How many player buttons (six or eight)?

[GSXRMovistar]

Hi all, after a long time away from the hobby (just under ten years) I'm looking to build a new cabinet, this time round a 2 player side by side cocktail table.

Already seen so much has changed and after ordering a load of new parts its a lot easier to put it all together. I have the software side of things 90% there (Hyperspin, emulators and all associated media setup) but wondering if to go for six buttons per player or eight.

Cabinet will be playing a mix of systems including MAME, older consoles like SNES/Genesis, and not so old platforms such as Gamecube and Dreamcast.

So any recommendations/advice?

Many thanks, Andy.

[shponglefan]

For console support, go for 8 buttons.

[Brian74]

I run mame, emulated consoles and real consoles in my cab. So I went with 8.

[GSXRMovistar]

Thanks guys, eight it is then.

[keilmillerjr]

For dreamcast, there is 2 pull triggers, 4 buttons, start, a joystick, and a 4-way d-pad. If you were to translate that to arcade buttons, thats a lot of buttons (11 + joystick).

[Malenko]

For dreamcast, there is 2 pull triggers, 4 buttons, start, a joystick, and a 4-way d-pad. If you were to translate that to arcade buttons, thats a lot of buttons (11 + joystick).

not really. No game uses the Dpad and the joystick at the same time for different inputs.  so its 7 buttons (ABXYLR + start) and the stick/dpad.

[keilmillerjr]

For dreamcast, there is 2 pull triggers, 4 buttons, start, a joystick, and a 4-way d-pad. If you were to translate that to arcade buttons, thats a lot of buttons (11 + joystick).

not really. No game uses the Dpad and the joystick at the same time for different inputs.  so its 7 buttons (ABXYLR + start) and the stick/dpad.

Good to know. I'd still rather setup 7 buttons to cover mame 6 button fighters, and a row of 4 for neo geo games. Then add ports for console controllers.