| Main > Main Forum |
| Request for Defender CP layout details |
| << < (7/11) > >> |
| TheShanMan:
So tonight the plan was to modify my panel to closely match the defender layout, as we've discussed here. I got it all apart and figured out the modifications I'd need to make (including cutting part of the joystick mounting plate off to make room for the reverse button). However, I'm having doubts about it. I'm just not sure I'm going to like the location of the reverse button. I'm wondering what those of you guys who have defender/stargate panels think about the reverse button location (arzoo, TOK, erictrumpet, anyone else). I know you're probably VERY used to it, but try to separate yourself from what you're used to and think about where you would have put it if you were on the defender design team. Would you really have put it 1.75" right and 1.25" down from the center of the joystick? It almost seems like it should be up higher to me. However, they could have been constrained by the body of the joystick (as I would be I think). So now I'm back to wiping the slate clean and starting over on my decision of how to lay out my buttons. I'm not dead set against the left hand thumb button, so please try to convince me if you do really think it's ideally placed (or if you'd suggest a slightly different location for a left hand thumb button). The main constraint I have is that I currently have 3 buttons on the panel in a small arc (button 1 slightly lower than 2 and 3, where 2 and 3 are side by side). Button 1 is NOT down low enough to be a thumb button though. I actually started to get excited about 5 buttons in an arc, where every finger of the right hand would naturally sit right on each button. However, I think I would hate having a button under my thumb for games which wouldn't use a thumb button (and maybe even for defender, for all I know). So here's what I've come up with as my current thinking, and again I depend on you defender/stargate experts to chime in and tell me what you think. So I'm thinking: * Button 1: Thrust * Button 2: Fire * Button 3: Smart Bomb * Button 4 (or 5): Reverse * Button 6: Hyperspace where the button layout would look like this (1 and 4 are dropped by about 1/2"): 456 123 If it would help to take a picture, I'll take one of my fighter panel, which would have an identical layout. One nice thing about this layout: I can give it a "test drive" on my fighter panel before committing to it on my single joystick panel. Of course, I'm also open to suggestions on other locations for buttons 4 and 5 (and a 6th if appropriate). |
| TOK:
I'm so used to the Defender/Stargate layout by now that its tough to imagine it a different way. I find the stick height crucial. It has to be low like the original, or the reach down to it will feel awkward. Its been so long since I paid attention to it that I had to go to the machine and lay my hands on the panel to remember the reach to the button. I actually hit the reverse button with the side of my thumb. I think the issue you might run into with your alternate layout is having too much to do with your right hand. With the standard layout, you're already doing a lot between the thrust and fire button. Reverse becomes huge in later levels when Mutants and Baiters come into play, since quick double reverse taps is one of the strategies that lets you kill them. |
| arzoo:
--- Quote from: TOK on August 20, 2008, 05:55:12 am ---I'm so used to the Defender/Stargate layout by now that its tough to imagine it a different way. I find the stick height crucial. It has to be low like the original, or the reach down to it will feel awkward. Its been so long since I paid attention to it that I had to go to the machine and lay my hands on the panel to remember the reach to the button. I actually hit the reverse button with the side of my thumb. --- End quote --- Ditto on what TOK said. The thumb button position seems perfect (I also use the side of my thumb). On my mame cab, I have a button located horizontally close to the the joystick - it works ok for Defender and I can get use to it, but it's not nearly as natural as the Defender layout. Part of that may be due to the stick not being low enough and the button is spaced just a bit too far. |
| TheShanMan:
Actually, I remember something about a MAME cheat regarding reverse. Don't know the specifics, but I've been thinking "if only left and right on the joystick would make you go left or right". I used to have reverse mapped to left OR right, but I didn't like that since if you were already going left and you pushed the joystick left, suddenly you'd be going right. But I bet the cheat removes the concept of reversing and replaces it with "go left" and "go right". I'm going to have to investigate this tonight. If my suspicion is correct, I think I'll take this approach, and then if it doesn't seem ideal when and if I am good enough to reach advanced levels, I can always add a button then. Good point about the right hand being too busy though guys! If my cheat idea doesn't pan out then I'll definitely give the left thumb button strong consideration again. You guys did a good job of convincing. :) Thanks a lot for all your feedback! |
| Paulson:
I think you shouldn't change the original button layout...as we sometimes know the controls alone make these games great. That's why I went for the Williams multi game panel...mind you I'm not really interested in Sf or VF etc... Paulson (UK) |
| Navigation |
| Message Index |
| Next page |
| Previous page |