7 replies to this topic

[S1500]

As far as I can google, there was only 1 game made for the 2600's Indy 500 controller. Were there more?

I mean c'mon, full 360 degree rotation! Sure, only 1 controller per port, but still.

One would think there would be the finished "radial pong" game, or a radial breakout. Or a better Indy 500 game with more depth & better graphics.

Hmm.

[SpiceWare]

Stella's Stocking supports it for Grandma's Revenge.

Indy 500 XE takes Indy 500 from 2K to 4K and uses the extra space for new tracks.

Edited by SpiceWare, Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:26 PM.

[yuppicide]

What is really different internally that makes not just a paddle? Why did they have you buy paddles AND the driving controller.

[yuppicide]

You can also use driving controllers in Stell-A-Sketch - an etch-a-sketch for the Atari.

There's also some instructions to convert driving controllers for use in Tempest 2000 on Jaguar.

[Thomas Jentzsch]

yuppicide, on Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:29 AM, said:

What is really different internally that makes not just a paddle? Why did they have you buy paddles AND the driving controller.

Three main differences:
1. Paddles have to be constantly checked inside the kernel, therefore further limiting the display capabilities
2. DC allow unlimited turning, while paddles are limited left and right
3. Paddles have a much higher resolution

[Syntaxerror999]

yuppicide, on Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:29 AM, said:

What is really different internally that makes not just a paddle? Why did they have you buy paddles AND the driving controller.

Yes. Something like every rotation changes a value on a counter and the games use that value to determine rotation... have to pull out the field service manual to double check... where as a paddle is a varriable resistor that changes the charge going to a capacitor inside the atari that the TIA chip times to determine position. Oddly the paddle line is the only controler port line NOT going to the 6507/RIOT combo.

[SpiceWare]

yuppicide, on Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:29 AM, said:

What is really different internally that makes not just a paddle?

A paddle is a potentiometer. It's an analog device.

A driving controller is a gray code device. It's digital.

Quote

Why did they have you buy paddles AND the driving controller.

While they look the same, the functionality is different - just like how analog and digital joysticks look similar but give you different control capabilities.

Edited by SpiceWare, Fri Feb 25, 2011 1:26 PM.

[Philsan]

SpiceWare, on Fri Feb 25, 2011 1:25 PM, said:

A paddle is a potentiometer.

Atari paddle should be added in Potentiometer applications section.