buttons on the right or left?

[CJK]

I notice that almost everyone builds their control panels with the buttons to the right side of the joystick. But I remember most of the classics I played years ago (and a search through the control panel overlay museum confirms this) had the buttons to the LEFT of the stick.

Is the current trend due to the large number of fighters that have come along since the early 90's? Any other advantage to one side or the other? Does anyone have buttons on both sides?

Thanks for any opinions!
-- Chris

[Tiger-Heli]

See Paige's comments here:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,36171.0.html

Generally, in most modern games the most difficult aspect is timing and pressing buttons, rather than controlling the joystick, so buttons get the dominant hand (and us lefties adapt).

[CJK]

Thanks for the pointer to that thread -- I didn't find it with the search I did.

I am going to build a prototype CP this weekend, so I'll try them on the right like most of the modern CPs I've seen on this site. I'll definitely need a set of buttons to the left of a trackball, though, for Missile Command and Centipede!

Thanks again for the help!
-- Chris