Atari fans mostly overlook controller with potentiometer and single button. As one single game port utilizes two such controllers, up to 4 players games are possible.
Possibly every Atari enthusiast is familiar with PONG game, however it won’t be too attractive for him to play it.
The reason lies in no experience with this type of games controlled via analogue potentiometer’s movement. The name of peripheral itself point to the games of this type, will mention some of these later.
Linear potentiometer of controller of 1 MOhm value is connected to pins 7 and 9.
Button of controller 1 is connected to pins 3 and 8.
Linear potentiometer of controller of 2 MOhm value is connected to pins 7 and 5.
Button of controller 1 is connected to pins 4 and 8.
Pins 9 and 5 are analogue inputs of 8bit Atari.
Values measured by Atari are:
1 - in case of setting edge potentiometer position clockwise (minimal resistance),
228 - in case of setting edge potentiometer position counter-clockwise (maximum resistance).
Big knob is connected to potentiometer, resembling radio tuner one. The feeling is completely different than with digital joysticks, because it depends on the speed and angle of turning. This makes certain types of games much more fun.
It is still possible to get original Atari ones on Ebay, for example.
Manufacture is simple from the perspective of electronic, even cable with relevant connector can be bought (search for 9pin sega cable).
Major remaining issue is controller’s enclosure and the big knob. 3D printing should help, haven’t tried any model so far.
Simple by construction, albeit not fault-free.
Jitter is typical issue, i.e. non-linear resistor change caused by dirt and potentiometer’s wear and tear.
Paddle can be tested well with game Castle crisis, making jitter obvious.
Some Ataris have issues with perfectly working potentiometers that operates flawlessly elsewhere. I’ve seen this problem with one game port of borrowed computer. This is apparently an issue of AD decoder.
This is same as with 35+ years old joysticks, however specific faults are different:
Unfortunately none of these flaws can be visually discovered, unless button has fallen completely off.
I would recommend to choose pieces without traces of patina. These are having chance being mechanically in order.
Even jitter-free guaranteed pieces had one.
Fortunately, relatively big potentiometer can be disassembled and cleaned, via included steps:
Do not remove knob unnecessarily and don’t put it back without pushing the potentiometer’s back side.
Instruct other players to not put knob off.
Pieces prepared by this way are convention-proven reliable.
Kaboom – bomb catching into water bins. Necessity of fast movement shows the uniqueness of this control type.
Warlords – up to four players, the goal is to defend its own fort from destruction by ball and fire the ball at enemy’s fort. This is excellent for fast eye.
Castle crisis – great update of above.
Clowns & Balloons - wall penetration variant, character flies via ballistic trajectory and bounces via trampoline.
You can search through archive here:
https://a8.fandal.cz/search.php?name=&butt_details_x=x&search=paddle&from=0
In my opinion, it is. Paddle allows Pong-style games to be played as intended and makes the world of Atari games more colorful, especially in multiplayer.
Mr.Holub