Re: Joystick for IIe platinum

[Linards Ticmanis <ticmanis@coli.uni-sb.de>]

Norman Lightfoot wrote:
> Can anyone recommend a good joystick to use for games on a Platinum IIe?
> 
> The port on the rear of the unit is a female DB9.
> 
> Will an Atari 2600 joystick work with a "gender bender", as the joystick
> also has a female DB9?

No it won't. The Apple wants an analog Joystick (using pots to tell *how
far* it is moved), the 2600 Joysticks are analog (using switches that
can only tell the system *if* it is moved or not).

If you have a soldering iron you can build an adapter for PC Joysticks.
You need plugs for the ends, some wire, two resistors and two styroflex
capacitors. This adapter works well with all PC joysticks that have no
extra electronics (like autofire etc.). An adapter that works with all
DOS-compatible PC Joysticks can be built with a couple more elements.

Or, look in a thrift store for Joysticks marked as "Computer
Compatible". For legal reasons "Apple Compatible" couldn't be printed on
them, so this "Code Name" was introduced. If they have a plug with a
couple of naked pins in two rows, instead of a DB9, it goes into the
second, Apple II+ compatible, internal joystick port of your Apple. This
port looks like an empty chip socket and is not far from the normal
joystick port near the back right of the main PCB.

-- 

Linards Ticmanis

 The Master said, "The business of laying on the colors follows the
preparation of the plain ground."