Atari Paddle Programming

I own an Atari 1200XL computer. Can I use the paddle controllers from my Atari 2600 game machine in my own 1200XL programs?

Eric Sneed

Yes. All controllers used on the 2600 game system are compatible with the Atari computer line. As a matter of fact, the 2600 game controllers have become a de facto standard. Atari joysticks also work on the Commodore VIC-20 and 64, Coleco Adam, and on some other game machines. Atari paddles work on the VIC-20 and 64, but give a slightly different range than Commodore paddles. Atari BASIC has two functions, PADDLE and PTRIG, for supporting up to eight paddles on the 400 and 800, and four paddles on the XL series.