Your preferred 2600 controller?

[o2william]

What controller do you prefer to use for Atari 2600 joystick games? The classic black stick? A WICO controller? The Booster Grip? The Joyboard? LOL

At the risk of offending purists, I use a Sega Genesis control pad, but I just prefer joypads in general. How 'bout you?

[tom]

The Atari Space Age Joystick was kinda groovy.
I always preferred the CX40, and even nowadays I cannot get used to fucking Nintendo style pads. I wish a console with joysticks, please.

[Querjek]

Well, I prefer a Genesis pad for the comfort, but I suppose "purely" I like the oriignal stick too.

[Cmosfm]

Well, personally I always use the original stick. I'm one for the original controller, but after a long session I need to change for comfort. Usually a Genesis controller, just like Querjek mentioned.

[Sebastian]

why does everyone keep mentioning the genesis controller? is it compatible with Atari or something LOL ?

[neuropolitique]

Usually I use the Nitnendo style gamepads that came with the European 7800. Although, during a recent bout with Laser Blast, I found the CX-40 made it much easier. So, I guess it depends on the game.

[max 330 mega]

i use the 6 button genesis pad, because i find i can play and steer more accurately with it versus the original joy stick.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

I have two preferences for a 2600 controller.

CX-40 always does pretty good by me, but for extended sessions it gets a bit old.

I love the Suncom Slik Stik, or the Wico red-ball Command Control stick, on the other hand. The Slik Stik is a puny li'l thing, but hey, I have little hands. And for Q*Bert and the 2600, ain't nothin' better, as they say.

Let's hear it for the Slik Stik!

http://www.thelogbook.com/phosphor/atari26/control/slikstik.jpg

[ubersaurus]

It's all about the Wico with the button on top of the stick, AND on the base.

I also like the 7800 pad, and I did use the genesis pad to get 3rd in a thrust high score contest...but since I got the Wico, I have no desire to use any other controller. Unless it's a 7800 game. Then the pad comes out.

[vision89]

I use the Tac-2, this is without a doubt the best atari 2600 joystick I've ever used. Not to mention they are built strong. I've heard stories of people throwing them at their wall as hard as they can and the thing not breaking! Then there's the point that it is also one of the coolest looking joysticks!

[Vigilante]

I prefer the original stick, with the rubber grip pulled off. I get a faster reaction out of the white plastic insert. Or I put the rubber grip on loose, again for faster reaction time.

[Dr. Morbis]

I prefer an SMS pad with a 2600, but I think its cheating to use in a contest or high score run. It makes game too easy. For example, I can routinely beat Pitfall with an SMS pad, but no matter how hard I try, it just seems impossible to get to that last treasure with a cx40.

...or maybe I'm just not as adept with joysticks since I'm part of the "Nintendo generation".

[Kim Possible]

I can pretty much ONLY use a Tac-2 anymore. I've tried going back to the original, but its just not the same. And the Tac-2 I have is wearing out, so I'm going to be in trouble soon! :(

I used to have a Slik Stick and it was very cool, but it broke and I haven't been able to replace it since. I need to get another one of those. Cool stick.

[AMG]

The good old classic joystick.

[scooterb23]

The Quickshot controllers I won off Sniderman a year or two ago :D

Love those things :D

[Sanriostar]

There is none better than a classic Wico Bat.

[farfel]

I hate pads.

I like a stick that I can wrap my hand around


Atari CX-40
Or the Gravis

[Oobgarm]

I prefer ye olde classic stick.

Perhaps it's the fact that I haven't actively used one in a long time, but it starts to cramp my hand after a while. Then I'll switch over to a Genny pad. Doesn't quite recreate the 'feel', but gets the job done rather well.

[SS]

The CX40 is my favorite controller for any system ever.

VIVA LE ATARI THUMB!

[TheDomesticInstitution]

Holy shit, a whole new door just opened. I had no idea you could use a Genesis controller in place of the 2600 joysticks. I have 2 Atari joysticks, that I hate playing with- which has kept me from really enjoying the 2600 much. So I have a Genesis 3-button and an Ascii turbo joystick, that I'll be using. It's even better because I don't have to sit 3 feet away from my TV hunched over anymore. I have some Sega branded controller extensions so I can play from my couch now.

Anyway, I guess because the NES was the 1st system I owned I never had much of an attachment for the Atari. I've never been much of a joystick person, and have always preferred gamepads (unless it's an arcade game). Thought I'd share my experience and bump this old thread, in case any other oblivious individuals didn't know this.

[PentiumMMX]

It's all about the Wico with the button on top of the stick, AND on the base.

This by far. I've always been partial to the Wico joystick (Preferably with the red ball on top), though since I don't have one, the standard Atari joystick works well enough.

[Sonicwolf]

Genesis controller is my favorite atari 2600 controller. heh.

[BydoEmpire]

I always liked the original stick the best, but the Epyx 500xj is awesome as well. I like the feel of the Slick Stick, but I don't have one with working buttons.

[Pantechnicon]

The old CX40 works just fine for me. If I had to replace it with something it would be...I forget the manufacturer, but it's more or less the same dimensions as the CX40 except the fire button and trim are yellow instead of orange and the stick has a "clicky" feel to it. Does anybody know the make and model I'm describing? Better yet, does anybody have one for sale?

[Vectorman0]

I'm a big fan of the original CX40 with the Best Electronics upgraded PCB (http://best-electronics-ca.com/joystick.htm#PCB). It gives a nice clicky feel to all of the contacts, which greatly improves how the controller functions. After trying it, it becomes hard to use an old stock CX40! I suggest all Atari fans who play there games give these a try.

http://best-electronics-ca.com/joystick_files/image016.jpg

Best Electronics is very reputable, don't be put off by their website that looks 15 years old.

I like Slik Stiks as well.

[Sniderman]

Competition Pro joystick FTFW

http://www.thosewerethedays.de/items/joysticks/pc/competition_pro.jpg

[Nikademus1969]

why does everyone keep mentioning the genesis controller? is it compatible with Atari or something LOL ?


Yup. I think they work with the 3DO as well.

[Nikademus1969]

As for my choice, I've only ever used the CX40 my console came with.

[MachineGex]

It really depends on the game. I use the original 2600 joystick for games like Maze Craze, and the Atari CX-40 on others. I absolutely love the Starplex controller for games like Gravitar and Asteriods. I would love to find a second one for some co-op 7800 asteriods.

[tofu]

In case you haven't seen it, this is by far the coolest 2600 joystick mod:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSP4i-eaVBs

[Sabz5150]

http://atariace.com/images/atariace.com/atari/images/joysticks/wico_command_control_small.jpg

[Steve W]

In case you haven't seen it, this is by far the coolest 2600 joystick mod:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSP4i-eaVBs

Ew. That was almost like watching porn.


I love my CX-40 joystick, I can't play using much else. The Epyx joystick is ergonomically designed, but I just prefer the standard Atari joystick for its simplicity. Best controller ever created.

[boatofcar]

I like a CX40 ripoff called the Gemstik. It's a little bit looser. I still have the same one that I used when I was a kid, although someone (possibly me) bit off the rubber at the top of the stick.

[Pantechnicon]

I like a CX40 ripoff called the Gemstik.

That's the one I was trying to remember!

http://www.atariguide.com/minics/c10/1014j1p01.gif

I had one once and really liked it. Must have bundled it with a system I sold down on Ebay at some point. I'll have to try and hunt another one down.

[chrissylas]

I LOVE the Epyx 500XJ. It's the only joystick I'll use with my ST (and that carries over to the 2600 as well).

[Steve W]

Odd, I've only ever seen Gemstiks in boxes, never in a blister pack. Was the Gemstik exclusive to K-Mart? I recall only ever seeing them for sale there.

I've seen a few clones of Gemstiks over the years while thrift store shopping. I have one called Ace that has the most insanely deep fire button I've ever seen. You have to push the button something like halfway inside the joystick's casing to register a button push.