Retro Scan of the Week: Wico Computer Command Joystick
April 16th, 2007 by Benj Edwards
Back in the day, Wico was “king” of all joysticks. At least, they wanted to be. They had quite a variety of different models, this “Computer Command” stick being only one of them. I’ve never used this particular analog computer model, but I’ve definitely laid my hands on more than a few gangly Wico “Command Control” joysticks in my time. My brother loved using his Command Control joystick for Asteroids on the Atari 800, but I never could get used to it. He probably just thought it looked cool.
Did/does anybody have one of these and wish to share their thoughts on it?
[ From Personal Computing magazine, December, 1983. ]
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April 16th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Used to have a Wico Boss, grey base and black handgrip, with a thick metal shaft and a single white button on top…. uncomfortable, and I managed to break the shaft eventually. Would have liked one of those Wico 3-in-1 sticks with the interchangeable handles…
April 16th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
I had an Atari 2600 Wico joystick once, when I was young. I don’t remember the model of it, but I do know that it broke after about a month of use. The switch changing it from 4-way to 8-way broke, and it was stuck on a semi 4-way/8-way thing which was very annoying, especially on certain games.
April 16th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Don’t ask me how I know this, but that joystick brings to vision the anatomy of an excited male dog…
April 16th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
Yikes.
April 17th, 2007 at 6:32 am
You need to get out more
April 17th, 2007 at 10:24 am
You need to get in more
April 17th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
I wasn’t a fan of their sticks. I thank God every day that I am in the trenches with my Suncom “Slik Stik”, word…
April 18th, 2007 at 10:00 am
Get “N” or get out.
April 20th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
I came up on a Wico 3 in 1 Joystick with the bat style stick (others weren’t included / bought it at a thrift store). I am very happy with this joystick and prefer it to the original 2600 joysticks. They’re nice sticks, and are very sturdy if you don’t abuse them.
April 27th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Yeah Wico controllers are the shit i like mine ive got atleast 5 wico command controllers, these things were built like tanks. you could knock someone out with one of these bab boys
May 28th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
I had one with the bat-style stick and the white buttom on top and a red button on the black and red base. Like the others have said, the thing was nearly indestructable, and probably the closest thing you could get to the arcade controls.
March 23rd, 2010 at 2:58 pm
I used one of the red ball joysticks with a c64 for about 10 years of solid gameplay. including a lot of those stick-snapping epxys olympics games. (summer games etc) I still have it and it still works.
Never wore out and once you find your grip on the ball it’s awesome, never liked the bat as much.
wish they made that stick now. they don’t do they?
April 21st, 2010 at 5:55 pm
I have a Wico Command Control for Colecovision. I can’t find any info on the net about it. Anyone have any idea of the value/rarity of this controller?
October 26th, 2022 at 3:27 am
I’m a quadriplegic and had a Wico. It’s simple design allowed me to operate an Atari with my mouth. With the multiple buttons and rollers now used my video games have long gone.