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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: amigakit on December 05, 2013, 11:49:43 AM

Title: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: amigakit on December 05, 2013, 11:49:43 AM
We will shortly be launching a brand new Amiga joystick which we have developed over the last 6 months.

This high quality joystick is manufactured to last for many years of gaming.

It features arcade style controller with metal shaft and micro switches.

It has independent fire A and fire B buttons that can both be user switched to single fire A operation if required.

(http://www.amigakit.com/images/amigakit_joystick.JPG)
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: SysAdmin on December 05, 2013, 11:59:06 AM
Good stuff, I'll buy when available.
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: ajlwalker on December 05, 2013, 01:22:57 PM
Is this supposed to be used as a tabletop joystick?

Can it be used comfortably hand held too?

PS Thanks for developing new products.
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: som99 on December 05, 2013, 01:45:14 PM
Thanks for the effort, I will buy one. But I will open it and route the directional UP with a switch to optionally use a button for UP (jump) for some platformers that I prefer to jump with a button.

Could you guys write the dimensions of the case?
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: Darrin on December 05, 2013, 02:11:30 PM
Are there any good "fighter pilot" type joysticks still being made?
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: swoslover on December 05, 2013, 02:16:40 PM
Joystick looks awesome.

Definitely want one.

Great to see new products.
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: giZmo350 on December 05, 2013, 03:37:21 PM
Awesome! Just wondering how difficult it would be to add IR for wireless? That would be really cool. Or maybe make an optional IR add-on. You could possibly use a connector at each end of the joystick cable (the joystick cable could be disconnected) - that way, a small IR component could simply be plugged into the joystick itself and the receiver into the joystick port on the miggy. You could sell the IR add-on to a lot of AmiPeeps separately too!  :idea:
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: yssing on December 05, 2013, 04:01:42 PM
Looks very arcade'ish
I like it!
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: XDelusion on December 05, 2013, 04:16:14 PM
Alright, now that just looks awesome, like Arcade quality material, can't wait to get my hands on one!
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: amigakid on December 05, 2013, 05:00:15 PM
I want one, when are orders being taken?
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: amigakit on December 05, 2013, 08:06:09 PM
Thanks everyone for all the positive feedback.

Orders will be taken in the next few weeks.
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on December 05, 2013, 08:07:49 PM
Well that is just gosh darn neat!  You rock!  :banana::banana:
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: nicholas on December 05, 2013, 08:51:47 PM
Looks very nice indeed.

Any chance of a three/four/six button version in the future?
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: amigakit on December 05, 2013, 09:01:57 PM
We could do, but the Amiga only supports two buttons.
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: cunnpole on December 05, 2013, 09:16:41 PM
Quote from: amigakit;753879
We could do, but the Amiga only supports two buttons.


Forgotten the CD32 already?
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: nicholas on December 05, 2013, 09:24:16 PM
Quote from: cunnpole;753880
Forgotten the CD32 already?

You took the words right out of my mouth! ;)
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: amigakit on December 05, 2013, 09:26:04 PM
I haven't forgotten, it is just that 99% of Amiga gaming titles only use 2-buttons.  Even the CD32 titles don't always use all buttons.
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: nicholas on December 05, 2013, 09:32:24 PM
Quote from: amigakit;753882
I haven't forgotten, it is just that 99% of Amiga gaming titles only use 2-buttons.  Even the CD32 titles don't always use all buttons.


It's possible to use three and six button pads and sticks on games that use Joe Fenton's Sega controller code. ADoom and a few emulators etc.
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: cunnpole on December 05, 2013, 09:40:25 PM
The only thing that would stop me buying one is the ball grip. It is possible to create a 2nd grip for those of us who cant use this style (even casual use hurts). Quickshot II was always my favourite grip.
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: Speelgoedmannetje on December 05, 2013, 10:23:26 PM
Need! Want! Desire!
It's perfect!
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: RobertB on December 06, 2013, 03:17:18 AM
Ooo, more for me to buy when I get to Cardiff this summer!  :)

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: Djole on December 06, 2013, 12:42:50 PM
Good news, looks very nice. What yout the price ?
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: Lord Aga on December 06, 2013, 02:45:50 PM
Wow, arcade quality :) Superb stuff !

Still...

Quote from: som99;753848
Thanks for the effort, I will buy one. But I will open it and route the directional UP with a switch to optionally use a button for UP (jump) for some platformers that I prefer to jump with a button.


This should be a switched option. Button B or jump. Hopefully it will not be much work to do DIY style.
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: Thorham on December 06, 2013, 03:00:52 PM
Quote from: amigakit;753879
but the Amiga only supports two buttons.

Not true, it supports three without any additional electronics, and I've seen this work. You can find the registers in the hardware docs.

There are basically four direction lines and three button lines on the joystick/mouse port, and that's the reason why third buttons on mice work without any additional programming/electronics.

Really, check it out.
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: Trezzer on December 06, 2013, 03:16:03 PM
Quote from: amigakit;753882
I haven't forgotten, it is just that 99% of Amiga gaming titles only use 2-buttons.  Even the CD32 titles don't always use all buttons.


A surprising number of FPS titles support the CD32 pad - even ones that weren't released for CD32.

I am a bit confused by the image, though. Usually buttons are on the right while the stick is on the left and buttons are placed slightly higher than the stick. In this case it looks like the buttons are either placed below and in reverse of what is typical, or the stick is to the right of the buttons. Which is it?

As a lefty, arcade style layouts have been the only thing that ever worked for me, so I hope it's just untraditional button placement :-)

Also, would love a stick with more buttons and USB for the Sam (and various other newish things).
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: AmigaClassicRule on December 06, 2013, 05:20:15 PM
Quote from: Trezzer;753928
A surprising number of FPS titles support the CD32 pad - even ones that weren't released for CD32.

I am a bit confused by the image, though. Usually buttons are on the right while the stick is on the left and buttons are placed slightly higher than the stick. In this case it looks like the buttons are either placed below and in reverse of what is typical, or the stick is to the right of the buttons. Which is it?

As a lefty, arcade style layouts have been the only thing that ever worked for me, so I hope it's just untraditional button placement :-)

Also, would love a stick with more buttons and USB for the Sam (and various other newish things).

Ever since I ordered this http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=52&products_id=210 from AmigaKit I decided to make all my games and future games that I will be developing....be using all these buttons. :D :D :D
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: Speelgoedmannetje on December 06, 2013, 06:44:56 PM
Quote from: Thorham;753927
Not true, it supports three without any additional electronics, and I've seen this work. You can find the registers in the hardware docs.

There are basically four direction lines and three button lines on the joystick/mouse port, and that's the reason why third buttons on mice work without any additional programming/electronics.

Really, check it out.
Wel IIRC the joyport of the CD32 isn't any different to the Amiga 500, it's only being read differently. The same counts for the 6 button Sega Megadrive joystick.
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: Thorham on December 06, 2013, 07:01:55 PM
Quote from: Speelgoedmannetje;753939
Wel IIRC the joyport of the CD32 isn't any different to the Amiga 500, it's only being read differently. The same counts for the 6 button Sega Megadrive joystick.

What I meant is that you can read the third button in the same way as the other two. No need for special code. Also, for more than three buttons, extra electronics are needed.
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: haywirepc on December 06, 2013, 07:14:47 PM
Looks great, want one!
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: amigakit on December 10, 2013, 10:09:56 PM
Dimensions of joystick:20 x 20.5 x 5.5 cm

Another picture of the joystick buttons:

(http://www.amigakit.com/images/joystick_fire_buttons.jpeg)
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: Thorham on December 11, 2013, 01:10:37 AM
This does need three buttons. Why is it that EVERY Amiga joystick ever made, including this one, has fewer buttons than what the hardware supports directly, without electronics or special code? I really don't understand that :(
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: desiv on December 11, 2013, 01:57:45 AM
How many Amiga games support 3 buttons?

desiv
Found this line googling around:
"I say that because I adapted a joystick years ago to use all three buttons, and some games as Turrican series can use them."
So it sounds like there might be more....
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: Thorham on December 11, 2013, 09:44:34 AM
Quote from: desiv;754153
How many Amiga games support 3 buttons?

Not many. Why? Because Amiga joysticks started out as SINGLE button joysticks :(

How many games support two buttons?
Not many. Why? Because Amiga joysticks started out as SINGLE button joysticks :(

Amigas support three buttons, so joysticks need three buttons. Not two, not one, THREE.
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: Lord Aga on December 11, 2013, 02:35:17 PM
Yes, and the third one should be switchable from button 3 to UP :)
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on December 11, 2013, 06:32:07 PM
Geeze you guys.  Maybe three buttons will be planned for Revision 2 of the device.  :smack:
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: desiv on December 11, 2013, 08:20:13 PM
Quote from: Thorham;754166

How many games support two buttons?


From what I can tell, it looks like maybe around 60 games support 2 buttons..

http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=57540

desiv
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: amigakit on December 11, 2013, 08:26:33 PM
If we implement three button version, the case will need to be wider which will be extra cost and the extra button will also add to the price.  Would there be enough customers to justify the extra cost?
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: Thorham on December 11, 2013, 08:36:17 PM
Quote from: amigakit;754196
If we implement three button version, the case will need to be wider

Judging by the photograph on page one it seems that with some proper positioning you can easily fit three buttons and make them easy to access. Might be the perspective, though.

Quote from: amigakit;754196
the extra button will also add to the price.

Were talking $1.40 here. Is that really a problem?
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on December 11, 2013, 08:40:56 PM
I honestly never even liked that kind of joystick, not that I've ever been that much of a gamer but my preferred controller has always been one like this:
 
(http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mOmWue40Z8Of9fwTKbIV-yQ.jpg)
 
Still, that darn thing looks so cool I think it would almost encourage people to pick it up and play games if I had it sitting out on my coffee table.  I'll probably buy one just for that, LOL. ;)
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: nicholas on December 11, 2013, 09:27:12 PM
Quote from: amigakit;754196
If we implement three button version, the case will need to be wider which will be extra cost and the extra button will also add to the price.  Would there be enough customers to justify the extra cost?

 I'd buy one.
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: giZmo350 on December 11, 2013, 09:58:22 PM
Quote from: nicholas;754201
I'd buy one.

Definitely, Me Too... especially if it had a cool AmigaKit logo on it! Gotta replace my Wico Bats as they are batted out!
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: buzz on December 11, 2013, 10:38:44 PM
It's a nice looking stick visually, but it will all be in the usage so I look forward to seeing some video tests/reviews. More buttons would be nice. Now if someone did an adapter for x-arcade sticks, that would be great, so I don't have to buy yet another joystick :)
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: bbond007 on December 12, 2013, 12:34:47 AM
I really like it.
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: desiv on December 12, 2013, 04:32:43 AM
Actually, if there's enough room, I wonder if it might just be a good "after-market mod."
Shouldn't be to bad to have a template that can be created for drilling, then just adding the button and the wiring.
(Assuming that the cable has all 9 wires)
I can even imagine some people offering the mod as a service for a reasonable price.
Heck, maybe Amigakit could even offer it as an "option."
Would cost more than if it were produced that way, but who knows?

It's a bit spendy for me (notoriously cheap-skate here), but I'm considering it...
I do love a good arcade stick..  Never got the hang of joypads..
I actually made my own arcade stick back in the day (only 1 button tho, it was for my C64, although I put in a passthru 9-pin for dongles) and it was my favorite stick..

desiv
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: amigakit on December 15, 2013, 12:05:53 PM
Trevor playing with the new AmigaKit joystick at Pianeta Amiga show:

(http://www.amigakit.com/images/Trevor_AmigaKit_Joystick.JPG)
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: RobertB on December 16, 2013, 12:01:19 AM
Quote from: amigakit;754439
Trevor playing with the new AmigaKit joystick...

Very nice!  The joystick is bigger that I thought it would be.

FCUG celebrating its 32nd anniversary,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
Title: Re: New Amiga Joystick from AmigaKit.com
Post by: amigakit on December 21, 2013, 05:01:39 PM
New Arcade Evolution joystick launched:

USA product link:
http://www.amigakit.us/product_info.php?products_id=1172

UK product link:
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/GBP.php?url=product_info.php?products_id=1172

EU product link:
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/EUR.php?url=product_info.php?products_id=1172

Canada product link:
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/CAD.php?url=product_info.php?products_id=1172