Looking for USB-HID <> "Atari joystick" adapter

[Jan Lund Thomsen]

Right. I've owned a Competition Pro USB joystick for years, but never really gotten used to how it feels compared to the real thing. My patience with it ran out last weekend when I discovered the most excellent remake over on RetroSpec. Which is *really* frustrating to play with that joystick.

A friend suggested I got hold of Logitechs Precision Gamepad instead but frankly I can't imagine playing something like Wizball or Citaldel on it. I need a proper Kempston Competition Pro 5000 (with leaf-switches ) or The Arcade for that. And since I got both in a box in the basement it would rock to get hold of a USB-HID <> "Atari joystick" adapter.

But all I can find is homebrew projects (like http://cs.au.dk/~noe/projects/?page=sho ... %20adaptor), and I don't have the gadgetry to build those. Any pointers to people selling (or willing to custom build one) would be most appreciated.

[Waz]

Jan,

I think something like this would be what you want:

http://www.raphnet-tech.com/products/atari2usb/

It supports 9-pin controllers and also includes support for Megadrive as well!

Might be worth a go?

[Mayhem]

Or spring for a Stelladapter if you can spare the cash...

[Jan Lund Thomsen]

Thanks for the pointers. Unfortunately the AtariAge store is offline at the moment, so I have no idea what the Stelladapter costs. That being said, the Raphnet one that Waz pointed to is $36.65 Canadian including shipping. I.e. about the same as a good joystick cost back in the day.

Anyway, via Twitter I got in touch with a chap in the UK who'se gonna build two of the homebrew ones I first linked to - one for me, and one for himself while he's at it.

[Jan Lund Thomsen]

Also, while looking up info on the Stelladapter I found a thread over on the RetroGamer forum that links to these two:

* http://www.retrousb.com/product_info.php?products_id=70 ($35 USD including international shipping)
* http://keio.dk/retroadapter.html (£30, local, but out of stock until May - and only takes payment through Google Checkout. Bah!)

How come alternatives always show up AFTER you jump at the first solution that presents itself?

[Commie_User]

That seems a fantastic way to use your old joysticks with the PC, if you really must.

Now my question would be can you also use paddles or the Commodulator? If you're using an emulator like Win-Vice, could you our could you not run these things well through there? Write back and let us know (that is if I don't buy one myself in a few months).


And another question that comes to mind is can you get something which works in the other direction? Could you use your little USB mouse or favourite 15 pin PC joystick on the Commie?

[Jan Lund Thomsen]

Now my question would be can you also use paddles or the Commodulator? If you're using an emulator like Win-Vice, could you our could you not run these things well through there? Write back and let us know (that is if I don't buy one myself in a few months).

And another question that comes to mind is can you get something which works in the other direction? Could you use your little USB mouse or favourite 15 pin PC joystick on the Commie?

No idea if any of these gadgets will work with Paddles or not. The only thing I've ever played on paddles is Omega Race on the VIC20, and I'm not a big fan of Arkanoid - so I think I'll manage.

As for going the other direction, I did come across this PS2/USB mouse-adapter in my search. Might be what you're looking for: http://www.vesalia.de/e_micromys.htm

[Mayhem]

The Stelladaptor does work with paddles, but Vice doesn't currently support them sadly. Stella (the 2600 emu) certainly does though.