Immortal Joysticks. Adding the 'Joy' in Joysticks

Blog Post by Gemma @ Juicy Game Reviews / TheGebs24

Immortal Joysticks are the new Sticks on the Block

A joystick is not just a joystick right?! RIGHT! Immortal Joysticks are taking your game to the next level. I could go one with these puns but I wont bore you. Today we hear from the founder and brains behind Immortal Joysticks, Andrew, who talks more about what makes Immortal Joysticks better than the rest.

1/ Andrew, what can you tell us a bit about your gaming history?
In terms of where it started, I go into that in the next question but my journey through computers that I played games on and consoles went something like this:

• Amiga 500 plus
• Sega Master System 1
• Nintendo Gameboy
• Sega Mega Drive 2
• 486 PC
• Sony PlayStation
• Sony PlayStation 2
• Nintendo GameCube
• Microsoft Xbox 360
• Nintendo DS Lite
• Nintendo Wii
• Sony PlayStation 4
• Nintendo Switch
• Valve SteamDeck

I had quite a few overlaps between those consoles where I had a couple at a time. I also got quite a few of them after they had been out for a while. I wasn’t really an early adopter of any of them.

Now though I’m trying to collect all the systems that I never had when I was a kid. Systems that I either played at friend's houses or saw on TV and in magazines. I feel like retro game collecting is a slippery slope and you very quickly end up wanting everything!

2/ You’re clearly a huge Amiga fan. What drew you to the Amiga?
I have huge nostalgia for the Amiga. My parents bought me an Amiga for Christmas in 1991 when I was a kid. It was an A500plus in the Cartoon Classics pack with Lemmings, The Simpsons, Captain Planet and Deluxe Paint.

We hadn’t had a computer or console in the house before that and my only experience of games had been on a friend’s Commodore 64 or at the arcade when we were on holiday. It was huge for me and was what started my gaming journey.

When I started getting back into original retro hardware a few years ago, it was the nostalgia for the Amiga that really caught my attention.

3/ What can you tell us about your products; Immortal Joysticks?
Immortal Joysticks are arcade-style joysticks for retro gaming systems. They are made with high-quality materials and components, and are designed to last.

Some of the key features of Immortal Joysticks include:

• Aluminium alloy enclosure
• Authentic Sanwa Denshi and Seimitsu arcade parts
• Braided cable
• Standard moulded DB9 connection
• Switchable auto-fire
• Switchable 'up to button 2' mapping (up still functions normally)
• Zero-latency

Out of the box they are compatible with the following systems:

• Amiga (all models)
• Atari (all models)
• ZX Spectrum (using Kempston interface)
• Commodore 64
• Vic-20
• C128
• Sega Master System

But with known third-party adapters, they can also be used on:

• USB for PC, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi and MiSter
• Amiga Mini
• MSX / Sharp X68000
• BBC Micro
• Amstrad

4/ What inspired you to make your own joysticks?
When I first started getting back into the Amiga, the joysticks I got with the machines I bought were old and battered and had pretty much had their day.  I went looking for something new, but I found that the joysticks that were available on the market didn't quite meet my high standards for quality and durability. I wanted something that would last a long time and not break down easily after extended use. But no matter how much I searched, I couldn't find anything that fit the bill.

I've always enjoyed tinkering with electronics and a bit of DIY, so the idea of building my own joystick struck me as something that would be fun and interesting. I loved the idea of being able to customise every aspect of the joystick, from the buttons to the casing, to create something that was truly unique and tailored to my preferences.

With a bit of research, some trial and error, and a lot of patience, I was able to create a joystick that exceeded my expectations in terms of both functionality and longevity.

5/ What will player’s experience when using an Immortal Joystick?
Players using an Immortal Joystick will experience arcade-style gaming in the comfort of their own home. The joystick is designed to provide an authentically retro gaming experience with a modern twist. The joystick's high-quality construction ensures that it is solid and built to last, giving players the confidence to use it for hours on end without any concerns about durability.

The joystick features zero latency, meaning that players will enjoy a responsive gaming experience without any delays or lag. This ensures that their movements and actions on-screen are accurately reflected in real-time. Additionally, the joystick features precision microswitches that provide an excellent tactile feedback, allowing gamers to execute precise movements with ease.

Overall, using an Immortal Joystick takes away the frustrations of an unresponsive, creaky plastic joystick and allows players to focus on the game.

6/ Tell us what we can expect to see with the brand; Immortal Joysticks?
Until now Immortal Joysticks have all been hand built by myself in my shed at home. but the demand for them has gone beyond what I am able to produce alongside my full-time job and family.  I am therefore pushing things onto the next step to have Immortal Joysticks professionally manufactured in larger quantities.

In order to do this I will shortly be launching a Kickstarter in order to raise the required funds to turn my current designs into something that can be batch produced and to enable me to achieve the minimum order volume.

The focus will continue to be on quality and I will personally review the output of the manufacture to ensure that I am happy with the end product.

Anyone who would like to be notified when the Kickstarter goes live can join my mailing list at immortaljoysticks.co.uk/signup

Looking further ahead for Immortal Joysticks, I would love to expand further into other systems and markets. I have had lots of requests to make joysticks for consoles from the NES to the Sega Saturn, USB and Bluetooth joysticks for modern gaming or emulators, larger fight sticks and even stick-less or HitBox style units. Who knows where it could go in the future.

7/ Where can people find you online? And where can they find more information about Immortal Joysticks?
In terms of me, people can find me on Twitch and most of the socials:
twitch.tv/amigaformortals
instagram.com/amigaformortals
facebook.com/amigaformortals
twitter.com/amigaformortals

And for Immortal Joysticks the best place to find out more is on the website. There is loads of information on there along with links to reviews etc.
immortaljoysticks.co.uk
instagram.com/immortaljoysticks
twitter.com/immortaljoystix

Blog Post by Gemma @ Juicy Game Reviews / TheGebs24

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