danny_galaga Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 (edited) I normally post on the Jaguar and occasionally Lynx forums, but I just got me a 2600- about 33 years after I first wanted one! Didn't come with a controller. I tested it with a dodgy SMS controller, and I have Indy 500 with the rotary controllers for it. But I am sure to get a couple of classics for it eventually, like Pitfall! and River Raid. What sort of controllers are you guys happiest with? I should probably get an original type one, even though they are horrible, but just because my friends would be disappointed not to cramp their hands up again for old times sake Last I tried an original one was in Berlin last year, in the Computer Spiele Museum. Seemed bulkier than I remembered But to actually enjoy the games, what's out there? Edited June 28, 2014 by danny_galaga 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgeld Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 genesis pads seem to be a popular plug n play choice, any pad can be modded, course the stock 2600 hand crampers, the much less hand cramper 7800, especially if you saw its stick short and add a ball to it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andromeda Stardust Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 (edited) Homebrew Joysticks are the best kind... View Gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/30203515@N04/sets/72157629736738048/ Edited June 28, 2014 by stardust4ever 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bodyshots Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 It's not the size of yer pencil…. it's how you write yer name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny_galaga Posted June 28, 2014 Author Share Posted June 28, 2014 genesis pads seem to be a popular plug n play choice, any pad can be modded, course the stock 2600 hand crampers, the much less hand cramper 7800, especially if you saw its stick short and add a ball to it Is that the CX 78? Or that other one? Bodyshots, what if I have a pretty small pencil, AND I write all squiggly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indestructible Hulk Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 I really like the Suncom TAC-2 and Slik Stik. The TAC-2 is nice for games that require a lot of rapid firing, because when my thumb cramps up on the one fire button, I can reach over to the other one and stretch out while still firing. The Slik Stick has a really short throw and is able to change direction quickly, so I like that on Pac Man style games. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny_galaga Posted June 28, 2014 Author Share Posted June 28, 2014 I really like the Suncom TAC-2 and Slik Stik. The TAC-2 is nice for games that require a lot of rapid firing, because when my thumb cramps up on the one fire button, I can reach over to the other one and stretch out while still firing. The Slik Stick has a really short throw and is able to change direction quickly, so I like that on Pac Man style games. Hey, the tac 2 looks quite nice. I've heard of slik stik before. I guess a lot of controllers from that era have the same pin format. If nothing comes along at the right price, a mega drive controller will do, but something that looks the part is always nice (",) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiddlepaddle Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 I use a joystick made for the Genesis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bixler Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 I use a Genesis control pad right now but would love to pick up a Tac-2 eventually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgeld Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 Is that the CX 78? Or that other one? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bohoki Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 i probably have more joystick variety than anybody and i hate just about all of them the wico red bottom ones feel sturdy i like this one that has a kind of finger grip called hot shot i like the rapid fire switch not a big fan of the suncoms i kind of like the tac-3 on my commodore since it is the same color 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny_galaga Posted September 7, 2014 Author Share Posted September 7, 2014 I ended up getting a Gemstik. Here's how it went... Funnily enough, I never got to plug it into the 2600, as it arrived around the time I got my C64C. Elite caused this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 How many people's hands cramp up with the 2600's joystick? I hear that a lot, but I don't have problems with it. Maybe it's related to how it's being held? I use joysticks and paddles for the Flashback unit. They're styled like the originals, but with modern insides. The paddles are nice and jitter-free. I also use a Sega Genesis 3-button gamepad for the games that support 2 fire buttons. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComputerSpaceFan Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 Personally I love the original Atari joystick, it is ergonomically perfect in my opinion. Having said that, the original 70's hardware tended to break for me quite often so I was very happy when the FlashBack 2 came out with its improved models. I bought two machines just to have so many joystick backups. But I must say the video Satoshi Matrix posted of the Tri Fire Pro Stick III really intrigues me that I might want to get one of those as well. They're just hard to find. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiehwBKX_9I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Video Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Don't know why people have prolems with the original 2600sticks as far as hand cramps. I never did. MY problem was always the fragile guts of the things, I'd have a direction go out. I do really like SMS pads or, genesis pads. If you're at all familiar with the later 8 early 16 bit era, then they will be familiar to you. Wait....Flashback had paddle controllers? which one? I've got the first three and none of them came with paddles that I saw. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgeld Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 (edited) man hands lol really back in the day it never bothered me, now that I have to do hand stretches constantly to not just crumple up and keep my finger dexterity, tiny square + stiff joystick + fire button shoved a mm away from the stick = ugh I have quite a few joysticks from the era and have no problems with them outside of the colecovision and I would imagine the intellevision Edited September 9, 2014 by Osgeld Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+wongojack Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Don't know why people have prolems with the original 2600sticks as far as hand cramps. I never did. MY problem was always the fragile guts of the things, I'd have a direction go out. I do really like SMS pads or, genesis pads. If you're at all familiar with the later 8 early 16 bit era, then they will be familiar to you. Wait....Flashback had paddle controllers? which one? I've got the first three and none of them came with paddles that I saw. Paddles were made with the FB4 http://www.atgames.us/ATARI-Paddle-Controllers-for-Atari-Flashback-4-ARC200.htm I haven't purchased anything from that site, but I am tempted just to have new paddles. (I ordered those paddles shortly after posting this) The Atari joysticks never made my hand cramp, but they did break. I have a vintage slikstik that is still going after all these years. The Wico Bat has nice fire button action, but the wide throw turns some people off. Wico stuff will usually work if you find it in the wild or can be fixed relatively easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 The dual action of base slinging and shaft whipping with the PointMaster Pro gave me god-like abilities for so many of the classic VCS and 400/800 games. I swear my scores increased fourfold across the board. The faster the game the more pronounced the improvement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynicaster Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 (edited) The original joystick is still my first choice. I thought so in the 80s, and I think so now. I remember using a Slik-Stik 30+ years ago and enjoying it as a decent substitute. I always found the bigger joysticks by Wico and the like to be too sloppy. When I re-acquired a 2600 as an adult, it came with a pair of Coleco Gemini controllers, which are actually half decent. My litmus test is Frostbite—if I’m able to play that game without feeling like I’m fighting against the controller, then the joystick passes. I can see why the younger 2600 fans would enjoy using a Genesis pad (or similar) because it more closely resembles the type of controller they’re used to, but personally, I’d rather not play Atari 2600 at all than do so with a d-pad. Using my right hand for moving and left hand for firing is the burned-in-my-brain way of playing 2600 games, so it’s the only way I can truly enjoy it. As for hand cramping, unfortunately, the only hand-held controllers I can use for any length of time without experiencing considerable discomfort are those from modern consoles. Which sucks, because I don’t enjoy modern games very much. That’s why most of my retro gaming time is spent on my MAME cabinet or my X-Arcade where I can use arcade-style controls. Edited September 9, 2014 by Cynicaster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timdu Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Here is a link to the 2600 Connection controller FAQ: http://www.2600connection.com/faq/controllers/faq_controllers.html Featured are pretty much every single controller known. If you see some that are not listed, please let me know. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+wongojack Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Paddles were made with the FB4 http://www.atgames.us/ATARI-Paddle-Controllers-for-Atari-Flashback-4-ARC200.htm I haven't purchased anything from that site, but I am tempted just to have new paddles. (I ordered those paddles shortly after posting this) I also ordered the posters after which they immediately dropped $20 in price :\ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny_galaga Posted September 28, 2014 Author Share Posted September 28, 2014 Problem solved (",) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nesbroslash Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 I just use the joysticks that came with my FB2+. I think they're a little looser than the originals, and it makes it a bit easier to control with them. If you can get some, I recommend them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny_galaga Posted September 28, 2014 Author Share Posted September 28, 2014 See my last post. I'm sorted (",) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinks Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 (edited) cx 40. pads are for later consoles..but the tac 2 is great for directionals but not so much for rapid firing I perfer those old tall 3 or four button sticks with the auto fire switch ya know the ones with suction cups on the bottom?? Edited September 28, 2014 by Jinks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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