DIY Gamepad paddle combo

ohm · Post by **ohm** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:37 pm

I have been searching and I cannot seem to find anything like a gamepad for a vic, or atari 2600, so I figured I would make one and I also figured I might as well add the paddle functionality as well. I did a google search and found the schematic for a 2600 joystick and paddle and am going to make one. There well be four mini push buttons on the left arranged in a d'pad configuration a large knob in the center for the paddle and a larger push button on the right for fire and the left and right d'pad buttons well serve double duty as shoot and speed buttons for the paddle.

One question though would be if I have only one paddle pot would I need a switch to switch from left to right in multiplayer games or does the vic games just use one of the two paddles and you pass it back and forth?

I well post photos as I get it built.

carlsson · Post by **carlsson** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:09 am

The VIC has two paddle registers, POTX and POTY. If I recall correctly, the Commodore paddles have different sensitivity than e.g. Atari 2600 ones so your pad may not work out of the box on both systems.

Richard James · Post by **Richard James** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 5:46 am

It would be nice if someone could either make converters between these different controllers or make new controllers.

ral-clan · Post by **ral-clan** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:12 am

Take a look at Nicola's special joystick in the www.mega-cart.com gallery. It is commercially made, but has two pots for paddles built in. Might give you some ideas.

ohm · Post by **ohm** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:14 am

I found a schematic for the commodore paddles, what carlsson said makes sense as the atari paddles use a 1M ohm pot and the commodore paddles use 500k pots.

ohm · Post by **ohm** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:45 pm

I got it all assembled and tested, except for the paddle as I don't have any games that use it yet. Here's a photo if it next to my 16k expansion cart for size reference.

I think my problem with my joystick not working after a few minutes of playing was the joystick itself. I was able to play for 20 minutes or so with the game pad and playing moon patrol I was able to jump whereas with the joystick it would not. So I think I well be taking the joystick apart next to see if it is repairable.

ral-clan · Post by **ral-clan** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:50 pm

The problem I have with a lot of original joysticks is that the brass "sleeves" inside the holes of the female connector become enlarged with years of use and don't contact the pins of the VIC's male DB9. I'm not sure how to solve this other than to replace the joystick's connector with a new one. A stopgap option is to squeeze the joysticks connector with pliers in the hope of compressing the little sleeves somewhat.

Okay, I know this message is going to inspire some lewd jokes!

Pedro Lambrini · Post by **Pedro Lambrini** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:50 pm

Nice potential.

I've been thinking for a while that someone (not me, I'm rubbish!) should design a 'next gen' joystick / pad for older DB9 machines. I mean, there seems to be a market for lots of weird and wonderful hardware and adapters so I don't see why a new controller wouldn't sell...

I know there is the reissue Comp Pro and there's the Atari 2600 joystick remake but they contain no real developments that could be put to use in today's world.

ohm · Post by **ohm** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 3:49 pm

Now I just need to figure out how to make a nice label for it.

nbla000 · Post by **nbla000** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 4:54 pm

ohm wrote:I got it all assembled and tested, except for the paddle as I don't have any games that use it yet.

Try Pong by me and Nippur72 or get a Mega-Cart, it has a lot of paddles games.

ohm · Post by **ohm** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:00 pm

My 1541 drive just showed up in the mail today so I well have to start trying things out.