NeoGeo button layout comments

[froggerman]

I was planning using a NeoGeo like layout with a second row of buttons above buttons 2-4. I was wondering how this works with most games in Mame. Are the buttons numbered 1-4 from the left red button through to the right blue button? Is this a problem for games that need 6 buttons? Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.

Cheers, Bryce.

[Witchboard]

I think the default MAME config for the 6 button fighter is as below:

123
456

Default Neo-Geo:

1234

That means if you are going with the 7th button to the bottom left for Neo-Geo then you'll have to remap one or the other in MAME.

[froggerman]

Hmmm.  

Would I loose much by just going with the 6 button configuration? Is there an advantage to the Neo-Geo 4 button configuration? Fighting games are not my main interest. Most of the games that I have played so far use 3 or less buttons.

[jjhlk]

Credentials: built controller last summer and played with it a lot for a month before I left it to go to school (thought it would be distracting).

My layout was like yours, except the 6 were straight aligned. The 7th was down and to the left (but too far away IMO- yours looks good, though I don't know about the tilted 6 as I've never actually used them; it does make sense from a look-at-the-different-lengths-of-my-fingers point of view).

It'll be fine. Map the '7th' button to 1, so 1234, and 567 above. Then the majority of games will use the bottom ones that are easy to reach and you won't even notice the others. If you want to play a game with the SF layout, just rebind the keys (it's no big deal unless you think you'll be playing a couple of different NEW fighting games EVERY DAY! the binds save:).

I really liked the 4-in-an-arc layout for NeoGeo, and the SF 6. As long as you start 1 from the buttom left, I can't see how the others will bother you. So it should be great!

Good luck.

[crashwg]

Froggerman, do you have that layout in a more exacting format, like for illustrator or autocad?  I'm planning on doing a 7 button curved layout like that but do not have the dimensions.

[froggerman]

Hi Crashwg,

I did this layout in Visio using the templates from the download area. This makes a pretty accurate layout but I just made the curve up by eye. I would be happy to send you a copy of the Visio file if that would help you.

I also did a version of this where the last two buttons, the green and blue, are in a straight line. I think that is may be a little closer to the Neo-Geo layout.

Cheers, Bryce.

[krick]

Would I loose much by just going with the 6 button configuration?

It would be difficult to play (Ultimate) Mortal Kombat 3.  It needs the 7th button as a run button.

Since the standard Mortal Kombat 1 & 2 layout only uses 5 buttons (1 block in the center) I suppose you could map the extra button (2 or 5) as a second block button on Mortal Kombat 1 & 2, and as a run button on Mortal Kombat 3 & UMK3.  I think MK3 would be hard to play that way.

[u_rebelscum]

Remeber, mame can assign any key/button to be a game's "button 1".  And your CP buttons aren't really "button 1", but 'ctlr' key, 'atl' key, 'a' key, etc.  (It's easier to think them as "button 1", "button 2", ect, but in doing so you're glossing over a nice feature of mame's.)

Use ctrlr ini files: default.ini to setup most common layout, neo.ini to setup neogeo to use the bottom four, and (gamename).ini for game specific setup. Cut and paste easy.  Read docs/ctrlr.txt and easyemu for more info.

[froggerman]

I didn't know that you could have a .ini for Neo-Geo. Looks like I will have to do a little more reading. Thanks for the tip.

[neogeofan]

 Hi guys.  I am looking for absolutely authentic dimensions and layout
information for the Neo-Geo arcade control panel.  I'm not an expert,
so if there were different SNK authorized layouts throughout the years
I would like to find out about that.  I am only interested in the
layouts for machines that SNK produced, I don't want dimensions from
hacked up Neo-Geo conversions.  In particular I would like to know the
EXACT measurements for spacing and button and joystick placement.
Width of the whole panel, slant angle of the panel, and if there was a
curviture where the slanted part meets the vertical front face of the
machine, what the radius of curviture might be.  I need this info
because I am attempting to produce authentic arcade Neo-Geo
controllers for me and my buds.  I would also appreciate seeing photos
of the panels if anyone has them.  I appreciate any help that can be
offered, thanks!

-Neogeofan

[OSCAR]

Hi guys.  I am looking for absolutely authentic dimensions and layout
information for the Neo-Geo arcade control panel.  I'm not an expert,
so if there were different SNK authorized layouts throughout the years
I would like to find out about that.  I am only interested in the
layouts for machines that SNK produced, I don't want dimensions from
hacked up Neo-Geo conversions.  In particular I would like to know the
EXACT measurements for spacing and button and joystick placement.
Width of the whole panel, slant angle of the panel, and if there was a
curviture where the slanted part meets the vertical front face of the
machine, what the radius of curviture might be.  I need this info
because I am attempting to produce authentic arcade Neo-Geo
controllers for me and my buds.  I would also appreciate seeing photos
of the panels if anyone has them.  I appreciate any help that can be
offered, thanks!

-Neogeofan

Check out the neo-geo.com forums if you haven't already.  There are definitely different layouts for the buttons, see the two panels in this thread:
http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?s=4cfdd6cc7eb973cb5076a677241f2331&threadid=76987

The neo-geo experts on those forums should be able to help you out with a button layout.