From: woodcock@crchh427.NoSubdomain.NoDomain (Gregg Woodcock)
Subject: Re: controlls
Reply-To: woodcock@sdf.lonestar.org
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Richardson, Tx
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 04 Sep 1992 13:50:01 GMT

In article <1992Sep3.164824.14122@otto.lvsun.com>, joe@otto.lvsun.com (Joe Barger) writes:
|> 
|> In article <1992Sep2.163819.24721@kong.gsfc.nasa.gov> jonke@kong.gsfc.nasa.gov (Stephen Jonke) writes:
|> >> > Come on! Those games are great in our memories, leave them that way.
|> >> > All I can say is the last time was just that, the LAST TIME.
|> >
|> >While this is true in some cases, in others it is not.  The Lynx version of
|> >Robotron is a great example.  I've had more fun with that then with most
|> >other recent games.  The nice thing about is that it has great replay
|> >value because it isn't a fixed pattern memorization game like most of todays
|> >stuff.  Plus, your score is important (note how people commenting on the
|> >game will say "my high score is...", not, "I got to level x".)
|> 	I am not looking for another pong.  I would buy missle command
|> 	If you could get the trackball controler. I don't think that this
|> 	would revalutionize (sp?) VIDEO GAMES BUT this type of attitude
|> 	may cause a company to write new games for this controller. 
|> 	Marble Madness"genesis version" should have a selection for trackball
|> 	or joystick. Populous was crap because you could not use a mouse or 
|> 	trackball. Lemmings, populous and more should have the right controller.
|> 	Race driving with a JOYSTICK "BLAAAA" anything to ruin a good
|> 	game.  Where is the pride of a company who makes a driving game
|> 	and then tells you to use a joystick?  I am shure that large
|> 	programing companys will continue to convert games "arcade originals"
|> 	to home vids "RAMPART" great game, control? JOYSTICK ? NOT!!! I will
|> 	not buy it. I would love to see a "true" conversion I have paid
|> 	$70.00 for a game before what is another 30.00 for a true convert
|> 	of a good arcade game I will own ? 	
I agree with the above, I think some daring company should at least have
the guts to *try* coming out with appropriate additional hardware with a
game.  Arkanoid did so on the NES and it was sold out for months (never
mind that the controller was cheap and broke quickly).  I have brought
this up before.  I think Atari screwed up Robotron by not coming up with
a cheap second joypad that would fit over the button side of the Lynx
and connect into the ComLynx port.  This would be packaged with a
"dummy" joypad that would fit over the regular joypad side (to make the
2 sides identical).  Instant faithful reproduction of controls for only
$15-$20 extra (retail) dollars.  At the current selling price of $12.99
that is about $28-$33.  I guarantee over half the people with Lynxs
would buy a copy.  I think Atari should do a version of Arkanoid or
Screwball (I think that was the most recent Atari Breakout remake) and
hike the price another $5-$10 by adding a very small paddle with a
suction cup on the bottom which plugs into the ComLynx port.  I could
make one of these with parts from Radio Shack for less than $5 so I
*know* Atari could make them in bulk for next to nothing (of course you
also have to add in the extra design cost but this should be minimal
since they could scrap the design to use the joypad if they really had
to.  I personally would allow both options-joypad or external paddle).
This same paddle could be used to replace the trackball for games like
Missle Command and also to replace the steering wheel for driving games.
IS ANYONE AT ATARI LISTENING?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!