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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: allengland on November 29, 2006, 06:21:17 PM

Title: Help! New user - how can I use zipstick joysticks with the PC?
Post by: allengland on November 29, 2006, 06:21:17 PM: Hi!

Although a huge Amiga fan I am new to this site.

Does anyone know how you can play multiplayer Amiga games via the pc? I have a number of zipsticks but do not know how (or if) it is possible to connect these to the pc!

I also understand the Competetion Pro joystick has been relaunched with a USB connection - is it possible to connect two of these to a PC?

Any suggestions VERY gratefully received!

Thanks for your time,

John
Title: Re: Help! New user - how can I use zipstick joysticks with the PC?
Post by: motorollin on November 29, 2006, 06:22:23 PM: I think the Catweasel PCI card has an Amiga joystick port on it.

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moto
Title: Re: Help! New user - how can I use zipstick joysticks with the PC?
Post by: allengland on November 29, 2006, 06:27:52 PM: Thanks very much for this, but what I ideally need is some way to connect at least two joysticks for the multiplayer games - is it possible to do this with the Catweasel PCI card you referred to?

Cheers,

John
Title: Re: Help! New user - how can I use zipstick joysticks with the PC?
Post by: motorollin on November 29, 2006, 06:33:14 PM: You're in luck :-) Have a look here (http://www.softhut.com/cgi-bin/test/Web_store/web_store.cgi?page=catalog/hardware/accelerators/catweaselpci.html&cart_id=52674). To quote the page:

"To bring the real feeling of the old games to new computers, the Catweasel MK3 has two connectors for so-called digital joysticks. This is the type of joystick that has been used by many computers of the 80s like C-64, VIC-20, Atari and Amiga. The connector was the same on all these computers: A 9-pin Sub-D."

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moto
Title: Re: Help! New user - how can I use zipstick joysticks with the PC?
Post by: Piru on November 29, 2006, 06:41:57 PM: @allengland
Quote
Does anyone know how you can play multiplayer Amiga games via the pc?

WinUAE-Kaillera (http://kaillera.abime.net/) is quite neat.

Quote
I also understand the Competetion Pro joystick has been relaunched with a USB connection - is it possible to connect two of these to a PC?

You can connect as many as you like.
Title: Re: Help! New user - how can I use zipstick joysticks with the PC?
Post by: allengland on November 29, 2006, 06:42:50 PM: Thanks for this - it looks great. Unfortunately it also looks rather expensive at about US$130! I was rather hoping there might be a simple connection lead or something to plug into the back of the pc!

Any suggestions??

John
Title: Re: Help! New user - how can I use zipstick joysticks with the PC?
Post by: motorollin on November 29, 2006, 06:49:26 PM: I don't think so. The Amiga joysticks are a pretty different technology to anything on the a PC. You need something to translate it to something the PC can understand - which is more than just a cable.

A cheaper option would be to buy new joysticks. You're right that the Comp. Pro has a USB version. They're really good, so it's probably worth getting a couple for your PC.

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moto
Title: Re: Help! New user - how can I use zipstick joysticks with the PC?
Post by: Piru on November 29, 2006, 06:49:31 PM: @allengland
Quote
I was rather hoping there might be a simple connection lead or something to plug into the back of the pc!

Build one of these (http://w5.cs.uni-sb.de/~stahl/com/index_uk.html)? Should be cheaper than $130.
Title: Re: Help! New user - how can I use zipstick joysticks with the PC?
Post by: adonay on November 29, 2006, 07:00:05 PM: the CATWEASEL have joystick ports so has the keyboard converter Keyrah here (http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=42&products_id=466&osCsid=b0bf6abb3380431682e0cd8762a68bd0) and the last option costs 19pound too so not that expensive ...

EDIT and even letts you use real amiga keyboard with the PC !!!! if you can find a empty amiga 1200\600 case that is, it connect trugh USB
Title: Re: Help! New user - how can I use zipstick joysticks with the PC?
Post by: allengland on November 29, 2006, 08:09:42 PM: Thank you to all who have helped out!

Just for information, the Competition Pro Joystick is available at amazon for about GBP 9. If it's possible to connect two of these I will go and order two now!!

Best regards,

John
Title: Re: Help! New user - how can I use zipstick joysticks with the PC?
Post by: motorollin on November 29, 2006, 08:12:16 PM: You should be able to connect as many joysticks as you have USB ports :-)

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moto
Title: Re: Help! New user - how can I use zipstick joysticks with the PC?
Post by: allengland on November 29, 2006, 08:19:05 PM: Cheers - bring on Supercars II!!
Title: Re: Help! New user - how can I use zipstick joysticks with the PC?
Post by: Tomas on November 29, 2006, 08:21:57 PM: I would go the competition pro if i was you. And the amount of joystick are limited by the amount of usb ports i believe.
Title: Re: Help! New user - how can I use zipstick joysticks with the PC?
Post by: Roland on November 29, 2006, 09:17:43 PM: Hi,

The cheapest way to do this is to buy a so called 4-player adapter or build one yourself. This thing originally plugs into your amiga parallel port but can also be used with a parallel port on your PC with a special driver (PPJoy) and ads 2 amiga joystick ports to your pc. You then can use the joysticks in every Windows program or emulator!

You can buy the adapter very cheap at for example www.vesalia.de for 6 euro, look for '4-Player Parallel Adapter for Amiga'.
The driver can be found at http://www.geocities.com/deonvdw/Docs/PPJoyMain.htm

The Competition Pro is a good alternative as someone mentioned before, but I like my old Arcade Suzo very much and then this is the easiest way to go.

Happy playtime,

Roland