Will I need more than 2 buttons?

[AlanS17]

Will I need more than 2 buttons for a vertical classic cocktail cabinet? If so, how many do I need?

[SirPoonga]

I say stick with jamma standard, 2 player, 3 button. 
http://fe.donkeyfly.com/controls/gamesbycocktail.php

If oyu want you can start going through that and see if there are 3 or more button games.  Otherwise if I remember when I get home where I can query tha tdatabase I can tell you if any games in controls.dat need more than 2 buttons that support cocktail.

FYI, asteroids needs a 2 way joystick and 3 button in mame.  So there's one game.  Cocktail support is being worked on for mame.

[whammoed]

I have a vertical cocktail that I play mostly classics on.  I put three buttons but have never put a game on there that requires more than two.  Asteroids is horizontal, so if you're truly only playing vertical classics you will be happy with 2.

[Thenasty]

There is Vanguard that needs 4 buttons and it supports cocktail mode.

[whammoed]

There is Vanguard that needs 4 buttons and it supports cocktail mode.

Hmmm, interesting game, never played it.  I couldn't play it with buttons but since I have both an 8 way and a 4 way joystick I could use the 4 way for the buttons since they are directional firing anyway.  Have to check it out

[AlanS17]

Well I'm interested in using this thing strictly for vertical games. If I ever decide I want to play horizontal games on it I'll add a third control panel to the long side. Then I can put however many buttons I want on it. I also won't be needing screen flipping for that third control panel so cocktail mode wouldn't particularly matter for horizontal games.

[AlanS17]

The reason I'm even asking about 2 is because if I only need 2 buttons, I'd like to put 2 buttons on the left and right sides of a centered joystick. If I need 3 buttons I'll have to set them to the right of the joystick.

I'd like to be able to have left/right buttons, though. I don't want mine to look like everyone else's. But in order to do that, I'd be restricted to 2 buttons. I just want to know if I can get away with it without mising out on any required games.

[SirPoonga]

well, most games that used 3 buttons put the buttons either in a row or in a triangular fashion.  So you can do your 2 button idea, leave room to add a third button above them for future if you find something...

[Thenasty]

here is Vanguard control panel layout.

[AlanS17]

I could fit 4 buttons just as easily as I could fit 2, and I could fit 3 buttons if I formed them into a triangle. I guess it just comes down to how many I think I would need. Maybe I need to play some Vanguard tonight.

[88mph]

I have a vertical cocktail cabinet.. one side has a joysitck, spinner, and two buttons.  The other side has a joystick, trackball, and three buttons. 

I haven't run across many vertical games that require the 3rd button.. Asteroids and Space Duel benefit from a 3rd button, but you're not getting accurate play on those games with a joystick anyway.. (and you can always remap up or down to help out on those games)  A third button would have been helpful for Star Trek, but that's a spinner game.   

I think you'll be fine with 2 buttons.  I've been playing my vertical cocktail cabinet for years and haven't regretted the 2 button layout. 

Good luck,

88mph

[Avery]

The reason I'm even asking about 2 is because if I only need 2 buttons, I'd like to put 2 buttons on the left and right sides of a centered joystick. If I need 3 buttons I'll have to set them to the right of the joystick.

Set it up this way, with each button firing a different terminal on your encoder and set all your control codes "Button 1 - A or B", "Button 2 - C or D" then if you ever HAVE to have a third button for some obscure game, you can have it be one of the buttons on the far side of the joystick.

It'd going to be a bugger to press, but you would have the option if you ever wanted it.

[AlanS17]

The thought had already crossed my mind, but it would be so unnatural that it wouldn't be worth it to me.