Simultaneous paddle and joystick use with A2600

[doug0909]

Would it be possible to use one of the two paddles attached to one Atari 2600 port, while at the same time using a joystick attached to the other port? Or alternatively to use a driving controller attached to one port, and a joystick attached to the other?

 

I'm asking because one Odyssey 2 game which should really be ported to the 2600 is Blockout/Breakdown, where player 2 tries to rebuild the wall player 1 is breaking down. There are only 6 moving sprites (the paddle, the ball, and the four little men in the four levels of the wall), and only 3 move at once (since only one man in the wall can move at a time).

 

The O2 game was fun, but the lack of paddle controllers for the stick really hurt it. If the player controlling the stick can use a paddle (or at least the driving controller), the game would be much improved. If you somehow let player 2 control the speed and direction of balls being thrown back at the bottom of the screen, it'd be even better.

 

No idea if this is possible, Just a thought...

 

 

Edited February 18, 2015 by doug0909

[Thomas Jentzsch]

No problem.

[+SpiceWare]

Would it be possible to use one of the two paddles attached to one Atari 2600 port, while at the same time using a joystick attached to the other port? Or alternatively to use a driving controller attached to one port, and a joystick attached to the other?

 

Not only is it possible, it was done back in the day with G.I. Joe - Cobra Strike. It used paddles in the left port and a joystick in the right.

[doug0909]

Interesting... Maybe three player blockout No idea what the heck the guy with the second paddle would do though....