Any Commodore 64 "Experts" out there?

[Curt Vendel]

I have a question for someone who really knows and understands Commodore products, is very active in the Commodore community and also knows about current "new" products being made for C64 owners.

 

Please PM me, thank you.

 

 

Curt

[Curt Vendel]

Okay, let me let the cat out of the bag, show everyone a photo and see if I can get some feedback. I want to do a special edition, limited run Commodore 64 USB joystick. I've based the colors on the C64 case - Tan, keyboard keys brown and function keys grey. The ring around the base of the stick would be done in Chrome accenting.

 

The photo is not great as you really can't see well the dark brown of the actual stick assembly, the rubber base would still be in black. As it is, to do a limited 500 pc run in custom multi-colors costs a fortune, so these would have to be priced around $24.99.

 

So I am looking for some feedback from some diehard Commodore guys to see what they think.

 

Some other details, these would be called "64-Series" USB Joysticks.

 

The firmware would show them up as 64_joystick.

 

I could tweak the firmware and actually serialize each stick and custom number them from 1-500, I can write a short script and make a batch of 500 firmware images, then auto make 500 scripts to run each firmware image and burn 500 chips with different serial#'s, that would certainly add to the customized limited run experience.

 

Have each stick with a firmware ID of 64_stick_001, 002, 003.... 500

 

Curt

 

I have a question for someone who really knows and understands Commodore products, is very active in the Commodore community and also knows about current "new" products being made for C64 owners.

 

Please PM me, thank you.

 

 

Curt

[nathanallan]

Looking good to me! I am no C= expert, but I like what I see. Maybe a darker brown ring, not chrome, to match the case/keyboard color scheme of the C64. Is that button... what color? I can't really tell.

 

I'd have to make my own C= logo, and I think I can, gotta order that sticker paper for the side

 

Looks great

[Rybags]

Maybe try your luck at Lemon 64/Lemon Amiga Forums with an EOI thread.

 

Be sure to point out that it's a PC-based device and that it has the expansion ability (extra buttons, whatever).

 

I guess though, that like here, you'd probably find that only a quarter or so enthusiastic EOIs result in sales.

 

With the C= community, there's probably more allegiance to old sticks like the TAC-2 than the Atari ones - even back in the day they were well known not to be so ergonomic, but then again they were a dream compared to that triangular attrocity that Commodore tried on.

[frenchman]

You might want to use the official C64 paddle colours:

http://www.zimmers.net/cbmpics/jjoysticks2.html

 

 

Sorry I couldn't find a better picture

[frenchman]

Actually, also on that website you'll find a Commodore 'Atari style' joystick (see the Commodore logo), as you can see, the firebutton should be red.

Edited August 27, 2009 by frenchman

[youki]

Beeing a big C64 fan.

I find that your joystick does not have the "C64" feel at all.

 

I prefer the black one that is more "authentic" than that one.

 

Just my personnal taste.

[carmel_andrews]

I defo remember Atari coming out with a white/grey version of the cx40...I have one but want another as back up

 

Looks similar to the commodore one in an earlier post

[cimerians]

Lemon 64 is an excellent website for current 64 happenings.

[youki]

I have a grey CX40 that is coloured like the XE serie.

[AEX]

Nice Joystick,

 

Not sure if the CBM "CX-40" was just a sample or produced in another territory, but it looks nice. The offical CBM controller was a wedge shaped thingy with the button placed top-middle if memory serves me right.

 

I'd agree with the Rybags and give the Lemon 64 forums a shout, they'll be nuts for one!

 

Karl

Edited August 27, 2009 by AEX

[Curt Vendel]

So what if it was with a red button instead:

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/uploads/monthly_08_2009/post-23-125140069341_thumb.jpg

 

So you don't think going with C64 Tan for the body and C64 keyboard keys brown for the actual stick is the right way to go?

 

I'll put something onto Lemon64, just need to setup an account...

 

 

 

Curt

 

 

 

 

Beeing a big C64 fan.

I find that your joystick does not have the "C64" feel at all.

 

I prefer the black one that is more "authentic" than that one.

 

Just my personnal taste.

[carmel_andrews]

Looks good Curt....Shame that commodore didn't do a black version as well

 

why don't you offer them a black version or see what they think of a black version

[Lord Helmet]

This is the Commodore stick I remember...though I always used a 2600 stick with mine:

[+SpiceWare]

I got the other style Commodore paddles with my VIC 20

 

The paddles are ambidextrous, like the C= joystick Lord Helmet posted. It's hard to tell in the photo - but the C= Commodore at the top is chrome, so putting chrome on the 64_joystick would be appropriate.

[carmel_andrews]

I remember that one as well LH... No wonder why commodore went over to the classic cx-40 alike design

Edited August 27, 2009 by carmel_andrews

[2600Lives]

The stick that Lord Helmet posted is the "official" Commodore stick, but damn, it's a piece of shit. I also have a set of "official" paddles done in the darker brown/tan color instead of the white shown above.

 

It's a good idea, though, Curt. I really like the look of it. It'd be cool if you could make some actually 9 pin instead of USB, though, so it could be used in an actual C-64.

[Video]

This is the Commodore stick I remember...though I always used a 2600 stick with mine:

I like the look of the old controller, but despite it's er...ambidextrous look, it's actually a pain to use either handedly. I seem to remember the stick being unresponsive too

 

Tac2 was my favorite, but I think, despite having two buttons, it's just a one button joystick. maybe I'm remembering wrong though, been to long.

 

I always used 2600's or Wico's though, we had one of the batwing designs, a teardrop, and a ball version (though I think the ball was switchable with the teardrop....) That one, if I remember right, was two buttons...awesome stick, probably still got it around here somewhere, you can't break them (well, I suppose you could, but not through any semblance of "normal" wear)