Coleco's home...a couple of dumb Q's

[scooterb23]

Alright, I got my Colecovision today, and I have a couple of questions, I'm pretty sure I know the answers, but I'll ask anyway...

1. Does anyone sell replacement controllers?? Mine work, but I think my player 2 controller may be a little bit worse for wear (it had trouble moving right while playing Donkey Kong). What are the best replacement sticks?

2. Noticing the pin configuration of the controllers, any way they'd work on a 2600??? :) Especially the spinner as a paddle controller?

Thanks in advance

BTW, I got two games with it, Donkey Kong and Space Fury.

[Raccoon Lad]

Spinner?

I think that "spinner" is actually the joystick.

.....unless those are Super action controllers?

[scooterb23]

Itt is just a normal Coleco joystick (looks just like the controller pictured in the DP Guide...not the white one), all I know is that the "knob" of the stick is able to rotate (hence my poor generalization of calling it a spinner)...somehow I was just dreaming that I could plug them into my 2600 and play a jitter free game of Kaboom!


Or that I could use that dial to rotate around in Space Fury...

I'm liking it so far, time to get my Coleco want list together...

[IGotTheDot]

You can use the Geni or 2600 controller extenders. That's kinda fun. I never tried to use the coleco controller in the 2600.

[Captain Wrong]

Best bet for replacement controllers is hit the 'bay. You should get a pair of Super Action Controllers instead. They're much better, IMHO. Much better construction and much easier on the hands. Plus if you get Spy Hunter (which you should) you'll have a button for each of the weapons instead of using the keypad.

The controllers will work on a 2600, but that's not a spinner in the stick. It's got a little play to it, but I wouldn't rotate it around like a paddle. First off, it won't do anything as far as controlling a game. Second, what it could do is break the contacts in the controller and cause you more problems like what you're having with your other controller. If you open your broken controller up, you'll see what I'm talking about.

[omnedon]

Any Atari stick will work (2600) but starting the game can be dicey.

Original CV controllers have poorly made contact switches. All of the old CV's I've run across have had these issues. Initially, I'd repair them by cannibalizing good contacts from other worn CV controllers. Once I ran out of good condition contacts (didn't take long), I came up with a repair.

Remove solder from old contact. Run a length of fine wire through the contact holes, running it over the broken contact strip. re-solder one end. Pull it tight over old strip, and re-solder other end. Then test.

I've done it on mine, and so far so good. nearly as good as new, and far better (and likely stronger) than before. Beware simply buying another regular CV controller, as I've yet to see even one that did not have this issue with at least one directional contact.

The only other option are CV Super Action controllers, but I have no experience with those as of yet. I imagine they MUST be better made- how could they not be???

[scooterb23]

OK, thanks for the tips...now my next question

*ahem*

IF THEY AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE TURNED, AND IT CAN HURT THE CONTROLLER IF TURNED TOO MUCH...THEN WHY THE &#^$ CAN THEY TURN AT ALL???!!! GAHHHH!!!

Captain...You said they had "a little play" in them, but I swear I had a lot of movement when I originally thought that was how to turn the ship in Space Fury...oh well, you learn something new very day :)

Thank you...more dumb questions to come I'm sure :)

[Raccoon Lad]

It can't hurt them to twist the knob, they're just designed weird.

[Aswald]

The inside part of the joystick is shaped like the outside, and this is what presses down, to push the contact points. There is a plastic piece between the metal contacts and the "inside part."
You can turn it because it isn't fixed in place- doing that would cost more for the company, and there really isn't any need. Just use it like a normal joystick, and it's fine.

Any 9-pin controller will work in any system that takes a 9-pin controller, although the buttons may be an issue- obviously, 2600 controllers do not have a second, independent button.

[Keir]

Actually that's not true. The Odyssey 2 w/ removeable controllers has different pin-outs as I just discovered. So does the TI-99.

[video_game_addict]

I think the Intellivision II controllers are incompatible as well. I know the CV joysticks didn't work with it, so I would assume the same could be said the other way around.

[scooterb23]

Thanks all for the help, I found a pair of Super Action controllers on ebay today for $7...shipping from Saskatchewan though, brings the price up to $13...still not too bad, they look lioke good controllers.

Now, I need to find more games!!!!