The Atari.io collective 2600 joystick collection

[RickR]

I'm assuming that among the lot of us, we have a pretty boss 2600 joystick collection.  Please post the unique joysticks you have.  I'll bet that together,  we have every one made back in the day.

 

Here's what I have:

 

 

Top row:  Pointmaster, Quickshot II, Epyx 500XJ, GemStik, Wico Boss

Bottom row:  Atari Flashback 2, Original Atari CX-10 (it has springs inside!), Atari CX-40, Slik Stik, Suncom Tac30, Kraft.

Edited June 5, 2016 by RickR

[RickR]

Wico bat handles

 

 

[Rowsdower70]

I'll have to dig around, but I have a few of those pictured.  My favorites are the SlikStik and the Gemstik.

[jmjustin6]

Ohh i have never seen that yellow button one. Whats it called?

[Rowsdower70]

Ohh i have never seen that yellow button one. Whats it called?

That's the Gemstik, Justin.   One of my favorites.   Very responsive, feels nice.

[Ballblaɀer]

Here are some more unique sticks:

 

T

 

Top row: (Radio Shack) Archer Deluxe Competition Joystick, Wico Command Control Joystick (5200)*, Gemini Gemstick-Pro

Bottom row: Coin Controls Inc. Competition Pro**, Championship Electronics SuperChamp (with 10' retractable cord), Wico "Famous Red Ball"

 

*This has a 9-pin cable, but it's meant to plug into a Y-cable for the 5200 and is not compatible with the VCS without an adapter cable.  It snuck into the photo when I wasn't looking.

**The Competition Pro is the regular one with leaf switches, not the "5000" model with microswitches.

 

Last but certainly not least:

 

 

I've never seen these referred to with an Atari CX- part number, and the 2800 owner's manual doesn't seem to list one either.  If they have an official name, I'm not aware of it.  Edit: Confirmed, these are CX28 controllers.

 

In case anyone's interested, the Gemstick-Pro and CE SuperChamp are available for trade/sale.  They're tested and work just fine, I just don't like them as much as some of the others.

Edited June 7, 2016 by Ballblaɀer

[AlamoAtari]

I have the slik stick and I got the trackball controller for the 2600.

[RickR]

Kraft joystick - identical to the brown one in the top post except black. 

[fergojisan]

Here are some more unique sticks:

 

T

 

Top row: (Radio Shack) Archer Deluxe Competition Joystick, Wico Command Control Joystick (5200)*, Gemini Gemstick-Pro

Bottom row: Coin Controls Inc. Competition Pro**, Championship Electronics SuperChamp (with 10' retractable cord), Wico "Famous Red Ball"

 

*This has a 9-pin cable, but it's meant to plug into a Y-cable for the 5200 and is not compatible with the VCS without an adapter cable.  It snuck into the photo when I wasn't looking.

**The Competition Pro is the regular one with leaf switches, not the "5000" model with microswitches.

 

Last but certainly not least:

 

 

I've never seen these referred to with an Atari CX- part number, and the 2800 owner's manual doesn't seem to list one either.  If they have an official name, I'm not aware of it.  Edit: Confirmed, these are CX28 controllers.

 

In case anyone's interested, the Gemstick-Pro and CE SuperChamp are available for trade/sale.  They're tested and work just fine, I just don't like them as much as some of the others.

Sweet sticks! That sounds weird. I love that there's so many kinds of db9 joysticks that were interchangeable with so many systems. I guess that's coming back with USB, but I am not familiar.

 

It's too bad these are so hard to find these days. I'm sure I passed up dozens of sticks because I had a bunch of CX40s. I don't have much experience with 3rd party sticks, but I think the Epyx XJ 500 is my favorite of those.

[fergojisan]

Kraft joystick - identical to the brown one in the top post except black. 

How do you like this one Rick? Paul from the Intellivisionaries swears by them, I've never tried one before.

[RickR]

How do you like this one Rick? Paul from the Intellivisionaries swears by them, I've never tried one before.

I love it.  That and the Slik Stik are my favorites.  The Kraft is ugly, but very responsive and has a lot of movement in the stick.  Plus it's switchable -- 4 or 8 way with a simple twist of a switch on the bottom.  Highly recommended.  That brown one in post #1 has been one of my go-to joysticks for years. 

[MalakZero]

Here's what I got, just a few varients of the 2600 stick ( Original, Vader, XEGS). Is there such a thing as owning too many Boss controllers?   I could kick myself for not grabbing that Suncom Starfighter when I had the chance...

 

 

[Ballblaɀer]

We could all start sending you Wico Boss sticks -- it could be like that one guy who has people send him Jerry Maguire on VHS.  There's a leaderboard and everything.

[MalakZero]

We could all start sending you Wico Boss sticks -- it could be like that one guy who has people send him Jerry Maguire on VHS.  There's a leaderboard and everything.

 

LOL WHAT?! I'm dying over here!   

 

You know......thats actually a pretty cool idea

[RickR]

Is the handle twisty on your Wico Boss'?  It is on mine, and I find it very strange. 

[MalakZero]

Yes it is. All of them are. I'm just tripping on how the button on my first boss got all discolored..

 

Which reminds me, made it

 

 

 

 

Edited June 26, 2016 by MalakZero

[Scott Stilphen]

Here's everything I currently know about:

 

http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/controllers/controllers.html

Edited January 26, 2017 by Scott Stilphen

[RickR]

Adding this one:  "GIM Electronics Fire Command - VC-2001"

 

This one is probably the nicest joystick I've ever used for the 2600.  The stick and buttons feel exactly like an arcade machine.  The base is heavy and doesn't move around. 

Edited October 28, 2016 by RickR

[RickR]

One more... Suncom TAC-2.

 

I'd rate this one pretty high.  It has a nice tight feel to it.  Feels very high quality.  I like it better than the Wico's.

 

 

[Ballblaɀer]

Picked up a pair of CX78s while I was in Poland and had them shipped home -- they arrived today!  (I think they can still be considered 2600 joysticks since they were packed with Atari 2600 Jr systems in Europe.)

 

 

So far after a little bit of testing with a few different games, I think they're... alright.  They're certainly not as precise as a stock CX40 stick, but they seem fairly comfortable to use.  Next step is to try them with the console they were designed for!

[Starbuck66]

One more... Suncom TAC-2.

 

I'd rate this one pretty high. It has a nice tight feel to it. Feels very high quality. I like it better than the Wico's.

I have two of these that I picked up for 5 bucks a piece at a local retro shop a few years back. They are by far the best stick I've used. I use them on my 7800 as well as with my Colecovision paired with adapter cables I bought from Paul Nurminen a while back.

 

I also have some CX-40's (one in a white box that says Replacement Part CX-40, I'll have to post a pic sometime), my CX-24's that came with my 7800 that I despise, some Gemsticks, some Wico bat sticks, and an Epyx XJ500.

 

In order of preference:

 

TAC-2

Wico

Epyx (would rank above the Wico but the microswitch noise can irritate people)

CX-40

Gemstick

 

 

 

 

And if I have to the CX-24 for two button 7800 stuff.

[Kid A]

I have one of these tiny things. I kinda like it!

 

 

[Atari Creep]

I have one of these tiny things. I kinda like it!

 

 

powerstick_2025_detail.jpg

That's kind of awesome in a goofy kind of way. I love it!

[RickR]

I have those same tiny joysticks for the TI 99/4A.  They are a huge improvement over the TI branded sticks. 

 

PS -- Did you know these are made by Amiga -- yes, the same company that made the computer for Commodore?  They made joysticks to help pay the bills before the Amiga came out. 

Edited November 19, 2016 by RickR

[RickR]

Another new one for me.  RGA International Video Controller RGA 1160

 

This one is just ok.  The hand fits the handle very well, and I like that you can use either button.  But the base is too small and too thick.  It makes it hard to hold.

Edited November 24, 2016 by RickR