button layouts..

[severdhed]

i currently have a two player, 6 button setup that is working pretty well, however it could be better.  i have been tossing around the idea of adding a 7th button for the neogeo games, and also considering a curved layout, which i think may be more comfortable.   A while back i removed my trackball and spinner to get rid of some clutter on my panel, but I am thinking of making a new panel and installing them again.  so while working out a new layout, i am trying to figure out the best way to accomplish this. 

so, from what i can tell..most people who have 6 buttons layouts have them set up like this, correct?


this is how i have mine set up.  i thought about making the bottom row buttons 1-3, but it just seemed awkward.

i have also seen alot of 7 button layouts, which I am assuming are set up like this:


in which case you would use butons 1-6 for most games, and use 7456 for neogeo games.  this seems to be pretty popular, but I don't like the idea of using one row of buttons for most games, and the other row for other games...it is too confusing for visitors...so I have come up with this.



i would still use 1-6 for street fighter and most games, and for neogeo (and  other 4 button games like NARC), i would use 1237.  that makes it so that buttons 1-3 are always the same, so you hand always stays in the same position.   I'm not sure about the curve, i think it will be more confortable but I am not sure how to space out the buttons equally.   with the straight layout it was easy to just measure 1.5 inches and drill another hole..the arc adds a bit of difficulty..i guess i should just find a layout that works and make a paper template for drilling.

anyway, what do you guys think of this new layout?  is there possibly another option that I am overlooking?

[Sain]

How about something like this.

[Ginsu Victim]

I have mine arranged slightly different. It works well, considering your pinky IS the shortest finger.

[severdhed]

both of those look like possible options...i am just so unsure on what to do.  I do play some 4 button games, but not really that often.  maybe i should just keep the 2 rows of 3 and be done with it.  I have been wondering if it is worth doing the curved layout since it looks more confortable, but everytime i try to lay it out, i can't figure out the spacing of them.  i want the buttons all spaced at 1.5 inches apart..but it is so difficult to do with the curved layout.  is there some way to do this easily? 

also, are there any of you who have gone from a street fighter layout to the curved layout? and if so, are you happy with your decision?

[mrserv0n]

Id got with layout 1, if your very serious player of mk3 go with layout 2, cause 6 buttons its tough to to running combos. i do not like your custom layout. Standard layouts are made for a reason, because they work.

[TheShanMan]

Check this thread. Not quite the same as yours, but you might find it helpful. I'm very happy with my choice and it passed the wife test too. Plus you'll see that someone gave some great dimensions for spacing the buttons (I more or less disregarded the distance between the joystick and the buttons, but used the rest of them).

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=75809.0

[Ginsu Victim]

This page has examples (and templates) of button layouts
http://www.kowal.itcom.pl/ArcadeParts_pliki/Projekt.htm

[Stormrider]

The best option, in my opinion, is the ergonomic japanese desing, but with the buttons # 3 and 6 a little lower, because your 5th finger is not as long. 6 buttons are enough. If you need 4 buttons in a row, you can use # 1,2,3, and 4 (1st of the second row), and use the thumb for this one. It's perfect for me.

[WhiteComet]

also, are there any of you who have gone from a street fighter layout to the curved layout? and if so, are you happy with your decision?

the straight style is mainly a US/Europe style, and the japanese candy cabinets use the curved style... most arcade joysticks for PS2 and Hori stick use the curved style and most players prefer this type!!!

Depends how professional/authentic you want to be... also if your a SF fan, what parts you using for stick and buttons?

[Kajoq]

also, are there any of you who have gone from a street fighter layout to the curved layout? and if so, are you happy with your decision?

I grew up playing on HAPP sticks with the Straight layout and swapped to Sanwa parts + curved layout.  I couldn't be happier.  Sanwa joystick + Sanwa buttons in the curve is soooo smooth.  I hate having to play on HAPP now.  It feels so brutish compared to how precise and tight sanwas are

[javeryh]

I use buttons 1, 2 and 3 on the bottom row and 4, 5 and 6 on the top row (in a curved layout).  Not sure what I'd do about a 7th button... maybe add it to the right and have the bottom row be 1, 2, 3 and 7 and individually remap all the NeoGeo games.  This way buttons 1, 2 and 3 would be constant...

[Ginsu Victim]

I use buttons 1, 2 and 3 on the bottom row (same as you) and 4, 5 and 6 on the top row (in a curved layout).  Not sure what I'd do about a 7th button... maybe add it to the right and have the bottom row be 1, 2, 3 and 7 and individually remap all the NeoGeo games.  This way buttons 1, 2 and 3 would be constant...

Mine is

456
123
    4

I have the fourth wired twice. Sure, the buttons are backwards for Capcom fighters, but I prefer my main buttons on the bottom row. I don't have to set up anything this way. Neo Geo ready, and if you don't mind punch and kick reversed, Capcom is ready.

[Stub]

This is my current layout. It feels good on paper, but I am mocking it up now. it has a lot more distence than the other layouts, but it seems more comfortable. We will see.

Buttons are 1.75 inches on center not 1.375 inches

[jhabers]

Here is how Im planning to lay out my buttons

[javeryh]

I use buttons 1, 2 and 3 on the bottom row (same as you) and 4, 5 and 6 on the top row (in a curved layout).  Not sure what I'd do about a 7th button... maybe add it to the right and have the bottom row be 1, 2, 3 and 7 and individually remap all the NeoGeo games.  This way buttons 1, 2 and 3 would be constant...

Mine is

456
123
    4

I have the fourth wired twice. Sure, the buttons are backwards for Capcom fighters, but I prefer my main buttons on the bottom row. I don't have to set up anything this way. Neo Geo ready, and if you don't mind punch and kick reversed, Capcom is ready.

This is what I had pictured in my head (including wiring button #4 twice) - I'd probably put an arc to it or something for comfort but that's the way to go for me.  As for reversing the SF controls, I don't think anyone I play with will ever notice and over time I just got used to it.

[Ginsu Victim]

As for reversing the SF controls, I don't think anyone I play with will ever notice and over time I just got used to it.

Same here. I didn't play SF in the arcade as much as on SNES and MAME, so I don't think it's an issue. My friends also didn't play it enough in arcades to care.

[severdhed]

thanks for the input guys...i really apreciate the suggestions.  i like my 6 button street figher layout OK right now, but i do think that the curved layout would be more comfortable.  I may just forget about the 4th button, since there are very few 4 button games that I play.  I think i want to keep the top row of buttons 1-3...it just seems more natural to me that way.  for those of you who are doing the bottom row as 1-3, you could always customize the button layouts for the street fighter roms to make them match up to the arcade.

someoone asked what controls i was using...they are x-arcade sticks and buttons (for now)  i know they are not ideal, but i had purchased teh x-arcade 2player unit long before i ever thought about building my own panel, and since i already had the parts, i just used them to save some money.  i have been pretty happy with them so far.  When i build my second cabinet some day, i'll probably get happ stuff, but since I am just building a different control panel for my existing cabinet, i'll stick with what i have for now.  my friend is getting ready to build his first cabinet, as soon as the parts arrive from divemaster. (should be at the end of the week)  he ordered happ sticks and buttons, so i can get a feel for them to see how i like them compared to what i have.

I'm still trying to create the artwork for the panel, and i'm not sure what i want it to look like, so it may be a little while until i actually build the panel...but at least now i have some good templates to work with for my curved layout.  perhaps i'll make a mockup of it this evening and post it.

thanks guys...and if anyone has any more suggestions, please keep them coming.

[Ginsu Victim]

for those of you who are doing the bottom row as 1-3, you could always customize the button layouts for the street fighter roms to make them match up to the arcade.

Yes, I realize that. I'm just saying it's not a big deal to me if they're reversed. Not worth the effort to remap the controls for all capcom fighters.

[severdhed]

yeah, i guess alot of people probably have alot of those games.  i have my mame list down to about 75 games that i actually want to play.  so there are only about 4 or 5 games i would have to change

[Ginsu Victim]

Since switching to an older mame, I'm down from about 6,000 to 5,000 something roms.

[Lilwolf]

As for swapping the 1-3... This was one of the main reasons I created multimame (http://multimame.wikidot.com/) with it I can say 1-3 on bottom... unless your playing a game with dual 8 way joysticks and 6 buttons...  Then it will use a different cfg directory in mame and the default is set once.  It was also nice to have a default button set for all mortal kombat games (based on name).   Also, if you do this, you can have the 4th button on the bottom past your 3rd, and not have it active unless your playing a neogeo game.

As for how to handle the buttons.  I would do it the way the arcade that you went to as a kid did them for your favorite games. 

I tried changing mine to a more ergonomic version... hated it after I finished and rebuilt my old one.  The other thing you can do is go out and buy a $5 press board (ultra crap board of any nature) and make a temp control panel just to try.  You don't really even need to connect the buttons sometimes to decide it sucks... but if you do, quick disconnects and you can rewire in just a few minutes later with the real one.