a front end that has specific button requirements it is always good to also keep those programs in mind when planning your control panel.

[shateredsoul]

When discussing CP admin buttons it is almost aways with reference to MAME.   If you are going to run other emulators or a front end that has specific button requirements it is always good to also keep those programs in mind when planning your control panel.

good point, if you do atari 5200 you'll need a 1 thru 9 button.

[8BitMonk]

for me the pause button pulls out the arcade feeling, same with coin buttons.
I use real coin mecs with arcade tokens.

I would agree with you on authenticity when it comes to an arcade monitor, joystick or buttons though I disagree when it comes to the exit, pause and coin button on the CP. These don't dilute the 'arcade feeling' for me at all and are a really nice convenience when you're playing. I have real functioning coin mechs as well though they're more for novelty when showing off the cab. Putting coins in or opening the door and triggering the mech is an unecessary PITA in my opinion.

[leapinlew]

Putting coins in or opening the door and triggering the mech is an unecessary PITA in my opinion.

Yeah, it's a pain if you want to play a lot of games. However, if you have kids over - it's kind of nice to dole out some tokens or quarters and tell them to take turns.

[D_Harris]

No one will get the 100% arcade experience. After all this is MAME.

And for me, having to take out the keyboard for all admin buttons, including  the highly used pause and exit buttons take away from the arcade experience even more so.

Every one will establish what is the middle ground for them.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

[leapinlew]

No one will get the 100% arcade experience. After all this is MAME.

And for me, having to take out the keyboard for all admin buttons, including  the highly used pause and exit buttons take away from the arcade experience even more so.

Every one will establish what is the middle ground for them.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

It just depends what you expect from your machine. If you want a machine that plays multiple games, you will make some sacrifices. However, if I wanted to only play Donkey Kong - my cabinet will provide a 100% authentic experience.

[mgb]

If I really want the 100% completely real arcade experience that I remember as a kid, I would have to have my mom give me a ride and give $10 

I like pause, my bladder isn't as strong as when I was a teenager

[Marsupial]

yeah, but if you really need a pause, you can get the key and activate it.

There's just something more to playing arcade with tokens, when you reach the "extra life" that actually would have cost you one token.

Having he games in free play leads to less serious gaming, more abuse, and a different feel. At that rate, put an arcade joystick in front of your computer and pull the chair back.

[mgb]

I agree, using tokens or coins does put more value to the play.

[Woodshop Flunky]

I like the idea of tokens.  The sounds of the token dropping and the credit registering are VERY arcade.

[dextercf]

I don't get it.
What has tokens/coins to do with admin buttons?

I'm soon to start my first cabinett project (previously made a controlpad) and is curious to know what is the prefered and/or needed admin buttons.
If I wanted tokens, I would have bought or made them and installed a coindoor. And at first I think I would keep it simple and just use buttons for credits.
But what else is there a need to install?

[mgb]

Hey Woodshop,
 Is the monitor also gonna be vertical like in the pic at the top of the post?

[Donkbaca]

You need an exit button.  Nothing else is a must have. Second most popular is pause, but I don't have one. The only other thing you may need is volume.  Admin buttons should only be buttons you use regularly. There is no need for a button like tab. You should set up all hour gams with a keyboard before you go live. If a guest hits tab, they could royally screw up your setup. The same for f2. Admin buttons should only be buttons that a guest, who has no knowledge of emulators, can intuitively use. For everything else, just keep a keyboard behind the coin door

[Woodshop Flunky]

I don't get it.
What has tokens/coins to do with admin buttons?

I intend to have a working coin door, so I could eliminate the coin button and keep as few "must" have admin buttons on the CP as possible.  After reading all the posts, I don't think I'm going to have the CP cluttered up with admin buttons.

Hey Woodshop,
 Is the monitor also gonna be vertical like in the pic at the top of the post?

YES!    My favorite games are vertical, and I just love the look of a vertical cab.  I've played several horizontal games with my test monitor (a 17" PC monitor) rotated vertically, and they all played fine for me.  It's kind of like watching a widescreen movie on an old 4:3 TV years ago.

[Woodshop Flunky]

Also, this cab is for my son's birthday, and is going to be 3/4 scale (like Bella's).  So thats another reason (besides my OCD ) why I wanted as few buttons on the CP as possible.

[bkenobi]

If you add admin buttons, consider the volcano style ones.  I think they would look pretty good on that CP.

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Pushbuttons

[Donkbaca]

My advice?  Just exit.  Maybe pause.  You can add a coin button and run it parallel to to the coin mechs so that way you can use both.

[Epyx]

I personally would not put a shift button on the control panel. You only need anything else when testing, for that you have a kb. Put hidden commands on your cp and wait till you get a button masher.

Perhaps there is some confusion among some of you on what a "shift button" is? A shift button isn't a physical button on your CP...a shift button is a dual function of an existing button.  The shift button functionality of IPAC for example is designed to do away with the need for "physical" admin buttons on your CP.  My CP has player 1/2 and player buttons but I used Shifted functions. For example:

Player 1 start hold and press player 2 start = Exit
Player 1 start hold and press P1 button 6 or Player 2 start hold and press P2 button 6 = Pause

You don't ruin the aesthetics of your CP with a bunch of admin buttons but get all the same functionality.

[Donkbaca]

I agree Epyx.  I just don't like them, its easier to explain to a kid to hit the glowing red button that says EXIT to exit the game

[VanillaGorilla]

If you add admin buttons, consider the volcano style ones.  I think they would look pretty good on that CP.

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Pushbuttons

Volcano 1 = Hyperspin  'Select', MAME P1 'START'
Volcano 2 = Hyperspin 'BACK', MAME COIN 1 / U360 SHIFT

Volcano 2 + B1 = ESC
Volcano 2 + B5 = TAB
Volcano 2 + B6 = PAUSE

Thinking about adding 1 more volcano for P2 start, but I rarely ever play 2 player games. I'd love to have different color LED's in the volcanos, but that doesn't seem feasible as the lens color is red.

[Woodshop Flunky]

If you add admin buttons, consider the volcano style ones.  I think they would look pretty good on that CP.

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Pushbuttons

Yeah, I saw those volcano buttons back on that post and absolutely LOVED them.  My first thought was to use them for any admin buttons.  I agree they are very slick!

[EVEGames]

I agree Epyx.  I just don't like them, its easier to explain to a kid to hit the glowing red button that says EXIT to exit the game

I've done a slow but steady 180 degree turn on this topic over the years, and now I'm 100% with Donkbaca on this one.  My main cab has no admin buttons and relies on the Shift function of the IPac for Exit, Pause, Coin, TAB, etc.  I'll still say that the Shift function is a Godsend, I have shifted values for not only the Mame-related admin functions (Esc, Pause, etc) but also numbers 1 - 9, Function keys F1 - F12, the letters 'Y' and 'N'... fans of C64 and other emulators will see the advantages of having the Function keys, and the ability to answer 'Y'es and 'N'o to various prompts without the need to pull out a keyboard.
HOWEVER
What I've come around to over the years is, the Cons outweigh the Pros for me.  Someone mentioned "button mashers" earlier in the thread... that's where the Cons come into play.  Playing a 2-player game and having to ask Player 2 to "stop pressing buttons for a second" while Player 1 presses his Start button to get back into the game, just plain sucks.  But if you don't do that, you risk Player 2 hitting a random button at the same time you press the Start button (which doubles as the Shift button), and hosing up the game... a common one on my machine is, the "palette" screen will pop up.  Or another common one is, Player 1 and Player 2 both hit the Start button at the same time... that's the same as hitting ESC.  Game over.  And if you have TWO button-mashers going at it on your machine at the same time, they're gonna screw it up, lose interest and walk away.
So for me, in the future, I will sacrifice a little authenticity of the control panel, and save myself and my guests a lot of hassle.

-EVEGames