Do you label your buttons?

[knightrdrx]

How do you know what buttons do what with hundreds of games with no manuals handy? Do you just remember your favorites and the others figure it out when you start the game?
There's no way a friend will come over and want to play a random game and not know which of the 6 buttons does what.
Do you label them or have some cheat sheets to reference?
I would probably make one for a back to menu button, 2 coin buttons, 2 start buttons, and 2 extra snes controllers will be players 3 and 4....maybe a pause button too.

[yotsuya]

How do you know what buttons do what with hundreds of games with no manuals handy? Do you just remember your favorites and the others figure it out when you start the game?
There's no way a friend will come over and want to play a random game and not know which of the 6 buttons does what.
Do you label them or have some cheat sheets to reference?
I would probably make one for a back to menu button, 2 coin buttons, 2 start buttons, and 2 extra snes controllers will be players 3 and 4....maybe a pause button too.

I use LEDBlinky to light the buttons that go with the game.

[Slippyblade]

There are also utilities available that interface with MAME or your FE that will pop pics showing what buttons do what.

[Nephasth]

I use LEDBlinky to light the buttons that go with the game.

LEDBlinky is awesome!

[thomas_surles]

I have a little user manual I made with my cp in it and have a page for each emulator showing what button does what.
As for just mame I have them labeled 1-6, 1p and 2p start, coin 1 and 2, and my admins

But as far as for each game in mame cpwiz is the way to go, especially if you dont have led buttons.

[pbj]

You shouldn't have dead buttons.  Spend the couple of hours and custom map the 100 games that guests will actually play.

[BadMouth]

You shouldn't have dead buttons.

I disagree.  IMO only makes the games seem more complicated.  If only two buttons do anything, the player realizes they don't have to mess with the rest of the buttons or try to use them in combinations.

custom map the 100 games that guests will actually play.

I agree with that part.  I had a rule that my main gamelist had to be kept under 200 games and they all had to play perfectly.
If you have 2800 games, people spend too much time scrolling through them and inevitably pick something that isn't set up properly.


My current build is NeoGeo themed so I have A,B,C,D + X,Y,Z on another row.
The plan is to make various instruction cards for whatever games I'm interested in at the moment.
For some unknown reason, I can never remember the controls for sports games.
Here is the default one I made up:


I've gotten into playing Steam games on the cab and have switched to hacked xbox controllers for the interface.
If my cab weren't neo geo themed, I'd switch to xbox button labels.

[dcninja]

I just found this out, I narrowed my list to around 600 favs which is a lot, but manageable. I do have an all games list for my own person use but it's mapped to switch on a keyboard key, not on the control panel - so only I am able to swap to the all list to add or remove games from the favs list.

[SpatzST]

There are also utilities available that interface with MAME or your FE that will pop pics showing what buttons do what.

where would I find such a utility?

[nugarp]

I incorporated a second screen into my cab which updates which button does what when a game is highlighted. It persists through the rest of the game. Has worked so far  but probably less feasible for an existing cab.

[ChanceKJ]

I use LEDBlinky to light the buttons that go with the game.

LEDBlinky is awesome!

It was one of the deciding factors for me when planning my cab. 

I can always add a second display in a few places on my build if I want to add something that shows controls. But I think just lighting the buttons needed per game will be the way to go.

[Sarver Systems]

Put an LCD monitor in as the marquee. Have it display the currently selected game name/logo, and a control panel map.

[Rick]

where would I find such a utility?

I've seen this demonstrated before, but I've since lost the links to this. There are programs that pop-up prior to the game start-up, which show the button layouts, and then highlight each of the buttons as to what they do when they are activated. IIRC, they may also manage what would happen if the joysticks and buttons were activated for different admin functions. (e.g. "Joy 1 down and button 6 engage a coin drop")

If this doesn't exist, maybe it was a very beautiful, very lucid dream. (One I'd love to see again, however!)

[stigzler]

CPWizard is setup to work 'out-the-box' for mame games. It takes a little setting up, but can get up and running with a second monitor. Link here:

http://headsoft.com.au/index.php?category=cpwizard

I believe Headkaze may be either updating the standalone, or maybe updating it to work with the new version of GameEx (GameEx Evo) - on the teaser trailer, there's a brief section that show button mappings for individual games.

I played around with CPWizard for a while. Like I say - I works great for MAME setups. Bit sticky getting it to run on a second monitor, but it could have been me The Emulator side wasn't overly developed, but I also got it up and running with a few systems. Problem was, there were no map files for emulator systems, that's why I'm deep in designing a database to produce these (still very WIP). I'm awaiting the GameEx Evolution release to see if controls mappings are built into this, but if not will be returning to develop it further...

I think there are others. One's called "Johnny 5" - not sure still being dev'd. The other (Marquee Magician???) uses IfranView + I could never get this up and running, although I know others have.

Good luck on this one. Feels a little bit like a Holy Grail of Emulation systems to have a good database of controls and also software to display these.

Oh, what I'm using at the moment is this:

http://www.gameex.info/forums/files/file/46-controller-image-kit/

It displays a default setup for each emulator on my second display. Edit the file, export a png and then get your front end to do it's jiggery pokery to display it wherever:



You can use it with a plugin in GameEx to display an individual image matching the game name (so could display individual controls for each game). Of course, it may take a long time to create each individual game, that's why I'm waiting/aiming for fully automated like CPWizard.

[eds1275]

[Rick]

CPWizard is setup to work 'out-the-box' for mame games. It takes a little setting up, but can get up and running with a second monitor.

See, and I remember there was one that would integrate with LEDBlinky, so that at the same time it was showing you the proper buttons on the screen, the lights on the buttons could be blinking as well... Is this the program that did that? Am I thinking of something custom, that's ... not this?

[stigzler]

 

[EMDB]

You can patch MAME to show a button layout image (created with CPWizard) while pausing. I use HyperMap to show instruction cards for arcade games and button layouts for other emulators before the game is launched. It will show for 2 seconds by default, can be skipped by hitting any button or paused using the admin pause button to study it more closely.

[PL1]

Printed inserts like these for admin buttons.




Scott

[stigzler]

Nice app, EMDB.

[TopJimmyCooks]

TopJimmyCooks uses Pongo button vinyl exclusively. 

[Ond]

Yes jennifer

[PL1]

TopJimmyCooks uses Pongo button vinyl exclusively.

Pongo has quit doing vinyl.

What do you have against SlammedNiss?   


Scott

[Rick]

I use HyperMap to show instruction cards for arcade games and button layouts for other emulators before the game is launched.

Is there a source or resource for this? Like, can you download a bunch of images, and sit them in a subdirectory to be automagically accessed each game?

[EMDB]

I use HyperMap to show instruction cards for arcade games and button layouts for other emulators before the game is launched.

Is there a source or resource for this? Like, can you download a bunch of images, and sit them in a subdirectory to be automagically accessed each game?

HyperMap uses the game name when trying to load an instruction card. e.g. dkong.jpg. There is no resource for them as far as I know. I creating my own. Not all instruction cards can be found easily using Google Images.

[pbj]

Who's going to be the first vendor with mini-LCDs inside push buttons?  You know it's coming.  You idiots will buy anything.

[Sarver Systems]

Its already been done.

Someone makes a full keyboard with OLED displays inside each key.

[pbj]

Yeah, that's vaporware, but thanks.

 

[TopJimmyCooks]

TopJimmyCooks uses Pongo* button vinyl exclusively




*and heirs

[Rick]

Yeah, that's vaporware, but thanks.

Vaporware is really something that only existed as a concept. They did actually ship some of these. Optimus Maximus Keyboard

[pbj]

Whatever you say.

 

[ChanceKJ]

He's right, art lebedev shipped quite a few, they are already in development of a second version, not to mention the smaller Mini Three and all the concepts.

Mind you, an OLED in a button is quite useless. Well unless it was a coin/Start/Shift kinda thing. I feel that 99 times out of 100 the colored buttons do just fine.

[SpatzST]

I use HyperMap to show instruction cards for arcade games and button layouts for other emulators before the game is launched.

Is there a source or resource for this? Like, can you download a bunch of images, and sit them in a subdirectory to be automagically accessed each game?

i forget if its hyperspin or emumovies (i think its emu), you can download all the CP Button layouts.  I know this because I have them

[yotsuya]

I feel that 99 times out of 100 the colored buttons do just fine.

Amen. 

[lamprey]

He's right, art lebedev shipped quite a few, they are already in development of a second version, not to mention the smaller Mini Three and all the concepts.

Mind you, an OLED in a button is quite useless. Well unless it was a coin/Start/Shift kinda thing. I feel that 99 times out of 100 the colored buttons do just fine.

I had an idea to try and use a projector under the CP. Think of a rear projection TV. So that the panel could change on a per game basis, specifically around the buttons, to help indicate the buttons function. Technically it is possible, but I also felt the illuminated controls did a fine job. If only you could drill holes in a flat panel screen (and have it still work), that'd be awesome for a dynamic control panel!

[EMDB]

I use HyperMap to show instruction cards for arcade games and button layouts for other emulators before the game is launched.

Is there a source or resource for this? Like, can you download a bunch of images, and sit them in a subdirectory to be automagically accessed each game?

i forget if its hyperspin or emumovies (i think its emu), you can download all the CP Button layouts.  I know this because I have them

I think you might have generated them using CPWizard as there are no generic button layout because all (most) CPs are different.

[knightrdrx]

I like the idea of that!!!!
Showing the controls when pausing..though i have not determined which button will pause the game......Are the controls for the games all in there or do I have to add a whole bunch of files to my mame directories...geez....I'm just trying to find the best button layout for the x-arcade that will not duplicate all the many other keyboard commands set to default in mame and the other emulators and now this! so much work to be done but i am a perfectionist and why not use the resources out there.

You can patch MAME to show a button layout image (created with CPWizard) while pausing. I use HyperMap to show instruction cards for arcade games and button layouts for other emulators before the game is launched. It will show for 2 seconds by default, can be skipped by hitting any button or paused using the admin pause button to study it more closely.

[knightrdrx]

Got CPWizard working in MAME.  Neat!!!
But as far as my buttons are all blank except player 1 and 2...I bought a X-Arcade)
Do you think it would look good all to label every button  such as 1/X,2/Y,3/Z  and 4/A 5/B  6/C   to show the console buttons for visitors who don't have a clue what button to hit?
Select and Start are taken by coin and pause..so i wouldn't bother with that...maybe I shouldn't label the 'action' buttons ?Would it look worse with all the vinyl decals all over?
I could also print them in small font on the artwork overlay for the control panel..but if I did that's kind of permanent...


ok i see by all the control panel pictures you have  none of you did that..guess it doesn't look authentic that way unless it is dedicated to one system.

[IAmDotorg]

Yeah, that's vaporware, but thanks.

 

No, its not. I've used one (the Optimus Maximus) Its heavy, it sucks to type on, but it absolutely works.

The individual OLED buttons aren't hard to find, either -- IIRC both DigiKey and Mouser sells them. You can get color and monochrome OLED and LCD buttons pretty easily, but they're REALLY expensive, and square. And probably not durable enough to jackhammer on in an arcade cabinet.

Microsoft had a better idea with their adaptive keyboard -- it put the LCD screen behind a clear plastic keyboard, so the keys weren't heavy and it was a couple hundred bucks, not a couple thousand. It was just like typing on a laptop keyboard. Unfortunately MS Research developed it but it never got to market, and only a few dozen were ever made.

If I was going to try to do something on a cabinet, that's how I'd do it -- mount an LCD behind the panel, and use solid plastic buttons to channel the image up to the surface. Someone would have to custom manufacture the buttons, but you'd be able to pull display bits forward, too. Expensive, but there's people with the coin to burn. 

[IAmDotorg]

I had an idea to try and use a projector under the CP. Think of a rear projection TV. So that the panel could change on a per game basis, specifically around the buttons, to help indicate the buttons function. Technically it is possible, but I also felt the illuminated controls did a fine job. If only you could drill holes in a flat panel screen (and have it still work), that'd be awesome for a dynamic control panel!

I actually spent a good bit of time before I decided to not do an upright looking at if I could get an equal lightpath through a standup cabinet to rear project the CP from the bottom half of a projected screen, and the marquee from the top half using a mirror in the light path.

I think I could've made it work projection-wise, but couldn't figure out how I'd possibly wire the CP so the projection could actually get cleanly to it. The only way I could figure would've required somehow getting holes through the mirror and having the wiring go straight down, and under it.

Probably wouldn't have been possible.

I think you could probably finagle a path that allows you to project a marquee and a panel just below the monitor, above the CP. (The nice thing about that would be getting a better super-wide aspect ratio on both)