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Angled joysticks on 4 player panel....yes or no? (poll)
jimmer:
--- Quote from: PL1 on August 18, 2013, 08:20:14 am ---The poll question is about the alignment of the joystick bases for P3 and P4. The lines indicate the direction that you push each joystick to go "up".
Angled:
-------Monitor-------
/ \
P3 | | P4
P1 P2
Straight:
-------Monitor-------
| |
P3 | | P4
P1 P2
Here's a picture of an angled configuration -- P3 and P4 stick bases aren't parallel with P1 and P2 stick bases.
Scott
--- End quote ---
edit: just seen Vigo's reply. If that's the case then I stand corrected. I was only imagining having my controls twisted, I've not actually tried it. I'm not even interested in 4 player panels so I should probably just keep quiet. :dunno
edit2: Just tried playing Robotron off to the side and can see that it'sdefinitely not clear cut. If this is a long running debate, then the answer is obviously in between fully straight and fully angled. It probably has a lot to do with position and angle of the screen, if the screen is head high and vertical up is still up, but with a low angled screen up is now 'up to the left'
--- Quote from: jimmer ---That straight diagram is even more retarded than what I was imagining (a straight panel with all players standing in a line).
You learn all your moves at home on your own panel and then when you get to your mates house you find the joystick is at 45degrees!
Please tell me 11 people didn't understand the question.
--- End quote ---
DaveMMR:
I think everyone comes in knowing that angling joysticks in controversial but it needs to be continuously revisited. But yeah, what Vigo said - test, test, test.
My only other piece of advise is to look at the panels of actual 4-player games (Gauntlet, TMNT, etc.) and notice that while the sticks are straight, the buttons are sometimes placed above or below the stick to fit it in a smaller space. This will help alleviate the excess width.
paigeoliver:
Gauntlet panels are actually narrower than the average 2 player panel around these parts.
severdhed:
honestly, i have used both styles, and i think they both can be a bit confusing at times. I had a 4 player showcase cabinet for a while that i recently sold. I had the joysticks all mounted the same direction, so up was toward the screen. Standing off to the side it at player 3 sometimes felt awkward pressing left to go up...but you adjust to it. my friend's 4 player panel has the player 3 and 4 joysticks angled at 45 degrees. This feels natural sometimes, but i still found myself pressing the wrong directions sometimes. I think personally, it doesn't matter a whole lot...no matter what, when standing sideways it is easy to not press the right direction. I am about to build a new 4 player panel and i plan on mounting them all the same way, not angled. I just wanted to see hard data on what everyone else thought.
WindDrake:
My 4-Player is angled, because my brain doesn't move my hands in relation to the screen, it moves in relation to the buttons.
Only my brother ever complained, and he's since adjusted. Only complaint I ever heard about it.