what's the best 2600 joystick controller you ever had

[Electric T V]

Here's some pictures of my favorite controllers starting with the present favorite:

 

 

 

The Golden Age controller (89-93):

 

 

 

And the solidest best response controllers:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Save some room for the biggest Turkeys ever:

 

 

I hate this thing:

 

 

 

What the heck were they thinking with this?:

 

 

 

And literally the BIGGEST disappointment of all sticks:

 

 

 

 

And the most annoying joystick controller of all because there was no getting around it:

 

[BydoEmpire]

While I didn't use it with the 2600 much (I got it when I was playing more c64 game), the Epyx 500xj is my favorite one. I have two now, and unfortunately they're both broken. I love the click, and they're super comfortable.

[+Ransom]

I still prefer the Wico bat joysticks to all others.

[ComputerSpaceFan]

Call me crazy but I have always loved the basic stock joysticks that come with the 2600. I mean far above any other controller since then. It fits perfectly in the hand, has a great ergonomic response which is awesome for fast twitch games like Cosmic Ark and remains to this day the best way to play PacMan (though obviously one of the much improved versions of PacMan, not the aweful original).

And I will still put the original 2600 controller against any modern gamepad. LONG LIVE THE JOYSTICK!

[crunchysuperman]

Mindscape Powerplayer - I still use it.

 

Honorable mention for the 500xj & TAC-2

[mimo]

Radica Space Invaders stick (converted)

CX-10

CX-42 (FB2 joysticks)

Wico Bat

CX-40

TAC-2

[+Nathan Strum]

My favorite controller is a modded CX-40.

[ComputerSpaceFan]

Oooo can I slightly modify my answer from before? I would like to say the FlashBack 2 controllers (CX-42?) are the best. Admittedly they look and feel exactly like their ancestors but have way better durability and can stand up to pretty fierce gaming.

LONG LIVE THE (flashback2) JOYSTICK!!

[godzillajoe]

I thought the FB2 sticks were more fragile than the "real" Atari sticks.

 

Snapped one playing Pete Rose Baseball

 

It would stand no chance with Decathlon or Track And Field

 

The "gold" sticks from Best are my #1, Wico bat handle #2, Slik Stik and the Kraft stick that you could lock into U,D,L,R only mode for maze games are right up there too

[mos6507]

Wico Command Control. Still have it. Still works, although it's a little creaky. Nothing beats leaf switches for the true coinop feel, although coinops have largely gone with microswitches by now.

 

The original Atari sticks are fine but they just don't last.

 

The microswitch Flashback2 sticks are pretty good.

[shadow460]

Atari remote control wireless joystick. No wires to pull, and big enough for my hands to hold.

Second is the Amiga Power Stick.

[opeygon]

of course my fav is the good old original joystick, but lately i've been using a sega control stick for the sms on my 2600. that thing kicks ass on the atari 2600!

[ninermaniac]

Mindscape Powerplayer - I still use it.

 

Honorable mention for the 500xj & TAC-2

 

 

Here Here! Epyx 500XJ rocks!

[HP Atari King of Michigan]

Either the CX-40 or CX-42 (FB2 sticks) for my choices. I also like the Gemsticks (the one with the big yellow button). As far as crappy sticks goes: The Boss stick; great at first, but wears out after a while. I still would like to try out the CX-10 Heavy Sixer sticks.

[Lord Helmet]

Radica Space Invaders stick (converted)

 

This is almost the only thing I use for any classic system I can get it to work with. I use it with the 2600, 7800, 5200, and Colecovision. Great stick.

[phil_vr]

The best joystick ever made for the Atari2600 platform (and home computers in general with a standard 9pin D plug) is the Tomahawk by Aneroussis Control.

 

Talking about Full Metal Jacket?! You bet!!

 

 

One of those joysticks alone, would outlast all published copies of Decathlon combined, till each and everyone of them would die from too much playing! And I am very moderate on this phrase!!!

 

Microswitches that can be heard from a block away, and can be found only (and maybe) on the Control panel of a Panzer Tank! The absolute best.

 

Second in line is the Controller Super 8+ by CMS. Same in design, but lighter plastic casing, and not such a BEAST inside as the Tomahawk!! But nevertheless, the best second around.

[+Midnight Synergy]

Mindscape Powerplayer - I still use it.

 

Honorable mention for the 500xj & TAC-2

 

 

Here Here! Epyx 500XJ rocks!

 

Another vote for the Epyx! Although I never had one in my Atari 2600 days (got it with my Atari ST). And the classic controllers for sheer nostalgia value.

[Rik]

The original one,cx40

[SRGilbert]

As a kid, we only had the Atari joysticks, and they were good enough for us. My best friend had a couple of Wico Boss sticks, but I couldn't stand them. I hated the top fire button, and I hated the way they would twist around.

 

Nowadays, the CX-40s hurt my hands, so I either use a Tac-2 (great 2600 stick!) or my Radica Space invaders stick.

[Vic George 2K3]

The Suncom TAC-2, probably followed by the Amiga PowerStick.

Edited March 15, 2008 by Vic George 2K3

[Wickeycolumbus]

I like the TAC-2, but I also like the fb2 sticks, the standard cx40, and of course, the modded NES controler.

[+remowilliams]

Well, there's already been a whole bunch of these types of threads but...

 

The Slik Stik

My RSI stick

Doubledown's 7800 NES pad

 

back in the stone ages, a CX40.

 

I don't know how anyone likes the 500XJ sticks, good microswitches but they're a hand cramp in a box.

[tcv]

Mindscape Powerplayer - I still use it.

 

Honorable mention for the 500xj & TAC-2

 

 

Here Here! Epyx 500XJ rocks!

 

Oh jeez! I rarely EVER post here and I just had to come up to say this:

 

I _LOVED_ the Epyx 500XJ, but most places I mentioned it reacted with scorn and ridicule! I think it was the only joy"stick" that felt comfortable to me. I liked the original VCS ones, but jammin' the Epyx on C64 games was awesome.

[jboypacman]

Am down with the 500XJ as well i really like using this one when i play on the 2600.

[BassGuitari]

The classic, standard CX-40 for me. The CX-10s are pretty cool too.

 

I also like Tac-2s and Slik-Stiks and some others, but I prefer the standard Atari joystick.

 

EDIT: I forgot, the Zircon Video Command is really cool, but mine has a tendency to not work well...intermittant contacts or something.

Edited March 15, 2008 by BassGuitari