I'm very happy with this!

[Cosmic Puppet]

It's officially called the Pro Line:

It's a good looker, but the stick is mushy, and the shape means your thumbs go numb quite quickly when pressing the fire buttons.

I never tried this growing up. Guess now I know not to bother.

[Cosmic Puppet]

There's a stickiness to the movement on the original controller (Its circular motion seems more square like, which is noticeable at the top right):



My webcam is hopeless.

Since I was planning on getting a PCB I'm going to give this a test:

Controller Circuit Board.jpg (131.42 KiB) Viewed 4182 times

[Cosmic Puppet]

Upon opening:

20201127_122857.jpg (249.1 KiB) Viewed 4178 times

20201127_122806.jpg (181.37 KiB) Viewed 4178 times

I think I've found the reason:

20201127_123007.jpg (224.28 KiB) Viewed 4178 times

[Cosmic Puppet]

I've also noticed these points or a bit more prominent:

20201127_123949.jpg (159.09 KiB) Viewed 4178 times

20201127_123925.jpg (120.45 KiB) Viewed 4178 times

[Cosmic Puppet]

Same with this switched out, so I think it's the PCB.

[Cosmic Puppet]

Is it possibly the plastic cover coming away from the surface of the switches causing this?

[Cosmic Puppet]

New PCB ordered. So the replica controller is good with the main column replaced with an original spare, and I'm guessing the original controller is good with the PCB (and therefore switches) replaced.

I assumed getting an original controller would be the D's B's, but...direction control is terrible. Still, the look and smell is worth it if this drop in PCB does the trick. I swear it smells like fresh 80's product.

I did actually imagine having an original controller with new inners, and that does seem to be the way it's going.

[Cosmic Puppet]

Okay, so this came in January:

20210102_123701.jpg (155.15 KiB) Viewed 3443 times

Fitting was straightforward enough (though I used pliers as it was sore on the fingers):

20210102_134418.jpg (393.34 KiB) Viewed 3443 times

However I had problems with the right side not working and tried to see what was happening:

20210102_152913.jpg (318.55 KiB) Viewed 3443 times

20210102_152710.jpg (228.56 KiB) Viewed 3443 times

As you can see, with the switches being smaller it's near the edge of the switch.

The other 3 axis are excellent. Very responsive. More so than the original switches which is what I was hoping for.

I spoke to the maker and they seemed to think it was the plastic points on the casing being out and offered me a refund.
I didn't take it as the right side of this controller was problematic to begin with.

Also I tried the 2 types of white stick I have and both had the same result.

[exxos]

I designed one of those boards many years ago myself. Never got made though. Mostly it wasn't worth the cost over buying a new joystick

[Cosmic Puppet]

I designed one of those boards many years ago myself. Never got made though. Mostly it wasn't worth the cost over buying a new joystick

I may at some point try to get another new old stock CX-40 and try again.

My advice to anyone who wants a great working joystick is to get a replica and place an original stick inside. Although the replica just don't have that smell of original Atari.