Games that you think play best with the Analog Controller

[Rick Dangerous]

So I cleaned up my Atari 5200 Analog Joystick last nights and was playing through my (admittedly small at this point) library of games. Some it's obviously not well suited too, but others I found myself doing better than with my masterplay clone and wico stick.

 

River Raid- Once to learn to center yourself and not smash into the wall I found myself doing quite well with the analog stick. I made it farther than I ever have and thought the control with analog was ideal for this game.

 

Kangaroo- I thought the jumping worked much better in this with analog control. You can run right up the the edge of a platform and jump to the next without falling much easier than with digital control. Punching was about the same.

 

Any games that you PREFER to play with the stock controller versus a digital setup?

 

 

[BassGuitari]

Star Raiders, Galaxian, Space Invaders, Space Dungeon, and Star Wars: The Arcade Game stand out. Of course with Star Wars the control's all backwards, but if you can get the hang of it it's great. I'd say Centipede, Kaboom!, and Missile Command also, but those are even better with the Trak-Ball.

OT: I think a lot of the control issues with the Atari 5200 aren't that it has analog controllers, but rather that most of its games weren't designed for analog control. The ones that were, or were adapted to be, play excellently with the 5200 joystick IMO.

[Rick Dangerous]

Star Raiders, Galaxian, Space Invaders, Space Dungeon, and Star Wars: The Arcade Game stand out. Of course with Star Wars the control's all backwards, but if you can get the hang of it it's great. I'd say Centipede, Kaboom!, and Missile Command also, but those are even better with the Trak-Ball.

 

OT: I think a lot of the control issues with the Atari 5200 aren't that it has analog controllers, but rather that most of its games weren't designed for analog control. The ones that were, or were adapted to be, play excellently with the 5200 joystick IMO.

 

Thanks for the recommendations. Played Galaxian with the CX52 last night and it wasn't half bad. My hand just got sore after awhile from hitting the fire button.

 

I do have a track ball modded with an arcade fire button and would generally choose to use that when its a good fit..

[bohoki]

the big 5 superbreakout,kaboom,missile command,star wars,gorf

along with those galaxian,choplifter,pole position

[VectorGamer]

Pole Position

Sinistar

Tempest

[BassGuitari]

...choplifter...

YES. How did I forget Choplifter?!

[rxd]

I think Countermeasure works good also...

[ledzep]

Get a modded controller with a paddle for Kaboom!, Pole Position and Super Breakout, you won't be sorry. Far better than a trak-ball or joystick (analog or digital).

[Charlie_]

I think Gremlins plays better and is more fun with the analog control. For me anyway!

[Nutsy Doodleheimer]

Countermeasure, Gremlins, and Pole Position. Gremlins is such a fun and addicting one.

[thegamezmaster]

Ironic how I didn't really know the difference between the two until the N64 came out. Doh!

[+wongojack]

I thought Defender was actually better with analog. I know it might be just in my mind, but I feel like I can kinda control the speed of the ship by either slowly or quickly moving the stick.

[Lynxpro]

Get a modded controller with a paddle for Kaboom!, Pole Position and Super Breakout, you won't be sorry. Far better than a trak-ball or joystick (analog or digital).

 

I want a modded Paddle controller myself. I'd say not just Kaboom!, Pole Position [wouldn't that be better with a spinner?], and Super Breakout, but Castle Crisis, Galaxian, Gyruss [again, even better with a spinner], and Space Invaders. Tempest is probably cool too but could use a spinner.

[Charlie_]

 

I want a modded Paddle controller myself. I'd say not just Kaboom!, Pole Position [wouldn't that be better with a spinner?], and Super Breakout, but Castle Crisis, Galaxian, Gyruss [again, even better with a spinner], and Space Invaders. Tempest is probably cool too but could use a spinner.

Tempest is just about perfect with a smooth work Trak-ball controller. Kaboom and Super Breakout are excellent with a home made paddle, or modded vcs paddle.

[ledzep]

 

I want a modded Paddle controller myself. I'd say not just Kaboom!, Pole Position [wouldn't that be better with a spinner?], and Super Breakout, but Castle Crisis, Galaxian, Gyruss [again, even better with a spinner], and Space Invaders. Tempest is probably cool too but could use a spinner.

 

The controller is analog so the guts are 2 POTs. That's what Pole Position expects so a paddle (X direction) works best/is easiest. And I've never driven a car with a steering wheel that can rotate forever, haahaha.

 

I prefer most of the original button games (Space Invaders, Asteroids, etc.) to stay buttons, I'm not a fan of converting them to joysticks (or paddles). But that's just the arcade-bias in me.

[Lynxpro]

 

The controller is analog so the guts are 2 POTs. That's what Pole Position expects so a paddle (X direction) works best/is easiest. And I've never driven a car with a steering wheel that can rotate forever, haahaha.

 

I prefer most of the original button games (Space Invaders, Asteroids, etc.) to stay buttons, I'm not a fan of converting them to joysticks (or paddles). But that's just the arcade-bias in me.

 

You do know Indy 500 on the 2600 had the "Driving Controller" which was a spinner in the standard Paddle body, right?

 

As for button controllers, there was apparently an in-house button controller for 5200 Asteroids built at Atari Inc. I'm sure the pic has been posted to various discussion threads on AA already. Can't remember if it's on the Atari Museum's website. No, wait, it's on Atari Protos….

 

http://www.atariprotos.com/5200/software/asteroids/asteroidscontroller.htm

[ledzep]

You do know Indy 500 on the 2600 had the "Driving Controller" which was a spinner in the standard Paddle body, right?

Yes, I do. But Indy 500 wasn't made for the 5200 (and it's analog joysticks). Also, Indy 500 is a top-down perspective game. That controller isn't a steering wheel, it's a directional controller so it can spin forever so long as you want the car to keep spinning in that direction (which is what locking a steering wheel, or paddle, hard left or right would do in the first-person perspective).

 

As for button controllers, there was apparently an in-house button controller for 5200 Asteroids built at Atari Inc. I'm sure the pic has been posted to various discussion threads on AA already. Can't remember if it's on the Atari Museum's website. No, wait, it's on Atari Protos….

 

http://www.atariprotos.com/5200/software/asteroids/asteroidscontroller.htm

 

I would prefer a controller that didn't look like a prop from a Flash Gordon serial. I suppose it wouldn't be hard to cannibalize a trak-ball controller, replace the ball with 5 buttons (and fill in that center section) for games like Asteroids and Space Invaders. Something like the Starplex for the 2600.

[Lynxpro]

Yes, I do. But Indy 500 wasn't made for the 5200 (and it's analog joysticks). Also, Indy 500 is a top-down perspective game. That controller isn't a steering wheel, it's a directional controller so it can spin forever so long as you want the car to keep spinning in that direction (which is what locking a steering wheel, or paddle, hard left or right would do in the first-person perspective).

 

 

I would prefer a controller that didn't look like a prop from a Flash Gordon serial. I suppose it wouldn't be hard to cannibalize a trak-ball controller, replace the ball with 5 buttons (and fill in that center section) for games like Asteroids and Space Invaders. Something like the Starplex for the 2600.

 

There shall be no talk of cannibalizing a holy Trak-Ball Controller, Sir!

[BigO]

 

There shall be no talk of cannibalizing a holy Trak-Ball Controller, Sir!

'fraid I have bad news for you. (well, not completely cannibalized but no longer a Trak-Ball)

Edited April 28, 2015 by BigO

[ledzep]

 

There shall be no talk of cannibalizing a holy Trak-Ball Controller, Sir!

 

Hahaha, I know that subject is verboten. Ok, then beating on one of those aftermarket Wico sticks with the Y-cable. It's digital already so that would hopefully make the button conversion simpler. I just hate that made it in metal shop look to some homebrew controllers.