Classic Game Room - ATARI 2600 PRO-LINE TRAK-BALL review 

I had this. When I retired my 2600, I used it as a mouse on my 1040ST for a while. It saved me from having to pick up the mouse two or three times in order to get the cursor all the way across the screen.

Did you try cleaning it out? After plus 30 years the rollers would probably benefit from a cleanup.

I can't say it enough u guys in Classic Gameroom are the best, I consider myself pretty knowledgeable when it comes to classic gaming but you always pull out things that I never had a clue exsisted...like the Vextrek, etc. keep up the excellent work that you all do. It is appreciated!

Ya know man, I'm a fan of yours , largely because of how you talk. Dont take that in a strange way, just being honest, good job!

I like your latest reviews, true and classic. You definatly review some more of the old gaming hardware!

You appear to have the old version that is missing the mode switch - it runs in joymode only, which is definitely not as precise, especially at low speed, as true trackball mode. True trackball mode would also require the special TB-modified versions of the ROMs for the games, however.

I love your reviews. Its really funny when you review something like a cable.

Nice to see you adding some gameplay in your hardware reviews :o

You need "Missile Command TB" for the Atari 2600 (you can get it online at the AtariAge store). It was hacked (from the standard Missile Command cartridge) by Thomas Jentzsch to have true analog trackball support like the original arcade game; rather than simply reproducing the 8-way, single-speed control of a joystick; which is what happens when you use the trackball with the standard Missile Command cartridge (or any other cartridge that doesn't specifically have analog trackball support).

Awesome review Mark

Awesome review!!!!

Great video, thanks!! Yeah. The analog sensors are loaded with more dust... I recall a switch on some models where one setting makes game play jerky.

i got super lucky and found an actual atari2600 track ball made by atari. it works great and the ball is very responsive. found it in a swapmeet and to my surprise it was well taken care of.

i would think so also anyone notice that 2600+2600=5200 and that 2600+2600+2600 (or2600+5200)=7800 so would the jaguar be the atari 10400?

I remember a pizza shop I went to as a kid had a flat pac-man arcade table controlled by a track ball that is probably a serious collectors item now but I hated it. For a quarter you could control pac-man and walk away with pinch marks and blood blisters.

oh man, i remember finding one of these on clearance for under $10 at KB Toys... worked great with my Commodore.

Great vid. I have just picked up a NOS CX-80 trakball. Tried it with 2600 Centipede and was very disappointed. Thought my Trakball was broken through lack of use. Plugged in my 7800 and 7800 Centipede was great! That's more like it! 2600 Missile Command also very good! Guess 2600 Centipede just not that good with it. Thanks for the hints/tips. Keep the great vids coming!

Great video. I will have to see if I can get one of these cheaply here in the UK.

It isn't an amateur product nor flimsy by any means. You can set it in your lap with the overhang so it sits atop your legs. There's also a switch to toggle between Joystick Mode and pure Trak-Ball Mode. Dan Kramer did a great job designing this product as well as his more famously praised 5200 Trak-Ball controller. The problem was Atari didn't release updated versions of Missile Command, Centipede, or Millipede for the 2600 to take advantage of the Trak-Ball controller nor did GCC include native Trak-Ball support in the later 7800 Centipede version. Thankfully, AtariAge [.com] does make cartridges - and the ROMs are out there too - of 2600 "Missile Command - TB" that natively supports the Trak-Ball [as well as Atari ST and Amiga mice]. And Kenfused has a ROM of 7800 Centipede that also supports the Trak-Ball. The 5200 and Atari 8-bit computer versions of these titles did include native Trak-Ball support. You can use this Trak-Ball controller [the CX22] with Atari 8-bit computers as well although Atari also made the CX80 that cosmetically matched the XL line better.

Classic Game Consoles Are AWESOME!!!