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Sticks left vs. sticks right.

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Stingray:

Okay, before the "worst MAME cab" thread got locked there was a fairly interesting hijack going on regarding joystick/ button configuration. I kind of wanted to continue that here.

I'm right handed and I always thought arcade stick placement seemed backward with the stick on the left and the buttons on the right. My personal theory is that they were originally set up this way to make the games harder so they'll eat more quarters.  ;)

When I got the idea to build an arcade setup (before I discovered this board) I never even gave it any thought, and set up my control panel with the sticks on the right and the buttons on the left. Here's a picture: http://www.stingrays.dk/arcade/cpoon1.jpg

Anyone else done it this way? I'm just curious.

As someone in the other thread pointed out, Atari 2600 controllers were set up this way. This prompted me to check my parts box and I found a bunch of Apple ][ controllers that are also set up that way. Since the bulk of my early gaming was done on those two systems, it's no mystery how I developed this preference.

-S

Nailz:

It's interesting you bring up the Atari 2600, I am able to play any games right handed with the buton on the left if it is a single button game, ie. Atari 2600, etc.  But if there are multiple buttons, it just "feels" right to use my left hand on the joystick and right hands for buttons.  

Maybe it's a dexterity thing, doesn't really require much skill to mash a single button or move the joystick, but at least for me, I am right handed and it's easier to button press with the right hand when you need to do more than one thing, like shot, jump, etc.


Stingray:

You make a good point there. The vast majority of the games I play mostly use two buttons or less.

-S

DougHillman:

I tend to agree that one or two button games are fine playing with either hand on the stick.  I do feel more comfortable with left hand controlling the stick and right on the buttons on any games that require alot of presses though.  

This may be totally a matter of conditioning though, in that there really aren't many complicated button games with the sticks on the right.   So maybe it's just a mental comfort thing, and not tied to manual dexterity.  Just what we're used to in the arcades and on home consoles lately.

I play flight sims with a complete Thrustmaster Cougar HOTAS setup and have no problem manipulating multitudes of buttons/switches with both hands.  There's not really any left hand pinky, ring or middle finger action on this replica of the F-16 Falcon throttle, but I came from a CH Products setup that had button presses for all of those fingers.  Never had any trouble pressing them while in a dogfight.

D

ErikRuud:

It probably has a lot more to do with conditioning than anything else.

I grew up with the single left button/Right stick controllers.  When I first tried out the original NES, I really hated the control pads.

Here is the list of arcarde games that had the stick on the right with buttons on the left.

Starhawk
Gorf cocktail
Gauntlet
Gauntlet2
Mousetrap
Spectar
Targ


These games have the stick on the right, but most do not have buttons on the left.

Double Dragon 3 (Player 3 only)
Discs of Tron (TriggerStick on the right)
Tron (TriggerStick on the right)
Zwackery (TriggerStick on the right)

There are probably a few more that I am not aware of.

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