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Upgrading Competition Pro joysticks

December 7, 2018 nh

The 8-bit and 16-bit home computer era had two legendary arcade-style game controllers – the Suncom TAC-2 and the Kempston Competition Pro. While I’m somewhat partial to the former due to it’s ultra-low-tech construction, I enjoy using both in equal measure. My Competition Pro joysticks are not the original Kempston models, but modern reproductions sold by Speedlink. While the form of the joystick itself is rather true to the original, the internal wiring and microswitches are somewhat prone to breaking….

Using wireless Bluetooth gamepads and mice on an Amiga or C64

August 14, 2017 nh Comments 0 Comment

While I am very fond of the good old joysticks like the TAC-2 and Competition Pro, they do have one drawback – a cable. Sometimes I’d just want to sit down on my couch and play some Amiga games on actual oldskool hardware without having to untangle some extra-long cables and replug everything just to get the computer to sit on my coffee table. Trip up on those cables on your way to the fridge and the Amiga goes flying…

The legendary Suncom TAC-2

July 29, 2017 nh Comments 0 Comment

Among those who grew up playing with Commodore C64s, Sinclair ZX Spectrums, Amigas and Atari STs – computers that all shared the ubiqutous DB9 joystick port – a common sentiment is that two models of joysticks were above all others. One is the Speedlink Competition Pro, which is still available to buy as a brand new reproduction. For those who didn’t like the noise or feel of microswitches used on the Competition Pro, the joystick of choice was usually the…