Control Panel Advice

[Bomber]

Okay - I picked up a second hand gutted cab. I've now pained it black.  Because we all know black is best. The control panel that came with the cab has two problems. First its got more buttons than I want (2 joys with 6 buttons each plus 2 player-start buttons all in 23" x 3"). Second, its a horrible bright red colour. So I'm hoping to get a repro done (with less clutter) at a sheetmetal place and have it black powder-coated.

I'm installing the monitor vertically and wanted to go with mainly the classic vertical games. My initial though was to maybe go for a t-stik plus, so I can switch easily between 4-way and 8-way, and two buttons.

I'd be interested to hear (a) if anyone has used the t-stik plus and how it drives and (b) can anyone think of any vertical games that would justify a second set of controls for player-two and/or a third button? I'd like to keep it clean and simple but I'd kick myself if I discovered a great two-player game and couldn't play it.

Also any suggestions of good vertical games I might not have thought of would be great.

[Brad Lee]

What about shooters- weren't there quite a few that were vertical 2p side-by-side? I think most were 2 buttons

[Witchboard]

What about head to head Twinkle Star Sprites or Magical Drop?  The games are vertical but I'm not sure if it works the way I'm thinking.

[abrannan]

SHMUPS.  (Shoot-em ups)  A lot of these are quite fun with two players, and vertical oriented to boot.  Of course, if that's not your cup of tea...

My advice is to download SortInfo and take a look at what it says requires three buttons in a vertical orientation, and make your judgement from there.  # of Players isn't as useful in this tool as it doesn't have (If I'm remembering correctly) # of simultaneous players.  I'm currently doing this to decide whather or not I want two or three buttons per player on my cab.

[Bomber]

What about shooters- weren't there quite a few that were vertical 2p side-by-side? I think most were 2 buttons

Most shoot 'em ups I remember playing were alternating rather than side-by-side. Galaga, Gyruss, Time Pilot etc. I guess I'll have to see if I come across any simultaneous to players that will justify the extra controls.

[Bomber]

What about head to head Twinkle Star Sprites or Magical Drop?  The games are vertical but I'm not sure if it works the way I'm thinking.

Both good games - but both horizontal. I'm going to stick to verticals as its a pretty small monitor so want to use all the available screen size.

[slicer_d]

What about 1941?  I know strikers 1945 is two player but not sure about the older 1941 2 3  series.  Also I dont know if you play them but games like Raiden donpachin and dodonpachi (SP$) are newer but fun games to play on a vertical monitor.  There are a lot of newer 2 player games that are a lot of fun but limiting yourself to older games basically kills most of the simultaneous ones.  Also I would use 3-4 buttons if you go with more than classic games.

There is also a website that sorts all the vertical games for you but I cant remeber what it is at the moment if I can find it I will post it later.

[Witchboard]

What about head to head Twinkle Star Sprites or Magical Drop?  The games are vertical but I'm not sure if it works the way I'm thinking.

Both good games - but both horizontal. I'm going to stick to verticals as its a pretty small monitor so want to use all the available screen size.

Come to think of it,  I don't think there are any vertical games for Neo-Geo like what you are wanting.  If you do like shooters, there are several that are really fun double player.

[Bomber]

Thanks for the replies.

How about the t-stik plus. Has anybody had any experience with one of these? Is the switching from 4-way to 8-way tight enough that it won't accidently happen during gameplay? And does the 4-way mode feel like a true 4-way?

[eightbit]

Thanks for the replies.

How about the t-stik plus. Has anybody had any experience with one of these? Is the switching from 4-way to 8-way tight enough that it won't accidently happen during gameplay? And does the 4-way mode feel like a true 4-way?

I do not have a t-stick plus but I have a t-stick. It should have the same feel when its switched and I like the 4-way mode very much. Other people have reported that the t-stick plus has a positive detent that will not switch automatically yet is easy to switch when you want it to.

[Tiger-Heli]

What about shooters- weren't there quite a few that were vertical 2p side-by-side? I think most were 2 buttons

Most shoot 'em ups I remember playing were alternating rather than side-by-side. Galaga, Gyruss, Time Pilot etc. I guess I'll have to see if I come across any simultaneous to players that will justify the extra controls.

1941, 1943, Top Gunner/Jackal, Twin Cobra, just to name a few, there are lots of others as well, but these come to mind immediately.

[Bomber]

Thanks to everyone who responded. I think you've convinced to go with a 2-player panel.