Buttons - how to remember which do what?

[Riverdome]

Trying to think of everything before I spend my first $ on building a custom cab.  One thing I can't get my head around is how to properly define buttons to work across multiple games.  The classics should be easy, but for sports games it will be more difficult to remember what button is pass, what's shoot, ....  Is there an easy solution to this issue?

My thought was to either use a track ball or a built in touch pad to control a 2nd display.  On this display manully retrieve a PNG or PDF with a visual representation of my button layout and the controls assigned to each button.  Could be ok but I'm wondering if there isn't a better option someone else has thought of.

[Sjaak]

Check out CPWizard

[HanoiBoi]

Some front ends will show a labeled cp, with your mapped buttons.  I think GameEx is one.

It's not too hard to figure the buttons out or even to reconfigure them.

For example, for a game like Donkey Kong, you can configure both joystick for up, down, right and left and let the player grab either.  I even map 3 or 4 buttons to 'jump' so that a player will find one that works. 

I know, its easy for one button game, but you might be surprised how easy it is to figure out the buttons for multiple button games.  Play them once and assign what feels right (or what is accurate).

[Hoopz]

As he mentioned, for some sports games, it's hard to remember during a game which button is shoot v. pass or turbo (NBA Jam, 2 on 2 Ice, etc are like this).  Showing a pic of the controls before the game starts doesn't always work because once the game starts, it can get confusing.

1.  Play every day so you never forget.   

2.  You can print and laminate note cards that show the controls (B1, B2, B3 etc) for the games that are confusing.

3.  Use a second display that always has the control panel displayed during the game.

[mytymaus007]

MAME for DUMMIES Manuel and keep adding games to it or you can make instruction cards for each game

[Riverdome]

Have to look closer at CPWizard.  The idea of notecards is analog but might be the best solution.  Would keep the information close to the buttons and would be easy for any user to 'setup'.  Just have to find a nice way to include the notecard "sleeve" on the bezel or elsewhere. 

If I made super customized note cards I wonder if I could slide them on/under the CP itself?  Might give me nightmares of Lotus 1-2-3 and Word Perfect!

[bkenobi]

There have been several projects that use a second screen to display a CP during game play.  In some instances, I've seen people output CPWizard output to files and then use Marquee Magician to display on the second screen.  I personally use CPWizard to display the setup whenever pause is selected in MAME and when a game is initially loaded.

[Ginsu Victim]

There have been several projects that use a second screen to display a CP during game play.  In some instances, I've seen people output CPWizard output to files and then use Marquee Magician to display on the second screen.  I personally use CPWizard to display the setup whenever pause is selected in MAME and when a game is initially loaded.

I used Irfanview to output to a second monitor on my friend's cabinet.