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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: CoryBee on July 18, 2013, 03:07:54 am

Title: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: CoryBee on July 18, 2013, 03:07:54 am
Anyone have any experience converting one of these to use in a PC?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1983-Disney-Tron-M-Network-Joystick-for-the-Atari-2600-/281132759536?pt=US_Video_Game_Controllers&hash=item4174d179f0 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/1983-Disney-Tron-M-Network-Joystick-for-the-Atari-2600-/281132759536?pt=US_Video_Game_Controllers&hash=item4174d179f0)

(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/1983-Disney-Tron-M-Network-Joystick-for-the-Atari-2600-/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/~0UAAOxyhodR0Nbt/$(KGrHqR,!qQFH!F0vhv9BR0Nbtobt!~~60_57.JPG) (http://i.ebayimg.com/t/1983-Disney-Tron-M-Network-Joystick-for-the-Atari-2600-/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/i2kAAOxyjNlR0NcE/$(KGrHqF,!rEFHOi!iVcMBR0NcD10BQ~~60_57.JPG)

It is for an atari 2600, a system which I don't know much about.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: yotsuya on July 18, 2013, 03:41:52 am
It is for an atari 2600, a system which I don't know much about.

Blasphemer.
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: yotsuya on July 18, 2013, 03:42:57 am
BTW, you can find a Atari to USB converter. No need to hack up such a rare item.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Atari-2600-Controller-Adapter-to-PC-USB-Cable-RetroLink-NEW-Cord-Adaptor-/190870669919?pt=US_Video_Game_Cables_Adapters&hash=item2c70c74a5f (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Atari-2600-Controller-Adapter-to-PC-USB-Cable-RetroLink-NEW-Cord-Adaptor-/190870669919?pt=US_Video_Game_Cables_Adapters&hash=item2c70c74a5f)
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: CoryBee on July 18, 2013, 03:53:36 am
It is for an atari 2600, a system which I don't know much about.

Blasphemer.

I grew up with an GB and an NES......

 :dunno
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: jdbailey1206 on July 18, 2013, 07:25:05 am
It is for an atari 2600, a system which I don't know much about.

Blasphemer.

I grew up with an GB and an NES......

 :dunno

...Oh CoryBee
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: CoryBee on July 18, 2013, 07:35:21 am
 :'(
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: rpgposer on July 18, 2013, 08:53:56 am
:'(
Pat, pat.  It's ok.  The 2600 sucked anyway.  Still wouldn't hack up that stick.
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: yotsuya on July 18, 2013, 11:13:01 am
:'(
Pat, pat.  It's ok.  The 2600 sucked anyway.  Still wouldn't hack up that stick.

You offend me, sir. The 2600's honor shall not be soiled as such. What shall it be? Pistols at dawn? Swords? Slap fight? Pong?
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: yotsuya on July 18, 2013, 11:22:25 am
Oh, and....

Still wouldn't hack up that stick.

 :cheers:
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: GoYouSalukis on July 18, 2013, 01:23:41 pm
I concur, don't hack it. Get an Atari port that you can plug it into and wire it up to a controller.
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: CoryBee on July 18, 2013, 03:35:12 pm
I concur, don't hack it. Get an Atari port that you can plug it into and wire it up to a controller.

And that would be fine for a tron stick in MAME?
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: PL1 on July 18, 2013, 04:24:16 pm
I concur, don't hack it. Get an Atari port that you can plug it into and wire it up to a controller.

And that would be fine for a tron stick in MAME?

It would work as an 8-way trigger stick, but it doesn't have the special TRON restrictor that makes it harder to hit diagonals IIRC.

Also not sure how stable it would be while using it single handed with your left hand on the spinner.

Description at the bottom of the page here (http://www.atariage.com/2600/archives/controllers_atari.html).


Scott
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: BadMouth on July 18, 2013, 04:53:02 pm
If it has much in common with the original 2600 joystick, it's not fine for much of anything.
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: rpgposer on July 19, 2013, 08:07:40 am
:'(
Pat, pat.  It's ok.  The 2600 sucked anyway.  Still wouldn't hack up that stick.

You offend me, sir. The 2600's honor shall not be soiled as such. What shall it be? Pistols at dawn? Swords? Slap fight? Pong?
Pistols.  Swords are bloody, slap fights sting too much, Pong would just bore us to death (shudder).
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: ids on July 19, 2013, 02:16:21 pm
atari 2600, a system which I don't know much about.

I believe this is just cause for a permanent ban  ;D
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: SavannahLion on July 19, 2013, 03:43:57 pm


the port is identical in shape to a nine pin serial port but the pin out is radically different. No need to purchase a specialized usb adapter for the joystick as any of the standard controllers like ultimarc will happily accept it. Note: the statement does not apply to any non-joystick. Go here for the pinout http://old.pinouts.ru/Inputs/JoystickAtari2600_pinout.shtml (http://old.pinouts.ru/Inputs/JoystickAtari2600_pinout.shtml)

Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: CoryBee on July 19, 2013, 05:46:02 pm


the port is identical in shape to a nine pin serial port but the pin out is radically different. No need to purchase a specialized usb adapter for the joystick as any of the standard controllers like ultimarc will happily accept it. Note: the statement does not apply to any non-joystick. Go here for the pinout http://old.pinouts.ru/Inputs/JoystickAtari2600_pinout.shtml (http://old.pinouts.ru/Inputs/JoystickAtari2600_pinout.shtml)

Yepp, I just checked with my supervisors at Internet Web Globals. They would like to present you with an award.
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: SavannahLion on July 19, 2013, 06:17:58 pm


the port is identical in shape to a nine pin serial port but the pin out is radically different. No need to purchase a specialized usb adapter for the joystick as any of the standard controllers like ultimarc will happily accept it. Note: the statement does not apply to any non-joystick. Go here for the pinout http://old.pinouts.ru/Inputs/JoystickAtari2600_pinout.shtml (http://old.pinouts.ru/Inputs/JoystickAtari2600_pinout.shtml)

Yepp, I just checked with my supervisors at Internet Web Globals. They would like to present you with an award.

without a proper authorative body with the authority to present such a prestigious award, I'm afraid I must respectively decline such an award with many thanks.
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: PL1 on July 19, 2013, 09:55:19 pm
atari 2600, a system which I don't know much about.

I believe this is just cause for a permanent ban  ;D

Given his otherwise outstanding contributions to the forum, I vote for leniency -- 50 lashes with a wet noodle and 30 minutes playing a 2600 game to be chosen by forum members.   :lol

The game can't be E.T. since the Supreme Court has ruled that game to be a cruel and unusual form of punishment.


Scott
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: ids on July 19, 2013, 10:10:35 pm
ok ok E.T. would be cruel and unusual punishment, so how about Pac Man  :laugh2:
Sorry Cory, inside joke I guess  ;)
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: CoryBee on July 19, 2013, 10:15:33 pm
I have no idea what's going on

I do know of ET being horible though so brownie points????

atari 2600, a system which I don't know much about.

I believe this is just cause for a permanent ban  ;D
Given his otherwise outstanding contributions to the forum, I vote for leniency -- 50 lashes with a wet noodle and 30 minutes playing a 2600 game to be chosen by forum members.   :lol
The game can't be E.T. since the Supreme Court has ruled that game to be a cruel and unusual form of punishment.
Scott

 :laugh2:  :laugh2:  :laugh2:  :laugh2:  :laugh2:  :laugh2:  :laugh2:
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: yotsuya on July 19, 2013, 11:08:15 pm
I see the bidding on that item has ended, and it sold for around $40. If that was you, and you hack even the tiniest bit of plastic on that thing, I will hunt you down.
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: CoryBee on July 20, 2013, 01:00:29 am
I see the bidding on that item has ended, and it sold for around $40. If that was you, and you hack even the tiniest bit of plastic on that thing, I will hunt you down.

Haha, the guy didn't want to pay the price I quoted him so I didn't get it. I am glad to know that these can be used without modification though, this thread has been useful and funny......And that makes me happy.

Good Day
Title: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: Xiaou2 on July 20, 2013, 02:25:06 am
Your better off getting a used trigger stick from a control panel, and putting Randys replica Tron Handle on it instead.   Or, hacking the replica on to a cheap stick (such as sanding a happs bat down) with a heavy spring mod to accommodate the extra leverage and mass.

 Sorry, but Atari's joystick controllers were downright garbage.  They felt horrible.. very stiff in operation, but the shaft itself seemed to flex.  Ugg.    They sounded like someone moving around on a leather chair. And those contact pad switches didnt work very well.   

 Luckily, it was so hard to stomach the games lack of quality, that you didnt care much about accurate controls.

 The only good controllers were the Paddles, and the Trackball.   But they only had a few titles that used them...  and if you wanted to play pong.. you could do that on one of those tv pong machines.

 If you want cheap but good quality hack sticks... look to something from the c64.  I used to have an 'Epyx' stick, a little single-hand joystick that actually used real microswitches.  It also worked with the Sega Master system. Very cool stuff.
Title: Re: Re: Tron Joystick Conversion
Post by: yotsuya on July 20, 2013, 02:40:41 am
I see the bidding on that item has ended, and it sold for around $40. If that was you, and you hack even the tiniest bit of plastic on that thing, I will hunt you down.

Haha, the guy didn't want to pay the price I quoted him so I didn't get it. I am glad to know that these can be used without modification though, this thread has been useful and funny......And that makes me happy.

Good Day

:cheers: