6 Button layout

[webby]

I'm about to start working on the layout for my new panel which will have 2 joysticks, a trakball, spinner and 2 joysticks. Im interested in peoples opinions on the button layout. Should I just go two rows of 3 buttons or should some other layout be considered  

[ArcadeFX]

I tried a few different layout before staying with the 3x3 layout. It seems to work with the majorite of the games.  It really depends on what games you play and mayby the size of your hands. Just don't make them too close together.  Here is a pic of my cp



Hope this helps.

[lo_cash]

When I asked this question a while back Zapper sent me the layout he uses.  It is a seven button layout with (2) Button 4s.  One of them is under the thumb for NeoGeo games.

This is what it looks like:

[webby]

Not sure I understand what the reason for the thumb button is ?

[lo_cash]

The thumb button does the same thing as the first button in the second row of buttons.  When you are playing 4-button games (like NeoGeo) you may prefer using your thumb rather than managing 2 buttons with your index finger.  

[ArcadeFX]

This is just the way a lot of the NeoGeo games are setup.  If you play a lot of figher games you might want to go with this layout.  You can still play them with the 3x3 layout but it is not how the real NeoGeo are layed out.  I am not sure if that 7th button is just a dublicate of one of the other 6 or not.  

NE1 else know?

[Billabong]

Here's my CP, I like a challenge:

(just kidding, it doesn't look like that!)

Like ArcadeFX said, it comes down to personal preference. My fav 6 button game is Street Fighter II Champion Hyper Zero Alpha Delta 3 1/3, so I went with the 3x2. The couple of Neo Geo games I play only use 3 buttons, so it's cool. For a fighter that needs 4 buttons, you could use just try to use the first 2x2 (what I call 'Tekken-style').

Later,
Billabong

[Jonathan_the_Red]

I went with an eight-button layout. The buttons are arranged in a two-by-four rectangle, spaced 1.5" apart, with the exception of the first column which is .5" lower than the other columns. Seems comfortable enough. See my page for a pic.

[pink]

I have the 7 button also .. a straight 6 button 3X3 with a 7th button off in the lower left for neo geo as described above.  That 7th button is mapped to one of the top row buttons though, so it only uses 6 input

something like this


 1 2 3
 4 5 6  
1


- pink

[CthulhuLuke]

Here's how I layed out my arcade joystick.

[Jason]

Also consider a Toobin-friendly configuration if you think you'll be playing a little 2 player Toobin.  It's two rows of 2, with #5 centered beneath them on a 3rd row.  Then who knows where button #6 goes?

This works out for the NBA Jams too, if you play that.  The top two are pass+shoot, and wherever your thumb lands can be the turbo.

Jason

[u_rebelscum]

Also consider a Toobin-friendly configuration if you think you'll be playing a little 2 player Toobin.

I found the 3x2 rectangle not too bad for Toobin.  I use the two left and right top buttons for the paddle backwards, the left and right bottom buttons for the paddle forword, and the middle bottom for throw.  (The middle top button not used.)  Not exactly the same as the arcades, but pretty close.

Some people have a slanted 3x2 "for more natural hand placement", but that just made me stick my right elbow out, when I was testing layouts.  And it doesn't work that well with Toobin'.

[joe]

i know most people wouldn't like such a layout but i made mine w/ 3 rows of 2 slanted sor of like this:


6

[bob]

I made a 2 player 6 button arrangement for my brother, a mortal kombat fan. It is a cross between the arrangement that was posted by lo_cash, and a standard MK arrangement.

Check it out:

http://members.trivergent.net/~bob/arcade/ctrl-2.pdf.jpg

[ArcadeFX]

404 Error Dude.

[Malenko]

remove the .jpg from the file name , its a portalble document file, not a jpg. I dont have acrobat installed so I cant see it anyway

[SirPoonga]

I have the 7 button also .. a straight 6 button 3X3 with a 7th button off in the lower left for neo geo as described above.

[Jason]

Speaking of neogeo, wouldn't you want a top row with 4 buttons across?  I don't play those much, but I recall seeing some how-to animations when you start the game, like in dodge ball, that illustrate A B C D all in a row.  It might be nice for a novice (read: chicks) to be able to follow the instructions without thinking too much.  Maybe even match those colors up!

Jason

[Malenko]

pink has it the same way that Hanaho set up the hot rod, only the 7th button has its own input, and isnt a "clone" of the top row button

I have had no problems with it and I am currently using photoshop to make a nice CPO to put over the hot rod (I was planning on putting a piece of plexi anyway)

If anyone wants it, I'll put it up on line or something =)

Ciao

[Fstuff]

I'm ashamed for sharing it with you but I couldn't resist using the pdf mouse icon (the little hand) to press the buttons on his picture. I have to start getting out more..