Omega-TI Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 Is there anyone out there, (besides me) that would be interested in a group 5200 project? I'm thinking that a nice compatible joystick to go with the Master Play Clone would be great. We could talk about parts and then source them together starting next month, get the schematics, talk about assembly methods and answer everyone's questions. Then we could order the parts, when everything arrives start building! I saw a possible stick to copy, one that looks nice... Now some of you are right handed, others left handed... we would not necessarily need four buttons, but a nice metal case and two buttons would be great! To start off, I have one question... ANALOG or DIGITAL? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariBrian Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 Now some of you are right handed, others left handed... we would not necessarily need four buttons, but a nice metal case and two buttons would be great! To start off, I have one question... ANALOG or DIGITAL? Both , but I know edladdin is going to try to make a self centering analog arcade controller . 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted January 18, 2017 Author Share Posted January 18, 2017 Both , but I know edladdin is going to try to make a self centering analog arcade controller . That would be cool to see. I just finished looking at some parts kits available on Ebay. There are lots of different kits and some at pretty decent prices too. << CLICK HERE >>. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreamcast Gamer Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 What I'd like to see is a normal 5200 controller that works, and has a self-centering joystick. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariBrian Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 What I'd like to see is a normal 5200 controller that works, and has a self-centering joystick. I agree but gave up on the thought of that happening . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 I ordered replacement opto's to hopefully fix one of my CX-53 trak-ball controllers. However, should those not fix it, then I'm thinking very seriously about adding an actual arcade joystick to it and actual arcade buttons to convert it over as nice dedicated controller. Best part with that is I wouldn't need a masterplay... but I will try and get it working first before doing this. Wonder if there is a stockpile of dead CX-53s rotting somewhere that could be used for small batch project like this? Hmm.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynxpro Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 What I'd like to see is a normal 5200 controller that works, and has a self-centering joystick. Theoretically, you could do it by taking a Playstation 2+ or Xbox/360/One thumbstick mechanism and installing it into the CX52. Some guy did it a few years ago so he could play with a CX53 connected to his original hacked Xbox running a 5200 emulator. Of course, you'd have to figure out how to get the 5200 to accept the input from such a mechanism as a real 5200 controller. I haven't been able to find the link to that particular project in a good 2 years. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 What I'd like to see is a normal 5200 controller that works, and has a self-centering joystick. Well, you can go with a Best refurb kit (or try the punched-out tin foil trick) for the "working" part. For the "self-centering" part, I once jury-rigged a pair of rubber bands over, around, and through the joystick assembly and plastic bracing posts in an "X" shape and put the stick shaft through the intersection. It was an absolute pain in the ass to do and it looked like a Rube Goldberg machine inside, but it worked reasonably well. Problem is...rubber bands dry out and break over time. And I found that, except for a few instances, it didn't really enhance gameplay anyway. The best solution IMO is to just get the thing in a working state, and then learn to accept it as it is. The quasi-centering (the rubber boot provides some centering, just not very tightly) of the joystick, and the games that take advantage of it, is part of the Atari 5200's charm anyway. Otherwise you may as well be playing an Atari 400. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted February 5, 2017 Author Share Posted February 5, 2017 Ultimately this is what I'd really like... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariBrian Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 Two self centering analog sticks for Space Dungeon and Robotron . A Supertwin52 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sramirez2008 Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 Two self centering analog sticks for Space Dungeon and Robotron . A Supertwin52 Now that's what I'm talking about Willis! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosystemsearch Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 Either a reproduction/update of the Con controls Joystick, Triga elite repro, or a new design entirely would be something I'd get if I had a 5200. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynxpro Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 Ultimately this is what I'd really like... Might as well include a 3rd fire button since things like that can be done...sorta like the shifter that's a popular mod for Pole Position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted February 6, 2017 Author Share Posted February 6, 2017 Might as well include a 3rd fire button since things like that can be done...sorta like the shifter that's a popular mod for Pole Position. A shifter on 5200 Pole Position? Tell me more! I've been pushing the joystick forward or backward to shift gears in Pole Position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToddUGA Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 Here's the analog stick I use in my arcade cabinet.... https://www.ultimarc.com/ultrastik_info.html With the stiffer springs it feels like a nice, leaf switch digital stick. I have no idea how to wire it for use with an Atari 5200 however. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+pboland Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 (edited) It's been a while since I've had a 5200, but I don't see why you couldn't just get a classic PC controller like this: and rewire it to work with a 5200. These old PC controllers all used potentiometers (just like the 5200) and most of them are self centering. These IBM joystick are fairly cheap and they include two buttons as well. Heck, it really wouldn't be that hard to mount a larger stick to that IBM and mount the whole thing in a bigger box with some arcade buttons. Just thinking out loud. Side note: Radio shack use to sell joysticks that were very similar to the IBM: Edited February 10, 2017 by pboland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ledzep Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 I would vote for analog since that's what the 5200 likes and makes it unique compared to most 8-way stick consoles. Self-centering, yes, but those old PC sticks had a switch on the bottom to go from self-centering to not self-centering, right? That would be convenient. I do like the idea of a dual-joystick set-up, I would assume that it would have to have 2 cables coming out of it. Either that or something on the sides of each separate joystick base that can be used to slide in/hook to a second stick, forming one solid dual-stick for Robotron and Space Dungeon (and hopefully a future good version of Battlezone). Would this thing also use the same Y-cable as a Wico digital stick in order to use a standard Atari 5200 joystick for the keypad (or the Wico keypad)? One other idea that might be worth including, how about 1 or 2 fire buttons on the stick itself? maybe on the front (like a Tron stick) so that the top is still smooth for those people who tend to use their thumbs on top of the stick to move them (and use the regular fire buttons on the base). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matthew954 Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 I'm thinking this could be an interesting candidate for an arcade style stick, or atleast a starting point anyway..... http://www.bestbuy.com/site/emio-the-edge-joystick-for-nes-classic-edition-white/5710432.p?skuId=5710432 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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