Henry Lee Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 I recently got from Ebay two New Boxed Controllers with white protective film on. The Box says © 1987 Atari Corp Made in Taiwan. The Controllers Stick is slighly higher from a usual A5200 Controller, you can see part of the sticks metal, It centers much better. Its body is grayer than dark black and its buttons have rounded corners. It brand new and works. Is this a typical 1987 Atari controller, is it common or rare? I have many rebuilt A5200 controllers and it is the first time I come across these slighly different ones? See the pictures and tell me what you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEBRO Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 Could this be a self centering joystick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Lee Posted July 30, 2004 Author Share Posted July 30, 2004 I guess, I have to open one up to see, but I am always septic of opening A5200 Controller, you never know what could go wrong! By the way the button's color has a less flashy some how dark orange and it is less smuggy... I let you know... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 I have one of those 1987 joysticks. It's the one I use for gameplaying because as you mentioned it seems to center much much better (although I wouldn't call it self centering). Tempest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Lee Posted July 30, 2004 Author Share Posted July 30, 2004 I have one of those 1987 joysticks. It's the one I use for gameplaying because as you mentioned it seems to center much much better (although I wouldn't call it self centering). Tempest It actually make a diffrence! There are many kept secrets in the Atari 5200 world that we discover once it actually comes in are own hands. I did open it and it is not the rev 2 controller, it is the old X/Y but IT IS somehow better. I confirm the circuit board to be revision 9 and everything inside was mint clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRetroGamer Posted July 31, 2004 Share Posted July 31, 2004 Chances are that the reason you feel it centers better is probably because of the boot. The is the only part that can actually make a difference. If you say it was still boxed and probably not used, the boot is most likely still stiff and adds a small amount of "self-centering" action to the stick. As the boot wears, it gets thinner and loses its elasticity until, and as many people have noticed, it tears and rips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Lee Posted July 31, 2004 Author Share Posted July 31, 2004 I know what you mean, I have a old controller but with a more stiff boot... how about a revised more elastic kind of a rubber boot? I am ignorant about the technologies of the rubber materiel but probably Atari used a different kind of rubber for its second generation of controllers to overcome the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Ragan Posted July 31, 2004 Share Posted July 31, 2004 Holy crap! I didn't realize that Atari even supported the 5200 after 1984. They had a lot of other systems they were selling at the time, including the 2600, 7800, and (later on) the XEGS. JR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApolloBoy Posted July 31, 2004 Share Posted July 31, 2004 Holy crap! I didn't realize that Atari even supported the 5200 after 1984. They had a lot of other systems they were selling at the time, including the 2600, 7800, and (later on) the XEGS. JR Did you know that Atari released some games in 1986 (Ballblazer, Rescue On Fractalus, Gremlins, and Choplifter)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt Vendel Posted July 31, 2004 Share Posted July 31, 2004 That was one of the final revision improvements to the 5200 joystick, these improvements were done to the joysticks in 84' They were left over stock Atari Corp packaged into Atari (Corp)'d vs. Atari, Inc. rebranded boxes and sold... The boots are thicker and help the stick go back to center a little better then previous sticks, the buttons were rounded to lessen them sticking in the pushed down position and the flex circuit inside is slightly improved to reduce oxidation and loss of continuity. Curt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApolloBoy Posted August 1, 2004 Share Posted August 1, 2004 That was one of the final revision improvements to the 5200 joystick, these improvements were done to the joysticks in 84' They were left over stock Atari Corp packaged into Atari (Corp)'d vs. Atari, Inc. rebranded boxes and sold... The boots are thicker and help the stick go back to center a little better then previous sticks, the buttons were rounded to lessen them sticking in the pushed down position and the flex circuit inside is slightly improved to reduce oxidation and loss of continuity. Curt Cool, I gotta find me some 1987 controllers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferris Posted August 1, 2004 Share Posted August 1, 2004 How about some pictures of the joystick's boxes? I'd love to see the packaging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerseydevil1953 Posted August 1, 2004 Share Posted August 1, 2004 Buy a new set from best electronics, their way better then any atari upgrade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt Vendel Posted August 1, 2004 Share Posted August 1, 2004 Buy a new set from best electronics, their way better then any atari upgrade That is true, I got a set of Brads upgrade buttons and I'll tell you, my 5200 controllers have never worked better, see if he has any of the thicker later rev joystick boots and the shorter stick, change all that stuff and you're controller will be great. Curt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
video game addict Posted August 1, 2004 Share Posted August 1, 2004 How about some pictures of the joystick's boxes? I'd love to see the packaging. Here's a scan Warning it's over 300K front & back of the '87 box. I have three different dates in my collection, '82, '85, & the '87 Really the only difference in them is in the address on back & the copyright info. '82 was Atari, INC & mine has a "Made in Mexico" sticker on box. I have a couple '85's now Atari Corp @ different PO box & zip, with Made in Taiwan, then the '87 still Atari Corp dropped the PO box, added the "printed in Taiwan" line on back. Rest of box is virtually the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferris Posted August 1, 2004 Share Posted August 1, 2004 Thanks for the scans. That's really interesting. I had no idea Atari was still supporting the 5200 in any way after '85. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Lee Posted August 3, 2004 Author Share Posted August 3, 2004 Just got back to town, sorry ferris I guess video gamer addict scanned it my place ! where the '82 boxes like the first version of the A5200 system boxes (darker blue with better ink quality)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie_ Posted August 5, 2004 Share Posted August 5, 2004 I have many of these "low" boot, made in taiwan 5200 controllers. I'm not a big fan of them at all. I much prefer the "high" boot, made in mexico controllers. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lendorien Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 (edited) Ack. Necro revived this thread by mistake! Beware Zombies. Arg! Edited September 9, 2011 by Lendorien Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic George 2K3 Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 I don't mind the thread being resurrected. I just think it's kind of interesting to hear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie_ Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 Wow 2004 was my previous reply in this thread.... Although Ive rebuilt and have played with many of these last revision controllers over the last few years, I still think the sticks with the taller rubber boot and are made in USA or MEXICO are better. My wife is right! I'll never change! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5200 Collector Dude Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Man,I just posted a question how Gremlins for 5200 was released in 1986......how long did they actually support this?(ps I gotta get one of those 1987 joysticks!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peedenmark7 Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 That was one of the final revision improvements to the 5200 joystick, these improvements were done to the joysticks in 84' They were left over stock Atari Corp packaged into Atari (Corp)'d vs. Atari, Inc. rebranded boxes and sold... The boots are thicker and help the stick go back to center a little better then previous sticks, the buttons were rounded to lessen them sticking in the pushed down position and the flex circuit inside is slightly improved to reduce oxidation and loss of continuity. Curt Curt, These '87 controllers also NO longer carry the panasonic pots, correct ? The 2 that I purchased [likely from same seller] are as the thread starter described. The 2 NOS '87's that I purchased were non functional right out of the box, so I replaced the crummy pots with panasonic and added the Best elec. Gold flex and buttons. I love the heavier boot. No date codes or country of origin stamped on the underside. They work great now. I recently scored 2 boxed [slightly used] '85 box dated controllers. One works great the other nno functional. I opened the bad one up and found panasonic pots, the white rev9 flex circuit and the darker red/harder rubber fire buttons. Heavier boot as the '87's but the stick is not as tall as the later offering. I cleaned the circuit and buttons and it now functions just fine. I prefer the hard fire buttons to the mushy early ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt Vendel Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 I find its a mixed bag, some had newer parts, other old, some were a mixture... it came down to the fact that the company was sitting on an inventory of components and used what was there to produce product and generate revenue to fund R&D of newer products... the 5200 was a dead system well before the Tramiels set foot within Atari, so just the fact that any "new" 5200 accessories, parts or games were trickling out into stores was a blessing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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