location of pushbuttons

icecoldtexan

Permanently Banned
Joined
Dec 18, 2011
Messages
101
Reaction score
1
Location
Texas
Where do most games have the pushbuttons in relation to the joystick ?
the new CP overlay that I want to use has the joystick in the middle with the 1p 2p start button on the right and the action buttons on the left. Will it be awkard to play ?
This is for a cabinet multicade. Thanks
 
Also what about the black dust ring that goes on the joystick shaft, does it go on top of the overlay or under the cp between the joystick base and control panel?
 
the new CP overlay that I want to use has the joystick in the middle with the 1p 2p start button on the right and the action buttons on the left. Will it be awkard to play ?

That would be very awkward, unless you are left handed. Usually the joystick goes to the left, and the buttons are on the right. Start buttons are off to the side, out of the way, or up near the top of the panel.

To answer your other question, it depends on the game. *Some* games had the dust ring between the overlay and the panel, and had a routed space for it to move around in. This is pretty rare though. On most games, the dust ring just sits on top of the overlay.

-Ian
 
If I can, I put the dust ring below so that the CPO art is fully visible. Sometimes, however, the joystick has a C-clip around that height at it causes the joystick to click or catch when you move. In those cases, I move it to the top.

As for buttons, if you're building a custom game, put buttons on both sides of the joystick. This will allow everyone to play comfortably. I know right-handers who prefer to have maximum control of the joystick with their right and hit buttons with the left, and other right-handers (like me) who prefer to move with their left and have maximum button speed with their right...
 
Do you prefer 12v or 6v lighting behind the control panel white lexan? I will have two lights there and am trying to choose 6 or 12 volt.
 
Do you prefer 12v or 6v lighting behind the control panel white lexan? I will have two lights there and am trying to choose 6 or 12 volt.

Control panels are not lit. They are solid metal or wood. Some games have lights in front of or below the panel, for example Tron, but in that case it's a fluorescent black light. Use whatever looks best to you in your configuration.

-Ian
 
That would be very awkward, unless you are left handed. Usually the joystick goes to the left, and the buttons are on the right. Start buttons are off to the side, out of the way, or up near the top of the panel.

To answer your other question, it depends on the game. *Some* games had the dust ring between the overlay and the panel, and had a routed space for it to move around in. This is pretty rare though. On most games, the dust ring just sits on top of the overlay.

-Ian

What's weird is a lot of earlier console joysticks always have the button on the left and the stick handled on the right. However, I find each natural depending on using an arcade game or a console joystick like the atari or commodore.
 
What's weird is a lot of earlier console joysticks always have the button on the left and the stick handled on the right. However, I find each natural depending on using an arcade game or a console joystick like the atari or commodore.

I agree with that. I also always found it weird that I play non-button games (Pac/Frogger, et al) with my right hand as opposed to button/stick games as mentioned above. Guess it's just always been that way and what configuration you get used to.
 
I agree with that. I also always found it weird that I play non-button games (Pac/Frogger, et al) with my right hand as opposed to button/stick games as mentioned above. Guess it's just always been that way and what configuration you get used to.

That would be my natural style for those non-button games if the stick is in the center but if on the left, I probably would still use my left hand anyway. I have to admit though after not playing these types of games on a real arcade machine for years, it felt weird to me. It came back pretty quickly though.
 
That would be my natural style for those non-button games if the stick is in the center but if on the left, I probably would still use my left hand anyway.

I thought the same thing until I played Ladybug on a Mr.Do CP and I used my right hand to play. Wasn't thinking about it so that's what was natural to me I guess.
 
What's weird is a lot of earlier console joysticks always have the button on the left and the stick handled on the right. However, I find each natural depending on using an arcade game or a console joystick like the atari or commodore.

Yeah, but here, you have to grip and support the controller in one hand,while using it with the other. The method they used was actually quite comfortable, for that type of controller. Now, on other systems, like the NES, the directional control is on the left hand (d-pad), and the buttons controlled with the right. That works best for that type of control pad.

It's probably more due to the way it evolved than anything, we're used to the layouts that have become common. For example, if someone handed you a control pad with the d-pad and buttons reversed, you'd have a heck of a hard time with it. But if that's how it always was, then you'd be used to it. Muscle memory is a funny thing. It must be really hard for people that move to the US from the UK, where they drive on the other side of the road...

Some games had the joystick in the middle, and symmetrical buttons on the panel. This seemed to be more a thing that was done on conversions though. Probably since so many Pac cabinets already had the joystick in the middle.

But... just look at any of the later Jamma games, or any of the common fighter games - buttons for the right hand, joystick on the left. That's just how they evolved, and I'm sure that even left handed Street Fighter players are just as used to this setup as everyone else at this point.

-Ian
 
Control panels are not lit. They are solid metal or wood. Some games have lights in front of or below the panel, for example Tron, but in that case it's a fluorescent black light. Use whatever looks best to you in your configuration.

-Ian

Some games like Robotron had lights under the translucent buttons, and Joust cocktail had illumination under the plastic CPOs since it didn't have a marquee.

Then there are things like the Ms Pac cocktail with the illuminated panel behind the control panel.

The Williams games are 12v, I believe, while the Ms. Pac ones are 6v (I think) and a bit dimmer.

Just pick a bulb (like a #47 maybe) then use whatever voltage is required.

But if you just want to light up some buttons, there are illuminated buttons you can buy that look pretty badass already...
 
Back
Top Bottom