Need coments on CPO layout on a bartop.

[Stobe]

I'm starting to work on the button layout for my bartop, and I wanted to get a very early design up here to start hearing any comments on it.

Keep in mind, this is a very early plan, and does not even include the extra buttons (coin-up, esc, etc).

The CP will be about 17.5" x 9".

[IntruderAlert]

What game/s are you planning to run on it?

[Stobe]

Mostly classic games.  Side scrollers, vert scrollers.  Not so much a fan of fighters.  But I wanted to have at least a fighter setup on one stick just in case.  (I did get into some of the later fighting games like Virtua Fighter, Soul Edge, etc.)

This is a very quick mock-up in Illustrator.  I will add more stuff in as needed, but the most important thing is the player setups.

Thanks!

[AlanS17]

Unless you're playing a Street Fighter, a Mortal Kombat, or a Killer Instinct, you won't need all those buttons - even for fighters. You can get by just fine with 4 buttons. That'll even everything up, too.

Plus that nice ergonic slant is practical with a large control panel, but the person on the left will be elbow jabbing the person on the right in the ribs with the buttons turned like that.

[Stobe]

Well, I left my laptop with Illustrator at work, but perhaps I'll do another mockup with photoshop this weekend.

Maybe I'll go with a simple setup like the Slikstik Solitaire.  Two joys with six buttons in the middle.  Does anyone have a setup like this?

Thanks,
Stobe

[Stobe]

Ok, after switching from Illustrator to Flash (much more comfortable in Flash), I have a newly revised CP button layout for your review.  Keep in mind, this is just a quick mock-up, no fancy artwork or anything yet.

I'm thinking about a simple 1-player/2 stick/6 button setup.  The 4 buttons shown at the top are:

Coin , 1P Start , 2P Start , Pause

The 2P start is there to even the design out, and also in case I decide to hook up a gamepad for a second player.  I will probably map other admin buttons to shift keys (esc, tab, etc.)

Let me know what you think.  Am I missing anything (besides a spinner, trackball, 4-way, lol).

Thanks for looking,
Stobe

[AlanS17]

I would question the curve. It's usually used in a continuous cruve, not one that comes back down. I've seen your method used before, but I would think playing on it would feel a little wierd. I see why you did it. I just think straight buttons would be more comfortable after you get to using it.

Plus the layout is for fighting games, and fighting games aren't as much fun without another person to play against. If you were to have a fighting layout, I'd recommend finding a way to have 2 of them (even if that means reducing the number of buttons per player).