Control panel Layout--need opinions

[Hoagie_one]

OK, I plan on having a simple 2 player setup with the 8 way sticks and the 6 buttons for fighter games.  I also plan on having a 4 way stick\or make the 8 way adjustable to 4-way via a restrictor plate, havent decided.  I also plan on having a trackball and spinner.

What my question is this, I notice some people mention a 7 button settup per player, why is this?  What is the 7th button for?

Of course I'm gonna have coin and start buttons for both players, but is there another reason for a 7th button?

Thanks

[Rocky]

The 7th button is for a NeoGeo layout.  They had a four button configuration.

Many people do their button layout like this:

   x x x
x x x x

or

   x x x
   x x x
x



Rocky

[Hoagie_one]

but wouldnt that button just be another duplicate button, for instance.

here is a 6 button layout
a b c
x y z

wouldnt the 7 button layout be like saying this:
 a b c
 x y z
a


?
Seems redundant to me

[TheTick]

but wouldnt that button just be another duplicate button, for
................
?
Seems redundant to me

It is redundant, but a matter of preference. If you don't see it as being more convient for playing NeoGeo games, than there is no need for you to add it. I'm adding it to mine, but than I play NeoGeo games more than anything else. My 7th button is actually wired seperately, that way it can be changed in the software to perform other functions as well.

My old panel had 8 buttons per player, for playstation games. But any game that needed all 8 buttons, was easier to play with a game pad.

a      b   c   d
d/w  x   y   z

Had a physical switch on the bottom row for the first button. That was a pain.  Was supposed to be a switch between NeoGeo and Capcom layouts.  Oh well, selling it... not my problem anymore.

[mastercave]

wouldnt it be

  123
  456
7

on the ipac since it takes in 8 buttons?

[SirPoonga]

wouldnt it be

  123
  456
7

on the ipac since it takes in 8 buttons?

but if you need to save an input it could be

  123
1456

Now, using my hacks for mame on my site you can have

  XXX
1234

and

  123
X456