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Best joystick for Mac Plus?
Posted by: Mu0n on 2019-07-04 15:41:41
Having a joystick for that machine would FINALLY make it a fair hotseat 1v1 matchup in Archon with joystick vs keyboard. The alternatives are inferior:

-Keyboard vs keyboard will classically lock up a player if the other does too many keys

-the mouse is super hard to use for that diagonal aiming and omg the amount of slide + pickup you have to do in tense moments

And I guess we could also discuss which games benefit the most of having a joystick. I guess that wireframe tank game?

Posted by: jimjimx on 2019-07-07 14:24:28
I have a Atari cx 80 trak-ball that I want to look at, to use as a mouse trackball, but I haven’t gotten to it yet....

With any luck, it’ll just need a DB 9 gender changer, but I don’t want to do that without checking the pin out. 

Posted by: Mu0n on 2019-07-27 17:20:47
I just found 2 potential joysticks while perusing @pcamen's archive of Mac User pdfs

By Kraft:

Model 820030 S69.95 (2-button :Model)

Model 820331 S7995 (3-button Model)

Here's the ad from Mac User July 1986

image.png

Here's a random brochure off the internet listing these models along with many more for various other computer platforms outside of the Macintosh:

https://www.4corn.co.uk/archive/showpdfs/06 Micro User-Electron User Nov 1985 - Westminster/Kraft - QuickStick Joystick.pdf

And someone selling one for PC from Apple Fritter, but the the thread is from 2012

https://www.applefritter.com/content/vintage-applemacintosh-joysticks-sale-brand-new-boxes

which led to this other potential joystick...

From Advanced Gravis:

MouseStick Controller. The first iteration seems to be compatible for Macintosh 512, Macintosh Plus, Apple IIe, Apple IIc, Apple IIGS, which is exactly what I'm looking for.

On ebay/amazon, you can only find the second iteration which comes with an ADB connector, so it's only compatible with the Mac SE and upward.

image.png

Any ideas on how I could possibly put my hands on either of them?

Posted by: Mu0n on 2019-07-27 17:48:03
This listing *MIGHT* have just the joystick itself for that Gravis MouseStick, no microcontroller part. I have no idea if the Kraft one would plug and work into a Mac Plus.

This ebay seller doesn't ship to Canada though....arranging something with an american as a passthrough shipper...hmm....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/123775683912?ViewItem=&item=123775683912

Posted by: Mu0n on 2019-07-28 04:53:25
Potential solution, get a MouseStick II that has an ADB connector, and attempt to use it with an ADB - Serial 9PIN adapter that plugs into the mouse port? And use the joystick mouse microcontroller base where the joystick emulates mouse function anyway?

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