Atari 2600 controllers with colecovision?

[heyricochet]

Will they work straight up without expansion #1? My controllers I got with my colecovision don't work too well, so I was wondering if I could swap in some atari controllers without frying the port. Also, does the Super action joystick for the coleco work with all games?

[Kid Ice]

I wish as I hate those Coleco controllers. Alas, with a VCS controller (if it works at all) you can't press a number to select a game.

[heyricochet]

Well obviously, but I was wondering about hot swapping after you choose the game.

[Kid Ice]

Well obviously, but I was wondering about hot swapping after you choose the game.

Oh, yeah, swapping, duh, my bad. :embarrassed:

I make mistakes like that a lot because I'm one of these guys: :monkey:

[evg2000]

The right way to do it is with one of these:
http://www.evg2000.com/graphics/colecovision/hardware/champkeypad.jpg
then you can push buttons to your hearts content!

later,
Charles

[Masco73]

The right way to do it is with one of these:
http://www.evg2000.com/graphics/colecovision/hardware/champkeypad.jpg
then you can push buttons to your hearts content!

later,
Charles

You beat me to it. I was going to take a picture of my pair of those, but i couldn't find them.

Anyway, they work great. I think they are pretty sought after and will cost you a little money, but if you hate the coleco controller, this is the way to go. You can hook up most any 9 pin controller with the number pad. I have used sega genesis pads with mine, but they don't work for every game. I haven't tried any other controllers yet. Good luck.

[heyricochet]

Anyone ever make a custom arcade stick? I would think that would be an optimum solution to the crap that is the dial. Hmm... that sounds like a good plan, I might have to do that to solve my coleco issues.

[omnedon]

I find *working* CV controllers very usable. Thing is they are rarely working unless you refurb them.

Super Action controllers are decent enough too IMO.

[doubledownon11]

Anyone ever make a custom arcade stick? I would think that would be an optimum solution to the crap that is the dial. Hmm... that sounds like a good plan, I might have to do that to solve my coleco issues.

I'm working on one right now. It features all Happ Controls components, along with an actual ColecoVision keypad and 4 seperate buttons so that you can use it with Super Action games as well. I should have the proto finished here in a couple of weeks. I've got a lot of travel through work scheduled here soon.

And since I was also beat uploading pics of the Championship Electronics Keypad, I thought I'd upload a pic of my (2) Complete In Box Keypads. 8-)

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/808/keypad0qg.jpg

[izret101]

Anyone ever try the Power Glove?

If memory serves the connector on the glove itself is the same.

I never got to use mine whe i had it because i didn't have all the parts for it.

[evg2000]

A few other options:
http://evg2000.com/graphics/colecovision/hardware/joystick-joysensor.jpg
http://evg2000.com/graphics/colecovision/hardware/joysticksv1.jpg
http://evg2000.com/graphics/colecovision/hardware/hs20.jpg

later,
Charles

[doubledownon11]

As well as:

http://img275.imageshack.us/img275/1199/colecovisioncontrollersupercha.jpg

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/4936/ColecoVisionControllerWico.jpg

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/2734/ColecoVisionControllerPowerStick.jpg

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/5284/ColecoVisionControllerKeypadGemstick.jpg

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/672/ColecoVisionControllerChamp.jpg

Not to mention the 7 (that I know of) joystick attachments for the standard ColecoVision controller instead of the infamous "KNOB"

And there's always the ProStik III (unfortunately I don't have one) along with a few other controllers that I've seen vintage advertisements for, but their elusiveness has evaded me. Or simply the fact that they were never actually produced.

And of course this mystery controller...

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/8657/zzzjoystick9aj.jpg

...which is part of this: (By the way I own this too LOL )

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/489/fronttop5dh.jpg

[heyricochet]

I'm working on one right now. It features all Happ Controls components, along with an actual ColecoVision keypad and 4 seperate buttons so that you can use it with Super Action games as well. I should have the proto finished here in a couple of weeks. I've got a lot of travel through work scheduled here soon.

So are you just taking an old coleco controller and soldering to the contacts in that with the happ controls joystick? That was my thought in making one of those.

[doubledownon11]

I'm working on one right now. It features all Happ Controls components, along with an actual ColecoVision keypad and 4 seperate buttons so that you can use it with Super Action games as well. I should have the proto finished here in a couple of weeks. I've got a lot of travel through work scheduled here soon.

So are you just taking an old coleco controller and soldering to the contacts in that with the happ controls joystick? That was my thought in making one of those.

For the most part, but I'm using the board from a SAC so I can use all 4 fire buttons, and the keypad from a standard controller, so it will accept overlays for the few standard games that had them and I'm making custom overlays for the SAC games that won't fit in with the standard keypad. It's just about done, I've got to finish up some cosmetic details. It's in a very nice plastic enclosure case, not just the standard cut and slanted MDF or Particleboard.

[john_soper]

How about a jag controller:
http://www94.pair.com/jsoper/jag_adapter.html

[doubledownon11]

How about a jag controller:
http://www94.pair.com/jsoper/jag_adapter.html

I've seen that, but I don't find the Jaguar controller all that comfortable personally. Not to say the standard ColecoVision controller is either, but I don't think I'd go through the time or trouble for that perticular style.

[heyricochet]

How about a jag controller:
http://www94.pair.com/jsoper/jag_adapter.html

That would be sweet if he actually had a simple multisim diagram or something, but thats way too complex for my lazyness. I'm having issues just getting a tempest 2000 controller started.

But, making an arcade stick seems pretty simple though. Doubledown- are you planning on releasing your circuits for your joystick? or I'm guessing you're planning on selling it in your store. And, are there any other places for joysticks other then happ?

[john_soper]

But, making an arcade stick seems pretty simple though.
IMHO, nothing involving a CV controller is simple once you try supporting that second fire button or keypad. Even a genesis adapter is a pain.

[doubledownon11]

Well since I'm using existing ColecoVision controller and SAC boards it is rather easy. It takes some time and obiviously the proper tools, but I didn't think that it was that bad. Completing the project cosmetically is the hardest part I think. I want it to look like it was almost released by Coleco, not just some fabricated MDF or particleboard box, or some generic square plastic project box.

I don't plan on releasing any kind of wiring diagrams or "how-to's" or anything. I may sell them through my site and possibly on Ebay, but they're going to be fairly expensive, so I don't know how much demand that there will be for them. I'm definately making a set for myself, and I'll just wait to see if anybody else wants one.

[heyricochet]

But, making an arcade stick seems pretty simple though.
IMHO, nothing involving a CV controller is simple once you try supporting that second fire button or keypad. Even a genesis adapter is a pain.

Well all you do is solder some wires and mount things, both doubledown and I are talking about just rewiring the original controller, although he is talking about adding a SAC board in too. I'm planning on finding an arcade stick and a button(maybe two, are the side buttons independent? I forget.) and then just taking the keypad and throwing it in a box to make a stick. Hopefully I'll be happier with that then I am with my coleco controllers cause I think the spring has issues in both of mine, when I take them apart and press the white part it works fine, but not when I put it back together.