Jump to content
IGNORED

Why does the XEGS stock controller have only ONE button rather than 2?


Recommended Posts

It really makes no sense. There is not a single legitimate excuse to release a console in 1987, and have it packed with a controller with ONLY 1 BUTTON! >:( >:( >:( Atari Corporation, you dun goofed! They should have made the XEGS controller more like either the 7800 joystick, or the C64 game joystick, complete with 2 buttons. :) Shame on YOU, ATARI CORP. for not making the XEGS stock controller with ONLY 1 button. Thanks for being stuck in the 2600 days! :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown:

post-39329-0-85143400-1407441247.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Haven't you noticed that 1. The XEGS joystick is the exact same joystick as the Atari 2600? 2. The 8-bit Atari didn't have any commercial software that was released for a 2 button joystick. Most XEGS games were repackaged Atari 800/XL/XE titles!

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The 7800 is a similar mystery - the 2nd button can't be read by the computer unless the controller is modified.

 

A 2nd button for XEGS controllers would have been nice, they could have simply used a POT input - in fact 2 extra buttons can be had that way.
Rather than endure single-button sticks, a new standard could have been established. Modifying the games wouldn't have been a big thing, as it was they "fixed" Missile Command and modified the Lucasfilm games and some other titles to work from cart rather than floppy.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just the key reading... original cart read direct from the OS Rom key table which is different location on XL.

 

IIRC they "fixed" the issue by simply reading from the XE OS directly... although being that it's only officially on that 32K system ROM not really a problem.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The 7800 is a similar mystery - the 2nd button can't be read by the computer unless the controller is modified.

 

A 2nd button for XEGS controllers would have been nice, they could have simply used a POT input - in fact 2 extra buttons can be had that way.

Rather than endure single-button sticks, a new standard could have been established. Modifying the games wouldn't have been a big thing, as it was they "fixed" Missile Command and modified the Lucasfilm games and some other titles to work from cart rather than floppy.

 

Seeing that the XEGS keyboard port is a 5200 port, they could've just added more of those ports and then offered multi-button controllers standard and modded existing A8 software when creating cartridge versions. Think about how badass the system would've been had they used multi-button Epyx 500XJ typed controllers [Epyx had 2-fire button versions for the Apple // and NES] standard! And also had they finished the AMY, they could've thrown it in as they had planned to do with the 65XEM.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Seeing that the XEGS keyboard port is a 5200 port, they could've just added more of those ports and then offered multi-button controllers standard and modded existing A8 software when creating cartridge versions. Think about how badass the system would've been had they used multi-button Epyx 500XJ typed controllers [Epyx had 2-fire button versions for the Apple // and NES] standard! And also had they finished the AMY, they could've thrown it in as they had planned to do with the 65XEM.

I can deal with the AMY chip not being in the XEGS. Also, I think that Atari had envisioned that that 7800 and the XEGS would deliver a 1-2 punch to the Master System, and the NES, respectively.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Atari tried to re-use existing technology by launching the XEGS. They were probably more interested in minimum cost than technological progress. Adding joystick buttons would have required new hardware as well as changes to the software titles re-issued for the XEGS. If there were significant third party publishers left when the XEGS was launched, two-button stick support would have limited their games to that platform rather than all A8s.

 

Is it actually possible to let software determine whether it is run on an XEGS?

 

(Raised on single-button sticks, I never feel fully comfortable on systems requiring more buttons and sometimes mix them up. Maybe I lack the necessary neurons....)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello guys

 

The XEGS uses the same OS version as the XE.

 

The XEGS keyboard port is not a 5200 port. The plug might be the same, but IIRC PC joysticks also used these plugs. From a hardware point of view, the only difference between the XE and the XEGS (when it comes to the circuitry joining the keyboard to the rest of the system) is the plug and socket on the XEGS.

 

Sincelery

 

Mathy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That was the same deal with 16-bit computers including the Amiga and of course Atari ST. Those companies reused the DB-9 port as did some European computer makers. It was silly to have to press up to jump, but then again you had a whole keyboard in front of you especially the space bar.

 

Still, I wished there was a way to use a Sega gamepad at least...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How much actual new game R&D was done on XEGS software? Not much. So even if it had a 3-button controller (which could be done the same way the booster-grip is done on the 2600) it would have had very little software to utilize it if most of the XEGS games were just warmed over 8-bit titles.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...