r/atari8bit • u/papa_robot • 8d ago
Got my trackball working
I don’t think it’s gonna endure heavy use . But now I can enjoy playing .
So heavy , it counts as a workout
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u/Fragraham 7d ago
Atari Age sells special trackball versions of some 2600 and 7800 games that have a much more arcade like response. I have the trackball series Centipede, and it's awesome .
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u/Lord_Smedley 4d ago
Marble Madness is the ultimate trackball game, but Centipede and Missile Command aren't far behind.
I also loved the original black and white Atari arcade football, that had an oversized trackball that could maim your palm if it got caught. But man, running hard in that game required as much physical exertion as sprinting in real life. Compared to the crap football games released on first generation consoles, that game was way ahead of its time.
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u/MicroKnight01 7d ago
When Kaybee clear those out, I drove to every single one in my area and brought them all, about 60 of them at about five bucks each.
Good times!
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u/Zilch1979 7d ago edited 7d ago
It's got a switch on it to toggle between joystick and trackball modes. Joystick mode is actually pretty advanced in its logic and works with everything that uses DB9 ports.
The trackball mode requires the game to be programmed for it. On the 2600, I think Missile Command is the only OG cart that supports it natively, but the 8-bit computers and maybe some 7800 titles might use it.
If you look into ROMs, a few of these are OG titles that have been hacked to support trackball natively. There's a great one for the 5200 Centipede that runs nicely on 8-bits. If you can find it, it's my favorite way to experience Centipede that isn't a arcade cabinet. Fujinet, FTW.
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u/siliconlore 7d ago
None of the orginal binaries for the 2600 supported true trackball mode. I agree that there are some updated ROMs available. The 5200 has a great trackball with full analog support.
When you use this trackball on the 2600, you have to be in joystick mode. That being said, it works very well with Missile Command. If you poke around a bit, there is some youtube content with the original inventor of the trackball for Atari.
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u/jacek2023 7d ago
What can you do with it? I remember in Atari Basic there was something for joystick and something for paddle. Is it this?
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u/Spelunka13 7d ago
You don't know what a trackball is? Missile command, centipede??
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u/jacek2023 7d ago
I think I only touched trackball on arcade, I don't know how many Atari games support it
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u/papa_robot 7d ago
Final Legacy is designed to support trackball in one of the parts, along with joystick
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u/rr777 7d ago
I want to say the 800 version of missile command had a trakball setting. Something about hitting various keys to enable. Also, the trakball had a switch on the bottom that did something.
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u/papa_robot 7d ago
both things.
CTRL-T in missile command supports trackball natively.
and there is a switch in the controller that enables working as a joystick. haven't tried it yet
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u/papa_robot 7d ago edited 7d ago
One of the rotator encoders is cracked, I've been looking for a replacement part. it seems console5 has a 3d printed onoe.
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u/Speedstar_86 7d ago
It's funny, when I worked in an Atari shop in the 80s we could not give these away, now they are so expensive and man do I wish I had one!