simbalion Posted April 30, 2017 Share Posted April 30, 2017 After waiting half the day for the guy to finally arrive, I finally am an owner of an Apple II plus again after foolishly giving up my first years back. Other than the broken 'Z' key, it's in pretty good shape and does seem to work just fine, including the original Disk II. The power light seems to work when it wants (tapping it brings it on when it doesn't come on immediately) and the stub from the broken Z key is gone. The stub somehow either fell out or one of his family members pulled it out and pitched it. If it was still there, I think I could have repaired the key! Grrr! Might figure something out. Anyways, here are a quick couple of pictures. One of the inside and one of it set up temporarily for testing. Anyone know if a joystick card was made for this unit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukey Shay Posted April 30, 2017 Share Posted April 30, 2017 Game I/O is a chip socket on the right rear of the motherboard. A stick or paddle set is plugged directly onto it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted April 30, 2017 Share Posted April 30, 2017 They made the Koala Pad (graphics tablet) that plugs into that socket. To me, a kid at the time, it was hi-tech. I had a real-life CAD system going. Woot! What I found useful was an extension cable that brought the game i/o connector outside. It was a simple ZIF DIP socket connected to ribbon cable and plug. You could probably rig one up yourself easily enough, or pay $50 fleabay prices.. blechh.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simbalion Posted April 30, 2017 Author Share Posted April 30, 2017 (edited) I guess the better question would be: Did someone made an actual joystick for the II or II plus? All I've ever seen for them are game paddles. I know that the IIe an IIc have a joystick as I have two of those for the later units. I think the lack of a true joystick is one of the reasons I gave up on my other II plus years back when I found my IIc. Edited April 30, 2017 by simbalion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukey Shay Posted April 30, 2017 Share Posted April 30, 2017 The one I had was "tri-compatible". DB9f plug for a IIe, a switch on the bottom to set to PC, plus a small wire with DB9m and DIP ends to be used with II/II+. So yes, they did exist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted April 30, 2017 Share Posted April 30, 2017 I guess the better question would be: Did someone made an actual joystick for the II or II plus? All I've ever seen for them are game paddles. Good question. I think even the earliest joysticks may not have appeared until the early '80s, toward the tail end of the ][+'s retail life. I'm thinking along the lines of the TG Products joystick. But without definitive release dates it's difficult to say for certain. Sifting through old computer publications from '78-81 for ads or reviews, while tedious and time-consuming, is probably the best course of action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted April 30, 2017 Share Posted April 30, 2017 (edited) Apple, Kraft, Suncom, TG, CH Products, Wico, and adapters to use standard VCS sticks. No lack of joysticks at all. Edited April 30, 2017 by Keatah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted April 30, 2017 Share Posted April 30, 2017 I had 2 joysticks already before the II+ came out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted May 1, 2017 Share Posted May 1, 2017 I had 2 joysticks already before the II+ came out. Details? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted May 1, 2017 Share Posted May 1, 2017 (edited) The old standby TG Products project box model. It used an R/C airplane transmitter stick. And a no-name stick in a metal box with 3 buttons, it may have been from a cad system or something. But the guy at DataDomain sold it to me for 30. We don't hear of early joysticks much because they weren't manufactured in significant quantity. On a side note. I got this thing called the Space Tablet, and it plugs into the port. And its got this swing arm you move around an object and it digitizes it. Think mini industrial robot with potentiometers at the joints rather than motors. All the magic is in the software. Incidentally it acts as a joystick and you can play games with it. Not that it's practical for gaming.. But the most "sleeper" and useful bit of hardware I got is this little circuit board. It brings the game i/o socket outside and makes it easy to use with ZIF. There have been times I went to WaReZ cOnFeReNcEs and wouldn't bother taking the Transwarp with, but instead this little guy. Edited May 1, 2017 by Keatah 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+splendidnut Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 My dad had a joystick with the DIP socket connector for his Apple ][+. From what I remember, I believe it was made by Kraft. Sadly one of the plastic axis supports broke. That joystick is currently either lost or gone. Not sure which. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 The old standby TG Products project box model. It used an R/C airplane transmitter stick. And a no-name stick in a metal box with 3 buttons, it may have been from a cad system or something. But the guy at DataDomain sold it to me for 30. I didn't realize the TG stick was out so early! I thought it appeared around '81 or '82, maybe '80 at the earliest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.