Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: sleong on September 27, 2013, 01:46:21 pm

Title: Minimum Number of Buttons
Post by: sleong on September 27, 2013, 01:46:21 pm
I'm designing and getting ready to mock up and build the control panel.  I'm building a bartop based on a Weecade with mods.  I wish to play more of the Street Fighter series games so I will have the 6 buttons each per player.  A P1 & P2 start with one coin button.  What other buttons do I really need to have? 

I'd like to keep the control panel as clean as I can.
Title: Re: Minimum Number of Buttons
Post by: yotsuya on September 27, 2013, 01:53:03 pm
I'm designing and getting ready to mock up and build the control panel.  I'm building a bartop based on a Weecade with mods.  I wish to play more of the Street Fighter series games so I will have the 6 buttons each per player.  A P1 & P2 start with one coin button.  What other buttons do I really need to have? 

I'd like to keep the control panel as clean as I can.

 :applaud:

If you use an encoder with shifted functions, that's all you need.
Title: Re: Minimum Number of Buttons
Post by: BadMouth on September 27, 2013, 01:54:41 pm
I'm designing and getting ready to mock up and build the control panel.  I'm building a bartop based on a Weecade with mods.  I wish to play more of the Street Fighter series games so I will have the 6 buttons each per player.  A P1 & P2 start with one coin button.  What other buttons do I really need to have? 

I'd like to keep the control panel as clean as I can.

One coin button each or just one coin button?
I was always paranoid about there being some game that required each player to have their own, but I never really researched it.

I like having a dedicated exit button, but you can do a button combo for that.

What you have listed is all you really need, unless you count the power button.  :P
Title: Re: Minimum Number of Buttons
Post by: yotsuya on September 27, 2013, 02:19:11 pm
Don't put the power button on the CP.  :laugh:

"What's this do???!!!"  >:D
Title: Re: Minimum Number of Buttons
Post by: michelevit on September 27, 2013, 02:43:12 pm
ditto for tab, esc, pause.
hide those buttons by the coin door or underneath the control panel.
Title: Re: Minimum Number of Buttons
Post by: DaveMMR on September 27, 2013, 03:48:52 pm
ditto for tab, esc, pause.
hide those buttons by the coin door or underneath the control panel.

Or just make them "shifted."  (Though an exit button is somewhat helpful to have for guests. I got tired of explaining to people how to switch games.)

Title: Re: Minimum Number of Buttons
Post by: shponglefan on September 27, 2013, 05:38:02 pm
Personally, I like having a few convenience buttons (i.e. Esc, Enter, Pause), but if your goal is a clean control panel, then you can certainly use shifted functions.
Title: Re: Minimum Number of Buttons
Post by: UFO on September 27, 2013, 05:43:30 pm
I'm designing and getting ready to mock up and build the control panel.  I'm building a bartop based on a Weecade with mods.  I wish to play more of the Street Fighter series games so I will have the 6 buttons each per player.  A P1 & P2 start with one coin button.  What other buttons do I really need to have? 

I'd like to keep the control panel as clean as I can.

 :applaud:

If you use an encoder with shifted functions, that's all you need.

+1
Title: Re: Minimum Number of Buttons
Post by: sleong on September 27, 2013, 09:03:40 pm

I'm designing and getting ready to mock up and build the control panel.  I'm building a bartop based on a Weecade with mods.  I wish to play more of the Street Fighter series games so I will have the 6 buttons each per player.  A P1 & P2 start with one coin button.  What other buttons do I really need to have? 

I'd like to keep the control panel as clean as I can.

 :applaud:

If you use an encoder with shifted functions, that's all you need.

+1

Well I plan on using the IPAC 2 as the encoder.  A power button will be at the back and I may consider putting the esc button on the top.

I thought of coin1 and coin2 but maybe not on this build.  Probably for the next build which will be a full size or 1/2 size cabinet.

Thanks for all the input and suggestions!   :cheers:
Title: Re: Minimum Number of Buttons
Post by: PL1 on September 27, 2013, 11:08:54 pm
One coin button each or just one coin button?
I was always paranoid about there being some game that required each player to have their own, but I never really researched it.

*Sigh* . . . As I've posted at least 10 times in the last year ::), Gauntlet, TMNT, Simpsons, and X-Men all assign credits based on the coin slot you use.

There are 2-player versions of these ROMs allowing the player to select which character they want to be, but credits are still assigned based on coin slot.

No P2 Coin = no two-player action on those games unless you change the MAME settings so P2 Coin is also associated with the same keystroke/button as P1 Coin.

Personally, I like having dedicated P1/P2 Coin, P1/P2 Start, Esc and Pause buttons. YMMV.

Before you decide on shifted vs. dedicated buttons, consider reading one of the many threads that mention accidently triggering an undesired shifted function (exit, menu, etc.) while trying to coin-up during 2-player gameplay.

If you were about to play a game of football and you were told that there was a very small landmine hidden somewhere on the field you were about to use, would you still want to play? 

Granted there's not much chance of stepping on it, but I'd prefer playing on a field without the booby trap.


Scott
Title: Re: Minimum Number of Buttons
Post by: TopJimmyCooks on September 27, 2013, 11:40:27 pm
Since you like street fighter, you must have at least one friend.   ;)

if you want civilians to be able to walk up to your game without needing to hunt you down to ask how to switch to sfII turbo edition, jog your elbow and possibly make you spill your drink, you need the following buttons:

6 or 7 player buttons for streetfighter as you wish
P1 coin
P1 start
P2 coin
P2 start

and exit to get back to the front end.

I always add pause as well although there are a ton of pause haters around here. 

This mix keeps you from having too much clutter,  but it's very intuitive for someone to come in and just start using it.  I use AHK to let both start, coin, and p1/p2 button 1's start a game, for maximum findability of game start. 
Title: Re: Minimum Number of Buttons
Post by: paigeoliver on September 28, 2013, 12:33:36 am
If playing Street Fighter 2 in 2 player mode is important to you then you may want to rethink the entire concept of building a bartop.