Where Are the Joysticks For Retro Gaming? 262
Doctor O writes "With all those nice emulators for classic gaming around (such as MAME, VICE or Stella) I want to establish monthly retro gaming evenings with some friends. The problem is I can't find any good joysticks for that purpose. There's a new version of the legendary Competition Pro, but judging from the many one-star reviews on Amazon, it's terrible. I found the USB version of the classic Atari Joystick, but it doesn't seem to be available and would have prohibitive shipping costs to Germany anyway. So, Slashdot to the rescue — where are the suitable USB joysticks for retro gaming?"
I hear ya.... (Score:5, Interesting)
How timely, as I have been asking the same question... I used to have an Apple //c, and although I have indulged in retro Apple // gaming on various emulators over the years, it was never quite the same without using a traditional Apple analogue joystick. I have since decided to tackle this obvious problem with some electronics hackery. I recently (as in last week) purchased an original Apple // analogue joystick at auction on eBay, and I plan on building an Apple-joystick-port-to-USB-human-interface-device adapter circuit using a microcontroller such as the Microchip PIC. Should be straight forward, and if I am successful I will publish a how-to online, with schematics, parts list, microcontroller source code and Gerber data for the PCBs. Wish me luck!
Keyboard may be best for some things (Score:3, Interesting)
I use Mame quite a bit for the classic arcade games of my youth.
Those old games had every type of joystick. From the wireframe starwars game, which had a double handed pivotal 4 button thing, to the Outrun steering wheel and pedals, to the 6 button knob and stick Mortal Kombat. (And the track and ball of Missile Command, but I never did play that)
No one USB joystick controller is going to be suitable for every game you want to play.
On the other hand, I've found that keyboard and mouse are sufficient for about 95% of my gaming needs, with only the slightest hint of a readjustment to my style of play.
Re:Retro NES USB Controller (Score:3, Interesting)
interesting device. It'd be nice if they sold something like a motherboard that was just the software and video output. I've got an empty NES case sitting here, and while I could put an atom motherboard in it, it'd be neat to plug in a usb gamepad and an SD card slot into such a motherboard.
that said, the "dingoo" seems to offer a mini usb plug. I wonder .. would it be possible to plug in a regular usb hub into that port and then use it with a usb controller or two?
Re:USB Digital Joysticks Suck (Score:4, Interesting)
Weren't Joust and Gyruss purely digital inputs? I'm trying to think of any non-trackball / non-wheel / non-paddle stick-based arcade games that used analog controls from a retro time-period, and the only one I'm coming up with is Afterburner.
Whats wrong with the USB Competition Pro? (Score:3, Interesting)
I own one and it gives exactly the same gaming experience as back in the good 'ol days of my beloved C64. (From the time I got rid of those floppy Quickshots IV)