4-way stick placement.

[NoBonus]

I am in the design phase of a desktop control panel.  It will be one player with six leaf buttons with a Wico 8-way leaf stick on the left of the buttons (just like a Capcom setup).  But here is my question.  I want to add a wico 4-way leaf stick to the panel (it will be wired to the same controls as the 8-way) but where should it go? Here are some options:
1. Put the four way stick on the right of the buttons, since many four way games do not require buttons, hence the right handed approach is best
or
2. Put the 4-way stock a few inches to the left of the 8-way stick so buttons can be pushed since many games use a 4-way stick and a button or two.
or
3. Put the 4-way stick in the center of the buttons and 8--way stick but higher up on the panel to keep it out of the way. This would have a more centered feel, like Pac-Man.
or
4. ?any other ideas?

Thanks for your input.

NoBonus

[Apollo]

Best way if you are not going to use a switchable 8/4 way is probably 8way-4way-buttons from left to right.
Or you could make the left hand side of the panel modular and swap out the joystick section when you change games. Possibly build your control panel with storage for the other modular unit when not in use?
I would suggest selling your joysticks and buying a switchable stick? You will get some decent cash for the WICO 4 way leaf as they are not readily available.
My 2c worth.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I personally would put the 4-way a few inches to the RIGHT of the 8-way, but keep it in line with the 8-way and the buttons.
That will give you a decent feel for 4-way/button games (especially if you map the furthest away buttons to the specific games); but still give you a good feel on the 8-way games.

I've never liked having sticks that are "out of the way".
"Out of the way" has always felt like "not in the right spot" to me.

As an alternative, you might want to consider going modular with it.
That would let you swap out the 4-way for the 8-way, or put a second 8-way in where the buttons are for games like Robotron and Crazy Climber.

[Doc-]

Go modular! I have two 4 ways that can go into any of 8 slots, plus a X-mounted 4 way for games like Q-bert!  I added a few pictures of the dual 4 ways recently.

I guess if I was not going modular - I would probably vote to put it somewhere in the middle of the panel, probably to the right of the player 1 buttons.  You can always remap the player 2 buttons and use them if you need a few for a 4 way game.  

Just make sure it does not interfere with your "swing" zone if you are using a trackball for golf games.

Doc-

[spystyle]

You could get a 4/8 way top switchable stick from www.groovygamegear.com

That way you'd only need 1 stick

I am in the design phase of a desktop control panel.  It will be one player with six leaf buttons with a Wico 8-way leaf stick on the left of the buttons (just like a Capcom setup).  But here is my question.  I want to add a wico 4-way leaf stick to the panel (it will be wired to the same controls as the 8-way) but where should it go? Here are some options:
1. Put the four way stick on the right of the buttons, since many four way games do not require buttons, hence the right handed approach is best
or
2. Put the 4-way stock a few inches to the left of the 8-way stick so buttons can be pushed since many games use a 4-way stick and a button or two.
or
3. Put the 4-way stick in the center of the buttons and 8--way stick but higher up on the panel to keep it out of the way. This would have a more centered feel, like Pac-Man.
or
4. ????any other ideas????

Thanks for your input.

NoBonus

[Todd H]

You know, I still haven't seen a review of the Omni-Stick yet.  I know Kevin is supposed to review one soon, but I figured somebody out there has bought one.

[NoBonus]

I agree, anybody use one of these yet?

[jcoleman]

In keeping this thread on-topic...  

I am working on a desktop panel with two eight-ways, a four-way (all Wico, the 8-ways are Robotron size), and four buttons (Neo-Geo layout).  I have the 8-ways on either end and the 4-way just left of center.  The buttons are just right of center, with the second button the same distance from center as the 4-way.  Looks like it's going to work out well...you could simply add buttons to complete the Capcom setup (I might do that myself, as a matter of fact).

Coleman

[paigeoliver]

Line both joystick up in a row before the buttons.

The TALLEST joystick goes on the right and the shorter one goes on the left. If you do it this way then you can install them RIGHT NEXT to each other without them getting in the way of each other. You will need a bit of space between the sticks if both are the same height, but if you are using a Wico or Happ stick combined with a Reunion stick then you can literally install them with the bases touching.

I have done this in several cabinets (including ones I custom built for people) and it works out very well, better than switchable because then you can set the 4-way games to use the 4-ways and the 8-ways to use the 8-way and not have to worry about people getting confused and playing games in the wrong mode.