The Authoritative Website for Timex/Sinclair Computers
The Authoritative Website for Timex/Sinclair Computers
Joysticks
Video games were, for many (especially those under 18), the raison d’être for computers. Sure, they let their parents buy the computer for “educational” use but they put it to more prosaic use, replacing the aging Atari 2600.
The first Sinclair computers were not particularly well suited to be gaming computers. They lacked joystick ports, had low resolution graphics and, in the case of the ZX80, video display challenges that made gaming nearly impossible.
The Sinclair keyboard could (and was) used to control a player’s ship or character in games, with the obvious shortcomings. As a result, adding a joystick which emulated certain keystrokes, was a popular option.
Timex included two joystick ports on the TS 2068, on each end of the computer. Unfortunately, the Timex joystick ports were not compatible with the most popular ZX Spectrum standard, the Kempston joystick. A few solutions to that shortcoming were available for the dedicated Timex gamer.
This small joystick board Is designed to plug into your 2068 expansion board to emulate the Kempston Joystick interface. This interface is for use with a Spectrum emulator, ROM, or Romswitch and Spectrum software. It is supported by any Spectrum software that Is “Kempston compatible” looking to the software exactly like the real Kempston Joystick
Connect Atari compatible joystick to the ZX81/TS 1000. Plugs into back of computer; expansion connector for other peripherals. Instructions for patching popular games. Uses port 1Dh.
Fully decoded interface for use with Spectrum programs requiring a Kempston joystick interface. Designed to work with 9-pin Atari type joysticks. Intended for use with TS2068 operating in Spectrum mode using either a ROM switch or emulator.
The TS 2090 Commandstick had its origins in the Fairchild Channel F Jet-Stick Controller. The Fairchild Channel F was a second-generation video game console with a unique, hand-held controller that featured a triangular knob on top. Zircon bought the rights to the Channel F when Fairchild left the video game business and made minor changes
WICO trackball originally designed for use with the Apple II, which had analog joysticks. Came with WICO trackball and Apple interface card, Zebra-designed Apple-to-Timex bus interface and instructions for reading trackball X and Y values. Combination worked with TS1000/1500 and TS 2068.
Z-Stick is a joystick interface for use with Spectrum game software on the TS2068. Z-Stick is Kempston-compatible. It also includes two jacks for sound and beep; a power LED, and a reset switch.
