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The Atari joystick port is a computer port used to connect various gaming controllers to game console and home computer systems in the 1970s to the 1990s. It was originally introduced on the Atari 2600 in 1977 and then used on the Atari 400 and 800 in 1979. It went cross-platform with the VIC-20 in 1981, and was then used on many following machines from both companies, as well as a growing list of 3rd party machines like the MSX platform and various Sega consoles.
Bandits is a 1982 fixed shooter written by Tony and Benny Ngo for the Apple II and published by Sirius Software. The game is a clone of Taito's 1980 Stratovox arcade video game where the goal is to prevent aliens from stealing objects. Bandits was ported to the Atari 8-bit family, Commodore 64, and VIC-20.
The Atari CX40 joystick was the first widely used cross-platform game controller. The original CX10 was released with the Atari Video Computer System in 1977 and became the primary input device for most games on the platform. The CX10 was replaced after a year by the simpler and less expensive CX40. The addition of the Atari joystick port to other platforms cemented its popularity. It was the standard for the Atari 8-bit family of home computers and was compatible with the VIC-20, Commodore 64 and 128, MSX, and later the Atari ST and Amiga. Third-party adapters allowed it to be used on other systems, such as the Apple II, TI-99 and the ZX Spectrum.
References
- ↑ Woita, Steve (2007), Classic Gaming Expo - Steve Woita , retrieved 2007-03-26
- ↑ Reese, George (2004), Good Deal Games - Classic Videogame Games INTERVIEW - Keithen Hayenga , retrieved 2007-03-26
- 1 2 3 4 Ahl, David H.; Rost, Randi J. (1983), "Blisters And Frustration: Joysticks, Paddles, Buttons and Game Port Extenders for Apple, Atari and VIC", Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games, 1 (1): 106ff
- ↑ Baum, Peter; Baxter, Glenn A. (1988), Apple IIe Technical Note #6: The Apple II Paddle Circuits , retrieved 2007-03-26
- ↑ Thomasson, Michael (2003), Good Deal Games - Classic Videogame Games INTERVIEW - Steve Woita , retrieved 2007-03-26
- ↑ Stilphen, Scott (2001), Interview with Steve Woita , retrieved 2007-03-26
- ↑ Reese, George, op. cit