4 way control panel help

[lusty vampire]

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

[GGKoul]

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

[NoOne=NBA=]

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]

6 buttons in a Stargate layout.


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

[lusty vampire]

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]

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]

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.

[Apollo]

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.

[NoOne=NBA=]

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]

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.

[NoOne=NBA=]

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]

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.