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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Marketplace => Topic started by: Florida on February 14, 2011, 11:53:54 PM

Title: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks?
Post by: Florida on February 14, 2011, 11:53:54 PM
'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks?
 
Competition Pro Joystick for either USB or 9-PIN connector.  Amigakit sells them, new.  Is there anything else out there that is somewhat decent?  I am not too thrilled about the joypad.  I do like the 'Competition Pro Joystick' and I have gotten a few of them so I do appreciate that they are available.
 
I am looking for 'The Arcade' joystick by SUZO, which in my opinion is the best joystick ever.  I contacted the company last week and they don't make them anymore.
 
For the C64 I used 'The Boss' by WICO.
 
Is either 'The Arcade' or 'The Boss' still available for sale as new old stock?
 
I did buy a joystick (The Boss) on E-Bay some time ago, took it apart, followed the instructions on how to restore it to its original color and finish and it did look brand new except I found broken pieces inside and I had trouble putting it back together.  So, I got some new parts and after putting it together it didn't move right.  Very frustrating.  On a positive note, the method of restoring the plastic as described on this site did indeed work. :)
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: Franko on February 15, 2011, 12:10:03 AM
Best place to track one down would be aBay, just been on their for the past several hours trawling through over 11,000 Commodore items and there were plenty of old joysticks available at some pretty good prices... :)

(just be careful what you buy and if in doubt email the seller first to confirm it's condition... ;))
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: Ral-Clan on February 15, 2011, 01:32:01 AM
Not new old-stock, but I do have several "boss" joysticks and would sell one or two if you're really stuck.
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: runequester on February 15, 2011, 01:37:10 AM
Somewhat related, anyone have some proper 2 button sticks or CD32 pads they'd like to part with?
 
Not just with multiple buttons like the competition pro, but actually wired as distinct buttons for stuff like Turrican or Alien Breed ?
 
Obviously the OP has first dibs :)
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: Franko on February 15, 2011, 01:58:24 AM
Quote from: runequester;615622
Somewhat related, anyone have some proper 2 button sticks or CD32 pads they'd like to part with?
 
Not just with multiple buttons like the competition pro, but actually wired as distinct buttons for stuff like Turrican or Alien Breed ?
 
Obviously the OP has first dibs :)


Make yer own... :)

It's easy to do, all you need is the two button joysticks you already own and an old mouse cable, it just a case of wiring up the new cable to the joystick and instead of having the two fire buttons linked together you just wire them separately to give you two independent fire buttons... :)

(mice cables usually contain more wires than a joystick cable to give you that one extra wire you need to make a two button joystick... :))
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: TheBilgeRat on February 15, 2011, 02:19:17 AM
Quote from: runequester;615622
Somewhat related, anyone have some proper 2 button sticks or CD32 pads they'd like to part with?
 
Not just with multiple buttons like the competition pro, but actually wired as distinct buttons for stuff like Turrican or Alien Breed ?
 
Obviously the OP has first dibs :)

First hand experience, I get used Genesis controllers for 5 bucks that work great.
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: runequester on February 15, 2011, 04:02:15 AM
Quote from: TheBilgeRat;615629
First hand experience, I get used Genesis controllers for 5 bucks that work great.


Ive had mixed luck with those. Some work and some don't. They are generally knockoff reproductions though.
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: runequester on February 15, 2011, 04:02:46 AM
Quote from: Franko;615625
Make yer own... :)

It's easy to do, all you need is the two button joysticks you already own and an old mouse cable, it just a case of wiring up the new cable to the joystick and instead of having the two fire buttons linked together you just wire them separately to give you two independent fire buttons... :)

(mice cables usually contain more wires than a joystick cable to give you that one extra wire you need to make a two button joystick... :))


huh, I'll have to dig around and see if I have a spare mouse lying around.
Is that really all there is to it? :)
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: Franko on February 15, 2011, 05:03:06 AM
Quote from: runequester;615649
huh, I'll have to dig around and see if I have a spare mouse lying around.
Is that really all there is to it? :)


Yup, simple as that... :)

I'll draw up a wiring diagram and post it here later (and maybe some pics)... :)
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: runequester on February 15, 2011, 05:04:28 AM
Quote from: Franko;615653
Yup, simple as that... :)

I'll draw up a wiring diagram and post it here later (and maybe some pics)... :)


thatd be awesome. Ive looked for a few guides online but I think I need something pretty idiot proof
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: Franko on February 15, 2011, 05:06:50 AM
Quote from: runequester;615654
thatd be awesome. Ive looked for a few guides online but I think I need something pretty idiot proof


Don't worry it must be if I can do it... :)

It only involves one extra wire in the joystick cable and bobs your uncle a two button joystick... :)

(need to get some sleep now, only woke up to go to the loo... :))
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: Franko on February 15, 2011, 06:45:23 PM
Ok here's how to make a standard Amiga joystick with 2 fire buttons into one with two separate buttons (ie: one for fire and the other for jump etc...) :)

Sorry but I'm not very good at making diagrams but it should be clear enough. You'll need of course a suitable cable of at least 7 cores and a female 9 pin D_Sub connector (easily obtained from your nearest electrical supply store) or even an old Amiga mouse cable should do... :)

NOTE: as there are were no "standards" for the wire colour coding in joysticks or mice the colours used here are simply to distinguish each cable... :)

All you have to do is make sure you wire the appropriate micro-switch up to the appropriate pin number... :)

(http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af79/frankosamiga/Amiga%20Pics/TwoButtonJoystick.gif)
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: runequester on February 15, 2011, 07:58:50 PM
hm. I think I have an old tank mouse where one button physically broke, but the cable is probably fine, so I'll have to try that out.
 
Are the wires soldered inside or ?
 
I guess I'll just have to take it apart :)
 
So on a stick where all of the buttons are wired the same way, you'd see the 9 pin having nothing wired to it ?
 
 
Bonus question: How would a CD32 pad be wired? Do you happen to know?
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: Franko on February 15, 2011, 08:08:50 PM
Quote from: runequester;615762
hm. I think I have an old tank mouse where one button physically broke, but the cable is probably fine, so I'll have to try that out.
 
Are the wires soldered inside or ?
 
I guess I'll just have to take it apart :)
 
So on a stick where all of the buttons are wired the same way, you'd see the 9 pin having nothing wired to it ?
 
 
Bonus question: How would a CD32 pad be wired? Do you happen to know?


Usually the wires inside the joystick are connected with crimped connectors that just slide off the micro switches, but using a mouse cable you'll have to cut and bare the end of the wires and solder them on... :)

Basically a normal two button joystick has both the fire buttons wired together going to pin 6 on the Amiga, all your doing is separating the two and sending one to pin 6 and the other to pin 9 to give you two separate buttons that most Amiga games that can take advantage of two button joystick will work with... :)

The CD32 pad is a bit more tricky as it contains a logic chip that handles all the other buttons on it and to be honest there's not much point or use in fiddling around with it for any reason... :)
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: runequester on February 15, 2011, 08:15:34 PM
Gotcha. I have a spare joystick lying around, so I think I'll test it on that one, before taking the mouse apart, since I dont have any soldering equipment
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: runequester on February 15, 2011, 08:49:37 PM
Hm, whats the 5 pin do ?
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: Franko on February 15, 2011, 09:35:56 PM
Quote from: runequester;615768
Hm, whats the 5 pin do ?


Nosy bugger... :lol:

Here's the full pin assignments... :)

Pin-----Mouse/-------LightPen-------Digital-------Proportional
--------TrackBall----------------------Joystick---------Joystick

1.........V-Pulse.................N/C...................Up..................Button 3
2.........H-Pulse.................N/C.................Down...................N/C
3.........VQ-Pulse...............N/C..................Left..................Button 1
4.........HQ-Pulse...............N/C................Right.................Button 2
5........Button3 (M)........Pen Press.............N/C....................Pot X
6........Button1 (L).......BeamTriger.........Button1..................N/C
7...........+5v...................+5v................+5V.....................+5V
8...........GND..................GND................GND....................GND
9........Button2 (R)........Button2.............Button2................N/C
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: save2600 on February 15, 2011, 09:42:43 PM
Pin 5 is for the button on a lightpen...

http://www.allpinouts.org/index.php/Mouse/Joystick_Amiga_9_pin

--whoops--

Got tied up on an unexpected visit, only to see Franko beat me to it :)
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: Franko on February 15, 2011, 09:56:05 PM
Quote from: save2600;615781
Pin 5 is for the button on a lightpen...

http://www.allpinouts.org/index.php/Mouse/Joystick_Amiga_9_pin

--whoops--

Got tied up on an unexpected visit, only to see Franko beat me to it :)


See... some of us old codgers are still quite nimble... ;)
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: Florida on February 17, 2011, 12:33:19 AM
Thanks for the responds.  I really was hoping there were some NOS joysticks out there, but I guess not.  Well, know I how to activate a second button on a joystick, yeah. :)
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: AmigaEd on February 17, 2011, 03:03:32 AM
Quote from: save2600;615781
--whoops--
 
Got tied up on an unexpected visit, only to see Franko beat me to it :)

 
...Sounds Kinky!:lol:
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: Franko on February 17, 2011, 03:10:08 AM
Quote from: Florida;616038
Thanks for the responds.  I really was hoping there were some NOS joysticks out there, but I guess not.  Well, know I how to activate a second button on a joystick, yeah. :)


Whats "NOS" mean... ???

only thing I can come up with so far is New Overpriced Super joystick... :)
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: AmigaEd on February 17, 2011, 03:16:46 AM
Quote from: Franko;616057
Whats "NOS" mean... ???
 
only thing I can come up with so far is New Overpriced Super joystick... :)

I thought is was short for Nitrous Oxide... but I'm pretty damn sure that a Nitrous Oxide Joystick would not be safe for gaming.
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: Franko on February 17, 2011, 03:25:13 AM
Quote from: AmigaEd;616059
I thought is was short for Nitrous Oxide... but I'm pretty damn sure that a Nitrous Oxide Joystick would not be safe for gaming.


Dunno... a Nitrous Oxide Joystick would put a whole new meaning into "No Lives Left... GAME OVER"... :)
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: RobertB on February 17, 2011, 06:55:44 AM
Quote from: Florida;615601
'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks?

Well, for NOS joysticks, you can try Jim Scabery, Portland, Oregon's last Commodore/Amiga dealer, or you can try 4Jays.net in Antioch, CA; Computer Station in Long Beach, CA; or Computer Bargain Store in Salt Lake City, UT.

FCUG celebrating 30 years,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
Title: Re: 'The Arcade' and 'The Boss' - Availability of NOS or currently produced joysticks
Post by: PaSha on February 17, 2011, 10:17:12 AM
Quote

Whats "NOS" mean... ???

only thing I can come up with so far is New Overpriced Super joystick...  


"New, Old Stock"
as in something that was manufactured many, many years ago, that's never been used, just stuck in a warehouse somewhere.