Atari 2600+: Ambidextrous controllers?

[tripletopper]

The one feature that defined most Second-Generation default controllers were ambidextrous controllers. (OEM with the Bally, INTV, CV, 5200, Arcadia, 7800 Pro Line.  As well 2600 via third parties, plus the OEM 2600 Trakball and 5200 Trakball.  BTW, will the Keypad, Trakball, Steering controller. Light Gun, and Booster Grip work?)

 

I'm surprised that when Atari made their "fight stick" it wasn't 180able and ambi.

 

When you make a new two button joystick and a 2 button pad. PLEASE made them ambidextrous.

 

Second generation controls have a joke that the good news is they are ambidextrous, and the bad.news is when you use those and get good, you're going to learn to be ambidextrous with the arm cramps of holding the joystick.

 

Atari appeals to the age slice that make a right handed fight stick the number one requested product that goes unfulfilled at Gamestop.

 

Do not follow the Japanese trend of left-move only controls.  Be American.  Make it Ambi.

 

The Hori USA manager say an ambi stick would sell well in the USA, but Hades will have a zero degree Kelvin day before the main Japanese HQ allows it, even if localized to the US Market.

 

Being used by everyone > left move only users.

 

 

 

[0078265317]

The hyperkinetic trooper has 2 buttons.  I got one long time ago in a different color scheme.  If the 2600+ uses real 9 pin controllers (hard to tell but looks like it does from the photos) and not usb or some proprietary stuff that should work.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Hyperkin-Trooper-Controller-not-machine-specific/dp/B07M5HYTZL/ref=asc_df_B07M5HYTZL/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241890262780&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2127077005137555421&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1016895&hvtargid=pla-679449561260&psc=1

 

It works just like the original cx40 I have.

[Bakasama]

It think those will with a real 2600 but I seen people talk about build quality. Its not sounding too good since the stick part of the controller tend to pop out.

[Flojomojo]

[0078265317]

On 9/24/2023 at 5:59 AM, Flojomojo said:

Neat.  Are those wires soldered or clipon.

[0078265317]

Just found this.

 

 

[Flojomojo]

12 hours ago, 0078265317 said:

Neat.  Are those wires soldered or clipon.

Clip on. This is from the old AtariAge magazine in the 1980s. 

[Sean_1970]

On 9/27/2023 at 3:24 PM, Flojomojo said:

Clip on. This is from the old AtariAge magazine in the 1980s. 

I remember that from back in the day. My kid is left-handed so I’m interested to see how he gets on with the new CX-40. The new controllers have rubber feet which I’m assuming are covering screw holes, but they feel pretty firmly attached and I’m not keen to try to forcibly remove them. Maybe an enterprising person will do a teardown on them in the near future to confirm…

[xeex]

1 hour ago, Sean_1970 said:

I remember that from back in the day. My kid is left-handed so I’m interested to see how he gets on with the new CX-40. The new controllers have rubber feet which I’m assuming are covering screw holes, but they feel pretty firmly attached and I’m not keen to try to forcibly remove them. Maybe an enterprising person will do a teardown on them in the near future to confirm…

@Ben from Plaion posted a nice teardown here.

 

It won't be quite as easy to modify the CX-40+ for lefties, but certainly still possible.

[Sean_1970]

16 minutes ago, xeex said:

@Ben from Plaion posted a nice teardown here.

 

It won't be quite as easy to modify the CX-40+ for lefties, but certainly still possible.

Awesome vid, takes me back to when I bought a “repair kit” for my old CX-40 because the white plastic ring bit broke. Definitely looks like care was put into the new CX-40+ stick. If the 2600+ does well enough, maybe some enterprising 3rd party will make a stick for lefties or with a button in either corner 🤞