Atari Track ball controller

[Wolf9545]

Does anyone know of any good sites that I can buy a orignal Atari 2600 track ball? I have seen some sites selling them for $15 but I don't know if they are any good.

[kencrisis]

I got mine new, shrinkwrapped from Best Electronics ($12 + shipping):

 

http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/quickguide.htm

[kevin242]

cool Ive been looking for a trackball for the 2600 for a long time. I

understand missle command isnt trackball compat and it makes me

think what 2600 carts are? Is centipede?

[Wolf9545]

Maybe I am wrong but according to AtariAge's list of controllers, they say that the part number for the track ball is CX22. Best Electronics list it as CX80.

 

http://www.atariage.com/controller_page.ht...ControllerID=26 AtariAge's info on the track ball.

[Danno]

There are two atari 2600 compatible trackballs. The CX-22 and teh CX-80. Ther are essentially the same, except that the fire buttons onthe cx-80 are slightly improved because the ones on the cx-22 broke rather easily. Also the Cx-22 has a white ball, and the CX-80's ball is black.

 

As far as compatibility, both of them have Joystick simulated mode, and true trackball mode. Atari never made any games for the 2600 that were compatible with true trackball mode, although there is a hack of Missle Command that is compatible with it that Atari sells.

 

even still, using either one in joystick simulated mode is pretty darn good, especially for games that used a trackball in the arcade, like crystal castles and millipede.

 

You can also re-wire a 2600 trackball to the circuit board of a microsoft serial mouse and use it as a real trackball in things like MAME. but that is another story...

 

[+RandomPerson]

There are two atari 2600 compatible trackballs. The CX-22 and teh CX-80. Ther are essentially the same, except that the fire buttons onthe cx-80 are slightly improved because the ones on the cx-22 broke rather easily. Also the Cx-22 has a white ball, and the CX-80's ball is black.  

 

As far as compatibility, both of them have Joystick simulated mode, and true trackball mode. Atari never made any games for the 2600 that were compatible with true trackball mode, although there is a hack of Missle Command that is compatible with it that Atari sells.

 

even still, using either one in joystick simulated mode is pretty darn good, especially for games that used a trackball in the arcade, like crystal castles and millipede.  

 

You can also re-wire a 2600 trackball to the circuit board of a microsoft serial mouse and use it as a real trackball in things like MAME. but that is another story...

 

 

I sit possible to do the same thing (trackball into a mouse) and use the mouse with your 2600?

[bjk7382]

I have the Missile Command hack that uses an Amiga mouse, and it is like a totally different game, in a good way of course.

 

I don't think you can get that game anymore because of infoatari's ban on the sales of hacks.

[kencrisis]

cool Ive been looking for a trackball for the 2600 for a long time.  I  

understand missle command isnt trackball compat and it makes me  

think what 2600 carts are?   Is centipede?

 

See Danno's note for the specifics. I've had both the CX-22 and the CX-80 and really love the 80 much more -- great fire buttons.

 

While no 2600 games are truly joystick compatible (except for the Missile Command hack which I don't have), the Track Ball REALLY opens up a whole new world on games like Centipede and Millipede. I can't recommend it enough. I think I play those two games more than any other since getting my CX-80. It's so much dang fun.

 

It's also really fun to try joystick games that you're bored with using the trackball -- a whole new challenge. My personal favorite is Demon Attack. The game is hard all over again using a trackball.

[kencrisis]

Oh yeah, and the original Missle Command is still pretty dang fun with the track ball. But I always sucked at MC, so I usually go for the 'Pedes.

[Mindfield]

True. Don't let the fact that only one unofficial hack actually uses the track ball mode dissuade you from getting one. Despite how using a track ball in joystick mode sounds, it really does vastly improve gameplay on games that were originally designed for a track ball. (Crystal Castles, Centipede/Millipede, Missile Command, etc.) The simple dynamics of rolling the track ball instead of wiggling the joystick make such games so much easier and more intuitive to play. I used to hate the 2600 version of Crystal Castles 'til I played it with a track ball.

 

Even better, some games originally designed for the joystick even play better with the track ball. (Mostly games that use all directions -- Spitfire Attack is a great example -- or any games that use a targeting reticle, such as Crossbow, Gangster Alley/Task Force, etc.)

[Danno]

exactly.

[SS]

Don't let the fact that only one unofficial hack actually uses the track ball mode dissuade you from getting one.

 

The OFFICIAL version of "Missile Command" for the Atari 8Bit line had a native trak-ball mode. AFAIK, it was the only game for any Atari system to use the 'real' setting but that fact alone should be reason enough to seek one out!

[deathtrappomegranate]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=8156985958

[Retro Rogue]

Just in case you do any future searches - Atari always spelled it Trak Ball, there's no ck.

[Clock]

I have a CX80 and I think it's the best Atari controller ever. I just wish there were more games made to use it.