Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: lusty vampire on January 01, 2005, 08:25:07 am
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Hi,
I've read threads on control panels but can't find the information I'm looking for.
I'm only interested in the classic 4 way games for now and I want to build a control panel for these. I know most 4 way games used 2 buttons but very few used 3 and 4 buttons.
My question is what is the best joystick and button placement and layout to play all the classic 4 way games?
Simple diagrams will be very helpful
Thanks
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The Ms Pac-Man/Galaga Replacement Joystick is probably the best 4 way joystick out there. Can't think of many 3 button 4 way games.. but i think 3 buttons will be more then enough.
J X X X - 3 button Layout
J X X - 4 button layout
X X
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I would do a 4-button Neo-Geo layout.
That will let you play ALL 3-button games using the three that are in a row, and 4-buttons with a finger on each button.
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6 buttons in a Stargate layout.
(http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/images/S/nStargate.jpg)
Gives you an authentic Defender layout and enough buttons to do anything else.
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Thanks for the help
I would do a 4-button Neo-Geo layout.
That will let you play ALL 3-button games using the three that are in a row, and 4-buttons with a finger on each button.
Could someone do a quick diagram of this joystick and button layout please?
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Thanks for the help
I would do a 4-button Neo-Geo layout.
That will let you play ALL 3-button games using the three that are in a row, and 4-buttons with a finger on each button.
Could someone do a quick diagram of this
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There is only ONE 4-way game with more than 2 buttons (aside from a TERRIBLE unplayable tennis game) and that is Mouse Trap, and it has 4, and 3 of them go in one bank, and one in another.
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I agree with Paige, my 4 way control panel has 2 X MsPac/Galag reunion joysticks ( Paige would say Wico leaf switch 4 ways ) and 2 buttons per player, you just don't need any more buttons.
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There are some 2-way games that use more than two though.
The one I can think of right off the top of my head is Bank Panic.
Then there are the 5-button games, that will play well enough, if you use the stick for left/right.
That leaves you needing three for thrust/fire/hyperspace on Asteroids.
(Yes, you CAN map those to the stick, but it sucks trying to PLAY them like that--that's the reason I got into this hobby in the first place, 2600 Asteroids felt wrong using a stick).
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2-way games are not relevant, as almost anyone building a 4-way setup will also have an 8-way setup as well, and the 8-way setup can play those 2-way games equally well, and will usually have more buttons anyways.
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I was guessing that he doesn't have an 8-way setup already because he has 2 posts, and was asking about button placements for more than 2 buttons.
That's why I included all the "you might want to think about these too' info.
And the Neo-Geo layout I was thinking of is like this.
(http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/images/N/nNeo_Geo_MVS.jpg)
I would actually move the green button down a bit to lay naturally where my thumb falls, though.
The angled button setup on that standalone would kill my right arm after about ONE minute.
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what I did for my classic cp was this
4 way
then 5 buttons (shaped like asteroids)
then a 1/4 turned joystick for qbert.
works well for most games. Mouse trap is a little hard though :( but I play asteroids (and clones) a lot more often.