Gammex cab button layout

[King Homer]

Starting my own cab and needed advise before I screw it up. How many buttons has everyone used for theirs? I know I need the following

Power

Insert coin

Players 1 & 2

Joystick

Action buttons (between 1 to 6)

Enter

Space (back)

I'd like to have a system that doesn't need a keyboard. I realize some emulators need more than the basic joystick jump buttons (intellivision, computer emus) but thats not the buttons I'm worried about. I more concerned about having the least amount of buttons needed to use gameex.

[shaunopp]

I have some suggestions for you.

1. Don't forget you need a P1 AND P2 coin button.
   
2. You'll want at least one Pause button. 2 is even better, one on the left and one on the right, so each player can pause.
   
3. For the action buttons some people like 7 for neo-geo fighting games. These games use 4 buttons in a straight line so you add a button to the lower left of your normal 6 and when playing those games just use the bottom 4. Sample 4 button layout here
   
4. In addition to a select and back button you'll need an alpha paging button. When you hold in this button you can cycle through your game list alphabetically or page by page depending on whether you press up/down or right/left on the joystick. These don't have to be separate buttons necessarily, you could use any of your normal action buttons. For mine I use the top 3 action buttons as Select|Back|Alpha Paging.
   
5. You'll probably also want an exit button to get back to the desktop.
   
6. Consider a trackball and spinner. The trackball, in addition to playing games like Marble Madness can double as a mouse.
   

It's going to be tough to completely go without a keyboard. There's so many things you're constantly tweaking and setting up as you get more and more into adding emulators etc. Even once you have GameEx config'd you'll still need to change setting within individual emulators, button assignments in MAME etc. I'd try to hide the keyboard rather than abandon it completely. Good luck!

[Visitor Q]

Here is what I would suggest.

Esc

P1 6 or 7 button layout

p2 6 or 7 button layout

pause

p1 coin insert

p2 coin insert

pinball buttons 2 per side and 1 in the front

p1 start

p2 start

[bkenobi]

Are you are looking for how many buttons you need to play MAME, other emulators, or just use GameEx?

For GameEx, you need 1 4-way input device (joystick, gamepad D-pad, keyboard arrow keys) and at least 2 buttons (select and back). I recommend at least 1 more button for alpha paging or 2 if you also want to be able to control your volume. You can also opt to use a mouse to control the interface, but if you are planning on using this in a cab, I recommend against it (a mouse works better with an HTPC or desktop setup).

For MAME it really depends on what games you want to play. There are countless threads discussing CP layouts over at the BYOAC forums, but here's the general consensus.

- Most people want to be able to play SF games, so they opt for 6 buttons (2 rows of 3)

- Some people only care about Neo Geo games, so they only opt for 4 buttons (in a line)

- Another popular option is to merge the two and use a SF/Neo Geo 7 button layout (2 rows of 3 plus an extra thumb button)

- Any of these will allow you to play 99% of the games out there since most games used 3 buttons or less.

Now, it's important to remember that you need/want some other inputs as well. Here's the list (as covered by others already):

- Start (1 for each player)

- Coin (1 for each player)

- Quit (can be a dedicated button or a combination of existing buttons)

- Pause (not required, but very useful. dedicated/button combo)

- Joystick (duh...)

You can also add spinners and/or track balls, but these sorta fall into the novelty category with guns, steering wheels, etc. There are games that use these, but you need to decide if these games are important to you before you spend the money and time to incorporate them.

For other emulators, it really depends. You need at least as many buttons as the console/handheld/computer/watch/etc. originally had. For anything but modern systems, you should be good with a joystick, 6 buttons, start, and select.

In the end, you just need to decide what you want to be able to do with your system. GameEx isn't really a decision maker on this. Actually, there's the GameLauncher mode that you can use where it only needs 2 buttons. I haven't checked it out recently, but Tom did just go over it again. It's mainly designed for people who have older cabinets that only have 1 or 2 buttons per player.

[Games001]

My common setup for basic MAME controls is something like this...

2: 8-way sticks, 6 buttons each (sometimes 7 each)

1: 4-way at the mid-top with 3 buttons on left or right, or both sides

1: 2.25" or 3" trackball with mounting plate over or under CP top

1: spinner as it fits...

Player 1/2 and Credit 1/2 (sometimes in the coin door mech)

Pause/Exit/Config as needed on the CP top or on the machine by the panel bottom

[bkenobi]

Oh, I thought I should add one more thing. If you want to keep the number of buttons on your CP down, you can add a micro switch to your coin door coin reject button for each player. Also, if you want to eliminate the Player Start buttons you can map them to button 1 for each player. Some games use this button instead of a dedicated start button anyway, so it can be intuitive. I did both of these on my Championship Sprint cabinet (which only had 1 button per player on the CP) and it works really well.

[IMBerzerk]

I've built 2 cabinets already, and am now 3/4 into the third, whereas the control panel is now a basic science to me. If you don't mind my input, you're panel is a bit cluttered and not very user friendly.

Here's my best reccomendation for space and use, and fitting good graphics.

1. Coin doors have the squat swithes in them, so use those for the coin registers, some even come with an extra switch for test mode (F2), if not, install one with a single position switch from Radio Shack. That will eliminate the 2 coin buttons. It's fun and worth having a functional coin door. It's a game cabinet, why not make it look real. If it's in the budget, do it. If not, then mount the two coin buttons where the coin door would be anyway.

2. Joysticks... buy 2x 8/4 way joysticks that are changable from THE TOP! Look-up Ultimarc.com and see what I am talking about. I have four of them and they rock! It's the best invention for a game cabinet there is. Most of my stuff is from them and the quality is outstanding.

3. You have a lot of space there to use, don't waste it. If you can move your joysticks closer to the edge, you can create more room. Get rid of the 'Pause' and 'Exit' 1 1/8" buttons that you have, and use Radio Shack's small single throw black and red buttons. They work very well for that application, and instead of them being an eye-sore, they become more discrete. I like folks to enjoy the artwork on the panel, rather than being over-whelmed by too many buttons.

4. Here is a really cool thing I like to do... when you make your panel use metal over wood... or just a metal plate for the control panel. 16 guage works very well. I use metal because I can then eliminate those horrible 6" plates that you need to mount the Happs Trackball. Although I see Ultimarc is now selling a trackball you can mount under 3/4" wood panles, which would solve that for you. I still stick to metal. This last panel will have metal over wood for added strength, and easy of mounting. There is nothing worse that having a ton of mounting screws everywhere. The buttons will clamp everyting down as well as the pressure from the joysticks. All you need are the two underside spring clamps to hold down the panel to the cabinet. The metal plates can be bought at Home Depot, Lowe's, or any hardware store. If it's bigger than that, go to a steel supply shop, they should be able to cut one for you real easy. Cut the holes with a hole-cutting saw and a drill.

Eliminate the extra joystick and buttons. Too many buttons that are never used is a total waste. The middle position looks very cramped against the other two, and if a 3rd player was there, you'd have no room. Hence why I suggested moving the joysticks out more.

Here is my latest design. This cabinet is for my wife. Her favorite two games were Galaxian and Robotron. She could not make-up her mind which one she wanted, hence the design. But see the simplicity of the control panel. All too often I see guys cramp a ton of stuff into the panel and it looks like hell. Most of the classic games you can get away with 1 joystick, and 4 buttons. Then some use 2 jousticks. It's when it gets into the fighting games that it gets really crazy with buttons.

I hope this helps a little... I've been doing this for 8 years now. It's a lot of fun making the cabinet, in fact, I enjoy it more than playing on it. I love the classic look of the old cabinet, so I'm biased on my designs of simplicity as they mostly were. Don't forget to show off the cabinet with some cool grahics. Don't make it an eye-sore, make it a classic work of art that a becomes a comversational piece for years to come.

IMBerzerk

Galaxitron_Control_Panel.pdf

[bkenobi]

I know that you were giving constructive criticism to help everyone based on your experience. Hopefully Games001 will take it that way rather than as an attack on his design. On the other hand, if Games001 had some nice CP graphics that are designed to bring all of those controls together, it might not look so cluttered.

One note on dedicated 4-way joysticks that I wanted to throw out there. In the past, it was fairly common for people to put a single 4-way joystick on the CP so that they could play games like pacman and donkey kong with the accuracy and authenticity that they deserve. The reason for this is that the 8-way joysticks at the time (and even today really) play like crap compared to a hardware restricted model. BUT...there are many joysticks that have been developed that can be switched from 8-way to a 4-way with hardware restrictor plates as well as plates that can be top mounted that convert 8-way sticks to 4-way. If I were designing a CP today, I would not even consider using a dedicated 4-way like this. I would just get 1 or maybe 2 of the switchable ones.

If you want to see some really sweet models, go to Ultimarc.com and look at the Mag-Stick. It's mountable on any CP and can be switched from 4- to 8-way without having to access the bottom of the CP or having any visible lever on the top. That's the way to go IMO!!!

[IMBerzerk]

I know that you were giving constructive criticism to help everyone based on your experience. Hopefully Games001 will take it that way rather than as an attack on his design. On the other hand, if Games001 had some nice CP graphics that are designed to bring all of those controls together, it might not look so cluttered.

One note on dedicated 4-way joysticks that I wanted to throw out there. In the past, it was fairly common for people to put a single 4-way joystick on the CP so that they could play games like pacman and donkey kong with the accuracy and authenticity that they deserve. The reason for this is that the 8-way joysticks at the time (and even today really) play like crap compared to a hardware restricted model. BUT...there are many joysticks that have been developed that can be switched from 8-way to a 4-way with hardware restrictor plates as well as plates that can be top mounted that convert 8-way sticks to 4-way. If I were designing a CP today, I would not even consider using a dedicated 4-way like this. I would just get 1 or maybe 2 of the switchable ones.

If you want to see some really sweet models, go to Ultimarc.com and look at the Mag-Stick. It's mountable on any CP and can be switched from 4- to 8-way without having to access the bottom of the CP or having any visible lever on the top. That's the way to go IMO!!!

Yes, that was it... the Mag Stik. I have 2 mounted in my Cafe style, and I am putting 2 more in the next cabinet. My oldest unit has orignal Wico leaf switch joysticks which are no longer available. I love those the best, they have that classic Arcade feel to them.

Heck yes for the suggestions, I'm not knocking the design. I've been there and done that. I was only trying to save him time and money. My Berzerk cabinet had 3 CP's in the past 8 years and I finally settled on the 1 design. If I can help anyone from wasting that kind of time, I'm here. But truthfully, it's all meant in good nature. A lot of guys I have seen build cabinets do it with the best intent and wind-up adding so much stuff that the CP looks like the control panel on the Space Shuttle, meanwhile, they use about 10% of it. Wasted time and money.

I have a tendency of sounding pomp(ass) in emails and on forums... It's just hard to explain, or write what I am trying to say sometimes. Sorry.

IMBerzerk

[Tempest]

That explains the whole "Ivory Tower" thing!

[IMBerzerk]

That explains the whole "Ivory Tower" thing!

No... that's a UK expression... if anything, I'm in the Dark Tower.

[Tempest]

Thanks for the help B. Hoffman... I kept looking through the menus, and man, there are plenty to play with... and I found some of my own answers. I appreciate your help.

bkenobi.... rude... yeah, well I'm sure you can't help that. That's always the best way to build a solid fan base.

I'll read the FAQ myself and figure it out. Again, seeing this is the 4th Front end I've put in this particular cabinet in 8 years (MAME32, ArcadeOS, MameWah, Mala), I can handle it. Thank for taking the time to look down at my from your Ivory Tower of Knowledge.

Just to let you know, I am 1 of 7 other Developers of a WWI sim called Over Flanders Fields, due for commercial release this October/November. We run our own forums on Sim-Outhouse, SimHQ, and AirCombat.com... and treat every Newbie with respect, no matter how stupid the question is. Our fan base is massive if you're into Air Combat PC sims.

So I may not be experienced with GameEX.... but I know how to treat people.

Best regards,

IMBerzerk.

I forget alot of stuff, but I don't forget the funny stuff!

Take care.

[IMBerzerk]

I forget alot of stuff, but I don't forget the funny stuff!

Take care.

OOOO!!!! You just reminded me... WE'RE DONE BETA TESTING OUR WWI GAME!!! YA-HOO!!!

Hopefully we release it before Xmas.

IMBerzerk

PS.. If I stick around here long enough, believe me, I'll give you encyclopedias worth of funny stuff to save.