The C64 Micro Switch Joystick - Clear (Electronic Games)

Okay, so there are emulators out there which run on virtually every platform going, but this is just another level. I cut my teeth on the VIC-20 and upgraded to the C64 when it was launched, I've loaded up and tinkered with the emulators by the feeling just wasn't there. But now having a replica of my original machine, a micro switch joystick, no power brick just plug it into the USB power ports of my power extension block, connect the HDMI, stick a loaded USB key in and it's just like being transported back to the 80s (just without the hair and bad dress sense). People have complained that the keyboard doesn't feel like it used to, but I seriously disagree, it feels really authentic. Mine does have the odd occurrence of a key sticking when I'm typing once in a blue moon, but that might settle down in time. The actual unit is really solid and has quite some weight to it too. The packaging is great too, a reproduction box, really well made, a decent plastic cover for the keyboard whether in or out of it's box, and a really solid joystick. The included games on the carousel have been well thought out. It was the presence of Gribbly's Day Out and Zynaps that won me over to buy it and I've not been disappointed. The fact that you can load images onto a USB key and play them, even use a virtual floppy disk drive to load games, save code and files is great. The VIC-20 can be configured (albeit by using carefully named disk filenames) from it's original memory up to 35K, and the C-64 can even emulate ram expansion units up to 2Mb although I've not figured out how to try this yet). I was actually surprised at how it changes your mindset, I could never get into playing games on the emulator, something just felt "off", but having TheC64 in front of me and the microswitch joystick and the games are addictive as they ever were... and more playable. I even tried some of the programming languages that were designed to help write games (Basic Lightning, White Lighting and Machine Lightning for me) and applications like TasWord and everything runs smoothly. The only let down is that the QuickStart manual that comes with it isn't really enough. Sure, it tells you how to get up and going and the basics, but to actually understand how to use it fully you either need the PDF of buy the user manual separately. Okay we're in a digital (supposedly paperless) age, but I still think the book should have been included, but it's definitely worth the additional purchase in my opinion. Now if you'll excuse me, I have The Staff of Karnath to finish.

I already have original Amigas and in the modern age, there are a lot of extra solutions to getting them working and loading software. Sometimes this involves nice simple solutions inside the case and sometimes a lot more faff. The A500 mini is brilliant. Connects via HDMI, not SCART or Amiga RGB and works lovely with a modern telly. Some of the games on it wouldn't be ones I'd play, but there are enough classics like the incredible Chaos Engine and Worms: The Directors Cut to keep me busy for ages and show off the best of the 80s 16bit scene to today's youngsters. Some people seem to have questioned the shape of the controller, being based on the CD32. I think the controllers are just fine and whilst they might not be as ergonomic as modern console controllers, they were clearly a compromise to keep the style retro looking. Older players might prefer a joystick but I can't stand using those so I bought a second one at the same time and also use these pads on The C64 instead of the sticks. Not tried them on the PC yet. I've added all the WHDLoad games too (google how to do that if you don't know) so this is my main Amiga for games now. The keyboard is non-working but the buttons would have been ridiculously small if they had made them functional and it would have pushed the price up. A USB keyboard can be used when needed and there are plenty of USB ports. Original looking tank mouse was a nice touch. I wanted one of these as soon as I heard about them and eventually gave in when they were on offer for under £100. I can see at the time of writing - April 2024 - that they are currently discounted to £85. You'll read some nitpicking over the games included and the pad design but for me it's a cracking bundle for a decent price. Writing this has made me want to go and play it now!

This little machine is brilliant. The built in games work great. I especially love Qwak which I played a lot when I was a kid. I've tried to load games onto a USB drive and plug into the machine, and after a fiddly process (requiring a pc) I've managed to get some games to run. Not all games run on it though. And probably require some fiddling to get them too. I've seen a few tricks on YouTube to get this machine running other stuff and might have a go later. But so far Cannon fodder works well and Golden axe, Batman the movie ect. But I've found there is so far an issue getting mouse games running on it like the Settlers. I believe it's a problem making the machine recognise the mouse in some games. But I've heard it's something that can be solved. The actual device is well made and looks exactly like the old A500 only much smaller. The keyboard on this is none functional but I believe you can plug in a USB pc keyboard. It's good quality. The controller, although not an original A500 accessory, works well and is comfortable to use and the "Tank" mouse is much like the original only a little smaller. I look forward to experimenting more with this bit of kit. Well worth it for all old school Amiga fans.

On retrouve vraiment les sensations d'époque. La manette et la souris sont de qualité, dommage que le clavier soit factice.

È bello riallacciare i ricordi. Questi oggetti aiutano molto la fantasia, per tornare indietro nel tempo e rivivere quei momenti indimenticabili. Dato che avevo bisogno di una navigazione più fluida, ho preferito aggiungere, con una modifica hardware, la funzione scroll. Qualche piccolo dettaglio che non mi è piaciuto: - La realizzazione del PCB mi sembra un po' scarsina per il prezzo complessivo dell'oggetto. - Benché il circuito stampato abbia i fori per accogliere i fili del cavo USB, questi ultimi (Vcc, D-, D+, GND) sono stati saldati sulla scheda un po' superficialmente, senza essere inseriti nei fori dedicati. - Il chip ottico, nel mio caso, riporta lievi segni di bruciatura sul corpo. (Su 3 mouse acquistati 2 presentano questo difetto). - Il condensatore elettrolitico saldato a cavallo di un condensatore SMD mi sembra un po' una "pezzentata"... un lavoro di ripiego. Anche se risulta essere più piccolo rispetto al modello vecchio, esternamente, è una riproduzione molto fedele all'originale. Il mouse è stato zavorrato con una barretta metallica per renderlo più sostanzioso. La sensibilità è molto buona per un uso normale e senza troppe pretese. Questo prodotto, sicuramente, darà un tocco vintage e fuori dal comune ad una postazione PC moderna, infrangendo gli schemi della piatta monotonia ultra-tecnologica!

No lo he probado con el PC, solo con el C64, y va bastante bien, aunque tiene sus peros. Compré dos y uno de ellos se quedaba "pegado" a dos de las posiciones del stick, es decir, al moverlo no volvía por sí solo al centro, y esto hacía que fuera imposible jugar. Me pasó también con el que venía con el C64... por lo que se ve que el problema es frecuente. Aunque resolverlo es fácil, un artículo nuevo no debería tener ese tipo de problemas. Hay que abrirlo, sacar las placas, desatornillar el stick y sacar un muelle que es el que se encarga de mantener la posición central. Se ve que en algunos casos no tiene mucha fuerza, pero dándole un buen estirón hace que todo funcione bien. En foros, a mucha gente le ha pasado que se queda con el palo en la mano, y es porque el tornillo que lo sujeta no está de fábrica bien apretado. Igualmente es fácil de solucionar. Una vez "apañado" ya no debe fallar, y la verdad es que da gusto usarlo. Los micro switches hacen que se controle con más precisión durante el juego. Lo recomiendo bastante siempre que el precio no suba, y para usarlo con el C64 Mini o el de tamaño real. Para PC me gastaría un poco más y me compraría un Competition Pro.

J'ai commandé cette souris pour l'utiliser avec un émulateur Amiga (Winuae) et mon Mister FPGA. Je dois dire que le résultat est bluffant. C'est pour moi une des meilleures souris que j'ai utilisé pour du rétro. Très précise et belle reproduction de l'originale modèle tank. Un 10/10 pour ce produit. Rapport qualité prix impeccable. Je suis vraiment ravie de mon achat

Sur le joypad fournit avec l'A500 il y a écrit dessus THE A500 et sur celui-ci THE GAMEPAD. C'est les seules différences que j'ai constatés.