First CP, 6 vs 8 buttons

[rhys]

Ok, I did search and not finding the answer I'm looking for....

What is the rational between doing a 6 button vs 8 button layout?  Are there just not any games that use 8 buttons, or so few that most people don't bother?  I'm looking to mill my control panel tonight.  I have enough buttons for an 8 button layout, but if they'll never be used, I can use the extra four buttons for admin buttons instead.

Thanks!

[shiori1425]

Console Emulation VS Arcade Emulations

You only need 6 if you only play arcade games.  I went with 8 so I can recreate standard button layouts for multiple platforms, (3 over 3, 4 over 1, 2 over 1, 3 in a row, ect) Mostly mostly only aesthetics and I plan to light the buttons in the same manner as the OG CP.

 

[rhys]

That explains why most control panels I'm seeing are only 6 button.  Only planning on doing arcade with this, so I guess I'll redo the layout for 6 buttons with admin buttons....  2x2 sheet of 3/4" pine is only $4.50, I can always cut another one if I don't like it.  The advantages of having a CNC mill 

[BadMouth]

No standard arcade game uses more than 6 per player. (those that do are mahjong panels, full keyboard, etc)
As was said, more is usually done for console emulation, although I don't like playing games that require me to remember varying functions for that many buttons.

Some of the newer PC games are based around an xbox360 controller and the developers seem intent on using up 8 buttons regardless of how much sense it makes to do so. (do I really need a separate button to pick up objects in a beat 'em up?!)
I'm finding that I just don't bother playing these and migrate toward the ones that use 3 buttons or less, except for fighting games of course.

The most important modern PC games to have on an arcade cab IMO (Mortal Kombat Komplete, SSFIVAE, SFxTekken) only require 6.
It will allow you to map the other two, but they just do the same thing as combinations of the other buttons.
IMO, it is cheating to map those even if you have the extra buttons.

I have 7 buttons on my CP.  I do like having the tag button off to the side for MKK instead of in the middle as would be required by a straight 6 layout.
Next time I might reluctantly add the 8th to make sure I'm covered for any future game that might be designed with 8 button fight sticks in mind.

[michelevit]

I have 6 buttons on my cab. If I need to play a modern PC game that requires more buttons or more often an analog stick, I just plug in a USB game pad.