Atari joystick port
The Atari joystick port is a computer port used to connect various gaming controllers to game console and home computer systems in the 1970s to the 1990s. It was originally introduced on the Atari 2600 in 1977 and then used on the Atari 400 and 800 in 1979. It went cross-platform with the Commodore VIC-20 of 1981, and was then used on many following machines from both companies, as well as a growing list of 3rd party machines like the MSX platform and various Sega consoles.
| Atari joystick port | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Atari 2600 joystick port | ||
| Type | Human input device interface | |
| Production history | ||
| Designed | 1977 | |
| Specifications | ||
| Hot pluggable | yes | |
| External | yes | |
| Pins | 9 | |
| Connector | D-subminiature | |
| Pin out | ||
 Console-side joystick port seen from the front. | ||
| Pin 1 | Up | |
| Pin 2 | Down | |
| Pin 3 | Left | |
| Pin 4 | Right | |
| Pin 5 | Paddle B | |
| Pin 6 | Trigger | |
| Pin 7 | +5 volts power | |
| Pin 8 | Ground | |
| Pin 9 | Paddle A | |
Further reading
Atari Joystick Port Media
The ports first appeared on the back of the 2600. On the first CX2600 models they were only approximately 3 inches apart, but on this later CX2600A model they are widely separated.
The Atari 400 and 800 had four ports arranged along the front of the machine.
The standard Atari joystick was found on millions of systems.
Atari paddle controllers were fairly common, although never as widespread as their joysticks.
The keyboard controller was relatively rare on the 2600, but a more substantial version for numeric input was more common on the Atari 400 and 800.
The Light Gun from the Atari XEGS was essentially a light pen in an ornamental enclosure.
Bibliography
- Decuir, Joe (July 2015). "Atari Video Computer System: Bring Entertainment Stories Home". IEEE Consumer Electronics Magazine: 59–66.
- Introduction to the Amiga 2000. Commodore Business Machines. 1987.
- Atari Hardware Manual (PDF). Atari. 1982.
- Commodore 64 Programmers Reference Guide. Commodore Business Machines. 1982.
