If they were shown a picture of it, almost everyone would be able to recognise the Atari 2600’s iconic one-button joystick, even if they weren’t a particular fan of videogames. The fact that it’s not a particularly good controller, with its stiff joystick and sweaty-palm-inducing rubber, is by the by. Its image has almost become a shorthand for the concept of retro gaming itself; in fact, it graces the spine of this very magazine.
By contrast, relatively few people are aware of the various other controllers and unusual accessories released over the Atari 2600’s lifetime. “I have found that generally, they go under the radar a bit,” says Rees Stephenson, presenter of the Ctrl-Alt-Rees YouTube channel and avid Atari collector (indeed, you can see his impressive Atari assemblage in issue 236’s Collector’s Corner). Rees notes that original Atari accessories can generally be picked up for a pittance.
Of course, it isn’t just joysticks we’re talking about. Back when it was launched in 1977, the 2600 (or the VCS as it was known then) came with a pair of paddle controllers in addition to the iconic CX10 joystick, harking back to Atari’s history as a purveyor of Pong machines. Four of the VCS’ nine launch games were played with paddles, although paddle controllers quickly fell out of fashion, and the vast majority of games in the VCS library can only be played with a joystick.
This story is from the Issue 245 edition of Retro Gamer.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Issue 245 edition of Retro Gamer.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Space Giraffe
MORE THAN JUST A TEMPEST CLONE
Street Fighter II: Champion Edition
How NEC's tiny console successfully pulled off the task of hosting the world's biggest fighting game
Streets Of Rage
FIGHT TOGETHER, FIGHT FOREVER
The Official Frogger
IT'S FROGGER, BUT SUPERCHARGED
The Making Of Karateka
Game preservation has just gone up a level
Konnichiwa
I’m writing this a week after my return from Japan. I’m feeling flat and can’t believe it’s already so far behind me.
CALL OF DUTY
THE STORY OF CALL OF DUTY BEGINS NOT AT ACTIVISION, BUT IN THE BOSOM OF ITS CHIEF RIVAL, EA. THE LATTER PUBLISHER HAD TASKED A DEVELOPER NAMED 2015 INC WITH EXPANDING ITS TERRITORY ONTO PC WITH MEDAL OF HONOR: ALLIED ASSAULT
HOGS OF WAR
TREMENDOUS TURN-BASED TACTICS AND VERY BRITISH HUMOUR BUILT HOGS OF WAR A CULT FOLLOWING IN THE YEARS AFTER IT FIRST BROUGHT BACON TO THE BATTLEFIELD. JOIN US ON A RECONNAISSANCE MISSION THAT YIELDS DEVELOPER INSIGHTS AND NEWS OF A REMASTER
Callahan's CROSSTIME SALOON
YOU'LL ENTER IT AS A STRANGER, AND YOU'LL LEAVE AS A FRIEND. JOIN ADVENTURE GAMING LEGEND JOSH MANDEL FOR A BEER OR TWO IN CALLAHAN'S CROSSTIME SALOON: A HILARIOUS, UNSUNG CLASSIC FROM THE LATER YEARS OF THE POINT-AND-CLICK ERA'S GOLDEN AGE...
LED STORM
CAPCOM'S ARCADE ARCHIVE IS SO STUFFED THAT FOR EVERY MEGA-HIT THERE ARE SEVERAL RELEASES THAT ARE REGULARLY OVERLOOKED. LED STORM IS ONE SUCH TITLE, AND THAT'S A SHAME BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT GAME - OR SHOULD WE SAY GAMES?