CX40_Plus

That's very possible. To me the stick feels significantly better, as you get much more immediate feedback and less wiggle, but it's certainly not the classic CX40 feel. It would be great to get some other people play and feedback once I have my next revision.

There's no modification of the existing joystick plastic required. The switches in the current prototype are surface mount, so very low profile. The tact switches are slightly higher than the original dome switches, which means the throw of joystick is much shorter. This makes the stick (and the fire button) feel more responsive. I've attached an image below.

Thanks for the feedback everyone - it's been super helpful. Seems like the thoughts are: The price would have to be more comparable to dome switch solutions on the market The primary decision to pick one up would be as a repair than a feel / performance upgrade Also, I notice that Best Electronics require the purchase of two boards. Would people be okay if these board were only available as pairs?

Uncertain. My aim is to keep them under that. In small quantities the cost of materials and postage is around $10 per board, that's ignoring any assembly, testing costs, returns, overage, yield etc. I'd need to do a full costing.

Thanks for the kind words! I haven't yet costed them. My hope would be to keep them under $25USD shipped. However a lot depends on if I assemble or have them assembled, size of the batch and final components. I'm still testing different switches. There are currently two prototypes that use different tact switches, but I don't think either are perfect. Which I decided to go for and who can supply them will have a big impact on the cost. I'd like to get some of the next revision prototypes in to the hands of AtariAge members for review! Do you think there's specific people I should be talking to in the community about the project?

Wanted to share a prototype I've been working on and get your thoughts. CX40+ is a drop-in replacement board for the classic Atari joystick that ditches the flaky dome switches of the original with new, tactile switches similar to those found in the Neo Geo Pocket. The replacement is easy, requiring only three minutes and screwdriver. This more modern approach gives a much more positive, "clicky" feel while being considerably more durable and responsive. I would love to be able to save one or two CX40s out of the trash, so am considering a short production run in the future. The photos below are of the first version and I expect a couple of revisions before I'm happy. What does everyone think?