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4-Player Build Considerations
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PL1:
Malenko brought up an interesting idea here about changing the order of joysticks in some 4-player games.

Most people set up the joysticks/encoder in a 3, 1, 2, 4 configuration so the vast majority of games (1 or 2 player games) have players 1 and 2 in the center.

For some 4-player games, if you change the in-game control settings so MAME has players in a 1, 2, 3, 4 configuration it will match up with the screen -- farthest left on the control panel = farthest left on the screen.


--- Quote from: Malenko on February 12, 2014, 10:22:13 pm ---I dont think it'd be a huge deal for turtles, xmen, and the like but it'd pair the players up oddly in NBA Jam, Open Ice, etc.

--- End quote ---

One downside to the idea is possibly causing confusion if you have labels/start buttons with the player# imprint instead of a generic "start" label/vinyl button sticker.

Here's what I'm trying to figure out:

1.) Has anyone tried this?  Any feedback?  Is it worth the effort?

2.) How to fit the idea into the FAQ -- any suggestions?

The closest thing in the wiki is the 2Player Management page.

3.) List of 4-player games, preferably broken into games that work better as 3, 1, 2, 4 and games that work better as 1, 2, 3, 4.


Scott
EDIT: We'll probably make a seprate wiki page that covers special considerations for 4-player builds.
clok:
when i built my machine way back in the 2000's i set my 4 player up like this 1-3-2-4  to give the most room when 2 players are playing. 1and 2 both have 6 buttons (redo I would have made it 7) and 3 and 4 have 3 each. Again if I built one over.. i think i would go 2-3-1-4   those 2 center spots are best.. and in single player my setup has the 1st player way out on the left  of my frankenpanel.  In single player it would be nicer to be closer to center. Of course then you fight the fact that almost all 2 player games would have you mixed up (streetfighter) you would be criss crossing... so you get back to either remapping for specific games, or?
jdbailey1206:
My problem with moving everyone around just comes down to the fact that you are trying to reinvent the wheel.  Most 1-2 player cabs have the player dead center to the screen.  And most of us are used to being in that position.  It would seem counter productive to move the 1&2 players anywhere but dead center.  Thus leaving 3 and four on the sides.  Also most of the time it's hard to get four players to agree on playing the same game at the same time.  So most of the time your four player games end up just being a 2 player co op any way.
EMDB:
I guess you CAN play 4-player games with 4 players but probably it is more common to play those with only 1 or 2 players. Therefore I would still use the 3-1-2-4 layout.
yotsuya:

--- Quote from: jdbailey1206 on February 13, 2014, 09:44:35 am ---My problem with moving everyone around just comes down to the fact that you are trying to reinvent the wheel.  Most 1-2 player cabs have the player dead center to the screen.  And most of us are used to being in that position.  It would seem counter productive to move the 1&2 players anywhere but dead center.  Thus leaving 3 and four on the sides.  Also most of the time it's hard to get four players to agree on playing the same game at the same time.  So most of the time your four player games end up just being a 2 player co op any way.

--- End quote ---

 :cheers:
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