Newbie Questions, help needed

[ooby]

Hi All,
I'm new to arcade cabinets and decided that I'd have to build one.  I want to build a 4 player control panel and this is giving me the most grief and confusion so if someone can answer my questions I'd be grateful.

1) What are the mandatory buttons that I need?  I know I'll need 4 x player buttons and 4 x coin buttons but what about action buttons?  I was thinking of 6 for player 1 and 2 and 4 buttons for players 3 and 4.   Is that enough?

2) Also do I need any extra control buttons?  Like an escape or pause button?

3) I was thinking about getting the joysticks from Happ controls.  Should I get 8 way or 4 way, or what about the ones that you can change?

I know these are probably pretty basic questions but thats the level I'm at.

[starnix17]

1. It depends.... a lot of older games use few buttons (I believe most use 2, but I'm not 100% sure). Newer games (fighting, etc.) usually use at least 4 buttons.

2. I'd put on a button to enter and escape a game, but you can use a combination of buttons like Player 1 quarter button + player 1 button to exit a game etc.

3. Once again it depends, if you like older games then go with a 4 way, if you play newer games then go with an 8 way. I've never played around with the ones that change so I can't tell you about them.

-Tony

[daveg2000]

Extra buttons I have besides the normal ones for each player are:
3 mouse buttons, pause button, volume up, volume down button.

The rest of the commands (ESC, TAB, etc....) I have programmed
as multiple button presses throughout the control panel.
(which you can do with a keyboard encoder.. I use an IPAC4)

[ooby]

Thanks guys.  I was planning on using the IPAC4.  Is it easy to wire up to do multiple button presses?

[RTSDaddy2]

Not to oversimplify, but you will be amazed - AMAZED - at how easy it is to hook up the IPAC.  Man, I know zilch about electronics, but I got mine right on the first try.

Regarding switchable joysticks,  I suppose it's a matter of preference...I have Ultimarc's T-stick plus sticks in mine, which are switchable from the top and I love them!  So nice to not have to lift the panel top everytime!

At one point early on, however, I didn't have them put back together correctly (it was my fault, and it wasn't that hard a fix) and they would not switch from the top.  At the time I wasn't sure what was wrong with them, so I just switched them from underneath...and I found that NOT to be that big a deal either.

 

[RichyRich]

In your post you say 4xcoin buttons but I think I'm right in thinking you will only need 1 coin button.I'm sure others on here can clarify this.Good luck with your cab.

[AlanS17]

In your post you say 4xcoin buttons but I think I'm right in thinking you will only need 1 coin button.I'm sure others on here can clarify this.Good luck with your cab.

Nope, you'll need 4 coin buttons. In most 3 and 4 player games, you select your position on the control panel by dropping a coin into the proper slot. Each player has a dedicated coin slot. You'll need all 4 of them.

[daveg2000]

In your post you say 4xcoin buttons but I think I'm right in thinking you will only need 1 coin button.I'm sure others on here can clarify this.Good luck with your cab.

Nope, you'll need 4 coin buttons. In most 3 and 4 player games, you select your position on the control panel by dropping a coin into the proper slot. Each player has a dedicated coin slot. You'll need all 4 of them.

I second that.. you will need 4.

[ooby]

Thanks for all the replies, all been helpful.  I know I'm getting the IPAC4 with either the Competition or Ultimate joysticks and buttons from Happ Controls and will order them tomorrow night.  Very exciting 

Anyone know how long they take to be delivered to Australia?

[RichyRich]

Sorry, my mistake.Are there any 2 player games that require an individual coin slot for each player?

ooby,if you've got the money I would seriously consider getting the p360's and a dedicated 4way like the reunion or a wico.

[Tiger-Heli]

Sorry, my mistake.Are there any 2 player games that require an individual coin slot for each player?

ooby,if you've got the money I would seriously consider getting the p360's and a dedicated 4way like the reunion or a wico.

I think so - Not sure which, but I'm pretty sure some of the 2P Simultaneous like CABAL and Twin Cobra use Coin 1 for extra life for Player 1 and Coin 2 for extra life for Player 2.

I could be wrong, though!!!