How many games actually require 6 buttons?

[smocksam]

Hello,

I'm building my first cab and contol panel.  I've been thinking about it and most of the games I want to play are the older galaga, donkey kong, etc that only need a couple of buttons.  I kind of think that they may lose their feel if I have to fluster around all the extra buttons.

On top of that the PC that will be running the thing is only a 400mhz, so I won't be playing any of the new fighters that require a bunch of buttons.


My question is, aside from the fairly recent fighters, MK, Street Fighter, etc  what other games require 6 buttons  and do you think I could get by with 3 per control for now?

Sam

[ripzone]

Use 4 buttons so you can play most neo-geo games.  

Just my $0.00002 cents!  

[ashardin]

I agree with Ripzone.  With that machine, you won't be able to run any of the fighting games that require 6 buttons acceptably.

A NEO GEO type layout I think would be ideal.  An added bonus would be this:  It sounds like the games you are most interested in are the classics.  Most of those require one button.  Check out the NEO GEO layout, it is like this (warning, crappy ascii illustration ahead):

......O.O.O.....
...O...............

With those being buttons:

......2.3.4.....
...1...............

As you can see, button one is on its own plane, giving you that 1 button "feel" when you play the older classics.  

[smocksam]

You guys just might be geniuses!

Are there any templates out there that I could use so I can get them exact?  I suck when it comes to getting things precise!

[ripzone]

I only have a 6 button layout.

[Brad Lee]

2 notables that I can think of are Defender and Stargate. If setup correctly they are 5 & 6 respectively, although I beleieve there's a way to use the stick for thrust and/or reverse so you can play on 4 buttons

[Lilwolf]

I would still go with at least 6 if you have room.  Why?  You never know when your new favorite game will change.

I only use 2 on average (really).  Most games I play have 1... but every so often it's fun to throw some super upper cuts in the mix.

but if you dont' have room.  I would go with 4.  Neogeo mainly, but there are some others.

[smocksam]

I think I'm going to go with the 4 button layout since this is my first cp.  I know that I won't be happy with the first one I do no matter what.  So I'll try the 4 for now then when I upgrade the PC, I can also do the control panel at the same time.

[Brad Lee]

for my first attempt I did a 1 player with a joystick and 5 buttons inspired by the Defender layout

Code: [Select]

                1 2 3 4
stick
           5

I think when I get to doing it again I'm going to keep that layout, tighten it up a little bit(currently there's like 1/4 to 1/2" between buttons) and slide it to the left. For player 2, I think I may just go with 2 or 3 buttons, since it's primarily for 1 player(myself) but I'll still have options for 2 player simultaneous. Especially with a ball & spinner in the works, it's gonna get a little tight for 2 full 5 or 6 button layouts

[Odonadon]

On top of that the PC that will be running the thing is only a 400mhz, so I won't be playing any of the new fighters that require a bunch of buttons.


My question is, aside from the fairly recent fighters, MK, Street Fighter, etc  what other games require 6 buttons  and do you think I could get by with 3 per control for now?

No no, I'm running MAME32 in WinXP on a PII 400 - Street Fighter, Marvel vs. Capcom, etc. run full speed with sound.  You WILL be able to play those games.  MK is a different story, but Street Fighter and such should work for you.

My advice is put all 6 buttons in.

Odonadon

[eightbit]

Odds are if you got the room to go three wide then you have the room to do 2 rows of 3. Why not go with a basic configuration now and upgrade only the PC later. Those 4 extra buttons are only going to cost you a few bucks.

[SirPoonga]

for my first attempt I did a 1 player with a joystick and 5 buttons inspired by the Defender layout

Code: [Select]

                1 2 3 4
stick
           5


THERE'S a classic with more than 4 buttons:)  Also, technically asteroids, but you can use the joystick for that if needed:)

[Smittydc]

I recently finished making a defender-only reproduction control panel, because there is no other way to really enjoy the game (I forgot how damn hard it is!!!)

Smocksam: I went with 4 buttons for player 1 and 3 for player two and haven't found any "classic" games that couldn't be played.