My Atari Trakballs in action comparing to Sega's and Coleco's Roller Contoller

[ave1]

Thought I'd share my classic games Trakballs comparison here: https://youtu.be/vmE-E0wza0w

The content of the presentation includes Missile Command being played with various trackball controllers on Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Sega Genesis, and Dreamcast. I also cover information on playing with a trackball on the Colecovision, Playstation, and Atari 800XL (with footage of Centipede, Millipede, Slither, War Games, Tempest, and more Missile Command).

If you enjoy trackball games, this is definitely worth a watch!

[TinStarFox]

My apologies for bumping this up, but I wanted to let Ave and others know how much I appreciated this video!

As a former VCS/ColecoVision/PlayStation owner...it was unique to see these classics played in unique ways.

My stepdad briefly had a 5200, but we never owned more than a game or two...so it was like seeing things for the first time!


The Genesis version mentioned in the clip is the one I have...likewise, I've never owned a Dreamcast/the Atari computers.

I own six dedicated arcade cabinets{Video Pinball, Omega Race, Zaxxon, Pengo, Punch-Out, and WWF WrestleFest}, and hope to eventually add trackball games to that list{like the aforementioned Crystal Castles or even Simpsons Bowling}!

Thank you for both a video and a channel that informs and well as entertains.

I'll definitely subscribe to Wired Up Retro as soon as possible!

[Steve W]

I have an Atari trackball, but my favorites were always Wico trackballs back in ye olden times. I had one for both the Atari 2600 and the Texas Instruments 99/4A (although the TI one needed an external power supply for some reason). I have even used the incredibly rare Odyssey 2 Wico trackball, albeit at a couple of conventions (playing the also rare game, Power Lords).

[TinStarFox]

Thanks for the insight, Steve!

Its always neat to hear about Texas Instruments' computers, as I'm only directly familiar with their current/vintage calculators.

I wish I still had my Odyssey 2!

I found it cheaply at Goodwill around 2002-2004, but ended up trading it away{due to lack of space} not long after.

[Steve W]

Well, honestly, you aren't missing all that much. The Odyssey 2 might have done well if they only had the Channel F and the RCA Studio II to compete with, but the Atari 2600's flexibility made the Odyssey 2 look pretty unsophisticated in comparison. There are a few really solid games on it (Turtles and Killer Bees spring to mind) but most of its library is merely okay. A good Odyssey 2 emulator will suffice.

[TinStarFox]

Fair enough point, Steve.

Since I've never owned/played/seen 'out in the wild' any of RCA's or Fairchild's machines, I appreciated the novelty of the Odyssey 2!

It also felt neat to own something designed by Ralph Baer, although I've owned various Simons over the years.

I do/feel similarly with/about the Axlon robots designed by Nolan Bushnell that I own{Petsters}!

The closest I've came to the Studio II/Channel F would be when I came across Atari's home version of Video Pinball.


Considering I didn't have the funds at the time/already have the arcade version, I passed on it!

I enjoyed the VCS when I owned a couple, but never as deeply as either the ColecoVision or NES.

I respect their statuses as the pioneers of the hobby/industry, but just can't get into them fully.

Thanks for the heads-up on some of the Odyssey2's "killer aps", maybe I'll come across another someday!

Although games like River Raid/H.E.R.O./Kaboom/etc. were awesome to play, they just didn't give me "the itch" to commit to the 2600's library.