Newbie question on control panel layout

[Dr Zero]

How many buttons and why?

I have seen folks build control panels with 6 or 7 per person and one that I saw described as "look's like a bag of skittles got poured on there".

So clue a fellow in 

[King Nerd]

Personally?

2 players, 6 buttons each, and 2 start buttons.
That's it. I enjoy Street Fighter so the 6 buttons are necessary, otherwise I'd only go with 4 for Neo-Geo fighters (I hated MK).
I also have my exit button on the CP in the centre between the start buttons (good 6" away from each), because it gets used quite often for game switching.
Everything else (page down, change emulator) is done with button+joy combinations.
I have a pause button inside which used to be the service switch and my coin mechs work for credits.

2 Joys, 15 buttons.

[Haterot]

There is no right or wrong answer here. As the King stated it's a personal decision. I am just finishing my cab and working on the layout for the CP.
for me it's 2 Joysticks (U360s)
7 Buttons per, have to decide the layout.
Player 1&2 with coin
Ill have a spinner and trackball but those will use the player 1&2 buttons. i don't see a need for buttons for each input type.

as you will see and be told. Make a mock up of your layout before you commit drill to wood. Get the right feel.

[Lilwolf]

If your not sure, make a temp control panel.  Get some cheap wood and try it.  If your using quick disconnects you can take it apart in another style later if you don't like it.

I use 7 myself...  But have to say, I hardly ever use the 4th on the bottom row...  I could have done without... but it doesn't get in the way either... And if you want to play a neogeo fighter....

btw, I also had 8 at somepoint... and that sucked... removed the 4th on the top.... I would hit the wrong buttons often.

[Dr Zero]

Thanks guys for the input! I have a better understanding now and with the games I like to play I might only need 4 but six or seven gives you opportunity to expand later on.

Thanks again! 

[Epyx]

I personally like the 8 buttons and you should consider them if you are emulating consoles:

Console Button requirements:

PS1 - 10 buttons
Dreamcast - 7 buttons
Saturn - 8 buttons
Jaguar - 20 buttons!
Snes - 8 buttons
Genesis - 7 buttons
TG16 - 4 buttons
Nes - 4 buttons

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamepad#PlayStation

So as you can see for most 8 buttons would be beneficial but some are just plain out of range (Jaguar/Ps1) without mapping to additional buttons.

However, that doesn't mean you need all 8 buttons together...you could go with 4 or 6 and place the others somewhere else on your CP for mapping (ie start/run/select etc).

[Dr Zero]

I personally like the 8 buttons and you should consider them if you are emulating consoles:

Console Button requirements:

PS1 - 10 buttons
Dreamcast - 7 buttons
Saturn - 8 buttons
Jaguar - 20 buttons!
Snes - 8 buttons
Genesis - 7 buttons
TG16 - 4 buttons

So as you can see for most 8 buttons would be beneficial but some are just plain out of range (Jaguar/Ps1) without mapping to additional buttons.

However, that doesn't mean you need all 8 buttons together...you could go with 4 or 6 and place the others somewhere else on your CP for mapping (ie start/run/select etc).

WOW 20 buttons! would be cheaper just to dig out my jaguar and play it LOL

Thanks for the pointers that is good to know about for other emulations down the road.

[jholman76]

What I am doing is the standard 6 buttons/player setup and including some USB/PSX ports for connecting USB gamepads and PSX controllers so if I want to play the games that require more buttons or for 3&4 players, I just plug in some controllers and away it goes.

any more than 6-8 and I think you are just confusing people.