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Atari 2600 Remote Control Joysticks

Posted: May 21st, 2011, 7:53 pm
by VideoGameCritic
I have been thinking about these things which were made in 1982 or 1983.  It occurred to me that wireless controllers didn't become standard with game systems until 25 years later!  25 years!  Pretty amazing.  My question is, did they work well?  I assume by their thick bases that they required a lot of big batteries?  Are they worth buying?  If anyone has used these I'd like to hear your thoughts.







Atari 2600 Remote Control Joysticks

Posted: May 21st, 2011, 8:58 pm
by Orion1
I had these, but every time I pushed up on the joystick, my neighbor's garage door would open.

I'm just kidding.  I never knew anyone who had these, and I don't remember them being in stores at the time.  I'm surprised there are so many boxed ones on E-bay.


Atari 2600 Remote Control Joysticks

Posted: May 21st, 2011, 9:12 pm
by YAGRS
I have a set of these. Each controller runs off of a 9-volt battery. The Atari's power adapter plugs into the back of the receiver, which then plugs into the back of the Atari, providing both with power. I think the big bases are probably due to the electronics that made them wireless.

I haven't used them recently, but from what I remember, they work about as well as the normal 2600 controllers, though they may have been a little stiffer. Never having been a fan of the non-wireless 2600 controllers, I don't believe I used these very much at all.

I may get these out again and give them another try, just to see if my feelings about these will change.


Atari 2600 Remote Control Joysticks

Posted: May 21st, 2011, 9:22 pm
by BornToRun

I have these, and they certainly were ahead of their time. Mine seem to work fine, although I've heard that they only work for a limited range. I wouldn't recommend them strongly, but if you find them on the cheap, then they are a neat collector's piece.


Atari 2600 Remote Control Joysticks

Posted: May 22nd, 2011, 12:04 am
by Algus1
They work ok.  Response time is good.  They are to bulky IMO (and this is coming from a guy with big hands).  I've never much cared for the 2600 stick though, so making it fatter was just bleh to me.  I usually use a Genesis pad, heh.  

Much better than some of those wireless controllers that tried to use IR ports back before the Wavebird came out on GCN.  I do agree though that they are a nice collectable piece. 


Atari 2600 Remote Control Joysticks

Posted: May 23rd, 2011, 6:08 pm
by PacMan000

Atari also had a tilting controller.  It used mercury switches to tell which direction you were pointing!  Not exactly safe, but cool.


Atari 2600 Remote Control Joysticks

Posted: May 23rd, 2011, 11:00 pm
by YAGRS
I have a controller like that. It's called Le Stick and was made by Datasoft Inc. I don't know that I've ever tried it out. It says it's for Atari 400/800 computers and the VIC-20.

Atari 2600 Remote Control Joysticks

Posted: May 25th, 2011, 3:00 pm
by chrisbid1
i tried them a couple of years ago... they ran on the same frequency as my wireless network and as a result, my tank in combat just kept spinning in circles.



Atari 2600 Remote Control Joysticks

Posted: May 26th, 2011, 5:41 pm
by PacMan000

 Apparently Atari wanted to make a wireless version of the 2600, the Atari 2700.  The controllers were small, but they hay a wide (1000ft) range.  Atari was afraid the controllers would interfere with other electronics (and other 2700s) so they canceled it. 


Re: Atari 2600 Remote Control Joysticks

Posted: August 31st, 2019, 1:59 am
by Robotrek
Orion1 wrote:I had these, but every time I pushed up on the joystick, my neighbor's garage door would open.


This made me laugh far more than it should have. :lol: :lol: