[1]The C64 Community Loading... This site is best viewed in a modern browser with JavaScript enabled. The Joystick snapped oldskool I mean it literally snapped at the base - very little pressure applied. Hilariously bad. I mean, we've all had poor Joysticks fail, right? But by fail we usually mean it was a cheap metal contact joystick and we can hear the metal contact inside the joystick that has snapped off - through wear and tear, maybe six months in etc. Some of us have been unlucky to know what it is like having a broken microswitch - the old work-around being to take the microswitch out of the opposing fire button and put that in place of the one that bit the dust. But... Never in all my years have I literally ripped a joystick in half. I am not someone who pumps iron and talks about his guns all day long, I am not some massive behemoth. I was picking the ball up in midfield on Emlyn Hughes Soccer and looking to hit a long chip toward goal when CrrrRUNCH! Absolutely ludicrous. You have to laugh as it is THAT bad. I guarantee more of you will end up with the same problem in the coming weeks. I played what, for a few hours on two days - that's it. The funny thing is, so much has improved for me prior to this. I solved my issues with terrible input lag, I found a Buffalo pad that IS recognised, I got past that and I finally sorted out adding games after my fourth USB stick proved to be the one that was recognised. And then this lol. The developer NEEDS to sort out the UI - Pronto! So differing controllers are recognised and crucially - can be mapped to the the UI. Trying to navigate the UI, even if you get a pad that is recognised is a nightmare andnot being able to re-define your buttons also very problematic. I'm not that upset re the Joystick, I'm sure many in my position would be, I find it more funny myself. I understand that there is no way they could have delivered a quality joystick at this price with the mini. But please guys if you are reading this please sort the UI out. Otherwise a lot of people are going to end up with a paperweight and walk away from it or return it. Good job that Buffalo pad is working for me. I have to use the shoulder buttons to fire lol, but at least I can still control the mini, others might not be so lucky. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- oldskool The Mini itself is starting to come good for me and deliver in spades - total opposite of the joystick. Had absolute joy once rid of lag and with games added. Had a belter of a time with: IK+ Emlyn Hughes Rainbow Islands Manic Miner Football Manager Sport of Kings lol Weird - weird day. Kinda like being lucky enough to follow Beyonce up a never ending ladder, but having to listen to her music whilst doing so. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- PantherUK Sorry mate but that Beyonce comment just totally destroyed me... XD -------------------------------------------------------------------------- oldskool [2]PantherUK Some times you just have to laugh at how certain things play out - too silly for words. Obviously I can send the C64 mini back, or put in a request for a new joystick as it is well within the warranty period. I might do that, though it must be said the ball ache involved at the feeling that another will simply go at some point makes me wonder about the point of that. And i'm not even having a go at the guys beind the device - the value is in the mini itself. If I could get some comment from Retro - if we could get something definitive about allowing other devices to work via firmware updates - to properly work in the UI - i'd just leave it as is. But - will have to see. I will contact them, probably tomorrow now unless they read this. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parcival I've used mine for a good 10 hours so far over the last 4 days, not a problem for me. But I suppose we all use them differently, over the years I've seen people wrench them all over the place like a thing possessed. I use mine by moving it at the base rather than hold the ball at the end. Frankly I'm a bit surprised the first person on here to snap their stick is someone with obvious qualifications that should of recognised the limitations of the stick and been able to avoid such issues. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- oldskool [3]Parcival Parcival where do I even start with a comment like that? If you are an optician, does that mean you can't buy a pair of faulty glasses? I mean really talk about swinging into full defensive mode. You don't have to defend everything you know. The joystick snapped because it was poorly manufactured as a whole and/or because there was a fault inherent in this unit. If you think the way you hold this joystick would have made this unit non faulty then you're either very naive or simply being daft. Either that or you're just having a laugh. If a footballer breaks their leg - do you give them the benefit of your wisdom and explain how they should walk properly in future? As the beneficiary of a failed prophylactic - you probably see fault in nothing do you [4]:) You can take that as a joke by the way :-/ P.S I am not here to have a go at the C64 mini. The device has had teething problems - but I like others am persevering and the device itself once you get over various issues (that quite a few of us have had) is really starting to prove itself. The C64 mini IS really good in my opinion. But that does not make things like this acceptable and neither should we all avert our eyes or pretend things like this are not a problem or drawback. We have to be realistic. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- oldskool [5]W12MODS Yes - It doesn't work mate, as yet. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- walnutwhip the joystick is crap. even the staunchest c64 mini fan knows it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- spannernick1 This joystick is the same a the C64DTV,I was thinking of change the hosing that has the the joystick in with the C64DTVs,I might do that with mine,Mine looks like it leans to the left abit and it's not in the center. It looks like they made these and never tested them. I am going to take it apart today and see if it can be moded to have a Db9 connector added. I post back soon.. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- spannernick1 Back.. Yes they can be modified,you can add a Db9 connector to the board like the C64DTV and the joystick is identical to the C64DTV joystick. here is a picture of them side by side,guess TheC64 joystick..?? Guess which is which...??? [6][IMG] This Joystick is a replica,even the insides are the same,its not worth £24.99,I do use mine no and then,when I do I do it with my thumb ,I don't hold it with my hand,I couldn't use it for long anyway it would start off my arthritis in my elbow. Has the C64 DTVs joystick ever snapped,Mine has not...?? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parcival [7]@oldskool I'm not here to bicker, I want this to work really well as a product and get ongoing support, just like everyone else I'm sure that is something we can all agree on. Like a lot of folks here, I started gaming in the 70's and then through the 80's, using many different sticks that were both god-awful and then those that were utterly superb. Is this stick what we would class as good quality? No, not really. It does the job for most if us but what I'm saying is I've used a damn sight worse. I have to be pragmatic about these things - it cost 65 quid. I wasn't really expecting Competition Pro quality and sure enough I didn't get it. But what I am expecting is a future firmware update that will start to let me use better sticks that I want to use. And that's where the forum gets interesting - as we all use different sticks/USB peripherals that do work properly, not hit-and-miss like it seems at the moment (very interesting it is to read though). I hope the guys at Retro Games are reading these threads as we have a message for them. Please listen and please support us, the folks that buy this want it to be a product that gets regular updates and I'm sure the community will come up with great ideas and cool suggestions for future firmware updates. Oh, and please send oldskool some superglue... [8]:) Peace! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- oldskool [9]Parcival Humour as is often the case goes a long way. You made me smile/laugh - superglue indeed lol Let's put the bickering/banter to one side now. You're right, of course we want this device to be a success. We've all bought into the concept, literally. Given the way our conversation was going...that's why, in part at least, why I was keen to emphasise that what has occurred with the joystick runs counter to what is really good here with the mini itself. Like I have said there are teething problems, we should not pretend they do not exist either, even if they do not occur for ourselves. Issues relating to certain TVs/4K TVs, issues relating to USB sticks etc. But I don't think any of us think that Retro are not genuine in their endeavour, or that we all cannot enjoy what this turns out to be. With support and firmware improvements - some of which you rightly detail, with a bit of luck this will only get better with time. I agree re the price as well. There is no way Retro could have released the mini with a steel shafted, miscroswitched usb joystick - we only have to look at the prices for such to know that such expectations would be unreasonable. They have to be able to make money as a company, otherwise this thing cannot exist or flourish as a project - so we pragmatically agree on the joystick lol. I started gaming in the 70s as well. Intellivision and more casually even before that. I too have had some bad and good joysticks in my time. I can honestly say I have never had a joystick snap/fall to pieces like this, not the old wonky Atari joystick, not the crappy metal contact efforts of the early 80s or some of the Sinclair speccys worst efforts. Not the Ouya controller and nothing in over a year in testing peripherals every single day for Sony QA. In relation to the latter - we are talking about testing peripherals every single minute of every single day. I would have tested more pieces in that time that 100s of gamers would in entire lifetimes - that's just a fact and nothing fell apart like this lol. We know the build quality is not there and we know it is bad. Could it falling apart end up very common, or was I also somewhat unlucky in terms of a manufacturing defect - time will tell. Even here we hope it is the latter rather than the former. Retro have responded quickly and positively to my email and offered to replace the joystick if I send it back, so that's good. I'll let people know how that works out - hopefully well. So far though - their response is a credit to them. With a bit of luck - none of us will be using these devices in the coming months anyway. Pretty sure we all want to be using something we add ourselves, something that allows for the precision that we love as enthusiasts of this era. Let's move beyond any disagreement even if we agree to disagree in part. Best of! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- spannernick1 I was the one... [10]:D I going to test my Keyrah I only have V1 but it hopefully it will work with the c64 joysticks and a keyboard..[11]:D -------------------------------------------------------------------------- spannernick1 Oh and Beach Head works,It don't on the C64DTV... [12]:D -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parcival Ooh, loved Beach Head, thanks for the reminder. Will be playing Raid on Bungeling Bay as well later hopefully if that works. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- spannernick1 Just tried the Keyrah,the Joystick ports don't work,Never tested a C64 keyboard with it but if I had a guess it would work,shame,Probably because its meant to be used on the PC with Vice,it works fine with that,I will try again in the next day or so with a C64 keyboard and post my findings here. Might solder a DB9 on my TheC64 Joystick,I have now swapped my stick from my C64DTV with the stick on TheC64 joystick,It's alot better now,I did noticed that the screw that holds the stick to the plate that presses the pads (Up,Down,Left,Right) was using a 1 inch screw and the DTV was using half that.so if there is a longer screw in the stick it has a longer hole going down it and can make it weak and can make is snap.See if you can see if there is a hole in the stick,at its base,the one that has snapped if you do thats why..??? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- spannernick1 Here are the screws,The small one is from the C64DTV and the long one is from TheC64 Joystick. [13][IMG] I have removed the screw and replaced it with a shorter one. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- oldskool [14]W12MODS I have an adaptor knocking about - will try out if I can. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- spannernick1 [15]oldskool Cool thanks if you can't,I do have one on my RPI3 thats in a Sega Mega Drive 1 and CD1 so I can use the real pads.and disconnect it and plug it in to TheC64 Mini but have to do it tomorrow now. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- spannernick1 Oh.. It was very tight to come out like the screw was to big for the hole,well more like the hole was to small for the screw... [16]:) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- spannernick1 [17]oldskool You could't take a picture of the Joystick please,If you don't mind,I want to see where it snapped..? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- [18]Next Page » References Visible links 1. https://community.thec64.com/ 2. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/3 3. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/6 5. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/5 6. https://postimg.org/image/ctyrt7fkn/ 7. https://community.thec64.com/u/oldskool 9. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/14 13. https://postimg.org/image/za467q12f/ 14. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/13 15. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/20 17. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/23 18. https://community.thec64.com/d/193?page=2&id=193-the-joystick-snapped [1]The C64 Community Loading... This site is best viewed in a modern browser with JavaScript enabled. The Joystick snapped oldskool [2]W12MODS I just remembered we had a Binatone TV Master lol ALL sports so long as it was really PONG! lol -------------------------------------------------------------------------- spannernick1 [3]oldskool You could't take a picture of the Joystick please,If you don't mind,I want to see where it snapped..? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- spannernick1 Now this is a Competition Pro...[4]:D [5]Competition Pro USB Sports Tournament Edition (USB) [6]https://amigakit.amiga.store/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1153 Wish I could get one,lovely Joystick. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- oldskool [7]spannernick1 Yea, got one...wished it worked. Maybe it can via a future firmware update. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- PantherUK I've got a keyrah v2 in and old Breadbin case to use on my mini and it's works great, obviously a few of the keys are off, bit no complaints here... [8]Sorted... -------------------------------------------------------------------------- SirGeldi [9]PantherUK I have exactly the same gamepad but mine seems to have a live on its own. It behaves like having Turbo enabled, wich isn't and it also gives random joystick left inputs in menus. It works fine under WIN 10 and also with Retropie on RasPI 3b. Have 2 pads and both behave the same on the mini. So if your pad works and my pad does not it might be a firmware problem. My firmware version is 1.0.0 build 23-12-2017 wich is yours ? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richy42 Gosh bad news about the joystick snapping [10]:( there was a comments on the FAQs I think offering an improved joystick if demand was high. maybe we should start a new thread / campaign ? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gurce Yeah, I was saddened to hear people's difficulties with the joystick, and with sourcing alternative joysticks. Hope things fare better with that in the future for us all. I'll echo the sentiment of others, that I'm willing to forgive the initial shortcomings of this system, in the hope of supporting them to help this platform evolve and grow in time. I know they're a relatively small team, compared to giants such as Nintendo, so considering that, I feel they've done well to progress the platform to this stage, and here's hoping they can push on and make it even better in future [11]:) The joystick dramas made me recall the joystick that came with my original c64 back in the day [12]:D [13]enter image description here Oh my, was that triangular shape painful! [14]:) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- scottyhp [15]Gurce wow. Love the generic packaging ... Joystick (tm) brand Joystick And one button. What more do you need? I guess those original Atari joysticks only had one, so ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Darbyram [16]Gurce [17]i have one of these i have one of these lol -------------------------------------------------------------------------- PantherUK [18]SirGeldi same firmware, and my iBuffalo sometimes randomly moves in the menu screen... Autofire/turbo works fine but I do have to unplug the pad to cancel it... -------------------------------------------------------------------------- oldskool [19]https://ibb.co/bR6GZx [20]https://ibb.co/hns6Zx Just as someone requested. I am not sure if you guys can see or not - there is one small screw that ends at the point where the joystick snapped/sheered - there appears to be no metal at all beyond that point. It looks very thin given the bore hole for the screw and the outside of the plastic mould on the joystick does not look as though it snapped at all - only the inner part - if you look you can see the difference in colouration here in the top part of the joystick that has come away. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- oldskool [21]PantherUK I've been more fortunate here, my ibuffalo has no such issue. I do not know how much credence I place in the power supply discussions, some claim that an inadequate supply can cause peripheral issues. If you are running your mini off lower than 1amp (that which is recommended by Retro) I guess that could be an issue. Perhaps even that recommendation might be problematic if you are running a USB hub and keyboard as well and you are on a 1amp USB, no idea. I am running the mini off of a 3.4 amp usb plug and am running a powered USB hub through which I have the ibuffalo, a USB stick and a keyboard. None of this may matter a jot, just shooting blind at a possible issue. You might want to look at the USB power... -------------------------------------------------------------------------- SirGeldi [22]oldskool I am using a 2,5 A power supply wich came with my Rasberry PI 3b and only the IBuffalo is conected to the mini. Suport told me i should wait for the firmware update tomorrow. @ PantherUK Thank now i know i am not alone and my mini is not faulty. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- PantherUK [23]oldskool I'm running a powered 2.5amp usb hub with the mini in the charging port so I don't think I've got any power issues... I've just noticed it a couple of times with that pad... Mostly when I leave it on for ages to read through the latest posts on here lol... -------------------------------------------------------------------------- AndyF If the joystick breaks as easily as some suggest, then I am grateful that Daley Thompson's decathelon was not included on the carousel ... I remember breaking several playing that ! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parcival [24]@oldskool Great news about them replacing the stick, good service from them. Let's hope the snapped stick was a one-off. I started with the Grandstand 6000 myself and moved on to the VCS (I could never afford the awesome Intellivision system). I always remember the soccer on it looking utterly amazing. Wasn't the Intellivision about £400 on release? Also looking forward to the firmware release later today! [25]@spannernick1 Now THATS a joystick of kings! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- oldskool [26]Parcival I'msending the joystci back tomorrow - so hopefully it is all sorted. They were quick/good so far. My favourite joystick is the Zipstick and I have three of them (bought an extra one for used parts) and an adaptor so if future firmware allows for their use that would be amazing. I also have a Competition Pro and a TAC2 hehe. Of course this was all for my original Amiga 500+ and C64. I also have a Competition Pro USB from a few years back that has four fire buttons, steel shaft like the original and all microswitched, again it would be great to use tat at some point. P.S I don't know what the cost of the Intellivision as I was a kid and it was a family purchase. My first buy was much later. As a kid the first system bought just for me as a kid was the Speccy 48k+. I only ever got a C64 because a lad over the road willing to swap his for my speccy and a broken snooker table hehe. I think I got the deal [27]:) I only ever had the tape player for games - that was the only drawback. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parcival [28]oldskool I don't know what the cost of the Intellivision as I was a kid and it was a family purchase. My first buy was much later. As a kid the first system bought just for me as a kid was the Speccy 48k+. I only ever got a C64 because a lad over the road willing to swap his for my speccy and a broken snooker table hehe. I think I got the deal [29]:) I only ever had the tape player for games - that was the only drawback. Great memories for sure - no doubt the kids of today will look back in 35 years and go "remember that PS4 game God of War4?..." I think where we are unique is we were there at the begining of gaming at home and in the arcades - to see Defender or Star Wars for the first time in the arcade were like magic to me. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- spannernick1 [30]oldskool I like my Zipstick too.. [31]:D It has yellow buttons, its in the picture of my c64 i post on here.. [32]:) I have had it for 30 years,but it it has a up problem so I have o put a elastic band near the plug. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parcival Never had a Zipstick myself but I loved my Competition Pro. Sturdy construction as you say and could laugh in the face of any joystick-waggling game you cared to throw at it [33]:thumbsup: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Darbyram [34]Parcival We are unique as in being old lol -------------------------------------------------------------------------- [35]« Previous Page [36]Next Page » References Visible links 1. https://community.thec64.com/ 2. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/24 3. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/23 6. https://amigakit.amiga.store/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1153 7. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/28 9. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/29 15. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/34 16. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/34 18. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/36 19. https://ibb.co/bR6GZx 20. https://ibb.co/hns6Zx 21. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/42 22. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/43 23. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/43 24. https://community.thec64.com/u/oldskool 25. https://community.thec64.com/u/spannernick1 26. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/47 28. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/48 30. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/48 34. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/50 35. https://community.thec64.com/d/193?page=1&id=193-the-joystick-snapped 36. https://community.thec64.com/d/193?page=3&id=193-the-joystick-snapped [1]The C64 Community Loading... This site is best viewed in a modern browser with JavaScript enabled. The Joystick snapped adgloride Maybe they should start another crowd funding for a decent joystick and this time listen to what the customers want. I just have a feeling this joystick that’s been bundled with the mini was someone’s favourite joystick back in the day. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Darbyram [2]Parcival We are unique as in being old lol -------------------------------------------------------------------------- spannernick1 [3]oldskool I like my Zipstick too.. [4]:D It has yellow buttons, its in the picture of my c64 i post on here.. [5]:) I have had it for 30 years,but it it has a up problem so I have o put a elastic band near the plug. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Darbyram [6]spannernick1 Don't play games that have an up then...lol -------------------------------------------------------------------------- oldskool [7]spannernick1 It's a great Joystick, I always preferred it a little over the Competition Pro, the stick is less stiff and the fire buttons a nicer shape and less prone to sticking over time. What exactly is wrong with your unit? I couldn't quite work out what you meant from your prior post. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- [8]« Previous Page References Visible links 1. https://community.thec64.com/ 2. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/50 3. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/48 6. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/54 7. https://community.thec64.com/d/193/54 8. https://community.thec64.com/d/193?page=2&id=193-the-joystick-snapped