Button Layout question

[442much]

I know the "standard" button layout for 7 buttons is generally this:

    b1 b2 b3
    --BINGO! Either that, or I was attempting to say "before" but it was too many letters to type-- b5 b6
  b7

However, I was thinking that when playing games with 3 or less buttons, it would be nicer to use the bottom row instead of the top.  Is anybody doing it this way (bottom 3)?  If so, I would assume that for three or less you would use the bottom, but switch back to the layout above for 4+ button games. 

I also assume that you would need a FE that would support this.  I'm using (or getting ready to as I'm still building my cab) to use GameEx.  I don't think it supports this.

-Dan

[vrf]

I agree. I'd like to use the bottom row for games with fewer buttons. I guess you'll just need to remap fighters and stuff using the FE, although I'm not sure. It would seem to be a lot of work to remap all those games?

[FrizzleFried]

What games use a 7th button?

[Tahnok]

What games use a 7th button?

None. It's for playing Neo-Geo games, which use four buttons in a row. It just duplicates one of the buttons above.

[442much]

None. It's for playing Neo-Geo games, which use four buttons in a row. It just duplicates one of the buttons above.
[/quote]

This is also related as I want the neo-geo layout (the four buttons on the bottom) to work when playing neo-geo games.  Is it better to hook the 7th button up to one of the other buttons (I assume the 4th) button, or is this really back to having the front-end launch a different IPAC configuration? 

[yugffuts]

You should be able to map the buttons within MAME for all neo-geo games.

I don't know if you're into fighters, but that 7th button also makes a nice "Run" button for MK3 & UMK3.   If you wire to the 4th button, this will not work for these games (High Punch & Run would be the same button).