6 vs 8 button layout

[Over and Out]

I've been trying to figure out whether to go for a 6 or 8 button configuration for my CP.

What's the use of the extra 2 buttons?

I know Neo Geo games use a curved 4 button configuration. But can't one of the 6 be reconfigured as the forth button? and Doesn't the extra buttons get in the way of the joystick?

I'll be predominately be playing Street figter, bubble booble, galga, Mortal kombat, TMNT, Simpsons

Attached are 2 pics (Bfanska 6 button layout which I like the curve and joe's 8 button (I think the joystick is a little close to the buttons in this one but I like the spacing)

I'll be using a "GP-Wiz Eco 32-Input USB Controls Interface" 

Opinions of pros and cons would be great. 


 

[Anubis_au]

You might find that with the eight button setup, the eighth button might be start or coin insert, rather than a game button. The seventh button is for four-in-a-row NeoGeo, but there is no need for eight game buttons.

In my original cab, I had nine buttons: the seven for gaming, start and coin insert. I wanted my players to not have to hunt for any buttons...

[Malenko]

6 is fine, 7 is better, 8 is unneeded. I have no pictures of my CPO, but its laid out just like a hotrod  ( http://www.hanaho.com/Products/HotRodJoystick.php )

its ideal for street fighter because of the 6 button configuration, its ideal for neo geo because it has the 4 on the bottom row, its great for NBA JAM/NHL Open Ice/Etc because you can use the first 3 on the bottom row for turbo pass and shoot. I personally HATE "arc'ed" button rows they become very uncomfortable over time

I have the start button up top, and you push in the coin return to register a credit.

[Green Giant]

If you want to go upscale, get electric ice buttons with the RGB drives and power them with an led-wiz.  You can use Mala to light the specific controls for the game you are playing.  Then if you chose neogeo, it will light the bottom for, or if you chose street fighter, the main 6.  Otherwise you will be explaining controls to players.

[Over and Out]

Thanks for the input guys,

Anubis_au - I will definitely go for the menu buttons at the top well away from the playing buttons. (I couldn't think of why you would have the extra 8th button, instead of fire button you hit extra credit???hmmmmm)

Malenko - Good call on the NBA jam but does the 7th button on the lower left get in the way when playing fighters? Not a fan on curved keys hey?

Green Giant - Going for a budget system so lights are out of the question at the moment but really love the idea of the buttons lighting up that you have to play with.

Really my wiring skills and programming skills are basic (think RC cars when I was 12).  So the problem is how hard is it to re-associate key the 4th button vs how much it gets in the way play 6 button games

Also:
Curved 6 button layout vs straight 6 buttons layout?

Hand fatigue/comfort   (Malenko seems pretty set on straight layout)

[gatordad]

An 8 button layout would really only be necessary if you wanted to play N64 or other console games from the cp.
I think the popular concensus is that if you want to run N64 or similar consoles buy a converter and use an original gamepad.
It's all a personal preference thing, so do what works for you.

[Malenko]

the  Neo Geo A button doesn't get in the way at all in balls out SFAlpha 3 battles, and even if you accidentally hit it, nothing is mapped to it, so nothing will happen.  I forgot to mention is a great (ultimate) Mortal Kombat 3 run button.


pardon the crap pic, but its basically what my layout looks like

[lanman31337]

I went 8, but my reasoning is 7 buttons + a start, or 6 + select + start for snes, or i can do dreamcast, etc...

[PsychoAU]

I went with 7 for Neo Geo games on the bottom row and for the run button in MK3.

[Green Giant]

About your question on associating the 4th button.  It is really easy.  Takes maybe 15 minutes.

Some people might have different methods, but here is what I did.

Made a list of all the neogeo games based on the romname with romlister.  Opened up one neogeo game in mame, hit tab, do the game specific buttons, and input your four buttons for neogeo.

Then go to the cfg folder where mame is.  You should see the just made cfg file for the game.  Then the boring part comes in.  I just copied that file like a hundred times.  Renamed each one to the neogeo game it would be assigned and changed the system name within the cfg file to match the neogeo rom name.  This took 15 minutes tops, even going through 150+, since you just cut and paste.  Granted there might be better ways to do this, but I didn't find any right away and this was pretty simple.

It is nice having the 4 button layout, feels real authentic, and on the occasional emulator like snes, you have an extra input.

[Over and Out]

Thanks for the input guys, 

Will go for the 7 button layout.

Good point about the MK3 run button and nice pic by Malenko. The layout keeping the buttons further away from the joystick will make life a little easy. Also good to know that the button won't come into play for a 6 button fighter.

Nice tutorial from Green Giant about associating the buttons to reconfig for particular games. I think that will come in handy for some awkward button layout games. Also makes me want get light buttons as you suggested before.

My buttons & controller arrive soon so I think I might be on this forum a bit more asking for some advice about wiring the dam thing up etc. Will make sure I post pics of my build soon. Cheers

[unclet]

I went 7 ..... and I like it since it comes in handy when other emulators are configured.

[Green Giant]

Check out my cab here.  http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=67770.0

Scroll towards the bottom and you can check out some videos showing the led buttons working.  You can see if it is worth it to you or not.

[u_rebelscum]

About your question on associating the 4th button....

Some people might have different methods, but here is what I did.

...  Opened up one neogeo game in mame, hit tab, do the game specific buttons, and input your four buttons for neogeo.

Then go to the cfg folder where mame is.  You should see the just made cfg file for the game....  Granted there might be better ways to do this, but I didn't find any right away and this was pretty simple.

Another way is to play one neogeo game and remap that game, like above.  Then copy that cfg file from the cfg folder into your ctrlr folder, and change the "system" from the game name to "neodrvr" (used to be "neogeo" before the last driver rewrite).  Save it and if you want  rename the file to something like "myctrlr.cfg".  Then edit your mame.ini file to so ctrlr has "ctrlr myctrlr" (or whatever you renamed it to).

This way mame changes the inputs for all games that are emulated from the neodrvr driver file, but doesn't change other games.  Only one file to worry about, instead of the hundred or so.  [shrug]

[DaveMMR]

Check out my cab here.  http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=67770.0

Scroll towards the bottom and you can check out some videos showing the led buttons working.  You can see if it is worth it to you or not.

I like my lighted Electric Ice buttons but it is adding a ridiculous amount of extra steps in completing the cab and limited my choice of front ends severely.   Don't get me wrong, they will look sweet when it's all done but there are times I wish I didn't complicate things.  So to me, it boils down to wanting to deal with those setbacks I mentioned plus others I didn't (extra money on buttons and hardware, tripling your wiring work).  But, damn, do they look sweet.  Ah, I can't stay mad at my Electric Ice buttons.... 

And yes, as the Jolly Green Giant said, with some extra set up it'll make knowing what buttons are used easier for those not in the know.

[Green Giant]

"Then copy that cfg file from the cfg folder into your ctrlr folder, and change the "system" from the game name to "neodrvr" (used to be "neogeo" before the last driver rewrite).  Save it and if you want  rename the file to something like "myctrlr.cfg".  Then edit your mame.ini file to so ctrlr has "ctrlr myctrlr" (or whatever you renamed it to)."

Damn, wish i realized it changed from neogeo to neodrvr.    No wonder neogeo wouldn't work correctly. 

Try his method first, should be even easier. 

[btp2k2]

Most of my panels are six button, the only exception being the most recent cab I finished. I added a seventh button so I could play Madden 06 on it...otherwise six is the way to go IMHO