Keyboard controllers and ATARI 2600

[Lord-Chaos]

Hi,

 

I want to create a game which uses the CX-50 Keyboard controllers.

 

Is it difficult to use them or as easy as a Joystick ?

 

Where can I find more information about the Keyboard controllers ?

 

Thimo

[Nukey Shay]

Fortunately, there is a place just for questions like this. Anything and everything known about programming the 2600 can be found at the DIG. Clicking that link will bring you directly to the Big List interface, where you can search for any specific thing to bring up a plethora of links and examples. Check 'em out!

 

Good luck.

[Rob Mitchell]

I want to create a game which uses the CX-50 Keyboard controllers.  Is it difficult to use them or as easy as a Joystick ?

 

You need to talk to Paul Slocum. He is the only guy who has programmed the 2600 to use the keyboard controllers.

 

Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

[Lord-Chaos]

Another question :

 

Is there a difference between Keyboard Controllers , Kids Controllers and Video Touch Pad ?

 

And there is a 4th Keyboard , I think the CX-85 Numeric Keyboard for the ATARI 800.

 

I only have the CX-50 controllers,the small Keyboard controllers.They work with BASIC Programming and Concentration and Cookie Monster Munch (a Kids Controller game).

 

BTW : Is there a list of all games that use Keyboard controllers ? I may disassemble the ROMs and examine the source code.

[Rob Mitchell]

Another question :   Is there a difference between Keyboard Controllers , Kids Controllers and Video Touch Pad ?

 

No .. these are electronically equivalent.

 

And there is a 4th Keyboard , I think the CX-85 Numeric Keyboard for the ATARI 800.

 

I have never seen this one .. so I cannot comment ...

 

BTW : Is there a list of all games that use Keyboard controllers ? I may disassemble the ROMs and examine the source code.

 

It's kinda peacemeal here on AA .. but go to the 2600 controller section and click on the game list that uses these controls.

 

Well Let me see if I can remember them all:

Brain Games, Concentration, Codebreaker, Basic Programming, Alpha Beam, Cookie Monster, Oscar, Grover, Big Bird, Star Raiders, Synthcart, Testcart, Peek-a-boo, one more unreleased proto I cannot remember. ...

 

Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

[Paul Slocum]

I want to create a game which uses the CX-50 Keyboard controllers.

 

Is it difficult to use them or as easy as a Joystick ?

 

It's more difficult that the joystick. You have to delay between reading each row, but the delay is short enough that you can do it all in VBlank or Overscan (so it doesn't complicate your kernal like the paddles.) The Stella Programmer's Guide covers the details.

 

The CX85 keyboard is not compatible. Is has different buttons and a different interface.

 

And Rob, I think Holey Moley is what you're trying to think of. I think you got them all. But my next game is going to use keyboards too.

 

-Paul

[Nukey Shay]

Although the Numeric Keypad connected to the Atari computer's joystick ports, I don't believe that it is compatable with the keyboard controllers (since it required a special driver file to work).

[Rob Mitchell]

Rob, I think Holey Moley is what you're trying to think of.  I think you got them all.  But my next game is going to use keyboards too.    

 

Hey Paul!

 

That list of keyboard games was right off the top of my head .. Yup .. Holey Moley is the one I could not remember. I look forward to your next game! What's it gonna be?

 

Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

[Paul Slocum]

Although the Numeric Keypad connected to the Atari computer's joystick ports, I don't believe that it is compatable with the keyboard controllers

 

I plugged it in with the Testcart and it didn't work. It affected the joystick and paddle readouts when I pressed buttons. It's probably possible to read it, but not as a keyboard. It doesn't have the same buttons anyway.

 

BG Micro has a huge stock of them. It would be kind of cool to buy their stock, make a homebrew that uses it, then sell the carts with the controller.

 

http://www.bgmicro.com/pdf/page21.pdf

 

-Paul

[Nukey Shay]

There is supposed to be some kind of "driver" software for the keypad...does anyone know where that disk can be found? Or a disassembly?

[Lord-Chaos]

There is supposed to be some kind of "driver" software for the keypad...does anyone know where that disk can be found?  Or a disassembly?

 

I bought one years ago and AFAIK there was a driver disk for the ATARI 800.I still have all my ATARI 8 Bit disks , so I can try to find it.

 

Thimo

[Lord-Chaos]

I plugged it in with the Testcart and it didn't work. It affected the joystick and paddle readouts when I pressed buttons. It's probably possible to read it, but not as a keyboard. It doesn't have the same buttons anyway.

 

BG Micro has a huge stock of them. It would be kind of cool to buy their stock, make a homebrew that uses it, then sell the carts with the controller.

 

http://www.bgmicro.com/pdf/page21.pdf

 

-Paul

 

I only know that they work with ATARI 800 (XL/XE) and they came witch a disk (driver I think).

 

I still have this disk somewhere , never sold anything.

 

AFAIK the CX-50 Keyboard controllers won´t work with the ATARI 800 .

 

I want to use them because I have lots (at least 500 packages =1000 controllers) and it´s possible to create overlays for them and they usually work (not many defective units / I have lots of not working paddles , but no not working keyboard controllers)

 

Thimo

[Nukey Shay]

The CX-50 keyboard controllers do work with the 800...I know this for a fact since there are programming examples in the Basic Manual.

 

@Albert

Broken link in the overlay section...this is the one that doesn't work:

http://www.atariage.com/2600/controllers/c...ariKeyboard.jpg