Will the Coleco Gemini Clone's Dual Controller Work on a Regular 2600?

[RockyRaccoon]

Basically, the Coleco Gemini, which was an Atari 2600 clone, had this cool controller that had a joystick on the top part and a paddle on the bottom.

 

 

Will this work on a normal Atari 2600 system? I kind of like the dual controller style.

[fluxit]

As I recall, having had a Gemini BITD, it works just like a normal controller. In order to use the paddle function, you need to plug the controller into a Y splitter.

 

I'll dig them out, and give it a try for you on my 7800 to be sure.

[fluxit]

I've confirmed that they do in fact work on the 7800 as standard controllers, and as paddles(with the Y splitter.) Funnily enough, I need to refix my original Y splitter. Back in the day, I diagnosed a short in one side of it, and opened the cable with a razor knife. I then stripped the wires, twisted them together and taped it up with cellophane tape. I didn't even own a soldering iron back then. It still works today ;-P.

[RockyRaccoon]

Huh, okay. Neat. When you say 'Y-splitter' what do you mean exactly? Something like this:

 

Edited February 5, 2018 by RockyRaccoon

[Cynicaster]

I have a pair of these controllers and they work fine on a standard 2600.

 

The y-splitter comes into play because the standard design for paddles, as you know, has two paddles coming out of one connector that goes into a single controller port. Since the Gemini controllers are a joystick/paddle combo and have single/dedicated cords, the Y-cable effectively enables you to plug (2) paddle controllers into the same port to mimic the standard Atari paddles.

 

I've used the paddles on the Gemini controllers without the Y-cable to play Kaboom. It was a long time ago but if I recall correctly, the dial itself worked fine, but the fire button on the Gemini controller does not map to the same pin as the fire button on the standard paddle, so that button did nothing. I think I had press joystick left on the Gemini controller to get bombs falling in Kaboom.

[GeekDragon]

Yes they work with all models of 2600. I use the Gemini controller all the time. Iactually prefer the gemini controller over the Atari one. It seems less stiff. Also, I've used the paddle on Circus Atari without the Y splitter and it worked fine for me. I currently have a Jr. hooked up. There are also 2 versions of the controller. One that says in the middle "Gemini video game system" and another that says "Duel Command" in the middle.

Edited February 6, 2018 by GeekDragon

[RockyRaccoon]

Huh. Okay. Neat! Thanks for the answers guys. :-)

[Video]

It works fine as a stick. Don't remember which, but the paddle works but you use left, or right to fire. Not much use as few paddle games are one playered only.

 

I love the feel of the stick, one of the few vertical format sticks I can say that about.

[GeekDragon]

Also, you can use a Sega Genisis controller.