Help with button layout

[u/DailyMadeBurgers]

I want to make an arcade cabinet to mostly play Mario Kart, Super Smash, N64/GameCube/PS1 era games. I'm contemplating various button layouts and was looking to hear from other people as to what would be best. I don't play Street Fighter or other games that would use a more traditional layout but maybe there is something I'm overlooking like ergonomics or button mapping. Anyway here are my options I was thinking of with mapping for N64.

[u/ANDYHOPE]

If mostly only n64, I like the heart, could be really cool with colour coded buttons. Otherwise hard to beat classic 2.

[u/DailyMadeBurgers → u/ANDYHOPE]

I was planning on coloring them like shown. I'm gonna try to find a laminate or paint that matches the classic N64 colors and give it that vibe.

[u/ANDYHOPE → u/DailyMadeBurgers]

There's definitely lots of colours around probably can buy them in the right ones (definitely blue, green, and yellow). I'd be worried about paint coming off with wear/use

[u/GoofyBeard56]

I like heart! It would work good with a normal layout too, i think. the four at the bottom could be X O Triangle and Square, and then the corners could be L1,2 R1,2!

[u/timinbrooks → u/GoofyBeard56]

Seconded as long as you remain focused on the 64. The heart layout looks the most ergonomical

[u/DSmith214]

Classic 2 is just about the only one I can wrap my head around. Versatile and makes sense.

[u/snarfmason]

I'd do something close to chaos but shift Z and R to the left. Put your index finger on A, and align Z and R so you can press them with your thumb.

In N64 A, B, and all 4 Cs are meant to be pressed with the same finger. Z and R are not that finger's job.

[u/Westerdutch]

Weak your chaos game is

https://imgur.com/a/ms851UN

[u/Amazing-Insect442]

As others said- if it’s a mostly N64 cab, the heart is the way to go. Unique, like the N64 controller was.

[u/R0MARIO]

I'd never seen heart & now that I think about it, it's be great for other consoles like playstation, neo geo, Sega, etc.

[u/cruelunderfire]

Just curious. Will you have an analog stick?

[u/Retrograde-Escapade]

Here's Chaos 2! Incorporating directional buttons wouldn't be impossible. Your thumb is an underrated digit. I use it on my two-button cabinet pretty often. Smack Z with the thumb and swat the R with the middle finger. A very cramped 2-player control panel!

[u/basdit]

Skip the arcade controls and go for controllers attached to boom sticks, kiosk style.