I really appreciate seeing this thread. I'm still trying to figure out my CP layout. I've got a full complement of controls (4-way, spinner, TB, 2 joys) and so it's just the button layout that always gives me headaches.
I wish I had visio at home so it would be easier to figure out.
I did see one thing someplace that I really liked, I just saved it in email so I have no idea where it came from. Here's a snippet of it:
My favorite layout (which works well for almost any game you can throw at
it), is a modern oversized panel with a trackball installed dead center,
8-Way joysticks with 7 buttons each to the left and right of the
trackball, a single 4-Way joystick mounted high and slightly left of
center, with a spinner mounted high and slightly right of center.
_________________________________________________
4-Way Spinner
Stick
Buttons Buttons
8-Way 1 2 3 4 Track 8-Way 1 2 3 4
Stick 4 5 6 Ball Stick 4 5 6
_________________________________________________
Look carefully at the buttons, notice how there are 2 different ones
labeled as #4, that is because many 4 button games (Neo-Geo especially)
have 4 buttons in a single row. While most games with 6 buttons have 2
rows of 3. So you simply make button 4 in 2 different places (making
both types of game feel correct).
I like the 4 on top (1-4) and 3 on the bottom (4-6) set up.
Other things I've seen that I really like are 3 dedicated buttons right of the 4-way stick, 2 buttons left of the spinner, and 2 mouse buttons left of the TB. I plan on incorporating these, too. I guess that makes it a franken panel already, but in my mind... the buttons are next to the controls that use them.
Also pinball buttons (2 each side, 1 on right front)
Regarding the function buttons, I designed in the following:
Pause on left and right upper corners of the cp
Escape, on the left side and an F3 on the front
I also want a recessed Control-Alt-Delete combination for the PC, but plan for a microswitch without a button, accessed via a pencil or something through a small hole.