What is the best joystick? I love 500XJ EPYX red joystick!

[Mot]

 

I remember, back in the day, this made for your hand joystick. I found one at thrift picket up right away. This is a micro switch thing so it is clicky. Now I have one for NES. I guess these are not too hard to find.

 

Does anyone else like the 500XJ? or do you have others that are better?

[SS]

That looks very much like the sticks that they were giving away at PhillyClassic 2. They certainly "clicked" when you moved them. I dunno, I just didn't like 'em. I gave mine away to a guy who was looking to start a 2600 collection. I'll take the old classic Atari stick any day; I've yet to find a stick that feels more comfortable.

[Rob Mitchell]

My favorite stick is the 500XJ ... I also like the Quickshot II which has microswitches also.

 

My favorite controller is the starplex 5 button Asteroids style controller. I now have two of them! I can connect them to the Vectrex for Minestorm or 2 person Space Wars!

 

Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

[MegaManFan]

I bought this a long time ago for C64 when I was a kid, and I use it exclusively on my 2600jr now. It has a molded handle to fit your fingers around; and the color scheme is a cool black base, gray middle, black stick and white firing button. It's an old friend I'm still glad to see whenever it's out to say hello during my games. Nearly 20 years old and still ticking, that's my Wico!

[Inky]

The Mindscape Powerplayer rocks big time!

[Mayhem]

I hated the stick in the first post. Utterly loathed it because it was just ergonomically bad. Much prefered Competition Pro or Powerplay Cruiser sticks...

[JCroniger]

My favorite is the original. The Wico bat joystick is pretty good too!

[ATARIPITBULL]

For me it will always be the good old black and red 2600 joystick.

 

[Cap5750]

I have a couple of these. I also have another made by someone else (I forget who but can look it up) which has an autofire switch on the top.

 

I like it.

 

Why? Because after hours of playing certain games, my hands don't hurt like crazy.

 

IMO, it's best for games that require quick movement of the stick. For example, Track & Field, Summer Games, Winter Games, etc.

 

Cap

[Goochman]

I loved the feel of the 500XJ but couldnt play games as well with it. The feel wasnt as good as the original Atari sticks esp when rapid movements were required.

 

Felt good in the hand though.

 

[Inky]

Found this interesting article:

 

The Joy of Joysticks

 

And here's a pic of my perferred controller

[Lemmi]

heh the 500jx has to be a misprint its rated Excellent on all things but the overall rating is Poor

 

kinda funny

[AtariKari]

Yes! The Powerplayer is my fav controller as well. The only complaint I have is that the stick spins on the base, making games like Thrust a _bit_ more difficult.

 

It is by far the most responsive stick I've got, although if I ever fix my Wico handheld, shaped like the Epyx above but very responsive, that may change.

 

On a _slightly_ related note: what system is this for? (pic attached) I just traded for it and haven't gotten the actual thing yet, but ws told it is 16-pin. Dunno

[somePUNK]

the stick is the best stick ever come on guys it's great

[Krytol]

The original Atari joystick or the Gemstik.

[IceCold]

 

I remember, back in the day, this made for your hand joystick.  I found one at thrift picket up right away.  This is a micro switch thing so it is clicky.  Now I have one for NES.  I guess these are not too hard to find.

 

Does anyone else like the 500XJ?  or do you have others that are better?

 

This is the stick that was set up at the AtariAge booth at Cinciclassic right? If it is, I'll probably buy one. Anybody here wanna give me theirs for somewhat cheap?

[Inky]

This is the stick that was set up at the AtariAge booth at Cinciclassic right?  If it is, I'll probably buy one.  Anybody here wanna give me theirs for somewhat cheap?

 

I have one but it ain't going anywhere...

 

[IceCold]

Yeah, I figured most people who had one wouldn't wanna get rid of it. Just from my limited experience with it at Cinciclassic, i think it's a great joystick.

[The Night Phantom]

I’m not familiar with this one. How are you supposed to hold and operate it? Is that red thing on the right toward the bottom supposed to be a firing button?

 

The Mindscape Powerplayer rocks big time!

I use mine a lot too. The only drawback I’ve noticed is that occasionally I slowly, unwittingly rotate the base about 45° in my left hand but still move the joystick as though I were holding it at 0° or even -45°, thereby producing bad gaming results. So long as I am careful to hold it properly, no problem.

 

 

AtariKari, your new joystick looks fantastic. I’m jealous and wondering where it’s been all my life.

[AtariKari]

AtariKari, your new joystick looks fantastic. I’m jealous and wondering where it’s been all my life.

 

Hey thanks. After a little help in this http://www.atariage.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15296 thread, it looks like an Apple IIe stick. I guess there is a chance I can just clip a few wires and rig it to an Intelly or CV or 2600, but I'm not too confident.

 

Either way it does look pretty hip.

[Scooterb23]

I liked the 500XJ, I just found that after 2 years of constant Activision De3cathlon, Summer / Winter Games...they tend to snap...

[Keir]

My favorite (as far as single-button joysticks go) would be The Boss by Wico. I've been using the same one for almost 20 years now!

 

I found the Epyx joystick to be really uncomfortable, but maybe I just have weird shaped hands. If someone wants to trade for one, email me: [email protected]

[Godzilla]

well it WAS the wico bat stick, until about 4 or 5 years ago, I found this:

 

http://british.nerp.net/experimental/80s/o...mags/sansei.jpg

 

at a local flea market for $3

 

The only difference between the one I own and the one pictured, is that

it does not have a fifth button up by the stick, and the fire button is the same standard arcade style button as all the rest (not different, as in the picture,) Since the pic is b/w I will elaborate: The until is matte black metal, with 2600 color orange pin striping, and fake wood finish particle board blocks on the side. Coordinates VERY nicely with the original 2600s (especially the big sexy,)

 

It died about 2 years ago, but an adept friend of mine repaired it (it was just the cord,) all actual arcade parts inside. and all the buttons work all the time, so u can hit u/d/l/r all at the same time if u want too, AND use the stick for very interesting results in some 2600 games :-) very responsive, very fast fire button. and AWESOME for any slide and shoot and asteroid style games. now all i need is a 2600-pc interface if junie would start selling them again! (so i can use it in mame with asteroids, pleadies, etc.)

 

[Godzilla]

well it WAS the wico bat stick, until about 4 or 5 years ago, I found this:

 

http://british.nerp.net/experimental/80s/o...mags/sansei.jpg

 

at a local flea market for $3

 

The only difference between the one I own and the one pictured, is that

it does not have a fifth button up by the stick, and the fire button is the same standard arcade style button as all the rest (not different, as in the picture,) Since the pic is b/w I will elaborate: The until is matte black metal, with 2600 color orange pin striping, and fake wood finish particle board blocks on the side. Coordinates VERY nicely with the original 2600s (especially the big sexy,)

 

It died about 2 years ago, but an adept friend of mine repaired it (it was just the cord,) all actual arcade parts inside. and all the buttons work all the time, so u can hit u/d/l/r all at the same time if u want too, AND use the stick for very interesting results in some 2600 games :-) very responsive, very fast fire button. and AWESOME for any slide and shoot and asteroid style games. now all i need is a 2600-pc interface if junie would start selling them again! (so i can use it in mame with asteroids, pleadies, etc.)

 

[Godzilla]

i hated the 500 xj. never felt comfortable to me, and always felt cheap. i used to make fun of the obscenly painful claw like hand that it produced and joke about how it would adhere to your hand and attack it. anyway. no love for the 500xj here.