CX-40, Pro-Line, or joypad?

[ApolloBoy]

I'm trying to get a 600XL or 800 XL computer for the great games, but I can't really decide between the good ol' CX-40, the snazzy Pro-Line or the neat joypad. So which joystick works best for you?

[Atari Smeghead]

Heh. I was actually planning, one o' these days, to bring up a similar topic. "Which controllers do you like the best?" So, thanks for saving me the trouble!

 

I own probably a dozen different controllers for the 8-bit line (etc) and for me, the three best were in the Suncom family. The Slik Stik and the Starfighter were similar in design to the standard Atari sticks, but were smaller and more durable (especially the Starfighter, since its parts were primarily metal, compared to plastic and rubber for the Slik Stik) than Atari's.

The TAC-2 was bit bigger, but was also primarily metal and had two buttons on the base for left or right handed use. All three had nice and tight, precise controls, unlike the trigger-style sticks (the button on the top of the stick) which were always too sloppy for my taste.

I also liked the Eypx 500-XJ, or whatever it was called. I had the Wico version, with had a rubber grip instead of plastic. But it was unique in that you wrapped your hand around the controller and pushed the button with your index finger on the same hand that held the stick. People either loved or hated it.

 

Oh, and speaking of that, if you have and like the Jaguar controller, you can buy a cable from Best Electronics that allows you to use it as you would a normal 9-pin joystick, with the B button being the only fire button. I tend to use that a lot these days.

 

I have never tried the Atari joypad, but I've always wanted one for my collection.

 

My own personal choice... if you can locate a Starfighter or a Slik Stik on eBay or thru one of our fine Atari retailers, snatch it. They're all kinda old these days, so it can be tougher finding one that works perfectly. But they can usually be had on the cheap.

 

Hope this helps!

[Shawn Jefferson]

I personally like the Wico sticks, specifically, the black and red, ball handle one. I have about a half-dozen or so of the ball and bat handle ones.

 

I've used the CX-40 joysticks a couple of times, but since my preference is the Wico... they just don't cut it. They are too small, and the stick feels like it's going to break off in your hand.

[kheffington]

I vote for the Suncom Slik Stick. Very nice joystick.

[PFonck]

I don't know if they were exported outside europe, but the Suzo Arcade-line of sticks were/are the ones to have. Best joysticks ever made.

 

[Shannon]

Atari all the way baby!!!!

 

Don't ask me why but I never liked those sticks with the big handle.. never considered them responsive enough. Although a gamepad oughta work pretty good.

 

Anyone know if the Atari gamepads were left or right handed? That's one thing I always liked about the atari stick. It's hard to play reflex games left handed.

[Bryan]

I actually like the cheap Gemini copy of the Atari CX40, called the GemStik. Differences: It has rounder edges and a larger yellow fire button, and the boot isn't ribbed "f.y.p." at the base. I also like the Wico bat handles.

 

I hated the Wico Boss. Why make a pistol grip that isn't fixed so it points forward?

 

I find joypads hard to use for fast 'twitchy' games. Ms. Pac on the Lynx is very hard for this reason.

 

-Bry

[Atari Smeghead]

Anyone know if the Atari gamepads were left or right handed?  That's one thing I always liked about the atari stick.  It's hard to play reflex games left handed.

I don't own one, but the pic I saw has the joypad (which, apparantly, has a little joystick attached that can be removed to make it a true "D" pad) on the left and the two fire buttons on the right.

 

I actually like the cheap Gemini copy of the Atari CX40, called the GemStik.

 

Yeah, I have some of those too, and I did like them. Sturdier than the Atari, but gave ya that same "old school" feel. They sold those at Meijers, a large grocery store chain in the Michigan/Ohio area, long after the systems that used them died. They had so much dust on them, that I'd feel sorry for them and periodically purchase one. Well, that and they were marked so rediculously low, like $3 or something. Can't pass that up, even though I owned like 8 of 'em...

[DracIsBack]

I quite liked the Gemini sticks too. Too bad the Gemini unit had such a shoddy joystick connection port ...

 

My favorite stick was the Epyx 500JX. That rocked!

[atarianer2003]

That's mine: CompetitionPro Arcade Stick (longlife joystick with micro-switches)