Xref: utzoo rec.games.video:1528 comp.sys.atari.st:12767 comp.sys.atari.8bit:2071
Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!ucla-cs!cc
From: cc@valhalla.cs.ucla.edu (Mark Wang)
Newsgroups: rec.games.video,comp.sys.atari.st,comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: New Atari Home Video Game (Just a rumor?)
Message-ID: <18615@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU>
Date: 7 Dec 88 02:15:15 GMT
References: <4934@bsu-cs.UUCP> <1253@atari.UUCP> <401926c9.1285f@maize.engin.umich.edu>
Sender: news@CS.UCLA.EDU
Reply-To: cc@cs.ucla.edu (Mark Wang)
Organization: UCLA Computer Club
Lines: 38

In article <401926c9.1285f@maize.engin.umich.edu> billkatt@caen.engin.umich.edu (Steve Bollinger) writes:
>In article <1253@atari.UUCP> good@atari.UUCP (Roy Good) writes:
>>
>> [stuff about the XEGS, the 2600, and the 7800]
>>
>>Roy Good/Atari
>
>No video game that only supports one-button joysticks is worth $100.
>You need at least two to play reasonably complex games.
>
>-Steve

That remark certainly does not apply to any of Atari's systems, since they
do have the capability to support much more complex game controllers.  I
have been collecting parts to build myself an analog stick with up to _5_
buttons!  Of course, it won't work without software to support it.  So,
when (or if) I finish that stick I will write my own games for it.  Along
the same line, I'm sure if some manufacturer markets a new type of stick,
there would be enough incentive for writers to develop games for it.  Now
all we have to do is to find enough incentive, as in software support, to
produce the stick in the first place.  (catch-22!)

One solution is to bundle some initial set of software with the hardware,
a la Koala Pad.  Just start the ball rolling and watch it go.

On another note, for those who prefer digital sticks with multiple buttons,
the analog pins could simply be fed digital button-down signals.  They can't
be latched (at least not on the XEGS), but that's not that serious, is it?
Also, the second stick port could be used exclusively for the extra buttons.
This has been done already, I believe, on Star Raiders, using a keypad.  The
possibilities go on and on...

Now, tell me again about not supporting multiple-button complex games.


Mark Wang              |||      Our club prez has an Amiga, so his opinions
cc@cs.ucla.edu         |||      don't count.  Other members don't post news.
UCLA Computer Club    / | \     Therefore, these opinions must be mine.