Fortunately, you can play the converted 5200 version on the XEGS. It's really much smoother. I don't know why Atari paid people to write games more than once, but that's what they did.
First version was the 8-bit, used for the XEGS, wasn't very good so 2 other guys did the 5200 version...way better with the trak-ball! Joystick? Not on any version! But of all joystick versions, the 5200 still wins!