The Joy of Joysticks
Pick of the sticks-a comparison review
by David Plotkin
I: WHAT MAKES A GOOD JOYSTICK
Most games, especially arcade games, require a joystick to control them. Even games which don't require a joystick often let you use one if you wish. Originally, Atari owners had only the standard Atari CX40 joystick. With its small, black plastic case, slender stick and single fire button, this joystick could be used either on a table or held in one hand while manipulating it with the other.
The Atari joystick had several problems, including lack of adequate control for some games. It wasn't especially rugged--the internal plastic parts broke after sufficient heavy use. Until about 1981, the CX40 was virtually the only game in town. But this was bound to change.
Among the first alternative sticks was an immensely rugged device from WICO, a company that manufactures joystick controllers for commercial arcade games. Soon, dozens of alternate joysticks appeared. One company, Gemini, brought out a clone of the entire Atari 2600 video game system, identical even to the joystick. While Gemini no longer makes the 2600 clone, it still makes decent joysticks.
Companies added all sorts of gimmicks to their sticks to differentiate them from the others, and a wide selection of Atari-compatible joysticks is still available. One reason why so many are out there is that a stick which works on the 8-bit Atari will also work on a Commodore or an ST.
Joysticks are primarily available in the larger toy stores. Many are priced very reasonably at $7 to $12, although fancy sticks can run as much as $50. Since you can't try these sticks with your favorite games before buying them, make sure the store has a good return policy.
Joystick preference is a personal thing. One person's favorite stick could be totally wrong for someone else, so understand that the following is simply my opinion on the relative merits of the joysticks I tested. Some factors weigh more heavily than others--for example, though the Epyx 500XJ rated well in many areas, I personally found it so very uncomfortable to use that its overall rating was poor. Also, different sticks may be better for different types of games.
Fig.1: Competition Pro joystick line from Happ Controls. Clockwise from top left: 300X, 5000,1000. Fig.2: Mindscape PowerPlayer joystick is highly rated in our chart.
STICK RATING FACTORS
I have logged many, many hours of joystick-bending. So when I check out a new joystick, I look at the following factors:
1. SHAPE OF THE HANDLE: This is very important. If the handle doesn't fit your hand properly, your scores will suffer. The "standard" straight handle--as on the Atari joystick--is a good compromise, but handles are available in a variety of sizes. Thin handles are comfortable for small hands, but difficult for large hands to hold on to. Some sticks are molded into full handgrips suitable for wrapping your hands around, which works well for flight simulators. But these may not fit small hands well and aren't adequate for very fine control.
2. THROW DISTANCE: The distance that the stick travels when pressed can vary from very short (tight sticks) to very long (loose sticks). Tight sticks often seem to work better, especially when you must move diagonally.
Another factor related to throw distance is whether the stick clicks, indicating that a connection has been made. Some sticks provide no sound feedback at all, but this is generally no problem if whatever you're controlling onscreen responds to a joystick press immediately.
3. BASE SIZE AND SHAPE: Stick bases are generally rectangular, but one of the sticks in this comparison has a round base Some stick bases are too large to be handheld, but they're great for use on a tabletop. Other bases are small and well-shaped to holding, but are too narrow to put on a table. Several sticks can only be handheld because the "base" is molded for this purpose.
4. POSITION OF BUTTON: The original Atari joystick had a single button, located in the upper left corner of the base. Many sticks have more than one button, but they all do the same thing. Unlike some joysticks for Apple or IBM computers, Atari joysticks have only one "active" button.
The upper left corner is good for use with the left hand's thumb or index finger, which are most suited to fast, constant button-pressing. However this constant pounding has been known to cause "joystick thumb," an irritation and soreness of that joint. Moreover, if you're left-handed, having the button in the upper left corner forces you to use the joystick as a righty.
The simplest solution has been to add a button in the upper right corner. Either way, you need to keep both hands on the stick. Some games, notably flying games, require you to find and press keys on the keyboard in the heat of battle. This isn't easy with both hands on the joystick. Placing a button on top of the handle (or underneath the trigger finger on handheld models) allows for all stick controls to be performed with one hand, provided that the stick base is wide enough to provide stability in one-handed operation. Long periods of fast shooting may not be as easy to maintain when the button is in these positions.
5. DIAGONALS: A common weakness of joysticks is in using the diagonals. Many sports games require diagonals. For example, Karate simulations invariably have 16 possible moves. You must shift the handle to one of the eight possible positions-with the button either pressed or released. On some sticks, finding the diagonals reliably is virtually impossible, which becomes very frustrating. Sticks with short throws tend to be best at playing the diagonals.
Diagonals can be difficult to locate because often there's no separate switch for the diagonal. Instead, you must press the handle in such a way as to close the contacts for both of the directions on either side of the diagonal. For example, to move up and right, you must close the switches for both the "up" and "right" directions. Miss by even a little bit and you will get a different direction, generally with disastrous results to your score. A lesser problem is that with some sticks, you can get a diagonal when you don't want one.
6. GIMMICKS: In the race to get your joystick-buying dollar, manufacturers try all sorts of variations. Some work, some don't. One short-lived vendor mounted an arcade-quality joystick on a huge base. The problem was that there was no place to put it. One variation that works pretty well is the "auto-fire" function, generally a switch that automatically cycles the fire button several times a second when the trigger is held down. This can save wear and tear on your hand.
One variation that doesn't work well is placing suction cups on the bottom of the joystick base. It is a good idea in theory--allowing use of two joysticks or easy one-handed use of a stick. Unfortunately, this doesn't work well in practice. Most computers and video game systems are not located on tables which suction cups will easily adhere to, so most often the suction cups actually reduce stability of the base. The stick has a tendency to rock on the rubber cups and even slide around. Over the years, I have tried various types of suction cup-equipped joysticks with little success. A low base with rubber anti-skid feet works better,
And now it's time to take a look at the Atari-compatible joysticks that Antic found available in the market this autumn.
| (E-Excellent, VG-Very Good, G-Good, F-Fair, P-Poor) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Auto Fire | Diag | Hor/Vert | Rugged | Price | Base Size | Over all |
| Gravis | N | F | G | E | 39.95 | 6.25x5.25 | VG |
| Slik-Stik | N | F | G | E | 7.99 | 3.5x3.5 | G |
| Tac-2 | N | G | G | E | 13.99 | 4x4 | G |
| Tac-3 | N | P | G | G | 15.99 | 5.25x3.5 | G |
| Tac-5 | N | G | E | G | 19.99 | 5.25x3.5 | VG |
| Commander | N | G | G | G | 14.95 | 4x3.75 | G |
| 500JX | N | E | E | E | 19.99 | Hand-held | P |
| Gemstick | N | F | G | F | 7.99 | 3.5x3.5 | F |
| Gemstick Pro | N | G | G | G | 9.99 | 4.25x4.75 | G |
| Deluxe | N | G | G | G | 9.99 | 3x3 | G |
| K-20 | Y | P | F | G | 12.99 | 5(rnd) | F |
| Bat Handle | N | F | G | E | 19.95 | 4.5x4.5 | G |
| Ergostick | N | G | E | E | 24.95 | Hand-held | P |
| Archer Deluxe | Y | P | G | G | 19.99 | 5x4.25 | G |
| Ace | N | G | G | G | 7.99 | 3x3.5 | G |
| Mazemaster | N | P | G | G | 8.97 | 3.5x3.25 | F |
| Comp. Pro 1000 | N | P | F | F | 8.99 | 5x2.75 | P |
| Comp. Pro 300X | N | P | F | F | 10.95 | 4.5x3.5 | P |
| Comp. Pro 5000 | N | G | E | E | 17.97 | 3.5x4.5 | G |
| Pointmaster | N | P | G | G | 11.97 | 3.75x3.75 | F |
| Hot Stuff | Y | P | P | F | 9.95 | 4.57x4 | F |
| Zipper | N | P | F | F | 7.99 | 3.5x3.5 | F |
| Freedom Stick | Y | P | G | F | 69.99 | 7.75x6 | P |
| Power Player | N | E | E | G | 29.95 | Hand-held | E |
II: JOYSTICKS AT HAND
GRAVIS
The Gravis ($39.95) has the largest, most stable base of any joystick I reviewed. The stick is foam-covered and molded into a handgrip. Another difference is that the throw is adjustable over a wide range by use of a thumbwheel, so you can set the stick any way you like. There are three buttons, one on top of the stick and two on the left side. Each has an adjustable knob which allows the button to either be a fire button or to simulate the stick being pressed all the way forward or back. This feature is handy for car-driving games, where shifting is done with the stick. It is very solidly built.
Diagonal Selection: Fair
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Good
Ruggedness: Excellent
Base Size: 6.25x5.25
Advanced Gravis Ltd., 6894 Palm Avenue, Burnaby, British Columbia, VJ5 4M3 Canada. (800) 663-8558.
SUNCOM
Slik-Stik ($7.99) is the smallest of the Suncom line. It has a very short throw and no feedback sounds. The stick is slender with a knob at the top, so it is easy to hold on to. The single button is located in the upper left corner. The small base seems designed to be handheld. In fact, this stick lacks any rubber feet, so it slides around on most surfaces, making it unsuitable for tabletop play.
Diagonal Selection: Fair
Horizontal/Vertical: Good
Ruggedness: Excellent
Base Size: Selection: 3.5x3.5
Tac-2 ($13.99) is the smallest of Suncom's "Totally Accurate Controller" line. This stick has a slender metal shaft with a knob at the top. It has a very short throw and no audible feedback. But slots that the stick slides into when pressed makes the diagonal selection better than average. The two buttons are in the upper left and right corners.
Diagonal Selection: Good
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Good
Ruggedness: Excellent
Base Size: 4x4
Tac-3 ($15.99) features a molded handgrip with a longer throw than the Tac-2. But it still has no audible feedback. The front of the base is sloped down and is a comfortable finger rest. One button is located on top of the stick, with two additional buttons mounted in the sloping portion of the base. The long, narrow base is stable on tabletops and is narrow enough to be handheld.
Diagonal Selection: Poor
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Good
Ruggedness: Good
Base Size: 5.25x3.5
Tac-5 ($19.99) is the top of this Suncom line. It incorporates all the features of the Tac-3, but also has good audible feedback. It's one of the best controlling sticks I've seen.
Diagonal Selection: Good
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Excellent
Ruggedness: Good
Base Size: 5.25x3.5
Suncom, 290 Palatine Road, Wheeling, IL 60090. (312) 459-8000.
COMREX COMMANDER
The Comrex Commander ($14.95) features a tall, slender handle which allows for very fine fingertip control. It has a short throw and excellent audible feedback. The two buttons are located in the upper left and right comers of the base. The base provides good stability on a tabletop and can also be handheld.
Diagonal Selection: Good
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Good
Ruggedness: Good
Base Size: 4x3.75
Comrex, 3701 Skypark Drive, Suite 120, Torrance, CA 90505.
EPYX 500XJ
The unusual Epyx 500XJ ($19.95) stick is made to be held in the left hand and is unsuitable unless it's handheld. The stick is slender with a knob on top, and has a short throw with good audible feedback. The trigger is located in place for the left index finger. While this stick is excellent for games requiring precise control, it fails miserably for arcade games which require constant firing. The muscles on the inside of the arm aren't up to the load and soon cramp painfully. It's too bad an otherwise innovative stick is spoiled by poor trigger design.
Diagonal Selection: Excellent
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Excellent
Ruggedness: Excellent
Base Size: Handheld.
Epyx, 600 Galveston Drive, Redwood City, CA 94063. (415) 368-3200.
GEMINI
The difference between the Gemstick ($7.99) and the original Atari joystick is that the button in the upper left corner is yellow. The slender handle has a short throw and some audible feedback, so it's better than the Atari stick.
Diagonal Selection: Fair
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Good
Ruggedness: Fair
Base Size: 3.5x3.5
Gemstick Pro ($9.99) has a wider, more stable base. The handgrip stick has a moderate throw and some audible feedback. One button is on top of the stick and the other is in the upper left corner. The stick comes with both regular rubber feet and suction cups.
Diagonal Selection: Good
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Good
Ruggedness: Good
Base Size: 4.25x4.75
Gemini, 215 Entin Road, Clifton, NJ 07014. (201) 471-9050.
CHALLENGER
The Deluxe joystick ($ 9.99) has a tiny base that works well in the hand, although it's not stable enough for tabletop use. Also, the base has suction cups which tend to make the joystick rock. The handgrip stick has a short throw and good audible feedback. The two buttons are on top of the stick and in the upper left corner.
Diagonal Selection: Good
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Good
Ruggedness: Good
Base Size: 3x3
The K-20 ($12.99) has a round base which takes up quite a bit of room on your tabletop without providing good stability. It also has suction cups. The handgrip stick has a moderate throw with no feedback. The two buttons are located on top of the stick and under the trigger finger. There is a switch to engage auto-fire, which is helpful, since neither trigger is easy to press fast and continuously.
Diagonal Selection: Poor
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Fair
Ruggedness: Good
Base Size: 5-inch diameter
Challenger (Framer Associates), P.O. Box 201, Sharon, MA 02067.
WICO
Wico's Bat Handle ($19.95) is a good stable, all-purpose stick which has been my mainstay for several years. It's extremely durable, but the large base makes it suitable only for table-top use. The bat-shaped handle has a moderate throw with no feedback. One button is on top of the stick and the other in the upper left corner of the base. A switch must be used to choose between the buttons, which is annoying.
Diagonal Selection: Fair
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Good
Ruggedness: Excellent
Base Size: 4.5x4.5
The handheld. WICO ErgoStick ($24.95) is quite similar to the Epyx 500XJ except that it's rubber-coated. It has recessed finger ridges along the bottom and the stick handle seems a bit narrower than the XJ's. Again, it must be held in the left hand. It suffers from the same problems as the Epyx stick--plus the trigger is recessed, making it hard to operate even if you have medium-sized hands.
Diagonal Selection: Good
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Excellent
Ruggedness: Excellent
Base Size: Handheld.
WICO's Archer Deluxe Competition joystick ($19.99) is excellent for flight simulators, with its wide base and molded handgrip handle. It has a moderate throw with audible feedback. There are buttons under the trigger finger and on top of the stick, but none on the base. The buttons have an auto-fire switch The base has suction cups, but they don't interfere with stability the way suction cups normally do.
Diagonal Selection: Poor
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Good
Ruggedness: Good
Base Size. 5x4 25
WICO, 6400 W. Gross Point Road, Niles, IL 60648. (312) 647-7500.
KRAFT SYSTEMS
The tiny Ace ($7.99) joystick performs very well. It has a standard slender handle with a short throw and good audible feedback. The button is in the upper left corner.
Diagonal Selection: Good
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Good
Ruggedness: Good
Base Size: 3x3.5
Mazemaster ($8.97) is another small stick from Kraft. It has a slender, molded stick with a short throw and no audible feedback. The trigger is located at the top left corner. What's unusual about this stick is the switch which can be set for either four-way or eight-way play. You can "lock out" the diagonals.
Diagonal Selection: Poor
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Good
Ruggedness: Good
Base Size: 3.5x3.25
Kraft Systems, 450 W. California Avenue, Vista, CA 92083. (619) 724-7146.
COMPETITION PRO
The Competition Pro 1000 ($6.95) has a long, narrow stick that's wider at the top than at the bottom. It's difficult to control because it's very loose and provides no audible feedback. The single trigger at the top center of the base is hard to reach with either hand.
Diagonal Selection: Poor
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Fair
Ruggedness: Fair
Base Size: 5x2.75
Competition Pro 300X.
Competition Pro 300X ($10.95): This entry has a fully molded handgrip stick and a wider base than the 1000. The base is equipped with suction cups. The stick throw is moderate with no feedback--this is a "loose" stick. Buttons are located on top of the stick, under the trigger finger, and at the top left and right corners of the base.
Diagonal Selection: Poor
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Fair
Ruggedness: Fair
Base Size: 4.5x3.5
Competition Pro 5000.
The top of the line is the Competition Pro 5000 ($17.95) and it's excellent. The slender handle has a short throw and distinct audio feedback. There are two buttons, located at the top left and right corners of the base. However, the lack of rubber feet means that this joystick must be handheld or used on a nonstick surface.
Diagonal Selection: Good
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Excellent
Ruggedness: Excellent
Base Size: 3.5x4.5
Happ Controls, 1251 Pagni Drive, Elk Grove, IL 60007. (312) 593-6130.
POINTMASTER
The Discwasher Pointmaster ($11.97) is a handgrip stick with a single button on top. The stick has a moderate throw and some audible feedback. The round base is not especially stable. I have yet to find a game that this stick is ideally suited for, since it seems to be a flight simulator joystick but requires both hands to steady it.
Diagonal Selection: Poor
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Good
Ruggedness: Good
Base Size: 3.75x3.75
Discwasher, 4309 Transworld Road, Schiller Park, IL 60176. (312) 678-9600.
BEESHU
The large Hot Stuff ($9.95) is the only joystick which comes in an assortment of day-glo colors. It sports a full handgrip stick with a moderate throw and no audible response. There are fire buttons on top of the stick, under the trigger finger, and at each of the top corners. An auto-fire switch is also provided. There are suction cups mounted under the base.
Diagonal Selection: Poor
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Poor
Ruggedness: Fair
Base Size: 4.75x4
Beeshu's Zipper ($7.99) is a dead ringer for the original Atari joystick. Unfortunately, it duplicates everything about the original stick, which was all right when it was the only game in town, but is now easily outclassed by less expensive sticks. The stick has a moderate throw with no feedback, and it is difficult to get precise control.
Diagonal Selection: Poor
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Fair
Ruggedness: Fair
Base Size 3.5x3.5
Beeshu, 101 Wilton Avenue, Middlesex, NJ 08846. (201) 968-6868.
FREEDOM STICK
Camerica's wireless remote Freedom Stick ($69.95) tabletop wireless remote control system is unique in several ways. It not only works with Atari games and computers, but also with Nintendo and Sega game systems. The necessary additional controls are all built in--two independent fire buttons, [START] and [SELECT] buttons, and 1-2 player switch.
The Freedom Stick comes with a small remote unit that attaches by cable to the computer or game system. The joystick controller itself can be placed within a fairly wide angle from the remote unit and still work--up to a distance of about 15 feet. An auto fire switch is also provided. The unit is battery powered and has no provision for an AC adapter, so be prepared to buy lots of batteries.
The last unique feature, unfortunately, is that the Freedom Stick is of extraordinarily poor design. Both buttons are on the right side of the stick where they cannot possibly be reached by a right-handed player! The stick itself is a metal rod with a ball on top. It has a long throw with audible feedback. The base is equipped with suction cups which collapse down to form rubber feet. The lightweight plastic case is not impressively sturdy, either.
Diagonal Selection: Very Poor
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Good
Ruggedness: Fair
Base Size: 7.75x6
Camerica, 230 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1100, New York, NY 10001. (212) 689-7848.
POWER PLAYER
Mindscape's unusual Power Player ($29.95) is a short stick set in a molded handgrip. The throw is short with audible feedback and excellent sensitivity. The trigger button is under the trigger finger of the hand which holds the stick, but since only a very short motion is required to activate the fire button, this button is adequate for even fast-action games. This stick must be used with two hands, making it unsuitable for games that require the keyboard for some commands. However, for games that are completely joystick-driven, this is a superior, comfortable stick. In fact, it's one of the best sticks in this entire comparison.
Diagonal Selection: Excellent
Horizontal/Vertical Selection: Excellent
Ruggedness: Good
Base Size: Handheld.
Mindscape, Inc., 3444 Dundee Road, Northbrook, I L 60062. (800) 221-9884.