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Hardware News   Hardware News : Speed-Link and Individual Computers revive a true classic!
   posted by CD32freak on 30-Sep-2006 13:27:31 (3191 reads)
Weertzen, September 2006 - Video game pioneers know it - the COMPETITION PRO for Commodore 64 (C64) and Amiga systems won the hearts of the gaming community in the eighties and soon became the most successful joystick of all times. It's extreme durability and the characteristic clicking of the microswitches ensured its brand recognition.
It's back now! In cooperation with Individual Computers, SPEED-LINK now re-creates the joystick in its classic form: The Competition Pro with a plug for Commodore, Amiga, Atari, Amstrad/Schneider CPC and MSX Systems.


When the Competition Pro was re-released for normal PCs in 2004, the main target was to be true to the original. The design was 100% adopted and characteristics like microswitches, metal stick and the choice of colours are identical. All these details paid off: The SPEED-LINK Competition Pro USB was a huge success.

"As a result of the attention that the re-release of the SPEED-LINK Competition Pro USB has attracted, we received many requests for the original version with a plug for the systems of the eighties. We learned that there are many people who still own the old systems like the Commodore 64." says Michael Eisenblätter, CEO of Jöllenbeck GmbH. "This led to the idea of reviving the old Competition Pro. The final impulse for putting the project into practice was given by the cooperation with Individual Computers. They have a lot of experience in the field of retro-computing and were of great help in realizing this project."

Jens Schönfeld of Individual Computers comments: "My personal reason for pushing this project forward is that there's hardly any supply of used Competition Pro joysticks for the C64. Even the best joysticks have to be replaced after 20 years of hard use. Owners of a working Competition Pro would not part with it. More and more people are digging out their C64s and start the old games that - despite block-graphics - have at least the same fun-factor as today's photo-realistic PC games. As a direct result, prices on eBay reach outrageous numbers. This is a very good base for a successful re-launch of a high-quality product."

More details:

A real classic, an icon of Retro-Gaming
for connection to retro-systems like Amiga, C64, Amstrad/Schneider CPC, Atari, MSX
six microswitches, two axles, four firebuttons
upper firebuttons can be switched off
cable length of two metres (6 ft.)
Powered by Individual Computers, the experts for retro-hardware
The SPEED-LINK Competition Pro powered by Individual Computers will be available starting mid-october. The recommended retail price is 12,99 EUR (prices may differ locally due to VAT differencies). Individual Computers is the exclusive distributor for this product.

For more information:
Jöllenbeck GmbH
Kathrin Bachmann
Kreuzberg 2 - 27404 Weertzen
Tel: +49 (0)4287 1251 13
www.speed-link.com

Individual Computers
Jens Schönfeld
Roermonder Str. 228 - 52072 Aachen
Tel +49 (0)241 12077
www.ami.ga


About Jöllenbeck
Jöllenbeck GmbH is one of Europe's leading manufacturers of office and entertainment peripherals. Since its formation, Jöllenbeck has positioned itself very successfully in the PC, video gaming console and handheld accessories market. The product portfolio of its own brand SPEED-LINK includes sound systems, headsets, mice, mouse mats, keyboards, gamepads joysticks and various other accessories. SPEED-LINK products impress with their novel technology combined with design excellence and outstanding functionality. Jöllenbeck can be found with SPEED-LINK in more than 30 countries throughout Europe.

About Individual Computers
Individual Computers was founded 1994 by Jens Schönfeld. The entrepreneur has two employees and specializes in computer systems of the eighties and early nineties. The Catweasel series of controllers improve the performance of emulators and is also used in professional forensic labs on a regular basis. Hardware products made in Germany for Commodore 64 and Amiga are available through a worldwide reseller network.
    

STORYID: 3344
Related Links
· More about Hardware News
· News by CD32freak


Most read story about Hardware News
Commodore USA's Final Challenge to the Community

Last news about Hardware News
New full-sized C64 in production.
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PosterThread
hotrod 
Re: Speed-Link and Individual Computers revive a true classi
Posted on 30-Sep-2006 19:52:23
#1 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 11-Mar-2003
Posts: 3005
From: Stockholm, Sweden

Good news... The USB version are very nice but it never was my kind of joystick. I'd *love* to see an USB version of the Tac-2. That is my number one favourite. I really hope that they can expand and make a version of that joystick. It was very popular I recall.

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BenMatthew 
Re: Speed-Link and Individual Computers revive a true classi
Posted on 30-Sep-2006 21:24:57
#2 ]
Member
Joined: 9-Feb-2005
Posts: 73
From: Unknown

Quote:
prices on eBay reach outrageous numbers


hmm. from what I can see 99p plus p&p seems to be the average. got quite excited for a moment; thought I might flog mine for a quick profit!

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Tomas 
Re: Speed-Link and Individual Computers revive a true classi
Posted on 30-Sep-2006 22:09:56
#3 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 25-Jul-2003
Posts: 4286
From: Unknown

I definitely will consider buying one of those. Though my personal favorite of these type of sticks is the zipstick. The buttons on the zipstick seems much more durable as the buttons on competition pro seems both laggy and have a tendency to get stuck after a few years.

I still have 2 zipsticks that i bought at the same time as my amiga and they are still fine today.

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Englyst 
Re: Speed-Link and Individual Computers revive a true classi
Posted on 30-Sep-2006 23:09:21
#4 ]
Regular Member
Joined: 30-Nov-2004
Posts: 147
From: Norring, Denmark

Niiice! I'm buying some! My C128 and my Amiga's yearn for some new joysticks


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BinoX 
Re: Speed-Link and Individual Computers revive a true classi
Posted on 1-Oct-2006 1:33:52
#5 ]
Cult Member
Joined: 2-Nov-2005
Posts: 711
From: Cornwall, UK

It's be nice if they remade the Quickshot 2 Turbo joystick too.. Especially as USB!


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Escolas 
Re: Speed-Link and Individual Computers revive a true classi
Posted on 1-Oct-2006 2:11:14
#6 ]
Member
Joined: 2-Nov-2005
Posts: 26
From: Unknown

Nice for people who loved that one, now give me a USB Zipstick SuperPro and I'll buy 10 of them :)

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Foody 
Re: Speed-Link and Individual Computers revive a true classi
Posted on 1-Oct-2006 3:37:04
#7 ]
Super Member
Joined: 3-Sep-2003
Posts: 1467
From: Canada

I want to buy this from Amigakit, because my Amiga's joysticks are breaking as they are used and old and not working well anymore. I am going to wait for the release of these joysticks into the Amigakit.com store so I can order it. I am also going to order the gamepad too.

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Arnie 
Re: Speed-Link and Individual Computers revive a true classi
Posted on 1-Oct-2006 9:33:39
#8 ]
Cult Member
Joined: 19-Jun-2004
Posts: 824
From: Swindon, UK, Earth somewhere in the galaxy

Good to see this little joystick back, I still have an original in a clear case and it still works though the fire buttons do stick down some times even though it is nice and clean.
Do the extra buttons provide further funtions on machines that support more than one fire button?

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GrumpyOldMan 
Re: Speed-Link and Individual Computers revive a true classi
Posted on 1-Oct-2006 20:13:31
#9 ]
Cult Member
Joined: 3-Nov-2003
Posts: 675
From: Haukipudas, Finland

This is great news, but I - like hotrod - would like to see USB version of TAC-2 (the original US version with the metal shaft, not the Chinese one with el-cheapo plastic one, please).


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StevenCroucher 
Re: Speed-Link and Individual Computers revive a true classi
Posted on 3-Oct-2006 14:50:54
#10 ]
Member
Joined: 12-Mar-2003
Posts: 23
From: London

The Quickshot 2 was an awful leaf-switch joystick. The best joystick around was the Powerplay Cruiser, especially the multicoloured version which had a flatter top to it.

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_Steve_ 
Re: Speed-Link and Individual Computers revive a true classi
Posted on 3-Oct-2006 19:38:40
#11 ]
Team Member
Joined: 17-Oct-2002
Posts: 6814
From: UK

Quote:
Poster: BinoX Date: 1-Oct-2006 2:33:52

It's be nice if they remade the Quickshot 2 Turbo joystick too.. Especially as USB!


You jest surely. That joystick was terrible. The leaf switches break far too easily, and it was useless to hold on your hand, and didn't stick to the desk very well. I do have one here that is still functional, but it'll never match my Competition Pros for use and wear. I believe we still have two or 3 CPs here that were used extensively with both the C64 and Amiga, and indeed still are used on the odd occasion I play a Miggy game or fire up my C64 or 128.


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stianstr 
Re: Speed-Link and Individual Computers revive a true classi
Posted on 5-Oct-2006 17:11:04
#12 ]
Member
Joined: 25-May-2006
Posts: 55
From: Narvik, Norway

A review of these new joysticks are available at:

http://amigaweb.net/index.php?function=view_news&id=143


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