| ★ HARDWARE ★ JOYSTICKS ★ EUROMAX ELITE/JOYBALL|Popular Computing Weekly) ★ |
| Euromax Elite/Joyball | Hardware Joysticks |
From traditional sticks ... to totally spaced outEuromax's latest entries in the joystick stakes cover the range from traditional to totally spaced-out. Both offer something for first-time buyers and experienced games players looking for that little bit extra performance; and since the sticks feature the standard D-connector they can be used with Commodore, Atari and Amstrad micros, plus Spectrums with a suitable interface. The more conventional stick is the Elite, which has an unusual body shell shape but is in fact quite straightforward and easy to use. The Elite is made in high impact ABS plastic with a steel shaft. Bound to arouse more controversy is the amazing Joyball. Though it acts exactly the same as a joystick, it looks more like the Chernobyl nuclear plant, with a large spherical controller, a flat dog-leg shaped base and five controls. However, as the Japenglish instructions explain, this is "New weapon beyond joystick! High technological forum based upon Game Engineering both the design and colour appeal . . . this forum can respond to your adventural spirit!" Whatever that means, it's right. The Joyball has four fire buttons, two of which are normal and two of which are autofire. The autofire rate can be switched from 7*5 to 15 shots per second using a slider switch between the ball and the fire buttons. The increased comfort of the large ball, as opposed to a slim handle, comes into its own; because you need only hold the ball loosely, your hand does not become tired so quickly. Operating the Joyball takes some getting used to, since it involves learning a whole new set of reactions. However, tried out on a whole range of fast moving arcade games, including Uridium and Sacred Armour of Antiriad, it proved increasingly effective with practice. Certainly one to to try out if you want to get one up on the neighbours.
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