spinner/trackball panel ... buttons on left or right side?

[krick]

If you were building a trackball or spinner only panel, and could only put the buttons on one side, which side would it be?

[Paul Olson]

I would put them on the left.  My favorite trackball game is Centipede, and that is how the original is laid out. 
I don't know why you would ever be limited to one side only. Buttons on both sides would be best, I would think.

Paul

[Buddabing]

If you were building a trackball or spinner only panel, and could only put the buttons on one side, which side would it be?

For trackball only, I would put three buttons in a row to the left of the trackball, for Missile Command.

               o    o    o             TB

For spinner only, I would put four buttons to the right of the spinner, in a bent L formation, for Star Trek.       
                        o   o
   SP              o
                  o

(This isn't exacly how ST had them, but I like it better this way)

[NoOne=NBA=]

For trackball only, I put three buttons in a row to the right.

For spinner only, I put four buttons to the right, but arranged them like this:

    O O O
O

So that the bottom button falls under my thumb naturally.

[LeedsFan]

I'm left handed so when I use my t/ball and spinner I naturally go for the buttons on the right. But a mate of mine had trouble playing Missile Command because he was right handed and I'd only mapped the buttons on the right side of my panel. This was easily amended on my 2-player control panel by using the TAB button.

But if I was making a spinner/trackball panel only I'd definitely out buttons either side, or I simply would not bother building one. But if I was really cramped for space and was forced to build one, then I'd go for the "ME ME ME" option and have buttons on the right. But my mates would really struggle with this.

[Quarters]

Left. This puts the tb in the usual (right) mouse hand.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I'm with Leeds Fan--adapt to MY world for once, you right-handed scums!

My point being, do mockups and see what's most comfortable for YOU.

[u_rebelscum]

Most TB games I have the manuals to suggest either buttons on the left, or mirrored on both sides.  I usually play TB right, buttons left, but some games I switch of if the buttons are mirrored as needed (cabal, dive right).

Spinners I'm even more switchable, but again it's usuall spinner right, buttons left (learned from back in the Atari 2600 days).


If you have room, I suggest three buttons left, TB middle, two (or three) buttons right.  Spinner, I'd want 2 buttons left, spinner, 2 button right (I never tried Star Trek, so I don't know about button'ing for it).