list of # of buttons used per game...

[EtherHawk]

I'm trying to layout a custom panel.  I need two space duel button configs, and I am thinking about putting the joysticks as diagrammed below, leaving three buttons on the right and a joystick for most games (i.e. in the setup below, J1, and B1-3).

(Bad Text Art of one setup)
--BINGO! Either that, or I was attempting to say "before" but it was too many letters to type-- B5  J1         B1 B2
                    B3

I don't play fighting games, and I am having trouble thinking of non-fighting games that use more than 3 buttons for the right hand.  I've gone through a mental list of my favorites, but I am worried I might be missing something.  I found a list somewhere on line of which games used what type of joystick, but I am looking for a list that is either by number of buttons or could be searched by number of buttons.  The Killer List of Videogames is great and has control layout pictures and counts for lots of games, but no way that I could see to find all games with more than 3 buttons.

Anyway, I'm hoping someone knows of an online database or an excel file or something that will let me get this info.

Thoughts (other than I'm crazy for not playing fight games)?

[SirPoonga]

There isn't that much that uses more than three buttons.  Defender uses more.  Star Trek uses 4.   D&D uses 4.  Otherwise there isn't much.  What would you do otherwise?

[EtherHawk]

Thanks for the reply.  Never played Star Trek or D&D, but I definitely should have been thinking about Defender.  After looking at the control layout for it, I think if the joystick is close to the B5 & --BINGO! Either that, or I was attempting to say "before" but it was too many letters to type-- buttons I can probably use B5 for reverse and --BINGO! Either that, or I was attempting to say "before" but it was too many letters to type-- for hyperspace.  Not ideal, but every layout is going to have compromises.

As to what else I would do, if there was a class of games that I was not thinking about that I wanted to play, I would add more buttons.  At various times I have thought about having a 6 or 7 button layout for the right hand, combined with two buttons where --BINGO! Either that, or I was attempting to say "before" but it was too many letters to type-- & B5 are.  I'm trying to keep the layout as simple as possible though, and I really liked the feel and spacing of the 1-2-3 layout with the third button dropped for the thumb.

[LoRDDeVO]

I know you don't play fighting games but I would Put at least four buttons for any Neo Geo game you might want to play that requires 4.

[NoOne=NBA=]

Vanguard uses four in a diamond pattern--Fire UP/Fire Left/Fire Right/Fire Down.

[nipsmg]

NEOGEO = 4

Not all games granted, but some.

[SirPoonga]

I know you don't play fighting games but I would Put at least four buttons for any Neo Geo game you might want to play that requires 4.

He doesn't play fighters, so he still really doesn't need four for that  Isn't it basically the fighters in neogeo that use all 4 buttons.

[PaulG]

Vanguard uses four in a diamond pattern--Fire UP/Fire Left/Fire Right/Fire Down.

Actually I'm in the process of building my 1st panel right now and this was a priority for me.  And from that diamond, I've offshooted perfect Defender/Stargate controls (And still made that side of the controller functional for everything else (Though it features 9 buttons).

[Stingray]

For Vanguard, I prefer to use my player two joystick and fire with it Robotron style. Not authentic, but I sure can get a higher score that way! Sorry, kind of wandering off topic here. There aren't many games that I like to play that require more than a couple of buttons either, but my cab is getting four buttons per player anyway.

-S

[patrickl]

You can extract this data from the MAME listinfo. Carlos has a nice item about this on his site. Apparently 4 buttons allows you to play 94% of all games. Allthough I feel that layout issues might force you to use more buttons (for instance some need a diamond and some need them aligned in the NEO geo style).

[SirPoonga]

3 buttons should cover about just as much, maybe 80%.  mame's listinfo is very inaccurate.  there's a lot of 1,2,3 button games that come up as 4 buttons because of the way macros are used in the drivers.

[patrickl]

Maybe slightly off-topic, but in respect to numbers of buttons ... why does a Hotrod have 7 keys?

[SirPoonga]

because of neogeo.  you have the 5 button layout for neogeo.

[Oldskool]

There isn't that much that uses more than three buttons.

Asteroids - 5 buttons  
Asteroids Deluxe - 5  buttons
Gravitar - 5 buttons

[EtherHawk]

I tried the tool mentioned in patrickl's first post and it was exactly what I needed, except, as SirPoonga pointed out, the number of buttons was off for quite a few games.

Still, tonight when I have more time I can go through the list and make sure my button config will work for any of the games on that list that I might have been forgetting about.

Thanks for all the help, once I have a full design with dimensions I'll post it and see what people think.

[SirPoonga]

There isn't that much that uses more than three buttons.

Asteroids - 5 buttons  
Asteroids Deluxe - 5  buttons
Gravitar - 5 buttons

Not in mame, two of the buttons are mapped to the joystick.  Anyway, EtherHawk is obviously setup for asteroids to be played by buttons.

[NoOne=NBA=]

For Vanguard, I prefer to use my player two joystick and fire with it Robotron style.

That is effective MOST of the time.
It's big downfall though is that you can't shoot Left/Right, or Up/Down, at the same time.
That is a big key to scoring well in the "diagonal" sections.
The bouncy balls are in front and behind, and having to move the stick back and forth is time-consuming compared to using buttons.

I love the Robotron controls, and actually tried them for Vanguard, until I realized this.

[Oldskool]

Not in mame, two of the buttons are mapped to the joystick.  Anyway, EtherHawk is obviously setup for asteroids to be played by buttons.

Ugh.   A joy for Asteroids???

I thought that all of you guys were traditionalists.    

[Stingray]

NoOne=NBA=, you make a good point there.

-S

[PaulG]

Toobin' is another of my favorites that has an irregular layout.

Edit:  Looked at your layout again.  Technically you could use the left hand for backwards and the righthand for forwards.