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Where Are the Joysticks For Retro Gaming?

Posted by Soulskill on from the ch-flightstick-pro-was-aces-for-x-wing dept.

Doctor O writes "With all those nice emulators for classic gaming around (such as MAME, VICE or Stella) I want to establish monthly retro gaming evenings with some friends. The problem is I can't find any good joysticks for that purpose. There's a new version of the legendary Competition Pro, but judging from the many one-star reviews on Amazon, it's terrible. I found the USB version of the classic Atari Joystick, but it doesn't seem to be available and would have prohibitive shipping costs to Germany anyway. So, Slashdot to the rescue — where are the suitable USB joysticks for retro gaming?"

9 of 262 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I hear ya.... by uvajed_ekil · · Score: 3, Funny

    I recently (as in last week) purchased an original Apple // analogue joystick at auction on eBay, and I plan on building an Apple-joystick-port-to-USB-human-interface-device adapter circuit using a microcontroller such as the Microchip PIC. Should be straight forward, and if I am successful I will publish a how-to online, with schematics, parts list, microcontroller source code and Gerber data for the PCBs. Wish me luck!

    Luck? I am wishing you a girlfriend.

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  2. Re:I hear ya.... by somersault · · Score: 2, Funny

    First things first - where do you get the schematics for a girlfriend-to-geek-interface-device?

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    which is totally what she said
  3. Re:I hear ya.... by TheRaven64 · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's nice of you, but can you wait until after he's published the schematics? Girlfriends tend to have a terrible impact on geek productivity...

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  4. Re:Retro NES USB Controller by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Don't be silly. If he had wanted a joystick he would have asked a simple unambiguous question such as: "where are the suitable USB joysticks for retro gaming?"

  5. Re:I hear ya.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Funny, that's what she said!

  6. Re:I hear ya.... by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Here.

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  7. Re:I hear ya.... by Eudial · · Score: 5, Funny

    You should have shipped with one. Look in your pants.

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  8. Re:I hear ya.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    That? I thought it was a loopback interface.

  9. Re:Retro NES USB Controller by skids · · Score: 2, Funny

    Though, it does have that "I'm an ergonomic train-wreck which is going to make your thumbs develop blisters and turn numb" quality to it, which is probably essential for a true retro-gaming experience.

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