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The Missing Manual for the Wico Command Control


Lathe26

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Personally, I found it tricky to get a lot of good information on the Wico Controller for the Intellivision. So I decided to write The Missing Manual for the Wico Command Control. Let me know what you think. I also included the original manual as well for reference here.

 

Edit: Updated document to version 2.0. A section on the internals has been added. Also, additional information has been added about the early edition of the Intellivision Wico Controller (box didn't mention Intellivision II).

 

The Missing Manual for the Wico Command Control.pdf

Wico Command Control Manual.pdf

Edited by Lathe26
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I can understand and appreciate the quality Wico put into making these joysticks. The 5-million cycle lo-stress leaf-switch. Big heavy plastic. Burly half-sphere & spring "bearing", strain relief, beefy metal shaft, all that and more. And you know what? I couldn't score jack shit anything when I'd use their products. For all the workmanship, there was absolutely zero tactile feedback! You didn't know when a switch was engaged or not. The whole stick felt like a sponge. All wishy-washy and stuff.

 

Now on the other other hand, I was a force to be reckoned with when I played with my PointMaster. It was a cheap stick to be sure. Light semi-flexible plastic throughout. Switches that I couldn't imagine lasting more than 300,000 cycles. A thin plastic centering bearing plate. But it worked! With the PointMaster stick I was unbeatable in Defender. I'd sit there with my stick pointing at all angles and sometimes contorting so much I was holding it upside down. And backwards. Pulling on it. Bending the shaft. Gyrating and twisting through fetish-like contortions. One would not think I was playing a videogame.

 

The PointMaster was just so damned cool. And it granted me special papal dispensation from the laws of physics when playing any action game. With this joystick I was capable of reaching super collider velocities & scores on any level.

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This one might require me to update my doc. It has the cable coming out of the spot where the ColecoVision cable typically comes out (grrr). On the upside, it shows what is under the sticker (cool). If you win this, please post the manual since looks like an early edition Wico.

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Very cool, lots of good info. Very strange that the cable on the ebay model has the plug there…could be a hack an attempt at a hack job on a Coleco model. I totally forgot about the plastic sleeves! Now those will be tough to find. LOL

 

I found a few errors in the text. Let me know if you want me to message you off line about what I found.

 

GREAT WORK.

 

Jay

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Very cool, lots of good info. Very strange that the cable on the ebay model has the plug there…could be a hack an attempt at a hack job on a Coleco model. I totally forgot about the plastic sleeves! Now those will be tough to find. LOL

 

I found a few errors in the text. Let me know if you want me to message you off line about what I found.

 

GREAT WORK.

 

Jay

 

Go ahead and message me about any mistakes you've found. I am plannning to eventually put out an update in a few weeks that will contain photos of the insides. One of my Wico's isn't operating well and likely needs an internal cleaning (intermittently sends 'go left' signals which ruins game play).

 

As for the potential hack job on a ColecoVision Wico, that is a possibility. If you have a voltage meter, before you plug it into a console, I recommend connecting the voltage meter to a few pins on the plug and make sure that it operates the same as an Intellivision II controller. On the other hand, if it is real, it might be an early Intellivision Wico and I'd love to see what is under the access panel on back (box talks only about Intellivision I and that a cable was not included). Post photos.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thank you for the update. I am tempted to get one of this controllers.

 

Contrary to what many people think, the disc controller of the Intellivision is amazing and very responsive.

 

Unfortunately, after continuous playing, I find it is hard on the thumbs so I am on the look for alternatives.

 

Thanks again.

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