KrunchyTC Posted September 29 Share Posted September 29 (edited) I have some thoughts on the original CX78 controller. I own an original 7800 euro pad, and I honestly didn't like it very much. My main issues with it may have been because of the fact it's nearly 40 years old, but the buttons were very mushy, and the D-Pad was not great. I received the new version of the controller, and was pleasantly surprised to find that it is a big improvement over the original one. The D-Pad is greatly improved, and the face buttons are nice and clicky, and I can actually press both simultaneously, which is saying something as I have pretty stubby thumbs lol Overall, I like this new version, it's a permanent replacement for the originals that I suggest no one bother with anymore. A+! EDIT: Wrong forum, my bad! Edited September 29 by KrunchyTC 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben from Plaion Posted October 1 Share Posted October 1 Feel no hesitation in reporting this in any other thread 😁 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bent_pin Posted October 1 Share Posted October 1 I never had an original CX-78, but I wanted one for more than 30 years. Given that I do not have a direct frame of reference, but I do remember other controllers of the early and mid 80s that were spongy. Recently, I was gifted a blue-buttoned CX-78+ and I do have to say that it is absolutely the best 2-button controller for the 7800 that I own, and I own many models. The better the click, the better the stick! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydro Thunder Posted October 1 Share Posted October 1 7 minutes ago, bent_pin said: I never had an original CX-78, but I wanted one for more than 30 years. Given that I do not have a direct frame of reference, but I do remember other controllers of the early and mid 80s that were spongy. Recently, I was gifted a blue-buttoned CX-78+ and I do have to say that it is absolutely the best 2-button controller for the 7800 that I own, and I own many models. The better the click, the better the stick! Blue...buttons?? What sorcery is this? Want! Personally was a big fan of the original CX gamepads as they were a MASSIVE improvement over the unusable PainLine sticks. I really loved using both d-pads in joystick mode on Robotron. But will trust that the new version is as awesome as folks are saying! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bent_pin Posted October 1 Share Posted October 1 19 minutes ago, Hydro Thunder said: Blue...buttons?? What sorcery is this? 20 minutes ago, Hydro Thunder said: I really loved using both d-pads in joystick mode on Robotron. Or you could use a twin joystick twin button action designed specifically for 2600 games Whaaaaaat? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari_Dan Posted October 2 Share Posted October 2 One of the games that I never enjoyed when I was young was Robotron. Now, it's one of my go-to-games to blow off steam. But, the joysticks at times are a bit of a chore to coordinate. Over the weekend, I made a bracket to mount two proline's at some distance. This has helped a lot. Also, I might be in the minority that I find the prolines more comfortable for games like Joust. I have never had a CX-78. I have ordered the 7800+. Perhaps this will be the way to go for Joust. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+D Train Posted October 2 Share Posted October 2 17 hours ago, Atari_Dan said: Over the weekend, I made a bracket to mount two proline's at some distance. whoa. although at first i thought they were foot pedals and thought, "now *that's* an innovative way to play!" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Video Posted October 2 Share Posted October 2 Think it was like 99 when I discovered the europad, as they were called at the time (maybe still?) And my god, what an improvement. Don't know who's idea the "proline" was, but they very much suck, and always have. I bought some pads on eBay at the time and never looked back. Why weren't these the standard controller of the time? With, or without the screw in stick nub thing, they're simply better. Click huh? Ever take one apart? The original are more mushy, do the new ones use microswitch, or just tighter silicone graphite dot domes? Anyhow, so glad Atari opted for the europad for the 7800+, and not the proline pos, though I imagine its more about simplicity/cheap,rather than "because better controller" 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin Posted October 5 Share Posted October 5 Not a fan of the original CX-78 pads. While an improvement over the stock 7800 sticks, it still paled to the NES controller with a mushy/unresponsive dpad. The mushy, spaced out buttons didn’t do it any favors either. I am interested in trying this new version with updated tech to see how it feels in comparison. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+GoldLeader Posted October 5 Share Posted October 5 I bought 4 new Europads a long time ago from BEST...(Only opened one thus far). I always thought ... not bad, but definitely not as good as the NES pad. Incidentally I also have a converted NES pad (eBay purchase), which was better but just barely as I think this particular one was starting to wear out a little bit...And a brand new black aftermarket NES pad made into a 7800 controller (made with a new PCB and everything) and it is the Best for such things, if I don't include the Edladdin arcade stick which is The Best overall! Anyhow, I look forward to trying out the new version! I've had it a while but haven't opened it yet,...Maybe tonight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razzie.P Posted October 5 Share Posted October 5 (edited) On 10/1/2024 at 5:49 PM, Hydro Thunder said: Personally was a big fan of the original CX gamepads as they were a MASSIVE improvement over the unusable PainLine sticks. I really loved using both d-pads in joystick mode on Robotron. But will trust that the new version is as awesome as folks are saying! I never really knew they were considered unusable. My friends and I couldn't stand playing Intellivision and Atari 5200 because the controllers ruined virtually everything we tried to play, but I never really heard any complaints about the 7800 stuff back then. Heck, I could max out scores on quite a few things with those, but using the gamepad (got one much, much later in life) just feels a bit off. Edited October 5 by Razzie.P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin Posted October 5 Share Posted October 5 (edited) You never heard complaints back then because nobody had one. 😂 Edited October 5 by Austin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razzie.P Posted October 5 Share Posted October 5 8 minutes ago, Austin said: You never heard complaints back then because nobody had one. 😂 wait... when he says "painlines" he's talking about the standard pro line joysticks that came with the 7800, right? I knew a bunch of people who had those. And while we played the crap outta stuff using those, I don't remember anyone complaining about them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 (edited) 51 minutes ago, Razzie.P said: wait... when he says "painlines" he's talking about the standard pro line joysticks that came with the 7800, right? I knew a bunch of people who had those. And while we played the crap outta stuff using those, I don't remember anyone complaining about them. I only knew one household with one and they never had it hooked up when I went over, so I never heard of whether it was good or bad back then. That said, the reputation of those joysticks these days seems pretty well earned. I’d be curious what a pristine one feels like, but every one I have had over the years has been mushy, imprecise or unresponsive. Not to mention the side buttons makes for a shape that’s simply uncomfortable in the hands. Edited October 6 by Austin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydro Thunder Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 5 hours ago, Razzie.P said: wait... when he says "painlines" he's talking about the standard pro line joysticks that came with the 7800, right? I knew a bunch of people who had those. And while we played the crap outta stuff using those, I don't remember anyone complaining about them. 4 hours ago, Austin said: I only knew one household with one and they never had it hooked up when I went over, so I never heard of whether it was good or bad back then. That said, the reputation of those joysticks these days seems pretty well earned. I’d be curious what a pristine one feels like, but every one I have had over the years has been mushy, imprecise or unresponsive. Not to mention the side buttons makes for a shape that’s simply uncomfortable in the hands. When I got my first 7800 a decade or more ago, I got a brand new from Best electronics Pro Line. It may have been the worst controller I ever used; nigh unusable. Just fought me at every attempt to do anything, from pressing the button to using the joystick. In pictures they don't look that horrible, but they ARE. And I generally have heard similar stories. The Euro pads were just night and day better. Not saying the people who managed to use them with any level of success or enjoyment were wrong but...they must have VERY different hand sizes / methods than I do, for sure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+GoldLeader Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 It's all opinions, just like a lot of topics we go through on here...If you like Pro Lines, more power to ya! I like to keep 2 good ones in the collection, (just as a reminder) and every once in a while I try them. I think analyzing it, the joystick being kind of a long throw; While the buttons are on this short base and on the side, well that hurts it for me. But to each his/her own, I feel like there's no leverage... I don't actually hate them but think maybe they're a product of their time. I used to like the ColecoVision controllers at one point in time too! (Mainly because they were something new). And nowadays, unlike the ProLines, I have nostalgic reasons to remember the ColecoVision controllers fondly, yet every time I try them, even with a brand new one, "I'm like God Dang These are a freaking workout!!" 12 minutes feels like an hour! I must have been immune to the carpal tunnel back then! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+pboland Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 10 hours ago, GoldLeader said: It's all opinions, just like a lot of topics we go through on here...If you like Pro Lines, more power to ya! I like to keep 2 good ones in the collection, (just as a reminder) and every once in a while I try them. I think analyzing it, the joystick being kind of a long throw; While the buttons are on this short base and on the side, well that hurts it for me. But to each his/her own, I feel like there's no leverage... I don't actually hate them but think maybe they're a product of their time. I used to like the ColecoVision controllers at one point in time too! (Mainly because they were something new). And nowadays, unlike the ProLines, I have nostalgic reasons to remember the ColecoVision controllers fondly, yet every time I try them, even with a brand new one, "I'm like God Dang These are a freaking workout!!" 12 minutes feels like an hour! I must have been immune to the carpal tunnel back then! Looking at the pro line controllers, they look to be just an updated version (shape wise) of the 5200/Colecovision/Intellivision controllers. I think a lot of the hate for the pro line comes from the fact that most didn't actually use then until we were adults and the controllers were 20+ years old. I've used them. They aren't the best, but I never thought they were bad. They truly didn't feel much different to me then playing on Colecovision controllers. The best version of a controller in the style of the Pro Line I've ever used was a modified Intellivision controller with the "InJoy-a-stick" disk controller replacement. The balance with the stick at the bottom and the buttons above was much better. It was much more comfortable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrunchyTC Posted October 6 Author Share Posted October 6 22 hours ago, Austin said: Not a fan of the original CX-78 pads. While an improvement over the stock 7800 sticks, it still paled to the NES controller with a mushy/unresponsive dpad. The mushy, spaced out buttons didn’t do it any favors either. I am interested in trying this new version with updated tech to see how it feels in comparison. Valid complaints. I myself am not a "Painline" hater 😆 I can actually play side scrollers with them! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 3 hours ago, KrunchyTC said: Valid complaints. I myself am not a "Painline" hater 😆 I can actually play side scrollers with them! I can already feel my hands hurting watching that. 😆 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metal Ghost Posted October 15 Share Posted October 15 I don’t know. I had a 7800 back in the day. There were three of us friends that gamed a lot together. One had an NES, I had a 7800 that I saved my paper route money for, and a little later on one got a Genesis right when it was released. And yea, the Prolines cramped your hands after a while, but we’d get Nintendo thumb after a while too. I don’t think we really thought ‘this is better than that’ type of thing. Admittedly we were round about 10, so we just didn’t give it much of a thought, or really care. I do recall there being like a white plastic sleeve type of thing that covered the joystick shaft. We played the hell out of my 7800 so it actually wore a glove into that sleeve 😀 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Video Posted October 15 Share Posted October 15 (edited) I recall the few people I knew just used cx40 instead of the prolines. I'm sure some games required them, but most games even for 7800 were either one button games, or could use up/down as alternate fire...not to mention, most of us played 2600 in order of magnitude more, even on the 7800. I do wonder, had we gotten the europad, would we have played more 7800 games? When it came to arcade redos, the 2600 version was certainly uglier, but were also so much more playable. Looking at pics up there, non of my intellivision machines had joysticks, was that an add-on, or was there a version of intv with sticks? Yes, till nintendo/mastersystem, most multi button consoles used the weird "remote with a stick" (or disc, in my intv experience) for a standard controller. The coleco version imo was also pretty bad, but I don't recall the cramps happening with anything else besides the 7800. Maybe it was the stiffness of the stick. I recall the intv being a bit awkward, the 5200 was a pleasure though (when it worked) I'd list the controllers (I had experience with bitd) like this. 5200, awesome, when functional Intellivision, ok, but seemed awkward Coleco, stiff, but not as bad as 7800 * 7800, there's a reason people called it "painline" * there was also the coleco Gemini, (coleco version of 2600) which if I was to count, would fall just under the 5200 in the lineup. Edited October 15 by Video Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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