The optimum number of buttons per stick

[paulscade]

So I've been trying to figure out how many buttons to place [per stick] on my panel.  I wanted to know the "right" number (yup... old topic).  I've read and read the postings absorbing all that I could.... and...  I've concluded that the right number is 6.  Hear me out.... this is my logic...

According to MAWS (in MAME .125u4), the following number of games use the number of buttons listed:

1 button - 1256 games
2 buttons - 2204 games
3 buttons - 1245 games
4 buttons - 803 games   
5 buttons - 164 games
6 buttons - 587 games
7 buttons - 101 games
8 buttons - 30 games
<more than that is too much for me>

At 6 buttons per stick, you pick up an additional 587 games.  After 6 buttons the games drop off sharply... and many are classified as "casino" which I really don't care about.

Does this sound like reasonable logic?  Is there something that I'm missing?

[vertygo]

sounds good to me.

I think your ultimate, final, absolute decision should be based on what your favorite games are. If you never play fighting games, then really, everything else will need 2

[ivwshane]

To put it another way:

4 buttons allows you to play 86% of the games in mame
5 buttons allows you to play 89% of all games in mame
6 buttons allows you to play 98% of all games.

Being able to play 12% to 9% more games with a 6 button setup is what it boils down to.

[u_rebelscum]

To put it another way:

4 buttons allows you to play 86% of the games in mame
5 buttons allows you to play 89% of all games in mame
6 buttons allows you to play 98% of all games.

Just to nitpick, the numbers are closer to

4 = 78%
5 = 80%
6 = 88%
7 = 90%

of all games in mame, you'll have enough buttons. 
(Your numbers are closer if you ignore all the mahjong games, but then you have to change the "all" to "all real" or something like that. ) 

Either way, there's more to being playable than having enough buttons.  Example: tempest needs a spinner as well as one button.

Also, the reason you see a lot of 7 button CPs is not because of 7 button games.  It's mostly so they can have neogeo's 4 buttons in a row layout & street fighter's 2x3 six button layout.  It's not all about number of games, but which games & playability of said games.

[Ginsu Victim]

Also, the reason you see a lot of 7 button CPs is not because of 7 button games.  It's mostly so they can have neogeo's 4 buttons in a row layout & street fighter's 2x3 six button layout.  It's not all about number of games, but which games & playability of said games.

And I have seven buttons wired as six. It's just whatever floats your boat.

456
123
     4

[ivwshane]

To put it another way:

4 buttons allows you to play 86% of the games in mame
5 buttons allows you to play 89% of all games in mame
6 buttons allows you to play 98% of all games.

Just to nitpick, the numbers are closer to

4 = 78%
5 = 80%
6 = 88%
7 = 90%

of all games in mame, you'll have enough buttons. 
(Your numbers are closer if you ignore all the mahjong games, but then you have to change the "all" to "all real" or something like that. ) 

Either way, there's more to being playable than having enough buttons.  Example: tempest needs a spinner as well as one button.

Also, the reason you see a lot of 7 button CPs is not because of 7 button games.  It's mostly so they can have neogeo's 4 buttons in a row layout & street fighter's 2x3 six button layout.  It's not all about number of games, but which games & playability of said games.

lol

I was merely using his numbers;)

[nukedawg]

Also some of the data in Maws or the control.dat file shows games with say 6 buttons but they are actually lower than that such as:

G-Darius - shows 6 but actually is 3.
Brave Blade - shows 6 but is 3.
Mr. Driller - shows 6 but is 1.
Strider 2 - shows 6 but is 3.

And there are many like that. I believe the data is taken from maybe the number of connections supported by the Jamma interface but I am just guessing here so no flamin'

So 6 buttons is a good number to shoot for but I have 7 so I can have the 4 in a row for neogeo and 6 for capcom type games.

I have console emulators setup as well but sometimes you may not have enough buttons to set up the controllers with all the inputs. For example, Playstation has 8 buttons total (not including start & select). So with my 7 button layout I have the 4 input buttons + R1 +R2 and 1 left over for L1. I have an admin button set for the odd L2. So it isnt perfect but it works as most PSX games do not use the L2 that often.

Simularlly with the N64 emulator which has 9 buttons (not including start). So I have my 7 buttons set for the 2 input buttons + Z button +4 C buttons and 2 admin buttons act as the L1 and R1 buttons. Most N64 games either used Z with R1 or the games used L1 with L2 and no Z so it all works out. Again not perfect but works for me!

So figure out what type games (Mame, consoles, etc) and then determine what it is you want your cab to support and go from there.

Hope this helps!

[Timstuff]

7 buttons in the "Connecticut" formation is best IMO. There may not be a lot of games that support 7 buttons, but that 7th button makes 4 button games a whole lot nicer to play.

[paulscade]

This all makes sense.  I think that I'm back to 7.  With 6, I suppose that I could still have 4 buttons (for NeoGeo) but they wouldn't be in a row (2x3)... sort of awkward, hu?... and probably not something that's recommended.

I really don't have a favorite game... well... I do like PacMan (ha!... a zero button game).

I just want the panel to accommodate as much as possible.... while not overdoing it.

[nukedawg]

accommodate as much as possible.... while not overdoing it.

Exactly....or you might end up on 'crapmame' 

[Malenko]

if you play neo geo games then the 7 button config "Connecticut formation" is the ideal layout, if not then your best bet is prolly the standard street fighter config.  I play neogeo games on my MVS cab, heh, but I still find what would be ABC on the neo geo config ideal for NBA Jam, NHL Open Ice, and other 3 button games.