In this episode, we talk about the various controllers available for the ATARI 2600. Details and programming examples are provided for reading input from the CX-10, CX-40 Joystick controllers, and the six console switches. As always our Github includes this episode's example code. Please like the video and share it with others. Help build the channel! Don't forget to subscribe, and if you'd like to help with the development of the channel, please consider joining us on Patreon. Thanks everyone for your support, and I'll catch you all later!
Nice episode! I still have the driving controllers and Indy 500 my family got when I was a junior high kid, but to be honest, I prefer Night Driver as a car racing game. It also seems sort of weird to use a rotary encoder without stops for a driving controller since real steering wheel does have stops (like the paddle controllers). I also have the keypad controllers and the BASIC programming cart with the keypad overlays. I'm thinking of making a homebrew that would use the keypad controllers in a rather novel way, but that's a bit further down on my "cool stuff to make" list. Also on the list is an arcade port I'd love to try to make for the 2600 that would be a suitable application of the driving controllers. The audience for games using the special controllers is probably rather small, so if I do, I'll try to also make more common inputs work too (game select the controller type). We'll see!
That would be cool to allow multiple types of input for your game depending on what the user has available. Wish I still had my old driving controllers!
We had a 4 switch model (4 on the front) back in the day, but it still had 2 difficulty level small slider switches on the top/rear side of the console. When did DE9 switch to DB9? Is there a difference?
When I wrote the script I forgot the buttons were moved to the back and only remembered after I had recorded the video. doh! I believe I added some on-screen graphics with a correction. From what I understand, computers used a larger DB-25 connector, and when they started using the DE-9 sized connector, they we're often miss labelled as DB-9. The DE-9 and the DB-9 are effectively the same connector.
Thanks for the video! I've always wondered if the oldest console would have been capable of using a "modern" multi button controller using both ports. Dual sticks plus multibutton. Alternatively, from a hardware theoretical perspective, coulda single port handle both keyboard and joystick inputs simultaneously assuming a custom controller had them both? Or would they have to use both ports for a single joint controller?
Atari's CX-50 Keyboard controller used a combination of pins in order to 'scan' which button was pressed, so theoretically you could rig up a controller with multiple buttons on it the same way. By the way, awesome youtube name. RIP big brother.
@@8Blit Thanks. And awesome that you got the reference. Not enough whippersnappers do nowadays! :) I'm just surprised that no one did that back in the day (combining both ports to a single joystick capable of multiple functions) using both ports. That would seem preferable to me instead of using the switches on the console for more functions.
In this episode, we talk about the various controllers available for the ATARI 2600. Details and programming examples are provided for reading input from the CX-10, CX-40 Joystick controllers, and the six console switches. As always our Github includes this episode's example code.
Please like the video and share it with others. Help build the channel!
Don't forget to subscribe, and if you'd like to help with the development of the channel, please consider joining us on Patreon.
Thanks everyone for your support, and I'll catch you all later!
Great video as always! As for Indy 500, it’s one of my favorites in the 2600 library, especially the ice racing levels!
So good, drifting your car around the corners!
I remember my mind being minorly blown when I first played Adventure. The Reset switch didn't actually restart the game from scratch?! What!? ;)
Ah, the reincarnated switch!
Nice Epi.
Nice episode! I still have the driving controllers and Indy 500 my family got when I was a junior high kid, but to be honest, I prefer Night Driver as a car racing game. It also seems sort of weird to use a rotary encoder without stops for a driving controller since real steering wheel does have stops (like the paddle controllers). I also have the keypad controllers and the BASIC programming cart with the keypad overlays. I'm thinking of making a homebrew that would use the keypad controllers in a rather novel way, but that's a bit further down on my "cool stuff to make" list. Also on the list is an arcade port I'd love to try to make for the 2600 that would be a suitable application of the driving controllers. The audience for games using the special controllers is probably rather small, so if I do, I'll try to also make more common inputs work too (game select the controller type). We'll see!
That would be cool to allow multiple types of input for your game depending on what the user has available. Wish I still had my old driving controllers!
I think for season 3, you should tackle multiple scene rendering (ea: adventure)
Then basic enemy pathfinding. If not then multiple game modes
Hi Artemis, pathfinding is on my list of topics, and I'll add multiple scene rendering to the list as well. Thanks for the input!
I’m here, because I saw Johnny Five.
We had a 4 switch model (4 on the front) back in the day, but it still had 2 difficulty level small slider switches on the top/rear side of the console. When did DE9 switch to DB9? Is there a difference?
When I wrote the script I forgot the buttons were moved to the back and only remembered after I had recorded the video. doh! I believe I added some on-screen graphics with a correction. From what I understand, computers used a larger DB-25 connector, and when they started using the DE-9 sized connector, they we're often miss labelled as DB-9. The DE-9 and the DB-9 are effectively the same connector.
I always thought those were DB-9 ports.
Thanks for the video! I've always wondered if the oldest console would have been capable of using a "modern" multi button controller using both ports. Dual sticks plus multibutton. Alternatively, from a hardware theoretical perspective, coulda single port handle both keyboard and joystick inputs simultaneously assuming a custom controller had them both? Or would they have to use both ports for a single joint controller?
Atari's CX-50 Keyboard controller used a combination of pins in order to 'scan' which button was pressed, so theoretically you could rig up a controller with multiple buttons on it the same way. By the way, awesome youtube name. RIP big brother.
@@8Blit Thanks. And awesome that you got the reference. Not enough whippersnappers do nowadays! :) I'm just surprised that no one did that back in the day (combining both ports to a single joystick capable of multiple functions) using both ports. That would seem preferable to me instead of using the switches on the console for more functions.
Indy 500 was the best!
I haven't played it since I was a kid. I'll have to pick up a driving controller so I can play it again!
what the hell is a "blit" xP
I subbed btw 😉
'blit' comes from 'bit blit' which refers to an operation to copy bits from one address of graphic memory to another.
@@8Blit very cool :D I did not know that!