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4 players and angled sticks

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horseboy:
This has been brought up a ton of times, but I just had to resurrect this discussion. As I was searching on the subject of players 1 and 4 (most people use these as 3 and 4 to have 1 and 2 be in the middle) having angled joysticks I determined that the general consensus was that they should be angled(x++x as opposed to ++++). I understand some of the arguements in favor of it, but others just don't make much sense to me.

What I do understand is that it makes more arm room for the players. 75% of my friends weigh 250+, so I have no arguements with this one.

What confuses me is that most people say that it will be confusing to the outside players if up is up instead of angled. This doesn't make much sense to me. Just about every 4 player game I can think of used to ++++ pattern. They always had the buttons angled, but up was always up. Ninja Turtles, Simpsons, Captain America, X Men, NBA Jam, NFL Blitz, Gauntlet Legends, and old school Gauntlet (this is the only 1 am not 100% sure on).

It isn't like you are going to be playing Street Fighter from the outside players. If you were I could understand the angling of the joysticks because it would be all funky trying to do the moves. But games like Gauntlet seems like they would be a bit strange when you push up on player 4 and he runs up and to the right.

And since all those games used the ++++ pattern and had angled buttons, that takes the arm room argument out of the picture because the outside player would still be standing at an angle.

Am I missing something obvious in this debate? Please let me know all of your thoughts on this one.

escher:

--- Quote from: horseboy on May 03, 2006, 02:49:11 pm ---What confuses me is that most people say that it will be confusing to the outside players if up is up instead of angled. This doesn't make much sense to me. Just about every 4 player game I can think of used to ++++ pattern. They always had the buttons angled, but up was always up. Ninja Turtles, Simpsons, Captain America, X Men, NBA Jam, NFL Blitz, Gauntlet Legends, and old school Gauntlet (this is the only 1 am not 100% sure on).

--- End quote ---

You sure on that?  I'll admit that it's been years since I played any of 'em in the arcade, but TMNT and Simpsons I'm almost positive used x++x.  The rest, not so sure.

ahofle:
I went with ++++ (no angled).  It was hard for me to play games like gauntlet with the joysticks pointing in the wrong direction.  I can't remember what the original games were like though.  So I guess my vote is to keep up actually pointing up, not up/right.

clhug:

--- Quote from: horseboy on May 03, 2006, 02:49:11 pm ---Just about every 4 player game I can think of used to ++++ pattern. They always had the buttons angled, but up was always up. Ninja Turtles, Simpsons, Captain America, X Men, NBA Jam, NFL Blitz, Gauntlet Legends, and old school Gauntlet (this is the only 1 am not 100% sure on).

--- End quote ---

The cabinet I'm converting to MAME is a former Captain America (it was non-functional when I got it) and the joysticks for players 1 & 4 ARE angled.

I won't speak to the debate over whether they should or shouldn't be angled, I'm not sure of my own opinion yet until I actually try to seriously play some things once I get my cabinet done.  If I was building a panel from scratch I'm not sure if I'd angle them or not but since they are already angled  I plan to keep it that way until I play it and decide whether I should change it.

I think the main question is whether, when a player is standing at an angle to the cabinet, is it more natural for them to have the stick align to how they're standing or to the screen?  I honestly think every player will be different and there is no right or wrong answer, only what "most" people would prefer.  I suppose if you wanted maximum flexibility we could design a way to make the stick rotate in the panel so each player could adjust it either angled or aligned to the screen based on their own preference.

If you've got a big enough screen, and a wide enough control panel that all players can stand straight on side by side comfortably in front (and all still see the screen) then this wouldn't be an issue.  Absolutely then I'd say all sticks should be straight.

horseboy:

--- Quote ---You sure on that?  I'll admit that it's been years since I played any of 'em in the arcade, but TMNT and Simpsons I'm almost positive used x++x.  The rest, not so sure.
--- End quote ---

http://cgi.ebay.com/TMNT-TEENAGE-MUTANT-NINJA-TURTLES-ARCADE-MACHINE_W0QQitemZ6275519377QQcategoryZ13716QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/TEENAGE-MUTANT-NINGA-TURTLE-25-4-PLAYER-GAME-NR_W0QQitemZ6275988181QQcategoryZ13716QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
These look dedicated cab to me. In the first picture of the first one you can see the bolts on player 1, and they are not angled. You can it on the second link as well.

http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/images/T/sTeenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles.jpg

From Klov. Same thing

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=T&game_id=10056

Turtles in Time.

http://cgi.ebay.com/THE-SIMPSONS-UPRIGHT-4-PLAYER-VIDEO-ARCADE-GAME-RARE_W0QQitemZ6273795981QQcategoryZ13716QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Simpsons dedicated. ++++


--- Quote ---The cabinet I'm converting to MAME is a former Captain America (it was non-functional when I got it) and the joysticks for players 1 & 4 ARE angled
--- End quote ---

You might be right on this one. I found 2 pictures of the cp 1 was angled and 1 wasn't. Are you sure yours wasn't a conversion.

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