If you were making an Atari 2600 Arcade what joysticks would you use?

[redsteakraw]

If you were making an Atari 2600 Arcade what joysticks would you use? What style of arcade quality sticks would you use to be the most playable for the games and the most authentic to early Atari / US based arcade games? I was thinking the IL Eurostick or the Happ Competition pro do any of you have any other suggestions?

Edited February 14, 2019 by redsteakraw

[edladdin]

We're big fans of the Sanwa JFL-TP-8YT with the optional octagonal insert. The insert is key. The typical "8 way" restrictor plate or gate is actually a square, which does not give the shaft a good landing place when you are playing maze games and single-axis games (eg: Space Invaders and Joust). With the maze games, in particular, you will struggle to get crisp cornering. Likewise, if you rotate that square 45 degrees in to "4 way mode", you get great response on those games, but you lose the ability to move in diagonals in all the rest of the games, which is a fail. The octagonal insert delivers the best of both worlds, with landing spots in all 8 positions. We buy them by the case.

 

https://www.focusattack.com/sanwa-jlf-tp-8yt-joystick/

[+Nathan Strum]

If you're going for authentic, go with leaf switches. (I'm not a fan of microswitches - too "clickity".)

 

I haven't ordered any from this place so I can't speak to their products, but Groovy Game Gear carries some.

 

Also, a ball top would be more authentic to early arcade games, rather than a bat handle. However, I'd suggest you use whatever is most comfortable, unless you're intent on reproducing a particular look.

[Prizrak]

Recently I got a Wico Command controllerthat uses leaf switches and they work decent. Very different than what I'm use to on standard atari controllers. With those switches maintenance seems real easy and the design internally is way simpler than a standard controller at that time.

Edited February 16, 2019 by Prizrak

[CaptainBreakout]

I second the WICO. The ball tops look the best to me. An upside is you don't necessarily have to disassemble the joysticks (except maybe to remove and relocate the base button). They are sturdy enough to build a mount around and bolt to the underside of your control panel. You might need to route it out a bit if the control panel is wood, but probably not if it's metal or plastic.

 

Edladdin knows what he's talking about tho and you might want to go with some pro arcade hardware with the octagonal insert. Probably much more top shelf experience.

 

Something nifty to consider is getting ahold of an old DB-9 "data switch" or two and a few extension cables. You can build the switch into your cabinet and use it to bypass your joystick to an external controller connector for paddles, keypads and other such.

[redsteakraw]

I second the WICO. The ball tops look the best to me. An upside is you don't necessarily have to disassemble the joysticks (except maybe to remove and relocate the base button). They are sturdy enough to build a mount around and bolt to the underside of your control panel. You might need to route it out a bit if the control panel is wood, but probably not if it's metal or plastic.

 

Edladdin knows what he's talking about tho and you might want to go with some pro arcade hardware with the octagonal insert. Probably much more top shelf experience.

 

Something nifty to consider is getting ahold of an old DB-9 "data switch" or two and a few extension cables. You can build the switch into your cabinet and use it to bypass your joystick to an external controller connector for paddles, keypads and other such.

 

The standard atari controller is a bat top and that was the standard for US style joysticks. Edladdin is using a Japanese style stick and the octagonal restrictor plate would be a good thing to know if I go that route.

 

I was thinking of having an aux port for the 4 player games / keyboard controller. Ideally I want to have a paddle spinner on each side built in like the atari kiosk.

[CaptainBreakout]

I always liked the idea of built-in paddles for a dedicated 2600 cabinet. Never seen it actually done.

[redsteakraw]

I always liked the idea of built-in paddles for a dedicated 2600 cabinet. Never seen it actually done.

 

This is my inspiration if you want to see a setup.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhRqDlGmrK8

[SiLic0ne t0aD]

I prefer Seimitsu balltop joysticks, like the ones that came in the Neo Geo AES arcade controllers and also the LS-32 is awesome as well. The balltops are easily swapped out for customization too.