Opinions needed - button placement

Post by **system11** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:55 am

So, I have a cab that I want to add 1 button per side to.

The panel is metal, with a plastic cover. The hard bit is already done - the panel when made was pre-drilled with 6 button holes per player, but the plexi was only ever drilled for three.

It looks like this:
http://www.system11.org/temp/mm_cp1.jpg
http://www.system11.org/temp/mm_newcp.jpg
(second taken after art/plexi was remade, yes I know the paint touch-ups are not great, couldnt find a place locally to blast+powder coat it)

Anyway - under the plastic are 3 more holes, one to the right of the yellow button, and two to the right of the blue button - an offset 6 layout.

Which one on each side should I drill out next?

I can't decide.

doodude · Post by **doodude** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:34 pm

I cant comment on the hole drilling question but when I saw the 1st pic I thought it would be a shame to lose the artwork & you seemed fortunate that the artwork had been spared the ravages of time & use.
I think youve done a great job on the renovation...

Gwyrgyn Blood · Post by **Gwyrgyn Blood** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:55 pm

I'd put it to the right of the yellow button, because I always use the layout:
A B C
D

Which is the standard for many fighting games and some shooters (like ESPG2). It's also a bit more natural for your hand than a square layout. Other than that, I just like having 3 buttons in a line for shooting games.

Post by **system11** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:55 pm

Well, the plastic panel I had copied by a local company, in clear plastic, and the original art I scanned and a friend (Elend) redid it in vector, and had it printed out.

benstylus · Post by **benstylus** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:05 pm

i personally would go for the 1 and 3 rather than a 2 and 2 configuration.

jpj · Post by **jpj** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 5:14 pm

do you want a four button layout for neo geo stuff?

Post by **system11** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 5:28 pm

Well, I don't actually own any Neo Geo stuff.. This is for Oriental Legends 2 which has button 4 as a 'use the item you selected with button 3'. Also Espgaluda 2 uses it for full auto fire.

j^aws · Post by **j^aws** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:48 pm

A) Thumb, middle, ring and pinky finger used (index finger redundant):

-X-X-X
X----

B) Thumb, index, ring and pinky finger used (middle finger redundant):

-X-X--
X---X

...Whichever feels the most ergonomic for long-term comfort...

Post by **system11** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:41 pm

I ended up implementing the former.

Luckily I managed to drill the holes without the plastic shattering (quite easy with clear plex). Just waiting for the piece of art that lives underneath it to flatten out properly - it's been rolled up for a long time.