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.
| Name | Description | Computers |
|---|---|---|
| 2068 Spectrum Joystick Port | 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 | Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| AGF Joystick Interface II | For one or two joysticks. Controls eight directions, including 45 degrees and fire. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Atari Compatible Joystick | Timex/Sinclair 2068 | |
| Deluxe Joystick | Timex/Sinclair 2068 | |
| Dual Joystick System | Sinclair ZX80, Timex/Sinclair 1000 | |
| Games Player Joystick Interface | Kempston compatible features “freeze” and slow motion control. Requires a twister board. | Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| Gamesmate | Spectrum (Kempston) compatible joystick interface. Plugs into cartridge port. | Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| Joystick | Timex/Sinclair 1000 | |
| Joystick | Designed for use with Atto-Soft’s ZX-Man but includes examples to write your own programs. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Joystick | Requires no wiring and functions like arrow keys and zero on computer. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Joystick | Atari-style joysticks and interface unit. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Joystick | Required the Thurnall I/O board to interface to the computer. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Joystick Adaptor | 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. | Timex/Sinclair 1000, Downloadable |
| Joystick and Controller | Analog joysticks plug into controller board which fits expansion slot of ZX81 or Spectrum. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Joystick Controller | Connects up to 4 Atari joysticks, full 8 direction movement. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Joystick for 8K ROM ZX80 | Plans and parts to add a joystick to ZX80 with 8K ROM. | Sinclair ZX80 |
| Joystick for ZX81 | Connect Atari joystick to ZX81. Access through Basic or machine code. Complete kit. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Joystick Instructions | Simple, illustrated instructions for connecting an Atari joystick. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Joystick Interface | Use two joysticks with ZX81 games. Includes instructions to program your own games and adapt existing games. Manufactured by Indescomp. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Joystick kit | Instructions and kit for connecting Atari joysticks. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Joysticks | Analog joysticks for use with Mikro-Gen’s A/D Converter Board. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Joysticks | Complete plans and a program for interfacing/testing Atari joysticks. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Kempston joystick port | Board/kit that plugs in to the Oliger expansion board. Fully decoded, can be used with the TS 1000. | Timex/Sinclair 1000, Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| Single Joystick System | Sinclair ZX80, Timex/Sinclair 1000 | |
| Souse | A mouse that acts like a joystick. | Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| Spectrum Joystick Interface | 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. | Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| TS 2090 Commandstick | 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 | Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| TS1000 Trackball | 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. | Timex/Sinclair 1000, Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| TS2068 Trackball | WICO trackball controller, designed for the TI 99/4A. Modified by Zebra to be Atari-compatible. | Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| Z-Stick | 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. | Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| Z-Stick Plus | Z-Stick plus Spectrum emulator ROM. | Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| ZX Joystick | Full details on adding a joystick including fire button. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |