Controller Poll

[Gregory DG]

I saw the new poll on the main AA page... I can't believe people actually think the 5200 controller is WORSE than the Colecovision one! Or is bashing the 5200 controller just the "vogue" thing to do?

 

Any controller than can turn a person's hand into a painful misshapen claw (read: Coleco Controller) deserves to be the worst controller ever.

[liquid_sky]

but the coleco controller actually at least worked half of the time

[Gabriel]

but the coleco controller actually at least worked half of the time

 

Maybe yours did.

 

I agree, the Coleco controllers are about the worst ever.

[Ze_ro]

I actually quite liked the CV controller... in fact, I still have about 3 or 4 from the 80's that I've gotten a lot of mileage out of, and are still in working order.

 

But then, I'm one of the weirdo's that thinks the Jaguar had the best controllers ever....

 

--Zero

[badbrad]

There is no worse controller than the Intellivision. Those Tic-Tac fire buttons? Come on. At least the Colecovision has some sort of knob to grab on to.

[Albert]

I cast the first vote in the new poll, and it was for the ColecoVision! I think of all the systems I played as a kid, I was most often frustrated by the ColecoVision controllers. Maybe dying 50 times a minute in Smurf: Rescue in Gargamel's Castle didn't help. The Intellivision and 5200 controllers are not far behind!

 

..Al

[MegaManFan]

ColecoVision is bad (I'm still dying to get a Y cable so I can use a regular Wico joystick in port one instead of always having to start two player games and let one die so I can play it in port two) but IMHO 7800 is even worse, and I voted it that way. Blech. Those things are a NIGHTMARE.

[badbrad]

I have the Champ Adapter for the CV. Yay for me!

[MegaManFan]

I have the Champ Adapter for the CV.  Yay for me!

 

I'd envy you, but since you just completed a great trade with me I couldn't possibly be HAPPIER with you.

[Albert]

ColecoVision is bad (I'm still dying to get a Y cable so I can use a regular Wico joystick in port one instead of always having to start two player games and let one die so I can play it in port two) but IMHO 7800 is even worse, and I voted it that way.  Blech.  Those things are a NIGHTMARE.

 

Yes, they are very awkward to hold and use comfortably. The question that always comes to mind regarding controllers for these systems: Didn't anyone actually TRY THEM OUT at some point during the design? I'm just amazed that Atari actually came out with some decent controllers for the 2600 (paddles and the beloved CX40), only to see system after system botch their controllers for years to come.

 

..Al

[MegaManFan]

Yes, they are very awkward to hold and use comfortably.  The question that always comes to mind regarding controllers for these systems: Didn't anyone actually TRY THEM OUT at some point during the design?  I'm just amazed that Atari actually came out with some decent controllers for the 2600 (paddles and the beloved CX40), only to see system after system botch their controllers for years to come.  

 

 ..Al

 

That's not what shocks me the most Al. What really boggles me is the fact that Atari released these lovely joypads for 7800 in Europe that are PERFECT for playing games on the system with, and truly make the console a worthy competitor for any other mid-80's console like NES or SMS.. yet they weren't released stateside. WHY? It may not have helped them win the war in the end, but it couldn't have hurt!

[Inky]

I personally prefer the 5200 controller better. While its true that the self-centering thing is annoying, once you get used to it, it's not that bad. Plus, Atari seemingly adressed that issue withsome of the later games. I though Pengo worked incredibly well with the 5200 stick.

[+RangerG]

I have to say that the Intellivsion controllers are the worst especially when you consider that there is no alternative to them. At least there were some third party alternatives to the 5200 and Colecovision joysticks, but all the Intellivision was those terrible sticklers that break and fall off and don't make the disc a joystick by any stretch of the imagination. Maybe if I forced myself to endure playing the Intellivision then my hands would get used to them. The 7800 sticks have a similar painful hold to them. Not that related, but I tried an Odyssey2 joystick finally and it was pretty nice.

[Ze_ro]

By the way, who's actually voting for the O2 and Vectrex controllers? Personally, I think the O2 controllers are excellent! And although I've never used a Vectrex controller, they look very nice. Can't imagine someone would hate these more than those awful discs on the INTV controllers...

 

--Zero

[Vic George 2K3]

It's not a bashing with me, it's the honest truth...the 5200 controllers do stink! I'd rather have a ColecoVision controller over a 5200 controller on any given day.

[MegaManFan]

It's not a bashing with me, it's the honest truth...the 5200 controllers do stink!

 

The pack-in ones are problematic, but at least the third party sticks go a long way toward solving that problem. And I still don't think they're as horrid as the 7800 ones. UGH!