What games am I missing out on by only giving 6 buttons per player?

[anormalgeek]

So after looking around at a bunch of examples, I see that a lot of people opted to put 7, 8 or sometimes even more buttons per player. I was planning on doing 6 per player (2 players) and I am just wondering if I'd be screwing myself for any games that need more. To clarify I'm only talking about actual "action" buttons and not admin buttons, start, coins, etc.

Thanks in advance.

[mikeveli20]

Most people have 7 to emulate the Neo-Geo control style with the bottom row. Meaning the 3 buttons on the bottom and the 1 lone button below make up the same layout as the 4-button Neo-Geo games. I myself have a 4-player setup with 6 buttons for Players 1 and 2 and 4 buttons for Players 3 and 4. So far I haven't come across anything that can't be played using these buttons.

[Thenasty]

you're missing out on %60 of MAME games (MAHJONG GAMES).






 Just kidding


7 Button Layout for Player 1-2 is good enough. For Player 3-4 4 buttons ea.

[Lecithin]

I myself have a 4-player setup with 6 buttons for Players 1 and 2 and 4 buttons for Players 3 and 4. So far I haven't come across anything that can't be played using these buttons.

  That should do it

[Ginsu Victim]

Most people have 7 to emulate the Neo-Geo control style with the bottom row.

After having done this twice, I'm starting to wonder why I even bothered. I'm thinking of doing my next CP with only six buttons, except with the rows of buttons slightly shifted so that the Neo Geo layout is still there within the six buttons.

[mikeveli20]

After having done this twice, I'm starting to wonder why I even bothered. I'm thinking of doing my next CP with only six buttons, except with the rows of buttons slightly shifted so that the Neo Geo layout is still there within the six buttons.

That is exactly how mine is set up.

[Ginsu Victim]

After having done this twice, I'm starting to wonder why I even bothered. I'm thinking of doing my next CP with only six buttons, except with the rows of buttons slightly shifted so that the Neo Geo layout is still there within the six buttons.

That is exactly how mine is set up.

Yeah, I just realized that. It helps to completely read a post every now and then.

[yugffuts]

After having done this twice, I'm starting to wonder why I even bothered. I'm thinking of doing my next CP with only six buttons, except with the rows of buttons slightly shifted so that the Neo Geo layout is still there within the six buttons.

Because the offset 7 not only gives you a nice Neo Geo layout, it also works well with the Mortal Kombat series after the 'Run' button was added.  And it's not like 2 extra buttons (1 each for player 1 & 2) is a lot more money or work...

The answer to the original questions is "Nothing, if you plan to play arcade games. Potentially plenty if you plan to play console games as well."

[MrMojoZ]

I'd say most console games that would play well on a cabinet would work well with 6. But 8 would be a good catch all for consoles. I know Castle Crashers needs 8. 

[Ginsu Victim]

After having done this twice, I'm starting to wonder why I even bothered. I'm thinking of doing my next CP with only six buttons, except with the rows of buttons slightly shifted so that the Neo Geo layout is still there within the six buttons.

Because the offset 7 not only gives you a nice Neo Geo layout, it also works well with the Mortal Kombat series after the 'Run' button was added. 

But the question is, "Are there any Mortal Kombats worth playing after MKII, much less is MK worth playing at all?"

And it's not like 2 extra buttons (1 each for player 1 & 2) is a lot more money or work...

When working with limited CP space, such as my 23 5/8" one, I need all the room I can get if I plan to cram in a trackball and keep my spinner.

The answer to the original questions is "Nothing, if you plan to play arcade games. Potentially plenty if you plan to play console games as well."

The console games worth playing on a cabinet only need six buttons. Anything more than that and you're better off using the appropriate controller.

[TheQ]

7 Button Layout for Player 1-2 is good enough. For Player 3-4 4 buttons ea.

I'm working on designing my first CP as well.  Are there any games that need more than 4 buttons for players 3 & 4?

[TheQ]

But the question is, "Are there any Mortal Kombats worth playing after MKII, much less is MK worth playing at all?"

I haven't played MK much since they were originally released in the arcades but I remember being a fan of Ultimate MK3... robots are cool and everything but for my money, you've got to have ninjas.

[Malenko]

I like UMK3 just not as much as MKII. however the 7th button not only provides a great run button for UMK3 and a perfectNeoGeo layout, but also makes the ABC of the neogeo great for games like NBA Jam and NHL Open Ice

[Ginsu Victim]

ABC of the neogeo great for games like NBA Jam and NHL Open Ice

Well, I would prefer the curved 6 button layout that makes that work better. I'm no longer a fan of the Street Fighter style.

[MrMojoZ]

Well, I would prefer the curved 6 button layout that makes that work better. I'm no longer a fan of the Street Fighter style.

To be technical, the curved 6 button IS Street Fighter style and the 6 button grid is the American knockoff that only still exists for nostalgic reasons.




Like Happ Concaves. 

[Ginsu Victim]

Like Happ Concaves. 

Please point me to Sanwas that mount nicely in 3/4" wood and I'll switch (seriously....if there's a button style I've missed out on, show me where to find it)

[massive88]

Sanwas will go nicely into 3/4" wood if you drill a precise 1 3/16" hole.  In my last stick I built, I put them in painted holes and it takes a good deal of force to shove them out once in, even without a nut.  A fair amount of friction is plenty to keep buttons from moving, unless you are tossing your CP around.

[Malenko]

To be technical, the curved 6 button IS Street Fighter style and the 6 button grid is the American knockoff that only still exists for nostalgic reasons.

Like Happ Concaves. 

nostalgia, preference, knock off, easiest way to convert existing cabs, whatever.
if you wanna be a technical dick about, Street Fighter Style is 2 giant pressure sensitive buttons

Ive tried the curved layout, just dont like it; neither do my nephews.

[anormalgeek]

The console games worth playing on a cabinet only need six buttons. Anything more than that and you're better off using the appropriate controller.

And thats my answer. For consoles, I don't expect it to handle anything beyond SNES/Genesis and I'm not really worried about any special layout for nostalgia purposes. A slightly smaller panel would be nice anyway.

What I really need to do is go to my local arcade to see if I prefer the curved or grid style layout because I honestly don't remember.

Oh, and for the record, I still think UMK3 was good. It went down after that one IMO. I used to whoop some ass with ermac and I look forward to doing it again.

[Ginsu Victim]

What I really need to do is go to my local arcade to see if I prefer the curved or grid style layout because I honestly don't remember.

Bzzzzzzzzzt! Wrong.

Cardboard mock-up, FTW.

[MrMojoZ]

Please point me to Sanwas that mount nicely in 3/4" wood and I'll switch (seriously....if there's a button style I've missed out on, show me where to find it)

Happ competitions if you had to, but I usually use Seimitsus and I can make them fit in anything. 

Actually if you use snap ins with plexi it doesn't matter at all how thick the wood is.

[Ginsu Victim]

Please point me to Sanwas that mount nicely in 3/4" wood and I'll switch (seriously....if there's a button style I've missed out on, show me where to find it)

Happ competitions if you had to

That wouldn't be any sort of improvement, though.

Actually if you use snap ins with plexi it doesn't matter at all how thick the wood is.

Yeah, this is something I've known, but I'm looking to get rid of plexi and use vinyl laminate instead.