Is there a resource that lists the number of buttons every game uses?

[Dcpmark]

My current HotRod SE panel has 7 buttons per player, and I don't think I've ever used more than 3 for any game I've ever played on it for the last 12 years. I'm building a new CP and cramming a lot of controls into a 2-player panel, so I'm trying to hit the sweet spot for player buttons. I did just add NES and SNES to MAME in the cab, but I'm still not using more than a couple of buttons for the games I'm playing. I'm only planning to run MAME, Model 3, NES, and SNES for sure, and might add Dolphin and ePSXe later.

Is there a list somewhere that lists all games by the number of buttons it uses? If not, seems like that would be an extra resource to start.

[shponglefan]

6 is the most you'll likely ever use, which is the standard for Capcom-style fighting games.  I could see going up to 8 for certain consoles, just cover all possible bases, but most console games that use that many buttons should probably just be played with controllers anyway.

[Dcpmark]

The thing is that I don't play fighting games, and the other Capcom and SNK games I play don't require more than 2 or 3 buttons, if my memory is correct. That's why a list of games with the number of buttons they use would be handy because you can reduce the number of button you need depending on the games you actually play. If I don't play any 6-button games, I can put in 5 buttons and use the 6th spot for a spinner. If I don't play any, or just a couple of 4 and 5-button games, I can decide if it more worthwhile to play those few games or add a steering wheel input for games that I REALLY like to play.

[DarthMarino]

You can do a search at klov.com by number of buttons.

[PL1]

Is there a list somewhere that lists all games by the number of buttons it uses? If not, seems like that would be an extra resource to start.

Somebody recently posted a link to a site that allowed you to sort console games by number of buttons required IIRC.   


Scott

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

You can do a search at klov.com by number of buttons.

Romlister can also make lists based on the specific number of buttons used. The bonus there is then you can also import said list directly into your front-end of choice.

EDIT: I believe romlister also works with Goodset xml files (for the console sets,) but I don't remember if they sort by number of buttons used.

That said, personally, I would do 4 at an absolute minimum -- I think it's better to stick with 6. Especially if SNES is in play. I don't think 2 more buttons is significant real estate (I guess the question here is what kind of layout are you trying to achieve?) Going with less could come back to haunt you later.

[harveybirdman]

4 gets you Neo-Geo catalog and would go a long way to supporting snes depending on what you want to play.  I can't ever see myself going with less on anything buy a dedicated cab.

[Dcpmark]

You can do a search at klov.com by number of buttons.

Thanks!!!! This is the info I needed.

[Dcpmark]

You can do a search at klov.com by number of buttons.

I don't think 2 more buttons is significant real estate (I guess the question here is what kind of layout are you trying to achieve?)

Yeah, that's the issue.....I'm going to try to put EVERYTHING on a 24" 2-player panel without being cramped. 2 8-ways, a 4-way, player buttons plus admin buttons, trackball, a small flight stick, and a spinner. I'm also hoping to able to attach a 7" wheel to the spinner when I want to play a driving game, but I might have to let that one go....

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

Yeah, that's the issue.....I'm going to try to put EVERYTHING on a 24" 2-player panel without being cramped. 2 8-ways, a 4-way, player buttons plus admin buttons, trackball, a small flight stick, and a spinner. I'm also hoping to able to attach a 7" wheel to the spinner when I want to play a driving game, but I might have to let that one go....

Oh my! Wow, man, (no pun intended) that is no small undertaking! I suppose it could be done, especially if you have a CP with more depth, but that's going to be seriously difficult to do without a ton of time spent on attention to ergonomics and/or aesthetics.  (Of course, that's all based on personal preference anyway!  ) Go for it! I want to see that layout!

That said -- and again, this is just my opinion. but -- at that point I feel like the easier (if not necessarily "better") compromise would be 2 swappable panels. But hey, if you get a setup that works for you I got nothing to say!

Come to think of it, one thing you could do to consolidate is to have one of the 8-ways have a switchable restrictor (4/8way) like with Ultimarc's ServoStik...

[harveybirdman]

You can do a search at klov.com by number of buttons.

I don't think 2 more buttons is significant real estate (I guess the question here is what kind of layout are you trying to achieve?)

Yeah, that's the issue.....I'm going to try to put EVERYTHING on a 24" 2-player panel without being cramped. 2 8-ways, a 4-way, player buttons plus admin buttons, trackball, a small flight stick, and a spinner. I'm also hoping to able to attach a 7" wheel to the spinner when I want to play a driving game, but I might have to let that one go....

 

[Unstupid]

How many buttons does Street Fighter 4 Arcade Edition use?  All the fight sticks I see for those seem to have 8, but its usually 6 white ones and the right most 2 are black.  I never played it so I dunno.... 

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

You know, in the back of my mind I've always wanted to see a G.I. Joe themed cabinet, with a big ol' "USS Flagg" sized frankenpanel (perhaps actually made from the USS Flagg toy) ... with Serpentor's face as the CP overlay. It just feels right.

Dcpmark, I don't know how familiar you are with this forum, but if you haven't ever heard/seen the term "frankenpanel," you should probably do a search for it - as harveybirdman so subtly alluded to  , they are a bone of contention among many of the BYOAC forum denizens.

How many buttons does Street Fighter 4 Arcade Edition use?  All the fight sticks I see for those seem to have 8, but its usually 6 white ones and the right most 2 are black.  I never played it so I dunno.... 

6. I've always assumed the other 2 were put in for console "compatibility" purposes (despite lacking analog control sticks.) I'm pretty sure there are no (current) fighters that use more than 6.

[Dcpmark]

Dcpmark, I don't know how familiar you are with this forum, but if you haven't ever heard/seen the term "frankenpanel," you should probably do a search for it - as harveybirdman so subtly alluded to  , they are a bone of contention among many of the BYOAC forum denizens.

I have read about them here AND seen the many pictures, but until this very moment, it didn't even dawn on me that I was creating a monster of my very own. But every time I look down at my HotRod SE, all I see is empty space begging to be filled with trackballs, spinners, etc.....

[shponglefan]

The thing is that I don't play fighting games, and the other Capcom and SNK games I play don't require more than 2 or 3 buttons, if my memory is correct. That's why a list of games with the number of buttons they use would be handy because you can reduce the number of button you need depending on the games you actually play. If I don't play any 6-button games, I can put in 5 buttons and use the 6th spot for a spinner. If I don't play any, or just a couple of 4 and 5-button games, I can decide if it more worthwhile to play those few games or add a steering wheel input for games that I REALLY like to play.

You mentioned in the OP you also wanted to use it for console gaming, though.  PSX and SNES have 6 buttons (excluding start/select).  And if you opt to use Dolphin for Gamecube (I assume?), that controller has 7 buttons (excluding start).

Also, not sure what you mean by "use the 6th spot for a spinner"?  If you're talking about mounting one there (in a Capcom style button layout), you migth run into a few usability problems.

[shponglefan]

That said -- and again, this is just my opinion. but -- at that point I feel like the easier (if not necessarily "better") compromise would be 2 swappable panels. But hey, if you get a setup that works for you I got nothing to say!

This x 1000%.

3 joysticks, trackball, flightstick, and spinner (plus buttons) on a two-foot panel is going to be a nightmare.  In fact, I wonder if there would even be enough physical space to do all that...

[harveybirdman]

I have read about them here AND seen the many pictures, but until this very moment, it didn't even dawn on me that I was creating a monster of my very own. But every time I look down at my HotRod SE, all I see is empty space begging to be filled with trackballs, spinners, etc.....

To each his or her own, but trying to control every game ever conceived from one panel on one machine is like trying to play golf with one ugly club 

[Dcpmark]

I have read about them here AND seen the many pictures, but until this very moment, it didn't even dawn on me that I was creating a monster of my very own. But every time I look down at my HotRod SE, all I see is empty space begging to be filled with trackballs, spinners, etc.....

To each his or her own, but trying to control every game ever conceived from one panel on one machine is like trying to play golf with one ugly club

So you've seen me play golf, then!