Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Ghoul on May 29, 2003, 07:11:48 pm

Title: Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: Ghoul on May 29, 2003, 07:11:48 pm
This is for the 6 button street fighter layout + neo geo button. Please only respond if you have actually played with this config, people who are only planning on adding this in who do not know how it plays should not vote.

Recently I've been messing around with neo geo games a lot and I am really starting to like them. I think it might be worth it to put that extra neo geo button in for games like samurai showdown. My main concern is hitting that button while playing. I am sure that you can set that button to only be active during neo geo games so that's not really an issue. Will it be uncomfortable though? I don't want to constantly rub against that 7th button when I'm not using it. I also don't want to have to space it so far from the 6 buttons - to avoid hitting it by accident - that it's not comfortable to use.

So basically the point of this post is seeing what the majority of people did and how they liked the results. If you feel you did anything different in your CP layout with the button such as unusual spacing or positioning feel free to post a pic.
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: Molloy on May 29, 2003, 08:00:09 pm
I have really long fingers so I never have that problem of hitting off other buttons.

I really like the Neo layout. It allows you to splay your hand over a 4 buttons at once which isn't the case with the Capcom layout.

In fact I often wince when I see people set their six buttons up in straight lines. I looks ugly and plays badly.

The ideal is probably this:

      O    O
O
      O    O    O
O
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: Hoe on May 29, 2003, 08:23:33 pm
I actualy just drilled the holes for thouse in my CP today (for NeoGeo and Soul Calibure 2), I'll let you know how it goes when I'm done rewiring it :P

I like the straight 3x2 grid, because that's how it is in SF arcade games.
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: paigeoliver on May 29, 2003, 09:24:12 pm
Never made a SF+ Neo Geo panel in my life. But several of my assorted panels have had normal Neo Geo 4 button layouts.

I actually have no idea why I keep making 6 button panels. I have yet to ever actually play a 6 button game on any of them. I may drop down to 4 buttons per player on my next redesign. (Which also allows me to remove about 20 more games that are just cluttering the menu anyway).
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: GroovyTuesdaY on May 30, 2003, 04:31:56 am
I have a SLIKSTIK CLASSIC which has the NEOGEO button layout incorporated into it.   I have never really had a problem playing any games or bumped the 7 neogeo button by accident.  As long as you place it to where its more down and to the left of the first of the bottom row of buttons you should have no problem.  
I think if you are really getting into the neogeo games, then definately put the neo geo layout on your CP . It will be much more authentic to you that way.

I just built myself a 4 player panel and left out the 7'th button for the neo geo games.   The primary reason i built the 4 player panel was to play games like gauntlet and simpsons etc. without spending a fortune buying a prebuilt setup like slikstik sells.   I just couldn't see spending $700.00 on a 4 player setup when i can just build one myself for about $300.00.
I didn't figure that i would be playing many single or 2 player fighting games for the neo geo on the 4 player panel so i figured why bother . I can just play the neogeo style on my slikstik.  If it seems like the 7'th button is missing somehow, then i can always go back and drill me out a couple more holes for the extra button. No biggie.  :)

Hope this helps. :)

g~
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: mccall on May 30, 2003, 10:47:06 am
How many Neo Geo games actually use the 4th button? The few that I've played used only 3 IIRC.
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: dac on May 30, 2003, 10:52:44 am
Hmm, I tried both ways, the straight 6 Streetfighter with the 7th Neo Geo button for my 2 player CP, and on the 4 player CP, did the angled 4 buttons... Friends still keep going back to the 2 player cab for games like SS, say it's easier to hit the buttons...  I'm indifferent, can use either way...
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: bionicbadger on May 30, 2003, 10:56:06 am
The six button layout works fine.  Many Neo-Geo games use only 3 buttons (as pointed out) and its not lilke you are missing the 4th button, its just not in a line with the others.  So the only difference is you have to use a different finger to push the button.
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: Amra on May 30, 2003, 02:11:29 pm
Molley, I think that Layout is ideal, comfortable as well as functional.  Many other games have an odd layout, and that would solve many problems with certain games where the layout doesnt follow the standard SF layout.
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: Molloy on May 30, 2003, 02:39:58 pm
The thing is there are a few fighters like Virtua Fighter, Fighting Vipers etc. that require you to hit 3 buttons at once to do recoveries, counter etc. and having a little downward indentation helps follow the way your fingers sit.

I have a Namco stick and it kind of manages to fit a SNK layout on 6 buttons.

(http://www.forestals.com/images/namcoarcadestick1.jpg)

I'm not sure what the Neo purists would make of it but it works for me.

Here's someone who obviously gave it alot of though. Separate Capcom, Neo Geo and Sega layouts.

(http://www.nextimpact.com/outside/images/arcade_stick2.jpg)

Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: TheManuel on May 30, 2003, 02:45:38 pm
I say DO IT!

My favorite fighting game is Samurai Shodown II and I play it a lot.  I tailored the position of the buttons to my hand in a comfortable position when sitting down with the control panel on my lap.  I have the lower row NeoGeo layout with 3 extra buttons in the upper row.

When playing 6 button games, I normally have my fingers either in between the top and bottom row or on the top row and never have I had the problem of accidentally pressing the thumb button.

By the way, I hardwired it to one of the buttons on the upper row so that it would not take up an extra input in the IPac (I assume most people have done this).  If you go this route, you will not be able to disable it when playing 6 button games unless it is by physical means like adding an interrupting switch hidden from view on your panel.
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: Molloy on May 30, 2003, 02:52:32 pm
With Neo games are you meant to use your thumb on the first button?

I play alot of VF which uses the 3 middle fingers, I knew there was something wrong about using the baby finger on the last buttons, not strong enough. :)

*me cancels gym appointment to build up little finger*
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: Hoagie_one on May 30, 2003, 03:36:32 pm
i always used my thumb
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: TheManuel on May 30, 2003, 03:50:01 pm
With Neo games are you meant to use your thumb on the first button?

The way the buttons are laid out in the original NeoGeo control panel suggest the use of the thumb button.  Although, to be honest, my original prototype had the buttons in such a way that I would use the little finger instead of the thumb.  After reading some posts here I realized how it was supposed to be and and re-arranged to use the thumb.  I like it better like that and find it easier to hit two buttons at the same time for the strong slash in SS.
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: ee0jsp on May 31, 2003, 11:20:09 am
haha, I thought the 4th button was for the little finger

I've never used my thumb playing in the arcades, but built the above 8-button layout in cardboard and love it!

although the thumb button does feel weird, maybe 'cos I'm using concave buttons?

for 2- and 3-button games, which buttons are you meant to use? the sega layout? or the top left buttons?

Oh, and regarding the original question, I think you have to have the fourth button
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: jdjuggler on May 31, 2003, 01:58:19 pm
Regarding this layout -

    o  o  o
    o  o  o
   o

1. I was wondering if the thumb button is used as the A button or D button in Neo Geo games?
Also, I'd like to have more of a reason that just NeoGeo games for this type of layout.  
2. Are there other non NeoGeo games that can take advantage of this layout?
Thanks,
JD
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: TheManuel on May 31, 2003, 02:52:18 pm
Regarding this layout -

    o  o  o
    o  o  o
   o

1. I was wondering if the thumb button is used as the A button or D button in Neo Geo games?
Also, I'd like to have more of a reason that just NeoGeo games for this type of layout.  
2. Are there other non NeoGeo games that can take advantage of this layout?
Thanks,
JD

The thumb button is the A button.

I don't know of any other game that uses 4 buttons in line.
For NeoGeo fighting games you basically must have this configuration if you start playing at a higher level than just checking them out.  The reason is that some move require, for instance, C and D or C, D and E simultaneously or even all of them.
You can show this would be hard to do on a 2 by 2 layout.

Start playing the games (I recommend the Samurai Shodown series) and see if you like them and that will help make a decision.  I suggest you try MAMEplus in conjuction with their command.dat file.  It enhances the in-game menu to display the moves of all characters in the major fighting games including the aforementioned series.

Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: Tiger-Heli on May 31, 2003, 03:23:58 pm
2. Are there other non NeoGeo games that can take advantage of this layout?
Thanks,
JD
Well, Defender/Stargate.  And to some extent Asteroids, and the Cinematronics series such as Star Castle, Rip-Off, Armor Attack, ETC.
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: CGRemakes on May 31, 2003, 04:27:04 pm
I'm not very familiar with Neo Geo games, but do the paddles only have the 4 buttons, or do they have more?
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: Tiger-Heli on May 31, 2003, 04:35:49 pm
I'm not very familiar with any Neo Geo games.  Do all of them use 4 buttons and a 5th thumb button?
see http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=N&game_id=8846

They used a standard cabinet with 4 buttons per player, A,B,C, and D, with A being meant to use the thumb, but many games only used 2 or 3 buttons, not all 4
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: Ghoul on May 31, 2003, 08:10:56 pm
I could be wrong but personally I think it would be more comfortable to have the thumb button set up as D. When I play games on my sidewinder gamepad the d button is the one I use the least, and it seems like that should be the one you make the hardest to reach doesn't it?
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: Hoe on June 01, 2003, 09:02:12 pm
I have friends who are into NeoGeo fighters, not really too much my thing. Really the only one I care for is S.Shower down, 1 and 4 (didn't like the middle ones too much). I added it for Soul Calibure on DreamCast, and Soul Calibure 2 for GameCube. I honestly felt an arcade real experience in SC was worth that 10 minutes of planning and drilling.
My button layout is (dreamcast buttons.):

  x  y  l
  a  b  r
l

I just looped the wire from the main l, to the secondary l.
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: armad1ll0 on June 02, 2003, 05:26:32 am
This is my button layout of choice.

1) I get my Capcom 6 on the right so that I have more spread and distance.
2) I can get my Neo-Geo 4 by sliding down one row and not feel any other buttons.
3) The bottom row also work well for VF and SoulCalibur since this stick works for multiple systems.
4) all 10 buttons fill out a PSX, Dreamcast, and Gamecube nicely. I don't have an Xbox solution for this stick yet but it's coming.

It's a win win win and win situation... =)

Note: this stick is also the bat top Sanwa stick. The top flips on this stick so that I can switch the stick to 4 way on Mame.
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: CthulhuLuke on June 02, 2003, 05:34:03 am
Of course, totally necessary if you're going to be playing any Neo Geo fighter.  Especially Samurai Showdown 3 or 4, the 13 hit combos in 4 are easily done with the neo geo layout.  Check out my control panel's neo geo button
(http://www.geocities.com/cthulhuluke/Cabinet/controlpanel.txt)
  The top three buttons are B C & D, and you're hand naturally lays over the bottom 3 buttons, so they are not used.
-Luke
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: Impostor on June 09, 2003, 01:56:56 pm
How do I configure Mame so that buttons 1 4 5 6 are the A B C D for all Neo Geo games without configure each one individually?

My button layout is:

  1 2 3
  4 5 6
1

Thanks!

Impostor
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: Tiger-Heli on June 09, 2003, 02:10:48 pm
How do I configure Mame so that buttons 1 4 5 6 are the A B C D for all Neo Geo games without configure each one individually?

My button layout is:

  1 2 3
  4 5 6
1

Thanks!

Impostor
http://www.mameworld.net/easyemu/mamecontrolini.htm

Also, maybe some info in the MAME docs and Source files.

I think you can just create a neogeo.ini file in your /ini folder (and configure MAME to use it).  Otherwise, create the file for one game and copy and rename the file for all the others.



Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: Impostor on June 09, 2003, 02:24:49 pm
I wonder how Slik-Stik and X-Arcade does it.  I don't think they come with any ini files that I have to install.  But yet they work as A B C D when I play Neo Geo games, and as 4 5 6 when I play Capcom fighters.

Impostor
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: Tiger-Heli on June 09, 2003, 02:30:42 pm
I wonder how Slik-Stik and X-Arcade does it.  I don't think they come with any ini files that I have to install.  But yet they work as A B C D when I play Neo Geo games, and as 4 5 6 when I play Capcom fighters.

Impostor
SlikStik and X-arcade use the same key assignments and they have default .ini files in MAME.  So if you told MAME to use controller Slikstik, they would both work b/c MAME already is using the .ini files.
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: u_rebelscum on June 09, 2003, 05:52:42 pm
I wonder how Slik-Stik and X-Arcade does it.  I don't think they come with any ini files that I have to install.  But yet they work as A B C D when I play Neo Geo games, and as 4 5 6 when I play Capcom fighters.

Impostor

The ctrlr files that come with the mame binaries.  When you set ctrlr to Xarcade or hotrodse or slikstik, mame reads neogeo.ini for neogeo games in that ctrlr folder and assigns the buttons.  More info on ctrlr ini files can be found in docs/ctrlr.txt file that also comes with the binary, and http://www.mameworld.net/easyemu/mamecontrolini.htm for an example on making you own.
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: jakejake28 on June 09, 2003, 05:59:37 pm
i actually run with this layout.

        1  2  3  4
        4  5  6

that way i still have reg. sf controls and my ng controls don't suffer.
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: Tiger-Heli on June 10, 2003, 06:59:16 am
i actually run with this layout.

        1  2  3  4
        4  5  6

that way i still have reg. sf controls and my ng controls don't suffer.

That layout should work ok without changing anything, but yes, you can remap any key to any function.  Just decide on a common layout and a NeoGeo layout and set default.ini and neogeo.ini ctrlr files to take care of it.
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: Impostor on June 10, 2003, 10:15:32 am
Great!  Thanks for the info guys!

Impostor
Title: Re:Neo Geo 4th button, yes or no?
Post by: qaotik on June 10, 2003, 05:37:44 pm
Ive been thinking if I should go with this new layout  where i use all of my 4 fingers on top row and also thumb when i need. The only problem is that the ultimate buttons are too wide apart for my fingers. :( Guess i need to start planning on getting those smaller sanwa buttons.


      1 2 3 4
      4 5 6  
    4


       O  O  O  O
     O  O  O  
   O