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Author Topic: 4 way control panel help  (Read 1925 times)

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lusty vampire

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4 way control panel help
« on: January 01, 2005, 08:25:07 am »
Hi,

I've read threads on control panels but can't find the information I'm looking for.

I'm only interested in the classic 4 way games for now and I want to build a control panel for these. I know most 4 way games used 2 buttons but very few used 3 and 4 buttons.

My question is what is the best joystick and button placement and layout to play all the classic 4 way games?

Simple diagrams will be very helpful

Thanks


« Last Edit: January 01, 2005, 11:39:34 am by lusty vampire »

GGKoul

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Re: 4 way control panel help
« Reply #1 on: January 01, 2005, 05:01:42 pm »
The Ms Pac-Man/Galaga Replacement Joystick is probably the best 4 way joystick out there. Can't think of many 3 button 4 way games.. but i think 3 buttons will be more then enough.

 J   X X X  - 3 button Layout

 J X X - 4 button layout
   X X
« Last Edit: January 01, 2005, 05:05:06 pm by GGKoul »

NoOne=NBA=

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Re: 4 way control panel help
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2005, 12:54:01 am »
I would do a 4-button Neo-Geo layout.
That will let you play ALL 3-button games using the three that are in a row, and 4-buttons with a finger on each button.

Gunstar Hero

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Re: 4 way control panel help
« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2005, 02:02:32 am »
6 buttons in a Stargate layout.


Gives you an authentic Defender layout and enough buttons to do anything else.

lusty vampire

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Re: 4 way control panel help
« Reply #4 on: January 02, 2005, 04:17:46 am »
Thanks for the help

I would do a 4-button Neo-Geo layout.
That will let you play ALL 3-button games using the three that are in a row, and 4-buttons with a finger on each button.

Could someone do a quick diagram of this  joystick and button layout please?






SOAPboy

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Re: 4 way control panel help
« Reply #5 on: January 02, 2005, 05:31:39 am »
Thanks for the help

I would do a 4-button Neo-Geo layout.
That will let you play ALL 3-button games using the three that are in a row, and 4-buttons with a finger on each button.

Could someone do a quick diagram of this

paigeoliver

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Re: 4 way control panel help
« Reply #6 on: January 02, 2005, 05:55:19 am »
There is only ONE 4-way game with more than 2 buttons (aside from a TERRIBLE unplayable tennis game) and that is Mouse Trap, and it has 4, and 3 of them go in one bank, and one in another.
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Re: 4 way control panel help
« Reply #7 on: January 02, 2005, 07:52:20 am »
I agree with Paige, my 4 way control panel has 2 X MsPac/Galag reunion joysticks ( Paige would say Wico leaf switch 4 ways ) and 2 buttons per player, you just don't need any more buttons.

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Re: 4 way control panel help
« Reply #8 on: January 02, 2005, 01:50:00 pm »
There are some 2-way games that use more than two though.
The one I can think of right off the top of my head is Bank Panic.

Then there are the 5-button games, that will play well enough, if you use the stick for left/right.
That leaves you needing three for thrust/fire/hyperspace on Asteroids.
(Yes, you CAN map those to the stick, but it sucks trying to PLAY them like that--that's the reason I got into this hobby in the first place, 2600 Asteroids felt wrong using a stick).

paigeoliver

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Re: 4 way control panel help
« Reply #9 on: January 02, 2005, 02:28:18 pm »
2-way games are not relevant, as almost anyone building a 4-way setup will also have an 8-way setup as well, and the 8-way setup can play those 2-way games equally well, and will usually have more buttons anyways.
Acceptance of Zen philosophy is marred slightly by the nagging thought that if all things are interconnected, then all things must be in some way involved with Pauly Shore.

NoOne=NBA=

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Re: 4 way control panel help
« Reply #10 on: January 02, 2005, 03:16:39 pm »
I was guessing that he doesn't have an 8-way setup already because he has 2 posts, and was asking about button placements for more than 2 buttons.

That's why I included all the "you might want to think about these too' info.

And the Neo-Geo layout I was thinking of is like this.


I would actually move the green button down a bit to lay naturally where my thumb falls, though.
The angled button setup on that standalone would kill my right arm after about ONE minute.

Lilwolf

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Re: 4 way control panel help
« Reply #11 on: January 02, 2005, 05:51:51 pm »
what I did for my classic cp was this

4 way

then 5 buttons (shaped like asteroids)

then a 1/4 turned joystick for qbert.

works well for most games.  Mouse trap is a little hard though :(  but I play asteroids (and clones) a lot more often.