JOY81 - Programmable Joystick Interface for ZX81

[kmurta]

Hi there,

I developed a Programmable Joystick Controller (the JOY81) and I'm thinking of producing a small amount of it and would like to know if anyone here would be interested in purchasing a unit.

The controller is compatible with one or two buttons Atari joysticks and programming it is as simple as set the BASIC commands

LET J$="QAOPXL"
RAND USR 16514

or even better, if you have a ZXpand interface. In this case, the programming is done automatically by ZXpand Commander from configuration file JOYCFG.TXT stored in the root directory. Set an entry for your game in the JOYCFG.TXT once and whenever you load it by Commander, the joystick will be magically configured. Play any game with the joystick, do not have to worry about changing the game code for it anymore.

The controller was developed in format of slot card for use with the ZeXtender, an extender board similar to the Maplin Extender. See the prototypes:

ZeXtender prototype

DSCN0307.JPG (70.48 KiB) Viewed 10105 times

The JOY81 prototype

DSCN0314.JPG (84.88 KiB) Viewed 10105 times

ZX81 with ZeXtender + JOY81 + Turbo Sound 81 + ZXpand

DSCN0316.JPG (86.25 KiB) Viewed 10105 times

Estimated price to produce an amount of 30 units of ZeXtender + JOY81 is 30 GPB and shipping from Brazil to EU is about 12 GPB.

So what do you think? Do you have interest in these things?

Thanks,
Kelly Murta

[sirmorris]

I would certainly buy one!

[PokeMon]

Yes I am interested too.
But I need only the small red board (controller) and can combine it with my smaller extender board ZX81XT.

[siggi]

I would be interested too. But only the red JOY-board, no extender.

Siggi
PS: is it based on Wilf's design?

Edit: please 2 for me (one to play, one as backup)

[sirmorris]

Same for me - only the joy board.

[kmurta]

Yes I am interested too.
But I need only the small red board (controller) and can combine it with my smaller extender board ZX81XT.

Oh yes, this can be done. In this case the board will cost 16 GPB.

PS: is it based on Wilf's design?

No, it is based in an article of Hobby Electronic magazine.

[PokeMon]

Oh yes, this can be done. In this case the board will cost 16 GPB.

Okay you can consider this as an order for my board.
Maybe more people from the german forum are interested and we can organize a collection order with one address to save postage.

[Rink]

Might be interested - only in the Joystick board though, I already have one of Poke's extenders that I've not used yet.

[PokeMon]

Might be interested - only in the Joystick board though, I already have one of Poke's extenders that I've not used yet.

I hope you did not solder a connector in the middle, for this board you need a ZX bus connector (edge card connector).

[Rink]

I hope you did not solder a connector in the middle, for this board you need a ZX bus connector (edge card connector).

I've not actually got it out of the wrapping yet mate

Bought one in case I needed it in the future - didn't really have an immediate reason for the purchase.