Kid Ice Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 (edited) I bought a TI and a few games but I don't have controllers. I never had a TI (I was a Commodore kid). I'm looking to buy joysticks but the ones I'm seeing on ebay appear.... crooked. Are they self-centering controllers, or loose like 5200 controllers? The ones I'm seeing look like those Vectrex sticks that tend to lean to the right or left. Like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Texas-Instruments-PHP1100-Home-Computer-Remote-Controllers-Joysticks-TI99-TI-99/122777027211?epid=1421191762&hash=item1c9614c28b:g:mb8AAOSwD8ZZ84d0 Looking at the pics it appears the sticks are off center, but it could just be the angle. The new sticks (and package pics) look like they're straight, but the new ones tend to be untested. Are they generally reliable? I don't want to spend 20-40 dollars on broken sticks. Edited November 10, 2017 by Kid Ice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 The original TI Sticks are often called pain sticks for good reason. The metallized buttons for up/down/left/right below the central stick are often unreliable after 30+ years too, so they aren't the best joystick choice either. You are better off getting an Atari Joystick adapter like this one and then using your favorite Atari-compatible joysticks with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NISMOPC Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 Or the WICO Command Control, but thinking they are not as cheap and hard to come by. I bought my Command Control new when I got my TI-99/4 at a ripe young age Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airshack Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 Get the Atari adapter and a nice Genesis game pad. They’re Atari compatible and of course only one button works which is all you need. AFUNTA 6-Button Controller for Sega Classic Genesis (2 pcs) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EAM862S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_juubAbH5R9JYV Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digdugnate Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 i have a pair of the 'hand crampers' that i bought for my TI- they get the job done if you can find a set relatively cheaply (15-20 bucks), but as mentioned above i think you'd be better off in the long run getting a joystick adapter and a proper joystick (that's what im working on) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 ^ What he said. There are threads on favored joysticks that may enlighten you on your options. As far as I know, only one guy here likes those TI sticks... but I'm not gonna put him on front street over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+arcadeshopper Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 You can get an atari joystick adapter here: https://www.arcadeshopper.com/wp/?page_id=11#!/Joysticks-and-adapters/c/21773047 Then use the atari compatible joystick of choice, my preference is the wico bat handle type.. ymmv Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 (edited) ^ What he said. There are threads on favored joysticks that may enlighten you on your options. As far as I know, only one guy here likes those TI sticks... but I'm not gonna put him on front street over it. I like Zero Zap, too... wanna fight about it? Edited November 10, 2017 by OLD CS1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramidavis Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 I like Zero Zap, too... wanna fight about it? Another zero zap fan here, the pain-sticks ain't the best but they are all i got right now. I just wish C64 joysticks could be easily used, got a whole box of spare C64 sticks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+arcadeshopper Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 (edited) Another zero zap fan here, the pain-sticks ain't the best but they are all i got right now. I just wish C64 joysticks could be easily used, got a whole box of spare C64 sticks. Conveniently..they are the same as atari joysticks. ie, just need the adapter mentioned previously "The Atari joystick port, however, appeared on many other systems. Atari-compatible joysticks were used for Commodore VIC20, Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, MSX, Sinclair ZX81/Spectrum using an adaptor and several Japanese home computers." - from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_2600_hardware Greg Edited November 10, 2017 by arcadeshopper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 Another zero zap fan here, the pain-sticks ain't the best but they are all i got right now. I just wish C64 joysticks could be easily used, got a whole box of spare C64 sticks. Really… a whole box? C64 sticks aren't exactly common. Wouldn't mind seeing a pic of those beauties scattered about! They're surprisingly comfortable and responsive when in good shape, but the traditional CX-40 fits these hands a little better, especially for extended periods. Gotta have hands of a gorilla for the Wico sticks to feel "comfortable". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digdugnate Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 I like Zero Zap, too... wanna fight about it? look at me, I'm pele! look at me, i'm tiger woods! XD (and yes, i LOVE Zero Zap too!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digdugnate Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 Really… a whole box? C64 sticks aren't exactly common. Wouldn't mind seeing a pic of those beauties scattered about! They're surprisingly comfortable and responsive when in good shape, but the traditional CX-40 fits these hands a little better, especially for extended periods. Gotta have hands of a gorilla for the Wico sticks to feel "comfortable". I've got a couple of CX-40 style joysticks that came with my Atari Flashback- I'm interested to try them when my adapter gets here. Won't hold candle to the 'real' ones tho 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 I've got a couple of CX-40 style joysticks that came with my Atari Flashback- I'm interested to try them when my adapter gets here. Won't hold candle to the 'real' ones tho That's right, they won't. But they'll feel and respond much better than some old worn out pair. For a short while anyway. :-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 You can get newly-made CX-40s around for about $20 each. I have not read any reviews on how well they stand up to the originals, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Ice Posted November 12, 2017 Author Share Posted November 12, 2017 The original TI Sticks are often called pain sticks for good reason. The metallized buttons for up/down/left/right below the central stick are often unreliable after 30+ years too, so they aren't the best joystick choice either. You are better off getting an Atari Joystick adapter like this one and then using your favorite Atari-compatible joysticks with it. Thanks for the responses. I will go the adapter route, I didn't know they could be had inexpensively. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NISMOPC Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 You can get newly-made CX-40s around for about $20 each. I have not read any reviews on how well they stand up to the originals, though. If you are referring to the generic one's, I purchased one and had to replace the internal stick on it within a few hours of playing. It cracked at the base near the pads. Once I replaced it with a real Atari stick, the thing seems to work great. Responsive and sturdy. Not sure if I just got a bad one or if they are all prone to break, but either way I am overall pleased with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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