3rd and 4th players, how many buttons?

[nickbuol]

Working on the plans for my second cab.  Sold my 2 player cab I made like 8 years ago to a guy at work, so I really need to get moving on my next one.  This time, I want to go 4 player.  I see a lot of people using only 3 or 4 buttons for the 3rd and 4th player controls.  Were there any 4 player games that used more than that?  Also, are there any 2 player games that used more than 6 buttons? 

Just want to get the layout right.

Thanks!

[Timstuff]

Some people will tell you that you only need 4 buttons for players 3 and 4, but if it were me I'd go with the same ammount as players 1 and 2 for consistancy, and for the off chance that I might load the computer with a 4 player game that needs six or eight buttons.

[Veinman]

The only way you would need more than 6 buttons would be for console emus, and I would guess that the list of console games that support 4 players AND require more than 4 buttons would be thin indeed.

In the end it will come down to whether or not the expense and bother are worth the off-chance that you will use the buttons.

As for P1 and P2, the NeoGeo layout features 7 buttons, but you never use them all.

[Dagg]

4 if you dont care about 4 player SNES games.

I do care so I went with 7.  Plus I like the uniform look of the CP.


If its an arcade cab only then 4.

[paigeoliver]

The number is 4, unless you don't like the D&D games in which case it is 3.

Don't even think about console emus, realistically how many times would you EVER get to play a 4 player console game, with 4 players at once, that requires more than 4 buttons (remember you have start buttons, so you really have 5 of them anyway).

[Tiger-Heli]

The number is 4, unless you don't like the D&D games in which case it is 3.

Don't even think about console emus, realistically how many times would you EVER get to play a 4 player console game, with 4 players at once, that requires more than 4 buttons (remember you have start buttons, so you really have 5 of them anyway).

What Paige said, and for console games, the hot tip is to mount a front accessible USB hub and plug in gamepads, which is what they were designed for anyway.

[armax]

Some people will tell you that you only need 4 buttons for players 3 and 4, but if it were me I'd go with the same ammount as players 1 and 2 for consistancy, and for the off chance that I might load the computer with a 4 player game that needs six or eight buttons.

So you'd recommend more buttons than 4 for cosmetic purposes rather than functional?  It seems like a waste of money as well as either a more cramped CP or a larger-than-need-be CP.

[AmericanDemon]

Depends also on whether or not you have additional systems in the cabinet.  I'm putting a PS2, Gamecube, and an Xbox, so I am opting for 8 per player.

[armax]

dang, I didn't know there was actually a need for 8 buttons.  Could you post your 8 button layout?  That's not a bad idea if you're implementing consoles in your cab (which I plan on doing so I'm definitely interested).

[nickbuol]

I will only be running MAME, Daphne, and PinMAME.  I may, and I emphasize 'may', see if there is some easy way to get my old Dreamcast in there, but I would use the DC controllers, and not the arcade control panel. 

Running an SNES emu or some other console emu sounds interesting, so I will have to look at that possibility, but for now, I am focusing on the 3 (Mame, Daphne, and PinMame).  I will weigh the SNES, and other console emus over the next couple of days and see if I want to add them or not.

[AmericanDemon]

Armax, I don't have the layout finalized.  I am hacking some Pelican PL950 Universal Arcade Sticks and they have a 4 x 2 layout.  The PCB also has separate buttons for Select, Start, and a separate start for Xbox. 

Sorry Nick!  Didn't mean to Threadjack.

[Steve Kaz]

Depends also on whether or not you have additional systems in the cabinet.  I'm putting a PS2, Gamecube, and an Xbox, so I am opting for 8 per player.

Stupid question, but you can hook up the arcade control panel to a PS2/Xbox/Gamecube?

[Tiger-Heli]

Depends also on whether or not you have additional systems in the cabinet.  I'm putting a PS2, Gamecube, and an Xbox, so I am opting for 8 per player.

Stupid question, but you can hook up the arcade control panel to a PS2/Xbox/Gamecube?

Generally with a console gamepad hack, possibly with a switchbox to select between the console system and an encoder to the PC.

[SirPoonga]

The number is 4, unless you don't like the D&D games in which case it is 3.

Don't even think about console emus, realistically how many times would you EVER get to play a 4 player console game, with 4 players at once, that requires more than 4 buttons (remember you have start buttons, so you really have 5 of them anyway).

Plus if you play console games I'd suggest getting an xbox and emulators for the xbox.  Consoles are really meant for tv play and you'd have more room for people

[AmericanDemon]

Poonga is right.  Luckily I have purchased modded copies of my consoles for my cabinet.  I have left my dedicated original consoles on my tv.  I just wanted to add the flexibility to my cabinet since its huge in scale anyway.

It just depends on what YOU want to do in your cabinet.  I have a PC for  MAME and other emulators.  My Xbox is for fighters such as Dead or Alive, Mortal Kombat, and my Street Fighter Collection.  Plus I can store my games on the hard drive so no swapping needed.  Same setup on the PS2.  Gamecube is soley for Soul Calibur 2 w/ Link and possibly wheel hacks to place Mario Kart.

[SirPoonga]

Yep.  Just my opinion.  I've been playing a NES emulator on my dreamcast.  Console games were meant to be played on tvs   Especially if you get 4 players going.