Chris++ Posted June 12, 2003 Share Posted June 12, 2003 ...would do well to check out my friend Adam's site, Bally Alley. He's done an incredible amount of work. http://www.ballyalley.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sku_u Posted June 12, 2003 Share Posted June 12, 2003 Indeed, that is a great site for Bally Astrocade information and I believe it is the only one out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Mitchell Posted June 12, 2003 Share Posted June 12, 2003 Yes! Adam's Bally Astrocade site is the best .. which improves on the Bally Astrocade FAQ that was the only source of info for many years. The Astrocade (1977) still has the coolest controller stick/paddle combo ever made! Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris++ Posted June 12, 2003 Author Share Posted June 12, 2003 Definitely -- it's probably my favorite controller out of all the classic systems! Too bad it can't be wired to work for a 2600... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted June 12, 2003 Share Posted June 12, 2003 Check this out: http://www.classicgaming.com/ballyalley/ad...trocade_ads.pdf What the hell is a Cybervision 2001? Was that ever released? I can't find any information on it. Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Mitchell Posted June 13, 2003 Share Posted June 13, 2003 Definitely -- it's probably my favorite controller out of all the classic systems! Too bad it can't be wired to work for a 2600... The joystick functions can be adapted to work with the 2600. The paddle pot is not of the same resistance ... Through an Atari interface I have adapted the Astrocade controller to the Vectrex! Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris++ Posted June 13, 2003 Author Share Posted June 13, 2003 Jeez, Rob! That seems so difficult to me. Some of you chaps are friggin' geniuses with wires and a soldering iron. Matt -- I don't know if this clears it up for you or just raises more questions : http://homepage.mac.com/ruske/cosmacelf/gallery4.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Atari Posted June 14, 2003 Share Posted June 14, 2003 Very good site. Makes me wish I hadn't been an idiot and sold mine years ago ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic George 2K3 Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 The Astrocade (1977) still has the coolest controller stick/paddle combo ever made! Definitely -- it's probably my favorite controller out of all the classic systems! Too bad it can't be wired to work for a 2600... I can only wonder how that controller works, since I have never actually seen an Astrocade (Bally Professional Arcade) in action, and the pictures I have seen of the controller itself makes joystick controller action look somewhat improbable on it...but then, looks can be deceiving! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Mitchell Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 I can only wonder how that controller works, since I have never actually seen an Astrocade (Bally Professional Arcade) in action, and the pictures I have seen of the controller itself makes joystick controller action look somewhat improbable on it...but then, looks can be deceiving! The knob on top is an analog paddle controller (twist for pong games) ... and it can be thrown UDLR for digital joystick motion. Fire is in front of the pistol grip and activated by squeeezing your index finger. There is one Bally Astrocade game that takes advantage of all these functions: 2 player Gunfight which is built into the console. It is a "perfect" video game .. and the main reason to own the Bally Astrocade. Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris++ Posted June 16, 2003 Author Share Posted June 16, 2003 Boy, what they could've done with a port of arcade Tron... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 Boy, what they could've done with a port of arcade Tron... No Kidding! And since Bally/Midway owned the rights to Tron the Astrocade should have been first in line for a home conversion. I wonder why it never happened? Probably because the Astrocade was pretty much dead by 1983. Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris++ Posted June 16, 2003 Author Share Posted June 16, 2003 I'm sure you're right. The system that could've been...(SIGH) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic George 2K3 Posted June 17, 2003 Share Posted June 17, 2003 The knob on top is an analog paddle controller (twist for pong games) ... and it can be thrown UDLR for digital joystick motion. Fire is in front of the pistol grip and activated by squeeezing your index finger. There is one Bally Astrocade game that takes advantage of all these functions: 2 player Gunfight which is built into the console. It is a "perfect" video game .. and the main reason to own the Bally Astrocade. I was thinking that would be the case...that little thingy on the top serving as both control stick and paddle knob, similar to (if not exactly like) the Fairchild/Zircon Channel F's control stick serving as joystick, fire button, and paddle knob. Thanks for clearing that up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Mitchell Posted June 17, 2003 Share Posted June 17, 2003 Yeah .. but the Fairchild/Zircon Channel F's control stick is weird to use .. whereas the Bally Astrocade controller is a pleasure to use. Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glitch Posted June 18, 2003 Share Posted June 18, 2003 The Bally's controllers are one of the reasons the system is still my fav of all the systems that I have (It was also my first system so that may have a bit to do with it also ). The controller is VERY easy to use and very responsive also. It's also one of the most confortable controllers to use for long periods of time that I've found. Games other than gunfight (a classic) that use all of the features at the same time are: Tornado Baseball trigger - swing bat/pitch joystick - control curve of pitch knob - control outfielders Missile trigger - fire joystick - control angle of missile knob - control speed of missile Red Baron trigger - fire guns joystick - move plane up/down knob - control speed of plane Football (still one of the best on any system IMO) trigger - pass/menu select joystick - control players knob - control angle for pass I'm sure there are others but that's what I remember off the top of my head. I just listed them to show the benifits of having the multiple control types in one properly designed controller. The only drawbacks I've found with the Bally controllers are the knobs become finiky (sp?) over time. A good cleaning usually helps. I also have 2 that the corners of the grip around the joystick have cracked due to rough use. They still function perfectly though, it's more of a cosmetic thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bargora Posted June 18, 2003 Share Posted June 18, 2003 Wow. So the Astrocade could have done a port of Taito's Front Line with accurate controls. Sigh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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