Author Topic: Game buttons (Read 3357 times)

Avinitlarge · « **on:** September 23, 2009, 05:14:31 pm »

I am just trying to design my CP. How many Games use more than 3 buttons?

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #1 on:** September 23, 2009, 05:16:17 pm »

You can rule out almost all fighting games.
8-way or 4-way stick?

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #2 on:** September 23, 2009, 05:28:39 pm »

8 way stick. If I need 6 button, I will have to use 6 buttons. Just wondered if I could get away with 3

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #3 on:** September 23, 2009, 05:30:13 pm »

Pretty much. If you can't care less about fighting games, I'd go four buttons minimum.

Beretta · « **Reply #4 on:** September 23, 2009, 05:31:17 pm »

quite a lot of games use 3 or less, thats the jamma standard.

although that did'nt stop a lot of games coming out with more then 3 and using their own harness for the buttons.

like was said you can basically write off almost all fighting games, including most neo geo (fighters)

http://maws.mameworld.info/maws/

says 4 buttons = 517 "unique (clones excluded)" games
say 5 buttons = 101
says 6 buttons = 343

so sticking with 3 buttons you'll be able to play majority of games but you'll be missing out on almost 1000 others.

it also depends on what other controls youre gonna use, not many 4 way games need more then 3 buttons.. for example.. also most vertical games dont use more then 4.

so it really depends on the overall setup your going after rather or not you need more then 3 or 4 or what ever.

i think it's safe to say that most people go with a 8 way 6 button layout because this covers more games then any other single setup.

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #5 on:** September 23, 2009, 05:57:57 pm »

Hmmm, Looks like it will have to be 8 way and 6 buttons then. Im not that fussed on fighting games myself but my mates are. I will just have to not bother with a track ball. I think the only way round it would be to have interchangable CP's.

Beretta · « **Reply #6 on:** September 23, 2009, 06:02:56 pm »

Quote from: Avinitlarge on September 23, 2009, 05:57:57 pm

I think the only way round it would be to have interchangable CP's.

well if you want a clean look, dont have a lot of panel space, or dont like franken panels then thats the only real way to go about it.

this is what im planing on doing my self.

if you connect your input interface to your controls using something easy to disconect and reconnect.. DB 25 (printer port) connectors are popular choice.. would make changing panels a lot easier.

CheffoJeffo · « **Reply #7 on:** September 23, 2009, 06:03:13 pm »

Better question (as always) is "What games do you want to play ?" Make decisions about your cab based on what YOU want to get out of your cab, not because of some arbitrary "CAN PLAY ELEVENTY+ GAMES" nonsense.

For example, if I had only one cab, *I* wouldn't choose Beretta's "most people" configuration, simply because it won't play what *I* want to play (and that is due to joystick choice, not # of buttons).

As soon as you start trying to wring unreasonable amounts of efficiency out of what is, by definition, a delicious extravagance, you risk losing what you were trying to gain.

Beretta · « **Reply #8 on:** September 23, 2009, 06:15:52 pm »

i was'nt saying 8 way joy with 6 buttons is the best way to go..

i think i made it apply clear that it depends on what games you wanna play and what type of overall setup you're looking for..

i was simply saying 8 way joy with 6 buttons seems to be the most popular choice, because it can play more games then any other single setup.. i think you'll agree thats a fair statement.

it's all basicly a trade off unless you plan on having a 4 foot by 8 foot franken panel with everything you could possible imagine including a small refrigerator and a telephone.

IE: i like trackball games but there are more 8 way games i like then track ball.. so it makes sense to plan such a panel around 500 8 way games rather then 25 track ball games.. right?

one thing we do agree on is that the panel should suit the games you like to play the most..

however the flip side of that is going for quantity you might also find games you've never seen/played before and really like.. i know there are several games i had never even heard of before playing it in mame.. some of them are inports and im sure there are a lot more still to be discovered i have'nt played but like.

building for quantity you can discover those games later on, building for specific games now locks you into what you already know.

of course if you build to have CP's easily changeable you have the flexibility later to make as many panels as you want and as game specific as you desire.

edit: opps ther are no imports i should have said foreign

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #9 on:** September 23, 2009, 06:16:34 pm »

So including Clones I get this

708 Games use 6 Buttons http://maws.mameworld.info/maws/srch.php?page=1&buttons=6&by=name

192 Games use 5 Buttons http://maws.mameworld.info/maws/srch.php?page=1&buttons=5&by=name

867 Games use 4 Buttons http://maws.mameworld.info/maws/srch.php?page=1&buttons=4&by=name

1441 Games use 3 Buttons http://maws.mameworld.info/maws/srch.php?page=1&buttons=3&by=name

2269 Games use 2 Buttons http://maws.mameworld.info/maws/srch.php?page=1&buttons=2&by=name

1338 Games use 1 Button http://maws.mameworld.info/maws/srch.php?page=1&buttons=1&by=name

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #10 on:** September 23, 2009, 06:28:17 pm »

And for the time being, Ive got to stick with one joystick and 3 buttons. My girlfreind likes the fighting games where I like Horizontal/Vertical Shooter's., I think the kids will play anything. But at the end of the day, Its my cab.

I have already got an idea in mind for a 2 player, 6 Button CP. VERY similar to this one

Epyx · « **Reply #11 on:** September 23, 2009, 06:32:33 pm »

Or:

6 buttons -> 10%
5 buttons -> 3%
4 buttons -> 13%
3 buttons -> 21%
2 buttons -> 33%
1 button -> 20%

CheffoJeffo · « **Reply #12 on:** September 23, 2009, 06:52:31 pm »

Quote from: Beretta on September 23, 2009, 06:15:52 pm

i was'nt saying 8 way joy with 6 buttons is the best way to go..

I didn't imply that you did ... in fact, that is why I labeled it as Beretta's "most people" configuration.

I happen to agree with you that MOST people would go that way. Perhaps I should have dropped your name off of the label.

The point I was trying to make is that it is entirely wrong to decide on a single control set based on what other people do or the number of games that you can play. What most people do doesn't allow them to play some rather cool and desirable games, such as Donkey Kong or Pac Man, correctly.

Minwah · « **Reply #13 on:** September 23, 2009, 06:59:13 pm »

Quote from: Avinitlarge on September 23, 2009, 05:57:57 pm

I think the only way round it would be to have interchangable CP's.

Do it!

severdhed · « **Reply #14 on:** September 23, 2009, 09:55:21 pm »

i originally had two 8 ways, 6 buttons each, a trackball and a spinner. that way i could play just about anything i wanted. after a while i realized i hardly ever used the spinner or trackball, so i pulled them out. then one day on the cabinet at work, my boss got me playing centipede, and i was hooked. after a while, i decided that i had to have a trackball. i then went with ultrastik 360s so i could play 4 way games effectively, without having to have a dedicated 4way stick.

i soon started realizing that 95% of the time I was playing 4way games that have a vertical monitor orientation....so therefore i got a DK cabinet and set it up with mame with only a 4way stick, 1 button and a vertical monitor. now, i hardly ever even turn my regular mame cabinet on because just about everything i want to play is on my DK cabinet. (if only it had a trackball, i'd probably never use my other cabinet)

my point is, look at the list of games you want to play, and make your panel to fit that. you can always make interchangeable panels later. more than likely you wont be happy with your first panel anyway...most of us weren't. dont worry about what your friends want to play...they will be very impressed with it, no matter what the game selection is like.

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #15 on:** September 24, 2009, 04:09:40 pm »

Quote from: severdhed on September 23, 2009, 09:55:21 pm

dont worry about what your friends want to play...they will be very impressed with it, no matter what the game selection is like.

It happened today. A freind came round and was amazed. She only played Pacman though. At the moment is has the STD CP, It has the joystick in the middle and 3 buttons to each side of it.

I now need to decide what style joystick to have. The Ball top type, The HAPP SUPER JOYSTICK
4/8 WAY or the HAPP COMPETITION JOYSTICK - ULTIMATE RESPONSE.

I have never been a joystick person so I dont know which one I would get on with. I quite like the look of the Happ Competition Stick. Ive used game pads for the past 18 years. I can only use a PS1/2/3 style pad.

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #16 on:** September 24, 2009, 04:21:07 pm »

So you're coming into this hobby as an outsider, eh?

Some things will seem awkward with a stick at first, but once you get used to it, you'll never want to play that type of game with a pad again. I can't play fighting games, shmups, or classics with a d-pad anymore.

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #17 on:** September 24, 2009, 04:29:54 pm »

Quote from: Ginsu Victim on September 24, 2009, 04:21:07 pm

So you're coming into this hobby as an outsider, eh?

Some things will seem awkward with a stick at first, but once you get used to it, you'll never want to play that type of game with a pad again. I can't play fighting games, shmups, or classics with a d-pad anymore.

Yep, 100% outsider. Ive wanted to build a cab for years but Ive ended up building other thinks. 294BHP Mondeo, Mitsubishi Off Roader, Huge train set, Nice Garden.

Anyway... One day I just thought, Sod it and built a mame Computer, A week later I bought a Cab.

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #18 on:** September 26, 2009, 05:43:25 pm »

Ive designed my CP. I did fine some buttons on ebay, They were 99p with free postage. I only ordered 2 to see if they were any cop. They look ok but sound awefull, They are made by Yenox. I am wanting some buttons that look and fit the same but are better quality, Any suggestions??

This is the yenox button

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #19 on:** September 26, 2009, 05:46:50 pm »

Yenox is rubbish. Just buy Happ from www.groovygamegear.com (best price you'll find).

EDIT: Wait, you're in the UK, that's right..... find someone local with Happ.

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #20 on:** September 26, 2009, 06:15:16 pm »

Quote from: Ginsu Victim on September 26, 2009, 05:46:50 pm

Yenox is rubbish. Just buy Happ from www.groovygamegear.com (best price you'll find).

EDIT: Wait, you're in the UK, that's right..... find someone local with Happ.

Its even a better price than the uk and that includes shipping.

If I bought them from Groovygamegear it would cost $27.51 USD = £17.1787 GBP including shipping

If I bought them from Gremlin Solutions in the UK it would cost $40.36 USD = £25.20 GBP including shipping.

I hate the UK, Its too ---gosh-darn--- expensive.

severdhed · « **Reply #21 on:** September 26, 2009, 10:00:22 pm »

i didn't look at how the prices compare, but Ultimarc is in the UK and they sell IL buttons, which to the best of my knowledge are nearly identical to happ buttons.

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #22 on:** September 27, 2009, 06:37:53 am »

I never knew that, I always thought ultimarc was an american company.

Franco B · « **Reply #23 on:** September 27, 2009, 06:41:04 am »

Yeah, a lot of people do. I think its because the site primarily displays prices in $$$

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #24 on:** September 27, 2009, 12:05:56 pm »

Probably get more US business anyway.

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #25 on:** October 05, 2009, 07:24:13 pm »

Im going to order the Happ buttons from the US. Which are the best to use, Convex or Concave???

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #26 on:** October 05, 2009, 07:34:06 pm »

Depends on the user, though concave is the standard.

Beretta · « **Reply #27 on:** October 06, 2009, 03:54:23 am »

concave is the classic button.. it is sunkin the middle a little.

this is a personal choice but it's the only kinda button i like anything else just feels weird.

bkenobi · « **Reply #28 on:** October 06, 2009, 11:09:32 am »

GroovyGameGear is a good place to get this stuff in the US. They have the best price/button (last I checked) and, since you will need an encoder anyway, you might as well save on shipping. If you are going to do something else for your interface, you might want to check around a little.

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #29 on:** October 06, 2009, 11:53:45 am »

I am using 2 hacked gamepad. I have looked at GroovyGameGear and Tornadoterrys, Both are good prices.

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #30 on:** October 06, 2009, 11:54:30 am »

GGG and Terry's are both really good.

Beretta · « **Reply #31 on:** October 06, 2009, 12:57:57 pm »

wow i just checked out terry's page, that arcade sound great to bad it's in texas, although i think randy has him beat price wise.

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #32 on:** October 06, 2009, 01:01:42 pm »

Randy does, but Terry's prices are close and he gives good support. He's a pretty cool guy, too. (Not saying that Randy isn't...)

Yeah, the arcade is nice. We went down to pick up an empty cabinet and he let us play for free. I plan to head down there again in the future.

Avinitlarge · « **Reply #33 on:** October 06, 2009, 04:02:10 pm »

With the shipping, There is only $2.06 between them


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