Atari Rescue Group Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 (edited) There are a number of "Best 2600 Joystick" threads, but I can't easily find a "Worst" one. I've got a few that are particularly rotten: Super Stik by PPI -- This one truly belies it's name. Pistol Grip by RGA -- Maybe they worked when new. Coleco Gemini -- Ick. What are your candidates? Edit: The Super Stik isn't in the Gamerz joystick database so here's a picture of it so everyone knows what to avoid. Edited September 13, 2005 by Atari Rescue Group Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Helmet Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 I never liked any of the sticks with the button on top of the stick (liek a flight stick). The exception being the Wico bat, since you could use the button on the base of the ocntroller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HP Atari King of Michigan Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 I had a gray joystick with the button on top of the stick. It what I wouldn't consider the worst but it wasn't that good either because it wore out within a year. But I had bought a Junior 2600 (Long Rainbow), which my brother has now, which had a Spectravision Joystick that had two buttons; one on the stick and one on the base. It worked at first, but then the thing wouldn't go a certain direction after two weeks. So I think the Spectravision was the worst of the two, but I'm sure there were a lot worse joysticks than those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+remowilliams Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 The Video Command. And that stick that looked exactly like a dildo with a firebutton on it, I forget its name. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1n Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 the delta 2000. I drooled over it's wonderful specification for months due to a glowing review in CCM, and it turned out to be a big pile of crap. Dodgy microswitches, spongy response and a weird firebutton. Rubbish.. http://www.retrogames.co.uk/stock/assets/i...00_Joystick.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxsolo2000 Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 It could be the Le Stick REMO which was little more than a handle with a fire button on the top of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laner Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 I had a gray joystick with the button on top of the stick. It what I wouldn't consider the worst but it wasn't that good either because it wore out within a year. Could've been the Wico Boss? Mine is 20 years old and still going strong 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Random Terrain Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 (edited) I hate the Epyx 500! It wasn't made for the Atari 2600 (more for the Commodore 64), but it would work though. I was so excited when I read about it since it looked like it might be a great ergonomic-type joystick, but when I brought it home and tried it out for a while, it hurt my hand. I took the piece of crap back the next day. My Xbox controllers are a million times better than any controller I have ever used so far. That will probably be my favorite until we start using Virtual Reality forced-feedback gloves where you feel the steering wheel of a car and so on. http://www.cedmagic.com/tech-info/remote-c...j-joystick.html Edited September 13, 2005 by Random Terrain 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1n Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 ahh neee - the Speedking (UK name? didn't realise it was called Epyx 500!) was top notch. I was really sad when mine finally broke. I also liked the navigator (2nd stick on this review page) http://perso.wanadoo.es/jaimegs/ordenadore...ck/compjoy1.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HP Atari King of Michigan Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 I had a gray joystick with the button on top of the stick. It what I wouldn't consider the worst but it wasn't that good either because it wore out within a year. Could've been the Wico Boss? Mine is 20 years old and still going strong 930519[/snapback] That's what it was! I couldn't think of the name. Mine did work well, too. It was my main joystick for a long time, but it wouldn't go in a certain direction after a while. Probably from overplaying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zonie Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 (edited) I hate the Epyx 500! It wasn't made for the Atari 2600 (more for the Commodore 64), but it would work though. I was so exited when I read about it since it looked like it might be a great ergonomic-type joystick, but when I brought it home and tried it out for a while, it hurt my hand. I took the piece of crap back the next day. My Xbox controllers are a million times better than any controller I have ever used so far. That will probably be my favorite until we start using Virtual Reality forced-feedback gloves where you feel the steering wheel of a car and so on.http://www.cedmagic.com/tech-info/remote-c...j-joystick.html 930533[/snapback] I picked one up last week for $4 thinking the same thing. I ended up using it LEFT handed. It sucked. Worst Joystick IMO is the Colecovison one. Edited September 13, 2005 by Zonie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candiru Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 Oh Epyx 500 how I loathe thee! Actually control and response is pretty good, but it reduces my hand to a cramped claw and the infernal clicking is known to cause long-term psychological damage. Still, the worst all around joystick I've ever tried is the 2600 compatible made by Kraft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Laird Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 Oh yeah! I truely hate the awful crappy Speedking, easily the worst joystick ever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveW Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 I hated the Atari Remote Control Joysticks. The things were huge. They just weren't comfortable to hold onto, with their gigantic base resting in your hand. And that incredibly long antenna on the joystick was a little clumsy too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+remowilliams Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 I hated the Atari Remote Control Joysticks. The things were huge. They just weren't comfortable to hold onto, with their gigantic base resting in your hand. And that incredibly long antenna on the joystick was a little clumsy too. 930625[/snapback] You mean those sticks that looked like the bad offpsring of a CX40, a ham radio, and an orange juice carton? Good try, but I hated them too 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uber Troll Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 (edited) I'm certainly no fan of the original 7800 joystick. Way too small and almost zero "give". Really didn't like it. The ColecoVision ones sucked too. There is also a special place in my anti-heart reserved for the non-centering joysticks that shipped for a wide variety of home computers in the early '80's. I had one for the Apple II that connected to the motherboard with eight of the most fragile pins you've ever seen. Who thought this was a good idea and for what purpose? Edited September 13, 2005 by Uber Troll Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supercat Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 Still, the worst all around joystick I've ever tried is the 2600 compatible made by Kraft. 930602[/snapback] I don't know if I've seen that one, but I remember a pretty terrible joystick Commodore used to sell (they started out with what looked like repackaged CX40's but then went to this other thing). A small base with a rather fat triangular stick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadow460 Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 Newport stick=absolute bane of my 2600 experience. We had two of them that were very suitable for clobbering the family cat whenever she stepped on the reset switch. I actually liked the combo CX-40/Ham radio/jiuce carton sticks. They seemed a little stiff, though. I'd like to get a set of 'em, but I'd have to get a separate power adapter(7800 one doesn't connect to the box)--ummm, never mind, then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcostin Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 The fancy blue stick sold with the Tron games. It was a specially branded version of another controller, I don't remember which. It's a great looking stick, with a handy base where the cord coils and everything. Unfortunately it was much too fragile. Mine broke soon after I got it, and if it didn't look so nice in my collection I doubt I'd have kept it all these years. I'll also second those little triangular Commodore joysticks. They were terrible, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fellow Atari Man Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 I had a gray joystick with the button on top of the stick. It what I wouldn't consider the worst but it wasn't that good either because it wore out within a year. 930460[/snapback] Yeah, as mentioned later, it was The Boss, mine didn't last very long either. Strange for being such a huge, steady stick though. Plus I didn't like the feel of it, either...too bulky! I had a gray joystick with the button on top of the stick. It what I wouldn't consider the worst but it wasn't that good either because it wore out within a year. Could've been the Wico Boss? Mine is 20 years old and still going strong 930519[/snapback] Wow, I'm impressed! I hate the Epyx 500! 930533[/snapback] Oh god! Before I found out Genesis controllers would work for the 2600, I got a Radio Shack knock-off that for a replacement joystick for my 2600, was very much like those Epyx ones (whatever it's called)...didn't last long. I hated the Atari Remote Control Joysticks. The things were huge. They just weren't comfortable to hold onto, with their gigantic base resting in your hand. 930625[/snapback] That was another Atari mistake, making those. Never used one, but I never heard a kind word about them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HP Atari King of Michigan Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 I hated the Atari Remote Control Joysticks. The things were huge. They just weren't comfortable to hold onto, with their gigantic base resting in your hand. And that incredibly long antenna on the joystick was a little clumsy too. 930625[/snapback] My mother actually bought a set of those one day. The next day, she took them back! That's how bad those were! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATARIPITBULL Posted September 21, 2005 Share Posted September 21, 2005 I don't like the Video Command joystick from Zircon International, design sucks, you have to use your thumb to move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Lodoen Posted September 21, 2005 Share Posted September 21, 2005 There is also a special place in my anti-heart reserved for the non-centering joysticks that shipped for a wide variety of home computers in the early '80's. I had one for the Apple II that connected to the motherboard with eight of the most fragile pins you've ever seen. Who thought this was a good idea and for what purpose? See, the earlier IIs actually shipped with paddles, so non-centering sticks made sense with the earliest games. That's a CH Products stick I think. I had a later model the Mach II with a 9-pin plug for the //e. It could switch between centering and non by turning some knobs on the bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adams_ale Posted September 21, 2005 Share Posted September 21, 2005 Personally, I think my Starplex Deluxe controller is a piece of crap. It's very counterintuitive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zedex Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 Worst joystick ever? The ones that were just called Joystick. The best? Epyx 500XJ, hands down. But there are tons of other greats from Suncom, Wico, Kempston, Suzo, and even some of the Quickshot flightsticks were decent for flying sims. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.