ScuzzBlog: Diaries February 2022
Entry 16th February 2022: Post 1: Konix Speedking 1987 - Joystick.
Konix Speedking 1987 - Joystick.
I reckon that the Konix Speedking is one of the rare ergonomically
designed joysticks ever created. The joystick is moulded to fit
palm of your hand and allows you to grip easily. The fire button
is just where you need it on the side of the unit and the joystick
works more like a lever that mechanically rocks through the 360"
degree rotation. The joystick is a pig to lay down as it just falls
over for the most part. This was not designed to stand and be
appreciated. It was designed to function as a joystick.
I am not a fan of the joystick and truly hate the beasts with those
suckers on the base. There is no place on the desktop for a stick,
and so having an ergonomically satisfying handful of joystick does
really work. The Speedking is light, robust and takes the pounding
from all those SWOS kicking fests. The true test is that I have
four and they all still work. Which is more than I can say for the
Quickshots.
This is the only joystick I will tolerate. All my other gaming needs
are fed by gamepad or controller. Once I discovered the gamepad I
was done with joysticks. And yet the Speedking still can be found
on three of my machines. Yesterday as I played on the 500 I was
reminded of just what a treasure this little beauty is. No end of
times she has been dropped to the floor, kicked around the place
and generally abused while playing games. Yet she survives. The
clump of plastic somehow defies destruction, though the plastic top
lining has long since perished on the one in the Workshop. Makes
no difference to the usage, who needs the go faster strips in the
dark anyway. Cus the joystick is so well designed it just sticks
to your hand and so you do everything on instinct.
Mine is dated 1987 but I do know there were earlier models. If you
read forum posts on all the major platforms you will read claims
that the Speedking was theirs and theirs alone. Not the case she
is a gift from the gaming gods for all to enjoy.
Konix Speedking 1987 - Joystick.
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