Atari Ultimate Dual Arcade Fight Stick with Trackball

[TwiliteZoner]

I was looking at the Raspberry Pi 4 accessories on the Micro Center site when I found this? There does not seem to be any YouTube videos on this? Does anyone have one that they can comment on the build quality?

 

EDIT: I forgot to mention this one has a Raspberry Pi inside. They have other models that are USB with no Pi. 

 

Edited September 21, 2020 by TwiliteZoner
updated text

[MrMaddog]

Sweet!  I had plans to get a Tankstick to hook up to a RPi, here it's all in one product.

[ComputerSpaceFan]

[GeorgieBoysAXE]

Mind if I ask for the link to Micro Center site you mentioned? This would be perfect for a project I had in mind.

[ClassicGMR]

LordHelmet bought the same thing (I thought this was the same thread at first). There's a link below from that thread because I asked the same thing.

 

https://www.microcenter.com/product/623127/atari-dual-fight-stick-usb

 

https://www.microcenter.com/product/623130/atari-ultimate-dual-arcade-fight-stick-with-trackball

[TrekMD]

That looks awesome!

[negative1]

Thanks for the heads up.

 

Will be getting the USB one, wonder what the compatibility is for older xbox though.

 

later

-1

[negative1]

Bought the 2 stick/trackball USB unit for $120 from microcenter.

 

This thing is heavy duty. The sticks feel great, and the trackball is amazing.

2.5 inches which is bigger than the stock 2 1/4 centipede one, and is heavier.

 

Tried it out on the PC with MAME, and was great, and then using the Cronus Max pro for the XBOX ONE,

will still need to adjust the mouse settings, but just getting used to the size and weight.

 

Will have an in depth review, once I put it through its paces.

 

Very clean and professional build, looking inside at the wiring.

 

PROBLEM : NO MODE button as described in the manual (Page 5), to switch from digital joytick to analog settings.

 

later

-1

[ClassicGMR]

I have to ask - how did you score one for so little at retail? I see them for $199 on the Micro website.

[negative1]

18 minutes ago, ClassicGMR said:

I have to ask - how did you score one for so little at retail? I see them for $199 on the Micro website.

Open box, it's not the ultimate version. It doesn't have a raspberry pi. I wanted the USB option

because I connect it to PC, xbox 360, and xbox one.

 

The 2 stick/trackball USB version is $150 new.

 

later

-1

Edited October 5, 2020 by negative1

[ClassicGMR]

Aah excellent info. Thank you ?

[MrMaddog]

12 hours ago, negative1 said:

Tried it out on the PC with MAME, and was great, and then using the Cronus Max pro for the XBOX ONE,

will still need to adjust the mouse settings, but just getting used to the size and weight.

 

How is that working out?

 

I'm thinking I'll still go with the Tankstick instead because the latest version can be used as an Xinput controller not only for RetroPi but also when I stream fighting games from my Steam PC.

 

And I also like the option to use it on a Xbox One (and maybe 360) if possible...

[negative1]

Atari Fightstick twin with trackball and USB
============================================

There are 3 versions of this:
----
Basic - Twin joystick with USB
Normal - Twin joystick/Trackball with USB
Expert - Twin joystick/Trackball with Raspberry Pi


I bought the normal version.

You can get them from Microcenter, or Amazon.
I got an open box one from Microcenter for $120.
Which is about $30 less than a new one.

I specifically wanted one with a Trackball to play
Atari games, and other ones that use it.

==================================================
Hardware background:

I have used arcade joysticks for every console I
have ever owned starting with the Sega Genesis.
Also owned a Sega Saturn arcade stick, which I still
use to this day. I have one for the Dreamcast also.

From then I moved to a custom Arcade Stick I bought
for the xbox 360, which used professional parts, and
buttons (It was an 8-way stick).

After that, I got a tekken fighstick for free, and
an X-arcade single player joystick (which was terrible
and never worked with the 360). After that I got a
Madcatz joystick which can be used with the xbox one.

To play a lot of retrogames, I also needed spinner
and trackball support. I have several USB compatible
spinners, and trackballs. However, I had to use a
Cronus Max pro which maps all the controllers to
different outputs, like XBOX 360, and XBOX one.

All the USB controllers map to mouse controls, on PC's,
tablets, and other devices (arcade 1up, etc).

==================================================

Use cases
==============================================================
I have never had a twin fightstick, but for several
years have seen pandora's boxes that come with games in them.

There was a twin fightstick with a trackball from x-arcade,
but after the bad experience with them and their support.
I would not recommend them.

In the last few years, there are tons of fight sticks out
from SNK, Capcom, and Atgames to name a few.

In fact, the Atari w/Rpi goes up against the Atgames
Legends gamer fightstick mostly:
https://www.atgames.net/arcades/legends-gamer-series/

comparison:
ATARI                        Atgames
===============================================
games built in               games built in
twin joystick 8-way          twin joystick 8 way
trackball (2.5inch)*         trackball*        *optional
HDMI                         HDMI (through puck)
16 buttons                   26 buttons
17.7 pounds                  8 pounds
-----
USB compatibility            N/A
Rpi, PC, Android,
PS3


There are other differences, as the ATgames is all wifi,
and wireless. And has a ton of software options.

Pricewise, this and expert Atari versions are the same.
But the Atgames has a ton more features including BYOG
for putting your own roms and emulators on there.

Atari is locked into 100 licensed Roms.

==============================================================

For my purposes, I only wanted a controller to use with dual
stick games, and trackball games.



Packaging, and quality
--------------------------------------------------------------
1 Simple box, Joystick unit with 2 foam inserts on left and
right. 1 USB cable (with 2 connectors).

1 instruction manual, with basically no useful information in it.

The box was well packed, and it was easy to remove the unit
and the parts from it.

---------------------------------

These are heavy duty wood, with t-molding around the edges.
The buttons are all arcade quality (not sure what kind),
and same with the 8 way joysticks. The trackball is a
serious heavy duty arcade quality, and is a 2.5 inch one
which is inbetween the 2 1/4inch of Centipede, and the
3 inch ones on Missile Command/Millipede.


Very professional and clean wiring:
---

 

There are 2 support struts to hold the top open, and you turn
a key in the lock to open it. Which makes it incredibly easy
to mod, or diagnose any issues.

The wiring is very clean, and there are 2 connectors going
to the controller board. I didn't alter or mess with any
of the wiring.

There is a yellow LED that lights up when power through USB is used.

The joysticks can be changed from being recognized as digital to analog
by doing this:
"The mode switch is not broken out to a physical button on the Fight Stick. You could change the mode by touching the

wire coming from P2 Pin 4 to ground (all of the black wires on the wiring harness are connected to ground) or

repurpose one of the buttons as a mode button by replacing the colored wire on the button with the wire coming from P2

Pin 4. "

There is a whole support forum at microcenter for them
to answer questions and issues for support for the joystick
through their retrogaming portal.

===================================

There are 2 USB connectors. 1 for the trackball (and a PS/2 adapter), and 1
for the joysticks/buttons.

Compatibility is across Windows 98 through Windows 10, and it shows up
as 2 controllers. (1 for each side). The trackball shows up as a mouse.

I don't have any android/ios/chrome/rpi to test it out on.


I have only had a chance to test out 2 cases, for several hours:
-------------------------------------------------------------
PC- MAME, several different versions, all recognized the sticks/buttons and trackball.
Response was very good, and no lag detected. Depending on the game, adjusted the
sensitivity for the trackball to make the games respond better.

Tried out centipede/millipede/missile command, and liberator, and all
performed great.

XBOX one, through cronus max pro. Joysticks work fine, and trackball also,
but definitely have to fine tune the response for the best gameplay.

I will be trying it out on xbox 360 also, and on several other PC's.

It's big and sturdy, and the texured panel has plenty of room for your
palms to rest. I'm not a huge fan of the artwork, it's too busy, and I
would have preferred just the Atari logo, but it doesn't affect anything anyways.


Final verdict
=========================================
Value - incredible bargain, instead of having to source parts, its worth $120-$150

Usefulness- worthy arcade replacement panel if you need a dual stick/trackball across several
platforms

Game library - i didn't buy the one that had 100 games, but if you like atari, you will love those
games. I have them on several platforms, but you can also play games from many other game companies

Expandability and Modding - this is perfect for modding, and its easy to add spinners and other
other controls to it, the wiring is neat, and simple, there isn't much or any lag, and there's
plenty of buttons to map


Overall 4.5/5 stars

TLDR;   short version
=================================================================
It is not clear how to set it up, the manual is terrible, and
unless you know what you are doing, you might get stuck trying
to figure out how to get things working.

Most stuff is plug and play, but depending on your console, and OS,
you could end up fiddling around for awhile.

Its easy to mod, so I will probably add a spinner to it also.

Very happy to get this compared to a lot of overpriced, and bloated
game sticks with games I don't want.

The quality is excellent, and it seems to be very durable.

I keep my joysticks for several years, and this one looks like it
low maintenance and durable, and will definitely enhance my gaming
experience.

Highly recommended.

later
-1

 

[TwiliteZoner]

Now I just need to decide which version to pick up...

[lplp]

Does anyone know of any dual arcade stick units which are  a more portable in size? I would want to use it for 1 player at a time for games like Crazy Climber. Thank you.

[negative1]

55 minutes ago, lplp said:

Does anyone know of any dual arcade stick units which are  a more portable in size? I would want to use it for 1 player at a time for games like Crazy Climber. Thank you.

You are probably better off buying the parts and making your own.

 

later

-1

[lplp]

Is that pretty easy for a lay person without soldering equipment etc. or are there people out there who make custom sticks for a decent price?

 

[negative1]

11 hours ago, lplp said:

Is that pretty easy for a lay person without soldering equipment etc. or are there people out there who make custom sticks for a decent price?

 

Check out the  build your own arcade controls forums, and the vendors area:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/board,56.0.html

 

later

-1

Edited October 10, 2020 by negative1

[negative1]

On sale now. $99 : 2 stick with trackball version , $50 off.

 

https://www.microcenter.com/product/623128/atari-dual-fight-stick-with-trackball-usb

 

Great price.

 

later

-1

[Preppie]

I just found out about these and I want one, but they don't sell in UK

 

 

 

[smog-097]

Wish I could get one of these in Canada.  They won't ship outside US and their CSR wasn't helpful.

 

[negative1]

1 hour ago, smog-097 said:

Wish I could get one of these in Canada.  They won't ship outside US and their CSR wasn't helpful.

 

Find a shipping service that will repack it and ship it to you from the US. It might still be worth the savings.

 

later

-1

[negative1]

All models of these are selling on Amazon,

 

however this is still probably US only:

by microcenter. Not sure if they were doing that before:

https://www.amazon.com/Fightstick-Trackball-Controller-Raspberry-Preloaded/dp/B08MFG7J1K/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=atari+pong+jr&qid=1607462119&sr=8-1

 

later
-1

 

[bfollowell]

Anytime I checked at Microcenter they were never shipping these, so I'm getting this instead

 

X-ARCADE TANKSTICK WITH TRACKBALL

 

I'm going to design a custom vinyl graphics to put on mine. Maybe I'll do some old school Atari graphics.

 

Also, X-Arcade is running a heck of a deal on these right now. Only $149.99 plus shipping, regularly $199.99.

 

[ClassicGMR]

1 hour ago, bfollowell said:

X-ARCADE TANKSTICK WITH TRACKBALL

I have owned one since 2011-2012. It's still a tough SOB that works like I just took it out of the box. It gets use a couple times a week so it's not been a show piece either. I have no complaints about X-Arcade stuff.