Trak-Ball compatible systems/games

[NightSprinter]

Hey everyone, I just want to know of any of you have a good idea on how many systems and/or games (Atari, Commodore, etc.) were compatible with the CX22 and CX80. I kept reading on different sites (RetroTimes Monthly, etc.) about versions of Missle Command, Centipede, and a few other games for various systems that had full TB compatibility, but I want to know exactly which ones WILL work with them in TB mode, and which ones require joystick mode.

[+DamonicFury]

Obviously any game that can use the standarad Atari controllers can use the Atari trackballs in joystick mode.

 

There's only two games I know of that can use the trackballs in trackball mode:

 

2600:

Thomas Jentzsch's Missile Command hack

 

Atari 8-bit computers:

Missile Command

 

Anybody know of any others?

[Ze_ro]

This information SHOULD be available on this page, but for some reason, AA doesn't even have a picture of the trackball online.

 

--Zero

[NightSprinter]

Ze_Ro, I know exactly what you mean, so I'm going to list something to see if anyone can confirm this or not. I just snagged an "Atari All-Stars" 1983 catalog/brochure at the flea market yesterday for a quarter. Here are all the games on the 2600 side that actually LIST as "Trak-Ball Compatible": Centipede, Galaxian, Missle Command, Space Invaders, Vanguard, and Yars' Revenge. Does anyone have additional information as to what Atari meant by these games being "Trak-Ball Compatible"?

Edited October 2, 2005 by NightSprinter

[birdie3]

Ze_Ro, I know exactly what you mean, so I'm going to list something to see if anyone can confirm this or not.  I just snagged an "Atari All-Stars" 1983 catalog/brochure at the flea market yesterday for a quarter.  Here are all the games on the 2600 side that actually LIST as "Trak-Ball Compatible":  Centipede, Galaxian, Missle Command, Space Invaders, Vanguard, and Yars' Revenge.  Does anyone have additional information as to what Atari meant by these games being "Trak-Ball Compatible"?

941386[/snapback]

 

 

I would think that this means that these games work well with the trak ball. Trak balls have a "Joystick" and "Trak Ball" mode switch on them where trak ball mode is analog and joystick is digital or whatever. .

[minorleagueguy]

..as far as I can remember, the Odyssey 2 was track-ball compatible, Wico made one for the system.

 

minorleagueguy

[Thomas Jentzsch]

Does anyone have additional information as to what Atari meant by these games being "Trak-Ball Compatible"?

Probably Atari just meant, that you can play these games with a Trakball in joystick mode.

 

Unlike this.

[NightSprinter]

Thing is though, minorleagueguy, that the Wico trackball wasn't a "real" trackball per-se (it only functioned under joystick emulation). The Atari Pro-Line Trak-Ball controllers had a special mode you can switch to that allows for true TB control (like in the Atari800 version of Missile Command). I wanted to know if the games I mentioned above as examples from the 1983 catalog meant they were compatible with the Atari one in TB mode.

 

[Edit] Also, why would Atari mis-lead consumes like that by saying some of their 2600 titles were "Trak-Ball Compatible" but required Joystick mode, and had games for the 5200 that could clearly work with one in native mode?

Edited October 2, 2005 by NightSprinter

[birdie3]

Thing is though, minorleagueguy, that the Wico trackball wasn't a "real" trackball per-se (it only functioned under joystick emulation).  The Atari Pro-Line Trak-Ball controllers had a special mode you can switch to that allows for true TB control (like in the Atari800 version of Missile Command).  I wanted to know if the games I mentioned above as examples from the 1983 catalog meant they were compatible with the Atari one in TB mode.

941401[/snapback]

 

No. They are not. I know for a fact though that some games play extremely well with a trak ball. For example, XL Millipede plays extremely well with a trak ball in joystick mode. I think that someone has also hacked 7800 Millipede to be analog trak ball compatible.

[Thomas Jentzsch]

I wanted to know if the games I mentioned above as examples from the 1983 catalog meant they were compatible with the Atari one in TB mode.

No.