worst third party controller

[masschamber]

SO like the title says which 2600 3rd party controller do you think is the worst?  IF you have any more good (bad) ones, let me know I'll add them to the poll options.

Personally I have to go with the faster blaster, which does not enable you to blaster faster.

 

[keithbk]

Slik Stik is my favorite controller of all time; don't know how it could be on ANYONE's worst list...

 

If you don't know why, take it apart and marvel at its simplicity. It is SO EASY to clean the contact points to restore functionality. A metal ball extends down from the joystick and makes contact with the four directional metal tabs. It really is that simple. 

[Swami]

The mindlink? (unreleased, I know, but, apparently, for good reason).

 

BTW, the Faster Blaster look like it could be a forerunner of the dpad, although, the contacts are woefully out of order.

Edited June 24, 2020 by Swami

[Video]

Faster blaster? Never heard of that one, but looks like it would be good for asteroids or something. I couldn't see playing much other than that with it.

 

Most the rest I've got, and even consider some better than the Atari originals.

[0078265317]

tac 2

[0078265317]

1 hour ago, Video said:

Faster blaster? Never heard of that one,

I have seen these on ebay.

[masschamber]

22 hours ago, Video said:

Faster blaster? Never heard of that one, but looks like it would be good for asteroids or something. I couldn't see playing much other than that with it.

 

Most the rest I've got, and even consider some better than the Atari originals.

it is incredibly unresponsive and uncomfortable

[BassGuitari]

There were too many generic, junky, forgettable 3rd-party joysticks to count.

 

I'd nominate anything that--on top of being of poor build quality--had a high stick, long throw, and small base, like the Discwasher Pointmaster,  or this stupid thing:

 

 

 

Additionally, as much as I like it--the Zircon Video Command is just about worthless with any game that simultaneously demands accurate joystick manipulation and rapid presses of the fire button, such as Defender, Starmaster, or basically any game made after 1981. (It's serviceable enough for the early crop of Atari games, which tracks since it's just a Channel F controller rewired for Atari).

 

Slik Stik?! GTFO ?

Edited June 26, 2020 by BassGuitari

[Shawn]

54 minutes ago, BassGuitari said:

 

 

Slik Stik?! GTFO ?

 

Agreed! More like Shit Stick!

 

[+davidcalgary29]

On 6/24/2020 at 11:09 PM, 0078265317 said:

tac 2

Good god, there's one right beside my bed on the floor for some reason. And I don't even have a game system nearby! In any case, I can't say that I hate them: they're solidly built and much nicer to hold than the CX40. For that matter, I also had a quickshot in the '80s, and really liked it, especially when I grounded it on a flat surface. 

 

My vote is for the Epyx 500XJ. God did I hate that thing when I had it, and never could hold it comfortably in my paws.

 

 

[0078265317]

9 hours ago, davidcalgary29 said:

Good god, there's one right beside my bed on the floor for some reason. And I don't even have a game system nearby! In any case, I can't say that I hate them: they're solidly built and much nicer to hold than the CX40. For that matter, I also had a quickshot in the '80s, and really liked it, especially when I grounded it on a flat surface. 

 

My vote is for the Epyx 500XJ. God did I hate that thing when I had it, and never could hold it comfortably in my paws.

 

 

My epyx is fine except the clicking sound.  The 2 button tac 2 I have the stick part hardly moves.  I opened her up.  Looks clean.  Nothing broken.

[zzip]

I only used a couple of third party controllers,   but there is one that I thought was pretty common but don't see on the list.   I forget the name.  It had a base roughly the size of the standard Atari joystick.   It had a handle/flight stick style joystick that was pretty tall, and the button was on top at the angle.

 

Might have been Wico, but not sure.

 

Also tried my friend's Amiga "Joyboard" and wasn't particularly impressed.

[+KaeruYojimbo]

The TAC-2 and the Slik Stik are great controllers. Well-made, responsive, nice short throws.

 

I've never liked the Wicos. They're too mushy. Same for The Boss. We had a TAC-3 when I was a kid and it was so stiff that I could barely move it. But my nomination for worst third party joystick goes to this thing:

 

 

You can't see the fire buttons because they're on the edge of the base, kind of like the L and R buttons on a SNES pad. I have no idea how the $#%& I'm supposed to hold this thing in any useful way.

[+davidcalgary29]

41 minutes ago, KaeruYojimbo said:

 

I've never liked the Wicos. They're too mushy. Same for The Boss. We had a TAC-3 when I was a kid and it was so stiff that I could barely move it. 

 

 

 

Wow...even the Red Balls? Never had a problem with them in the '80s, and still love 'em (and use them) now. They're my #1 all-time pick for a joystick, even if there is a slight tendency (at times) to pinch your hand at the part where the stick meets the base.

[ave1]

Bassguitari got it right.

[+save2600]

These have their fans, but I consider them among the worst I've ever owned. Besides the continual and obnoxious clicky sounds, the stick is waaay too loose to be accurate (Epyx is worse since it also spins), especially for the games which require precision. Then there's the ergonomics (ironic as a main selling point), which causes cramping and fatigue before long. 
 

 

 

[JacobZu7zu7]

Gemstick

 

I never really liked them at all, hurts thumb and hand, and way too many of them lurking around.

[vintagegamecrazy]

Those Epyx xj are definitely hand cramping to say the least never cared for those that flight grip stick pictured above with almost no bass is also awful. Definitely generic junk. As far as most uncomfortable I also have to say that gray and black Wico controller with the flight grip in the fire button on the top of the joystick is pretty brutal to use especially since the stick spins. Le Stick is a really great idea and a lot of fun to mess around with but is totally useless otherwise.

[0078265317]

On 6/26/2020 at 12:26 AM, davidcalgary29 said:

 

I have a le stick also.

[Mister-VCS]

AMIGA Power Stick

[Thomas Jentzsch]

On 6/26/2020 at 5:35 AM, BassGuitari said:

There were too many generic, junky, forgettable 3rd-party joysticks to count.

True.

 

I remember that I had ruined one within an hour or so. Complete crap.

[zzip]

These "Pointmasters" seemed to break in one direction, hated them

[Video]

I kind of like them, when they work, which isn't often. Seems to have a ridiculously long throw,but I guess that depends on the game.

 

Always thought those baseless sticks were supposed to be mounted on a board or something.

[gilsaluki]

Roklan's Unroller Controller. 

[Atari_Bill]

On 6/26/2020 at 4:03 PM, save2600 said:

These have their fans, but I consider them among the worst I've ever owned. Besides the continual and obnoxious clicky sounds, the stick is waaay too loose to be accurate (Epyx is worse since it also spins), especially for the games which require precision. Then there's the ergonomics (ironic as a main selling point), which causes cramping and fatigue before long. 
 

 

 

I know this stick seems to polarize folks. Personally it’s my favorite stick.  I love the clickiness. I’ve used them for years.