Joysticks

The first attempts to drive the machine using coordinates entered with 2D electronic controllers were made during World War II in Von Braun's research of V2 rocket and Henschel Hs 293 remote controlled missile. Later, joysticks were common in NASA space program in 1960s and they spread to hobbyists in radio-controlled models. In 1970s and 80s paddles equipped with resistance trimmers became insufficient for controlling early video games, as they were able only to work in one dimension, so joysticks started to be used.
Most (if not all) joysticks in microcomputers are digital ones, which means that they use on/off switches for every direction instead of trimmers. They are cheap and not reliable, as their contacts may wear out very quickly. There are many types of technology used in these contacts, but it's simpler to divide them to two: Joysticks with conductive contact switches similar to these used in remote controllers (or metal membrane switches like in calculators, grounded metal contacting PCB track or neutral metal contacting two tracks together) were cheaper, but less reliable than more expensive joysticks with microswitches.
The usual standard for these devices, called Atari standard, uses DB9 female plug at the joystick and is used not only in Atari computers, but in Commodore 64s, amigas and many other computers too. Exceptions are Amstrad, MSX and some Spectrum interfaces.

Atari Game Stick 2

Atari standard (Atari, C64/128/VIC-20, Amiga)

Manufactured by: Atari

Manufactured for: Atari video games / 800XL

Technology: Metal membrane

Additional capabilities:
- None, except its unusual shape...

This joystick, released with video game consoles in 1983, has been used in microcomputers as it was cheap and compatible. Metal membrane mechanism gave good stick reliability, but button "pistons" which pushed membranes were made of thin plastic and sometimes they broke off.

Atari Joystick

Atari standard (Atari, C64/128/VIC-20, Amiga)

Manufactured by: ?Atari?

Manufactured for: Atari XL computers, some video games

Technology: Metal springs

Addiditonal capabilities:
- None except being the most known joystick, and the symbol of 8-bit gaming era.

Well known gaming joysticks, which became symbol of 1980s 8-bit gaming era. Their mechanism gives uniform, durable yoke, but poor contacts based on PCB tracks shorted by metal springs.
My unit is probably not genuine Atari one.

QuickShot QS-129F

Atari standard (Atari, Commodore)
Amstrad CPC, MSX, Sega consoles

Manufactured by: QuickShot

Manufactured for: Atari/Commodore, CPC, MSX, Sega video games (selectable by switch)

Technology: Rubber membrane

Additional capabilities:
- Unusual shape, more ergonomic in some games
- Autofire.
- Compatible with many standards.

The unusual shape of its joystick is useful in games where fast switching of directions is needed - it can be used only with thumbs. Unfortunately using cheap rubber membrane mechanism made this joystick less reliable.

The switching is:
- A - Atari standard
- B - MSX
- C - Amstrad
- D - Sega

QuickShot QS-130F

Atari standard (Atari, Commodore)
Amstrad CPC, MSX, Sega consoles

Manufactured by: QuickShot

Manufactured for: Atari/Commodore, CPC, MSX, Sega video games (selectable by switch)

Technology: Rubber membrane

Additional capabilities:
- Autofire
- Switch to select compatible computers.

Autofire switch is located on the stick itself. This joystick was used with 8-bit microcomputers such as Atari and was sold in early 1990s.

The switching is:
- A - Atari standard
- B - MSX
- C - Amstrad
- D - Sega

My unit's autofire requires to press fire button to activate, maybe it's this way or maybe it's damaged.

QuickShot QS-131

Atari standard (Atari, C64/128/VIC-20, Amiga)

Manufactured by: QuickShot

Manufactured for: Atari/Commodore/Amiga

Technology: Metal contacts

Additional capabilities:
- None

I got this unit with Amiga and it's working quite nicely. It's built with metal springs touching PCB tracks when joystick is used. Here springs are part of circuit, so only one track needs to be shorted for a direction. More reliable than 2-track joysticks.

Sinclair Joystick

Sinclair ZX Spectrum +2/+3

Manufactured by: Sinclair

Manufactured for: Sinclair ZX Spectrum +2, +3

Technology: Membrane?

Additional capabilities:
- Nothing excitig here...

Special joysticks used with ZX spectrum +2 computer. I have 2 units, one with red and one with yellow buttons.

Spectravideo SV-102

Atari standard (Atari, C64/128/VIC-20, Amiga)

Manufactured by: Spectraviedo

Manufactured for: Atari/Commodore

Technology: Metal contacts

Additional capabilities:
- Autofire.

Spectravideo made many good joysticks which were produced and marketed as QuickJoy too. This one is the simplest one, only with autofire function.

Below you can see two of these joysticks, marked both Spectravideo and QuickShot, when they atarted QS series.

Spectravideo SVI-102 Plus (QuickShot II)

Atari standard (Atari, C64/128/VIC-20, Amiga)

Manufactured by: Spectravideo

Manufactured for: Atari/Commodore

Technology: Microswitch

Additional capabilities:
- Autifore
- More reliable than SV-102

In 1984 Spectravideo renamed their products from SV to SVI, but nothing more happened.
The only difference between SV-102 and SVI-102 plus is switching technology - Plus model is more reliable as it uses microswitches instead of metal contacts.

This model has been marketed as QuickShot II Plus.

Spectravideo SV-121

Atari standard (Atari, C64/128/VIC-20, Amiga)

Manufactured by: Spectravideo

Manufactured for: Atari/Commodore

Technology: Metal contacts.

Additional capabilities:
- Nothing interesting.

The simplest SVI model, sold as QuickJoy QJ I Turbo. No autofire, only Atari standard supported.

Spectravideo SV-122

Atari standard (Atari, Commodore, Amiga)
Amstrad CPC

Manufactured by: Spectravideo

Manufactured for: Atari/Commodore, Amstrad CPC

Technology: Metal contacts.

Additional capabilities:
- Autofire
- Amstrad CPC compatibility (switch)

A bit better model, roughly comparable with later SV-124, used metal springs as contacts.

Spectravideo SV-123

Atari standard (Atari, Commodore, Amiga)
Amstrad CPC

Manufactured by: Spectravideo

Manufactured for: Atari/Commodore/Amstrad CPC

Technology: Microswitches

Additional capabilities:
- Autofire
- Amstrad CPC support by switch

Very popular joysticks known as QuickJoy Supercharger, QJ III Supercharger / SuperJoy III or variations of these. Thanks to microswitches it's reliable, and it has CPC support activated with switch.

(inside SV-123 you can see microswitches, one is damaged - broken spring fell out of casing)

Spectravideo SV-124

Atari standard (Atari, Commodore, Amiga)
Amstrad CPC

Manufactured by: Spectravideo

Manufactured for: Atari/Commodore, Amstrad CPC

Technology: Microswitches

Additional capabilities:
- Simpe autofire
- Amstrad CPC support

Sold as QuickJoy II Turbo. Sometimes sold with NES-clone game consoles.

Spectravideo SV-126

Atari standard (Atari, Commodore, Amiga)
Amstrad CPC

Manufactured by: Spectravideo

Manufactured for: Atari/Commodore, Amstrad CPC

Technology: Microswitches

Additional capabilities:
- Two level (frequency) autofire.
- Amstrad CPC support

Sold as QuickJoy JetFighter, it was known as reliable, but quite loud joystick. Yes, loud as microswitches made clicking sound while switching on and off. Another feature not commonly seen is two level autofire.

Spectravideo SV-111 / QS-111

Atari standard (Atari, Commodore, Amiga)
Amstrad CPC

Manufactured by: Spectravideo

Manufactured for: Atari/Commodore, Amstrad CPC

Technology: Microswitches

Capabilities:
- Autofire
- Amstrad CPC support.

Marketed as QuickShot II Turbo, or QS-111 (licensed versions), was quite good as it used microswitches. However, some units are equipped with metal contacts.

QuickJoy Superboard V SV-125

Atari standard (Atari, Commodore, Amiga)
Amstrad CPC

Manufactured by: Spectravideo

Manufactured for: Atari/Commodore, Amstrad CPC

Technology: Microswitches

Capabilities:
- Autofire with 3 frequency levels
- Amstrad CPC support.
- 3 pairs of Fire buttons, switchable: Stick, base left, base right.
- Battery-powered stopwatch with alarm (AA type cell required)

It was known as very "professional" joystick, at least in Poland. And it was very expensive. But technology was the same, microswitches, the only new things were 3-level autofire, additional Fire buttons and stopwatch.
Stopwatch required 1 AA 1.5V cell. It can count down in minutes and, when time goes out, it beeps until button is pressed.

QuickJoy / Spectravideo SV-127

Atari standard (Atari, Commodore, Amiga)
Amstrad CPC

Manufactured by: Spectravideo

Manufactured for: Atari/Commodore, Amstrad CPC

Technology: Full Microswitches

Capabilities:
- Autofire with 2 frequency levels (started with holding sec. fire down),
- Amstrad CPC support,
- 2 Fire buttons.

One of the most rugged things in terms of contacts - this is based on microswitches, a real microswitches, like ones in old machine programmers. It has a transparent case and it is possible to see the switches. Although it is solid, this comes with price - it's loud. It has springs for vibrations compensation, a stable base and rubber feet, but it is more loud than typical switch-based joysticks.

To start autofire, hold secondary fire (large thumb button) for some time.

VG-125

Atari standard (Atari, Commodore, Amiga)

Manufactured by: ??

Manufactured for: Atari/Commodore

Technology: Metal contacts

Capabilities:
- 3 Fire buttons (in parallel)

Cheap, non-branded joystick made in China, they were frequently added to Atari console clones or similar video games. They were cheap and accessible. 3 Fire buttons look nice, but they are connected to single line. There are no markings related to brand or manufacturer.

This unit is quite surprising - I got it as "working but in poor condition", and it is like that - it's in rather bad state, with numerous fixes and repairs, but it works as intended and it is possible to play games without significant problems.