Vibrating Joysticks

[Cupcakus]

OK, I've seen a small amount of interest in this idea. I have made these for myself and they work great, however there are draw backs.

 

#1 Atari joystick control is digital, not analog, so you cannot control the intensity of the vibration, just vibrate on/off. So it's really only good for things like combat when you get hit, as opposed to walking vibrations or similar.

 

#2 With the exception of my upcoming homebrew game, no game has support for this. I have modified a few games to support it, however to play them with the controllers you would need a way to get it to the actual console. (It will not work emulated, via an Atari to PC Joystick hack) So a supercharger or Cuttle Cart would be necessary.

 

#3 Atari Joysticks are hard to come by for me, so I could sell a "mod" to your existing joysticks.. IE: You send me your joystick, I vibrate mod it and send it back.... Or the price of a vibrating joystick is going to be more then most would probably be willing to spend for an unsupported feature.

 

However if you are still interested in them, let me know via PM or this thread and I'll put a few together for you, and research what a price might be.

[+RichG1972]

Don't fall into the trap of wanting your Atari 2600 or the sticks to do something the design was never made to do in the FIRST place, if you want any vibration effects there is a backpack type devide on the market called the "InterActor" which when hooked into the RF cable of ANY gaming system will vibrate the device and the wearer of the interactor pack, so keep your joysticks original as they are becoming rare and scarce, not many people offer the replacement parts out there so once they're gone, they're gone and your hope of ever getting the joysticks to working condition again will be of very little chance. Once your joysticks are dead and can't be replaced THEN what are all of you gonna do??? For that matter all of you who are modifying your Atari 2600, 5200 and 7800 consoles to include things they never had in mind, what happens once THOSE consoles blow out or burn up from the mods? Get more off of ebay? It's people like you "modders" that really get under my skin and make me think that all you are is obsessed with the power and technology of the newer game systems and you try to make an Atari more to your preference and defile a classic rather than leaving it as it is supposed to be a CLASSIC system, it wasn't meant to be brought up to code, the motherboards say 1977 and 1980 on them which reflects their time period. I have NOT nor will I EVER modify any of my Atari 2600 systems, I keep EVERY part original because at least THAT way they are worth something years later, and if a part burns out I buy an EXACT replacement, I don't upgrade it to make it better I bring it back to what it was at the factory, none of this modding bullshit. It's people like all of you that are modify happy that really tick me off because you don't understand what it means to be rare or classic and to me that is just plain sad

[Rob Mitchell]

I don't upgrade it to make it better I bring it back to what it was at the factory, none of this modding bullshit.  It's people like all of you that are modify happy that really tick me off because you don't understand what it means to be rare or classic and to me that is just plain sad

 

Easy now .. When I bought my original VCS in 1977, it did not have a channel select switch! They sent Ch 3 units to my town where there is a TV station broadcasting on Ch 3. Imagine the RF interference! The picture was horrible! And we endured that for 3-4 weeks until the local seller got some Ch4 (yes Ch FOUR) units in and swapped ours out. This was fall 1977! So these were the Sunnyvale Factory Units ... And the replacement unit (that I kept until 1983 when I sold it for $300) audio would buzz .. and the picture had RF waves in it .. I would have given real money for a better picture and better sound.

 

So I did .. I bought an Atari 800 with composite /sound out

 

Well now it is years later and I have built a circuit to make the video much more beautiful.

 

Also I have owned / given away about 10 working consoles .. to friends and family .. So I have only desecrated one console! Big freakin' deal!

 

So you want to get mad about what I (and many others) find common .. which you call rare?

 

We all have the history of our own Atari experence in childhood and as adults .. and you want to dictate to everyone that this stuff should not be touched /modified in certain ways? Nonsense! Horsefeathers!

 

 

What next: Are you gonna chew out the folks who harvest PacMan carts for the new homebrew carts?

 

A common Atari Console isn't worth $2.50 .. Hell !! I'll send one to you for shipping cost! You can put as much money into it as you wish to restore it to its former glory .. It'll still not be worth more than $2.50 plus parts.

 

Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

[Eduardo]

RichG1972 wrote:

It's people like all of you that are modify happy that really tick me off because you don't understand what it means to be rare or classic

 

Actually we DO understand what it means "rare" or "classic" mind you.

Question is: Does everyone here understands what "private property" means? If we attempt to modify or hack into Atari stuff is because we care and want to make something better out of it, at least I can speak for my experience modding hardware, it's fun finding new ways and test the limits to make it work in different ways.

 

I do take good care of my gamecarts by storing them in plastic boxes, cleaning them with Qtips, making my Consoles shine with Armor All every week, keeping them free of dust and away from direct Sun light, I think that most of us do care a lot for our Atari collection because we DO understand how important a classic game is. You can be sure my Quadrun is stored inside a plastic bag in a special box.

 

If you don't want to mod your Atari stuff, is fine with me.

But you can't stop us to do whatever we want with our PRIVATE PROPERTY.

 

Enuff said.

[Lumpbucket]

For that matter all of you who are modifying your Atari 2600, 5200 and 7800 consoles to include things they never had in mind, what happens once THOSE consoles blow out or burn up from the mods?

 

Hey! I'll do what I damn well like with my own stuff, thanks very much. I've changed the BIOS on my 7800 (don't worry, I kept the original...) so that I can write new games for it. I think thats a good thing, because the console doesn't have many games, and if I write a few more, it means that all those people who bought a 7800 can get a few more games for their console!

 

Also, the RF output from it is really crappy! Is it so wrong to want to play games on the original hardware, AND have a nice quality picture?

[Happy_Dude]

Don't fall into the trap of wanting your Atari 2600 or the sticks to do something the design was never made to do in the FIRST place

 

Whoa! Slow down there! Not all mods are Bad. K.

This is a thread i started here http://www.atariage.com/forums/viewtopic.p...p=150152#150152

Now by your post one would assume my mod idea is acceptable.

Atari actually designed the L.E.D in there but due to costs dropped it to make the consol affordable

(kinda like Nintendo droped the DVD player in the Game Cube)

[atari_aaron]

So far I've purchased two systems since I started collecting a couple of months ago... I've received 5 sticks with them... only one worked. I've butchered the 4 non-working ones. I also butchered one old PC/Apple II joystick, and one N64 Stick... the last two were in working order... but alas, not anymore.

 

All hail the 5200 guru's who are attempting to develop new joysticks!!!... I could probably convince my fiance to play now and then if the darn things just worked. She likes Pacman.

 

If it makes you feel better. I purchased a four port 5200 because I wanted to gut it so I could put in a new PC motherboard... plenty of room in there you know... but after I got it, I did not have the heart... now it sits (in working condition) next to my two port on a special entertainment center my fiance made me buy because I was cluttering up the livingroom with my atari stuff.

 

 

Later,

 

Aaron

[rasty]

keep your joysticks original as they are becoming rare and scarce, not many people offer the replacement parts out there so once they're gone, they're gone and your hope of ever getting the joysticks to working condition again will be of very little chance.

 

Now that's what I call an open-minded discussion!

 

I'd say cool off a little, Rich. After your blood will be cold again, you will surely be able to lay down some figures and better judge these.

 

Let's say, in fact, that some 50-100 joysticks get modified for vibration (and that's a VERY OPTIMISTIC figure, in my opinion). Do you know how many 2600s have been sold? Millions and millions! Each with 2 joysticks!

Plus the spare ones sold separately..

 

This will hardly ever get a shortage of Atari joysticks. And same goes for any other mods.

 

And I'm also pretty sure that you will have secured a heavy amount of CX-40s way before the last one will pop up on ebay, and will not need to look for one for the rest of your life

 

I believe that people with good will for initiatives should be praised. It's thanks to such people that there's always renewed interest in the Atari community.

 

But of course these are MY opinions..

 

Once your joysticks are dead and can't be replaced THEN what are all of you gonna do???

 

Probably my grand-grand-grand-grand-children will have figured out a way to clone an Atari joystick by then!

 

It's people like you "modders" that really get under my skin and make me think that all you are is obsessed with the power and technology

 

Well, everyone has his own obsessions!

 

you try to make an Atari more to your preference

 

Yup that's exactly what they do... what's wrong with that? afterall it's OUR systems...!

 

I have NOT nor will I EVER modify any of my Atari 2600 systems, I keep EVERY part original because at least THAT way they are worth something years later, and if a part burns out I buy an EXACT replacement, I don't upgrade it to make it better I bring it back to what it was at the factory, none of this modding bullshit.

 

Please keep in mind that this is YOUR opinion that does not necessarily have to be shared. And please, once again, cool down a little, will you?

No one will take you seriously if you react in this way!

 

Greets,

Rasty.-

[LinkoVitch]

Back on the topic of the stick mods.. Instead of modding the actual sticks (ahving people send em off etc). How about a unit that attaches to the underside or whereever of the stick and performs the vibration tasks. Would require another cable to run alongside the normal stick cable.. and piggy back.. possibly incorporate an extension in there too?

 

 

Sounds like a plan.

 

Would it be possible to use the original LED flashing stuff for the vibration? therefor meaning that combat and possibly one or two others would have it already without need for modding? (you would have to re-write your game I'd guess).

[NE146]

Vibrating joysticks eh..... hmmmmmm................................

 

 

[Cupcakus]

Back on the topic of the stick mods.. Instead of modding the actual sticks (ahving people send em off etc).   How about a unit that attaches to the underside or whereever of the stick and performs the vibration tasks.  Would require another cable to run alongside the normal stick cable.. and piggy back.. possibly incorporate an extension in there too?

 

 

Sounds like a plan.

 

Would it be possible to use the original LED flashing stuff for the vibration? therefor meaning that combat and possibly one or two others would have it already without need for modding?  (you would have to re-write your game I'd guess).

 

I don't see how such a device would reall work.... Well I take that back, yes I do it just would be difficult to work out, you would need a "splitter" box of sorts so that you could run one cable from the stick and one from the vibratrating. I'd have to construct an enclosure for the vibrating mech that could somehow attatch itself to the stick base.

 

While it's definetly possible, it'd probably cost at least $18 for cables/splitter components/Vibrating Components/and Custom Enclosure Components.

 

To just put a vibrating motor in an existing stick would only cost like $4... and you can't even really tell it's in there unless you open it up.

 

Like has been said before it's your stuff and if you want your sticks original inside and out, that's fine with me I'm certainly not demanding you send them to me :-) What's there to say that in 30 years all of this homebrew stuff won't become wildly collectable, as we only create a few of these items every time we come up with them.

 

Rich -- I've never heard of this RF remote vibrating mech you talk about... maybe it will work instead of modding a real stick? Do you have a link to share?

[Cupcakus]

I found it, it's basically just a subwoofer you wear... So it vibrates in reaction to sounds on the TV, or any A/V device you plug it in to.

 

I found it for $20 around the net...

 

Aura InterActor

[Lumpbucket]

I found it, it's basically just a subwoofer you wear... So it vibrates in reaction to sounds on the TV, or any A/V device you plug it in to.

 

I found it for $20 around the net...

 

Yeah, and IIRC it requires an audio out, so you'd have to mod your Atari anyway...

[rasty]

Rich -- I've never heard of this RF remote vibrating mech you talk about... maybe it will work instead of modding a real stick?  Do you have a link to share?

 

As far as I know, but I may be wrong, the Aura Interactor is a backpack device that provides some force feedback to your chest based on the sound effects of the game. Osheas has a few thousands for sale as low as $20. There's a description of the unit on the website also..

 

Afaik the Interactor can't be controlled if not with the sound output, which could be a limit with 2600 games, but I don't know for sure...

My believe is that in the end the Interactor would feel like glueing a subwoofer to your chest

 

Greets,

Rasty.-

[Happy_Dude]

IF you dont like the idea of breaking open your Atari joysticks

you could always use a cheap 2nd party joystick.

[Cupcakus]

IF you dont like the idea of breaking open your Atari joysticks

you could always use a cheap 2nd party joystick.

 

Yeah, some are compatible with my mech, they just need room for it to spin and cause the vibration. My Wico stick does, however another 3rd party stick I have does not have the room... But that is of course a solution.

[+RichG1972]

Here's a thought, instead of modifying original Atari Equipment, how many of you actually have electronics experience? Why not do this? Get a supply of PC boards and make your own circuitboards and motherboards custom designed with all of what you want on one board, or even two? then, get some cables made for different controllers (Atari Cx-40 cables, Genesis Cables or even cables from a Sega Master System, hell I have a Sega Quick Shot controller you guys can cannibalize if you want it) etc, and if you like I'll even get in on this as I have a friend in Jersey who makes resin molds, he can take castings off of my various Atari systems and make molds of them without charging me since he makes molds of stuff all the time and his work is quality, and I can send molds to those who want them. I won't even ask for a dime, and then instead of modifying REAL Atari's and joysticks, you can actually BUILD your own CUSTOM Atari unit with your own circuitboards and you can also mold your own Atari joystick casings and other stuff, hell if you want you can mold a 1977 Heavy Sixer in clear blue if you want after I get the molds done up, then all you do is build the circuit you want, go to the electronics stores and get the parts you need to build a custom motherboard and I can even help if neccessary with the acquisition of parts, then take the molds of the joysticks and make your own versions of the joysticks, fire buttons etc (Personally I think a red fire button molded in see thru red plastic with a bright red LED underneath that would light up when pressed would be a great idea for a joystick improvement). Consider my idea, instead of modifying the original Atari equipment, creat your OWN Atari, make it a new system that will surpass the old, then maybe Infogrames will take notice and maybe might even like some of your ideas....hold a contest, submit ideas and mold your own casings, make your own systems let's all blow the lid off the other game systems and show people what we all can really do I challenge you all to create the Atari that has been waiting to be given life...... the ATARI 2600 ULTIMATE. Are you with me? If you want molds of anything Atari related let me know, I can get it done.

[Cupcakus]

I'm out of the custom joystick game :-) Too expensive, and too much work for everything else I'm planning. The vibration mod was only a cheap quick way to add something else to your joystick... however if someone else wants to go create custom joysticks... that would be awesome!!

 

What I really need molds of is Atari cartridge casings. I'm not a subscriber of hacking up old Pac-Man cases for our homebrews... I don't see why we can't create our own plastic cases. PM me and lets talk about how we might get into making a mold for cases.

[LinkoVitch]

Why not document the modding of a joystick, and put it up on a website, that way people can do the mods themselves if they wish. And it's no extra work for yourself!

[Stella'sGhost]

#1 Atari joystick control is digital, not analog, so you cannot control the intensity of the vibration, just vibrate on/off.  So it's really only good for things like combat when you get hit, as opposed to walking vibrations or similar.

 

NO, its analog.

 

Vibrating joystick?

 

This sounds like a cool idea, and it sounds easy to do on the hardware side of it.

 

Well everyone already said their piece in regards to Rich1972's post but I'll add my own 56 cents.

 

Rich, I see where you are coming from, but I think that out of all the people who still have an Atari 2600, probably only a tiny percentage are capable of and or interested in and actually have made some kind of mod to it. There are probably several hundred thousand 2600 units world wide in working order right now, so many millions were made, and were stored away where they could last for a hell of along time.

 

Don't fall into the trap of wanting your Atari 2600 or the sticks to do something the design was never made to do in the FIRST place

 

Uh, yeah, don't point your telecsope to the stars, what for? we all know they are made of cheese.

 

 

 

..... Once your joysticks are dead and can't be replaced THEN what are all of you gonna do???  ....

 

Yeah, once we mod all of the 20 million joysticks made by Atari then what are we gonna do? I for one will eat a giant bowl of donuts.

 

It's people like you "modders" that really get under my skin and make me think that all you are is obsessed with the power and technology of the newer game systems and you try to make an Atari more to your preference and defile a classic rather than leaving it as it is supposed to be a CLASSIC system, it wasn't meant to be brought up to code, the motherboards say 1977 and 1980 on them which reflects their time period.

 

I dont' think that a "modder" or home brewer's motivation for doing what they do is because they are obessed with the power and tech of the new systems, in fact I think that is far from the mark. They grew up with the Atari and now that they are older can finally understand how these old game "computers" work and take on the challenge of writing their own Atari game, or improve a joystick, as even I have done, its a tough challenge too, its all a learning experience, and its fun. (also many of these tech/electronic/programmers are kinda goofy and like to take things apart and can't put them back together - or is that just me?)

 

I have NOT nor will I EVER modify any of my Atari 2600 systems,It's people like all of you that are modify happy that really tick me off because you don't understand what it means to be rare or classic and to me that is just plain sad

 

I have my original atari 2600 VCS from 1983 that my folks gave me, I won't touch that one, not because its rare, because it isn't, but because THEY gave it to me and its the one I grew up playing on since I was 14. But I have another one that I would mess around with, sure! How else are you going to learn about this stuff???

 

Consider my idea, instead of modifying the original Atari equipment, create your OWN Atari, make it a new system that will surpass the old

 

I would if I could! but I can't so for now I'll just dream of a Giant Bowl of Dounts.

[Happy_Dude]

Here's a thought, instead of modifying original Atari Equipment, how many of you actually have electronics experience?  Why not do this?  Get a supply of PC boards and make your own circuitboards and motherboards custom designed with all of what you want on one board, or even two? then, get some cables made for different controllers (Atari Cx-40 cables, Genesis Cables or even cables from a Sega Master System, hell I have a Sega Quick Shot controller you guys can cannibalize if you want it) etc, and if you like I'll even get in on this as I have a friend in Jersey who makes resin molds, he can take castings off of my various Atari systems and make molds of them without charging me since he makes molds of stuff all the time and his work is quality, and I can send molds to those who want them.  I won't even ask for a dime, and then instead of modifying REAL Atari's and joysticks, you can actually BUILD your own CUSTOM Atari unit with your own circuitboards and you can also mold your own Atari joystick casings and other stuff, hell if you want you can mold a 1977 Heavy Sixer in clear blue if you want after I get the molds done up, then all you do is build the circuit you want, go to the electronics stores and get the parts you need to build a custom motherboard and I can even help if neccessary with the acquisition of parts, then take the molds of the joysticks and make your own versions of the joysticks, fire buttons etc (Personally I think a red fire button molded in see thru red plastic with a bright red LED underneath that would light up when pressed would be a great idea for a joystick improvement).  Consider my idea, instead of modifying the original Atari equipment, creat your OWN Atari, make it a new system that will surpass the old, then maybe Infogrames will take notice and maybe might even like some of your ideas....hold a contest, submit ideas and mold your own casings, make your own systems let's all blow the lid off the other game systems and show people what we all can really do I challenge you all to create the Atari that has been waiting to be given life...... the ATARI 2600 ULTIMATE.  Are you with me?  If you want molds of anything Atari related let me know, I can get it done.

 

I might take you up on that offer. Id pay the postage of course

The rubber on the stick might be a problem but imagin, if you will, a white 2600 joystick with a blue fire button that lights up.

 

You could also put a serial port in this NEW "yet to be named" consol to help out with homebrew developers and Rom ripping

Hell have a naming contest. Make it official.

 

Use one of those 2600 on a chip things and make the whole thing as small as a C.D case

 

Sorry about all that!

O.k I'm done ranting now