Atari 2600
Controllers & Input Devices

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The Atari 2600 had a number of input devices that were available.  Atari, and countless 3rd party companies joysticks and other controllers.  Here is a look at what controllers were offered by Atari, and a few other companies, for the 2600.....

Atari Standard Joystick - This is the joystick that was packaged in the 2600 systems.  It was also used for the Atari 8-bit and 16-bit computers.  It can be used on the Atari 7800 as well, but it will not work properly on 7800 games requiring two fire buttons.

It was a pretty basic joystick.  It didn't have any fancy bells and whistles, but people loved it anyway.

This same joystick can also be used on the Atari 8-bit & 16-bit computers.

Atari "Space Age" Joystick - A compact stick resembling the handle of a pistol with a small knob-like stick at the top. It was actually a very clever idea, but the joystick mechanism itself was not very durable.

Atari "Wireless" Joystick - Atari attempted to provide a wireless solution for their joysticks, and it was a miserable failure.

The system itself consisted of a Remote Control box that would plug into the joystick ports, and the two controllers.  Batteries had to be inserted into the base of each joystick.  The sticks themselves were impossible to hold, because they were so big.  (They had to be to accomodate the batteries, and the antenna.)

Atari Driving Controller - These controllers were bundled with the game "Indy 500."  They allowed full 360 degrees of movement.

Atari Paddles - The paddles were used for games like Night Driver, and Video Olympics.  They allowed 270 degrees of movement.

Atari Keyboard Controllers - These controllers were used for cartridges such as the Atari BASIC programming language.

The controller on the left was the basic model that was used originally.

The one on the left was packaged with the Star Raiders cartridge.  They are both essentially the same controllers above.  However, the one on the left could make use of keypad overlays similar to the ones used on the 5200 and Jaguar systems.

Atari "Kids" Keyboard Controllers - These are essentially the same as the keyboard controller above.  However. the unit itself, and the buttons, are much larger.  This unit was used for kids titles, as well as educational cartridges.

Like the Star Raiders keypad controller above, ths "Kids" controller would also use keypad overlays similar to the ones used on the 5200 and Jaguar systems.

Atari Trackball Controller - The trackball controller was used for arcade translations such as Missile Command and Centipede.

Atari "Track & Field" Controller - Remember that cool arcade coin-op game called Track & Field?  It was produced by Konami, and Atari quickly snapped up the rights to publish home versions of the game.

The coin-op didn't have a joystick, paddle, or any other conventional controller.  It just used 3 buttons.  Well, needless to say, playing Track & Field on a joystick just wasn't possible.

So, Atari developed the Track & Field controller, and bundled it in a package with the Track & Field game cartridge.  It was a sturdy, well built unit and it completely captured the feel of playing the game in the arcade.   The one true fault of the design was that it was kind of small.  This controller probably would have been better if it were just a bit larger.

Zircon "Video Command" Joystick - This unit was similar to the Fairchild Channel F joystick.  It is a grip-style controller with a triangular head at the top. The fire button is a small red button near the index finger.

M Network "TRON" Joystick - M Network was Mattel's attempt to produce Atari 2600 games.  This joystick was used with their movie tie-in game: Tron.  It looked identical to the joystick used in the arcade version of the game.

"Le-Stick" Joystick - I have been unable to find out who the manufacturer of this unit was.  It was a sort of 3D joystick, in that it used mercury switches to sense movement of the stick in mid-air.  There was no base to this unit.  The fire button is at the top of the stick, and is controlled by your thumb.

"Joy Sensor" Joystick by Suncom - This was an attempt to bring the Mattel Intelevision style controllers to the 2600.   Instead of having a control disk like the Intelivision, it used a touch activated sensor.

"Joyboard" by Amiga - A large flat black board with red lettering that you stand on to control.  By rocking back and forth. or side-to-side, you simulate the joystick motions. An additional port in the Joyboard allows you to plug in a stick for use with games that need a button. It shipped with a skiing game called Mogul Maniac.

Pointmaster Fire Control - A large flat connector that would interface between your joystick, and the 2600.  This device would give rapid-fire capability to the 2600 games.  Just hold down the joystick button, and the system would continously fire without having to repeadtedly punch the fire button.

CBS "Booster Grip" Controller - This was an add-on device for the 2600.  It converted the joystick to a "grip" style controller, and moved the fire buttons to the top of the unit.   It was bundled with "Omega Race" from CBS Games.