How many control panel buttons do I really need? (bartop)

[Ritalin]

I'm in the process of designing my control panel for my bartop.
I mainly play the classics, 1942, Galaga, but also play others like Robocop, Aliens, etc.
This will be a single joystick setup.
My dimensions are approximately 18" wide by about 6.5" or so.

How many buttons do I really need?

I've seen that people like to use 7 buttons. two rows of three buttons and then one by itself at the bottom close to the joystick.

However, since space is limited, will three buttons work?
What games would be off limits if I went with 2 or 3 buttons only?

Any help is appreciated as I weigh the pros/cons of the setup and am somewhat confused, thanks.

[Singapura]

Neo Geo games can use up to 7 buttons but if you stay with the classics you might need a lot less. I wouldn't use too many buttons on a bartop.

[Space Fractal]

If you dosent play fighter games like Street Fighter 2, Mortal Kombat or such, you can without any problems limit it to 3 buttons. 3 buttons is the maximum for the Jamma standard (as I remember that).

If you do want to play Neo geo games, you need to use the 4'th button as well.

The 2x3+1 is used for a combo with Neo Geo (4 buttons in a row) and Street Fighting (2x3 buttons) games for a optimal setup.

Neo Geo use 4 buttons, not 7 buttons.

[patrickl]

Guess he means the Streetfighter+NeoGeo combined button layout which use 7 buttons.

[Space Fractal]

yep, I hope he meant that.

For classic games, 3 buttons is more than fine, which is the limit on the Jamma standard anyway. You can still play most games on that layout.

[Ritalin]

Thanks for the info everyone!

For a 3 button standard bartop, which layout would you say is the choice for most people?:

1.
O O O

2.
  O
O O

3.
O O
O

4.
   O O
O

[javeryh]

I went with #4 for my 3 button layout:

[Ritalin]

cool, thanks!

[DaveMMR]

Thanks for the info everyone!

For a 3 button standard bartop, which layout would you say is the choice for most people?:

1.
O O O

2.
  O
O O

3.
O O
O

4.
   O O
O

1 or 4, perhaps 2.

[patrickl]

I was thinking about 4 buttons myself for games like Metal Slug (and I guess other NeoGeo games)

[NoOne=NBA=]

I prefer this layout.

OO  X   OO
          O

It lets you play all the joystick games, plus it lets you play button games like Asteroids, Space Invaders, etc... as they were meant to be played.