On Mon, May 28, 2018 at 2:51 AM, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
VCFed needs a joystick that is compatible with the Compaq Portable III (parallel connector, but I don't know how many pins). This is for the Lego demo station so I can do some kid-friendly classes starting this summer (and also for my HOPE lecture).
Can somebody bring a known-good one to the next workshop?
We may have some in the warehouse but I'd like to have a known-good unit for testing. If one of ours works, we'll use that; if not, then perhaps yours could be a donation.
Evan, I am far from an early PC expert but every early IBM compatible joystick I have ever seen attached via a 15 pin "game port" provided by means an expansion card such as an AST SixPack, a sound card or other interface card. I don't recall ever ever seeing one that attached via parallel port. The thing is you need an analog to digital converter to read the joystick so a straight parallel port would not work since IBM style joysticks are analog not digital such as those from an Atari VCS. Regards, Jeff