2600 JAMMA Joysticks

[goatdan]

Hello everyone,

 

I'm just wondering if anyone on these boards has one of the GOAT Store's JAMMA Joysticks. If you have one, what do you think of it? Is it useful?

 

If you don't have one, what would make you consider buying one more? Would you get one for another system? Specifically for the Sega Master System or Odyssey 2?

 

We're thinking about expanding upon the line up a little bit, but we put a lot of time and effort into making each one. We just want to make sure that the originals are holding up well!

 

Here are the two pictures of them that we have right now (we need to take new full sized pictures, as those seem to be gone.)

 

 

Thanks!

[+Atari_Warlord]

I bought two of the deluxe models last summer, and I love them. I haven't had any problems, but would like to make a couple of suggestions for possible future models. I don't know if this is possible, but a stiffness setting would help with some games that require really tight control.

 

I have a 7800 also, and would like a model that supports the two independent buttons. Maybe a switch could flip between 2600 & 7800 mode. As far as other systems, I really need a good replacement for the Colecovision controllers that just don't last.

 

[ 04-04-2002: Message edited by: Waggie the CPA ]

[+johnnywc]

A model with a combo JAMMA joystick and built in paddle would also be very cool (very much like the coleco gemini stick, but with much better parts, although I would prefer a seperate button for the paddle, not rely on moving the joystick left ). You could use a regular atari paddle (the guts of it at least). I believe that the paddle and joystick can be hooked up simultaneously so it should be fairly simple to wire.

 

Just a thought....

[goatdan]

quote

That is the biggest thing with me. I don't have either model but was surprised when I learned that the 2 button model didn't support the seperate buttons of the 7800 controller. I would think it would be a fairly easy thing to set up. And you wouldn't need a switch to swap between 2 button independent or 2 button same...since the 7800 proline buttons work as the fire button on a 2600 and as button 1 and button 2 on the 7800.

 

Hmmmm. Sounds like a good idea. I'll have to tear apart the 7800 controllers that we have over here and see what we can do (I have never owned a working 7800! )

 

About the Colecovision controllers, we've been toying with the idea of making JAMMA Joysticks for them, but we ended up holding off because making a convertable numeric pad is darn near impossible. Would you be interested in one of these if you were to hit your option and then swap controllers for a JAMMA?

 

Thanks everyone!

[goatdan]

JohnnyWC, I completely forgot to answer your comments, sorry!

 

While I would love to do an arcade paddle controller, the part cost to build one would be absolutely astronomical. A set of arcade buttons and a joystick for the regular 2600 JAMMA LX costs approximately $15.00, and that doesn't include the box, the crimps, the wiring or the cord that connects it to the system.

 

The cheapest I can find an arcade rotary for is around $100.00. I would love to do a racing controller too, but the cheapest you can find steering wheels for is around $150.00.

 

On a related note, our JAMMA Joysticks were nominated for an award by MyAtari.Net so if you want to stop by and give them a vote, we would appreciate that!

[Albert]

I think a combination 2600/7800 JAMMA joystick would be great. Ideally, a switch on one of these would allow you three different modes:

 

1) Both buttons are the same (2600 mode)

2) Independent Left/Right buttons (7800)

3) Swap Left/Right buttons (7800)

 

I'd love to get my hands on one of these. And regarding ColecoVision controllers, anything is better than the stock controllers, so JAMMA sticks for that system would be a welcome addition. I'm not as concerned about the keypad, as long as I could use some sort of Y adapter to keep both the original CV controller and the JAMMA stick plugged in at the same time. There are very few games that actually use the keyboard for anything except starting the game, so that would be fine by me.

 

..Al

[+-^CrossBow^-]

That is the biggest thing with me. I don't have either model but was surprised when I learned that the 2 button model didn't support the seperate buttons of the 7800 controller. I would think it would be a fairly easy thing to set up. And you wouldn't need a switch to swap between 2 button independent or 2 button same...since the 7800 proline buttons work as the fire button on a 2600 and as button 1 and button 2 on the 7800.

[CosmicJoke]

I agree with Crossbow. I would buy the 2 button model if it supported both 7800 buttons.

[goatdan]

quote

I'd love to get my hands on one of these.

 

Duly noted, and I'll see what I can do. Perhaps that the Midwest Classic I could have one at least to try out. I have to find a 7800 now though, although that isn't really a bad thing...

 

quote

And regarding ColecoVision controllers, anything is better than the stock controllers, so JAMMA sticks for that system would be a welcome addition. I'm not as concerned about the keypad, as long as I could use some sort of Y adapter to keep both the original CV controller and the JAMMA stick plugged in at the same time. There are very few games that actually use the keyboard for anything except starting the game, so that would be fine by me.  

 

Do you or anyone else know of any places that sell Y adapters? I would love a Y adaptor for both the Colecovision and Jaguar, but I haven't found any myself and I don't want to attempt to build those.

[Agent X]

I also would like to see a 7800 version of this joystick, preferably with both buttons on the same side of the joystick (instead of one on the left and one on the right). If a controller is produced that way, then perhaps there could be a switch to "flip" the whole unit (turn it upside down, like the Lynx), so it could be used left-handed or right-handed.

 

Another alternative is simply to have both buttons on both sides of the joystick. I'd actually prefer this, although it could also make the controller more expensive.

[+-^CrossBow^-]

Good Point...I hadn't thought of that. But yes if the Goat Store were to make a 7800 compatible joystick then the buttons would have to be on the same side. It would be nearly impossible to play the games requiring dual buttons if they are on opposite sides of the joystick itself.

 

What about turbo switches to autofire? Xevious, Galaga, Planet Smashers, and a few others could benefit from that...

[goatdan]

quote

Another alternative is simply to have both buttons on both sides of the joystick. I'd actually prefer this, although it could also make the controller more expensive.

 

While that would be awesome, there simply isn't any way to do that because the cases that we use aren't big enough to comfortably support four buttons and a joystick.

 

quote

What about turbo switches to autofire? Xevious, Galaga, Planet Smashers, and a few others could benefit from that...

 

Unfortunately, turbo relays are quite expensive and/or take a really long time to make. And no arcade game ever used them. We'll definitely start looking into making a 7800 JAMMA more, but as for the relays... well...

[Albert]

quote:

---

Originally posted by GOAT Dan:

While that would be awesome, there simply isn't any way to do that because the cases that we use aren't big enough to comfortably support four buttons and a joystick.

---

 

If you can't do that, I think having the two buttons on one side of the joystick is a must for 7800 games. A switch to allow you to flip the joystick around 180 degrees would be quite nice as well.

 

..Al

[+Atari_Warlord]

I might get shot down , but if you put the two buttons on one side, I really need to use my right hand for the joystick. It took me forever to get used to left hand control and it just doesn't feel right with the 2600/7800. Maybe the switch idea would work, or just offering two models?

 

I agree with Albert on the Colecovision, anything is better than what we have.

 

[ 04-05-2002: Message edited by: Waggie the CPA ]

[fmctm1sw]

quote:

---

Originally posted by GOAT Dan:

Hello everyone,

 

I'm just wondering if anyone on these boards has one of the GOAT Store's JAMMA Joysticks. If you have one, what do you think of it? Is it useful?

---

 

I'd love to see an alternative to the ColecoVision "thumb-buster." I actually like my Odyssey 2 controllers though. I guess the keypad would be hard to do though. Oh, I know what I need... A SELF CENTERING ATARI 5200 JOYSTICK FOR CHEAP. Put me down for a bunch of them

[Albert]

quote:

---

Originally posted by GOAT Dan:

Am I the only one that really liked the Colecovision controllers?

---

 

Yes.

 

quote

I would love to do this, but besides the fact that making a keypad would be hard, here is the cheapest analog arcade joystick that I have found. At $41.00 a stick, plus tons of buttons, a nice 5200 Joystick would cost over $100.

 

I would be willing to pay $100 for a kick-ass Atari 5200 joystick. You know what would be nice, is if someone could design a generic JAMMA joystick that could then be plugged into "covertor modules" that allow you to use the joystick with a variety of different systems: 2600, 5200, 7800, ColecoVision, Intellivision, etc. Now *that* is something I'd be willing to shell out some cash for.

 

..Al

 

[ 04-05-2002: Message edited by: Albert ]

[goatdan]

quote

I might get shot down  , but if you put the two buttons on one side, I really need to use my right hand for the joystick. It took me forever to get used to left hand control and it just doesn't feel right with the 2600/7800. Maybe the switch idea would work, or just offering two models?

 

Actually, we already offer two models for the 2600 version, but I think our wording about that disappeared when we did a recent Web site switch. Offering two different models wouldn't be that hard to do, and would be a lot more economical than adding a switch.

 

quote

I'd love to see an alternative to the ColecoVision "thumb-buster."

 

Am I the only one that really liked the Colecovision controllers?

 

quote

Oh, I know what I need... A SELF CENTERING ATARI 5200 JOYSTICK FOR CHEAP. Put me down for a bunch of them

 

I would love to do this, but besides the fact that making a keypad would be hard, here is the cheapest analog arcade joystick that I have found. At $41.00 a stick, plus tons of buttons, a nice 5200 Joystick would cost over $100.