Atari Retro USB Hub - the hubstick

You gutted an Atari joystick and put an off-the-shelf USB hub in it. Color me unimpressed. Any monkey with a Dremel could do this. Why not do something more challenging and interesting like turning the Atari joystick into a USB device?

What a tool that last poster is!

BFD. What exactly is this to be impressed about?

What, because I’m not as easily impressed as Cory Doctorow? Really, there is nothing impressive or cool about this “hack” at all. You could achieve this exact same thing by buying a USB hub and putting it on your desk, you just wouldn’t earn the same amount of wannabe-retro hipster cred. If I were more nostalgic about the Atari I might say this were criminal, but I’m not, so it’s just dumb.

I will grant that the USB flash drive in an Atari cart is cool, but I stand by my original statement that this “hack” would be much cooler if he turned the Atari joystick into a USB joystick.

I don’t get it either. There’s a box. Contents are removed. New contents are put in. Original purpose of box is invalidated, not augmented.

Sometimes minimalism is far more rewarding than complexity.

I think it’s a wonderful, whimiscal idea. Considering I have about 5 busted joysticks and three Space Invaders carts, I think I just might have to do both.

For me, the Atari joystick USB hub is ‘cool’ not because of its functionality, but its aesthetics and the pleasure of being able to reuse an otherwise (largely) useless piece of hardware that has fond memories for many.

The poster who was unimpressed and suggested turning it into a USB joystick was missing the point.

Please, please tell me you didn’t destroy a functional, original Atari stick for this…

“The poster who was unimpressed and suggested turning it into a USB joystick was missing the point.”

Perhaps I simply value function over form.

It appears someone has been chewing on the end of the stick.

“Perhaps I simply value function over form.”

No, you entirely missed the aesthetic point of the project. And if you appreciate “function over form,” why would a modded USB Atari joystick–with its one button and inferior weighting–be any less offensive to you?

what: Maybe he owns an Atari 2600

I don’t think Brendan ever said it was a hack, or that it was impressive. He just shared a creative project he did with the web.

So STFU and go read BoingBoing.

Now I do like healthy debate!

This is purely an aesthetic thing. First off this joystick was broken. Secondly it was just sat there on a shelf doing nothing. And thirdly I like the look of it and maybe I’m a bit of a retro romantic or something. And fourthly who cares why? It’s dumb, it’s stupid, but so what? Does everything in life have to have a functional purpose. Christ I hope not. I just made something. I never said it was a clever “hack” - hey I never even said it was clever.

And finally for everybody who dosen’t get it maybe you’re all in need of a good shag. Stop taking stuff so seriously all the god damn time.

i like projects like this- things that people make are more special to them. we throw so many broken things away, why not make them in to new and pleasing things. simple and fun projects are great for kids and new tinkerers to start modding things…if you’re looking for something more hardcore, do check out the 2nd issue of make- we put a pc inside an atari 2600, lots of soldering and hackery…

Wow, BoingBoing readers sure are a cynical lot of uninteresting whiners.

Color me impressed. I love it. Keep it up.

Very sexy Bren!

*wonders if it’s possible to build a mac mini into an old woody case*

You could turn your whole desk into and 80’s home entertainment system.

I love the mod AND I’m in need of a good shag. Can I borrow the joystick?

Christ on a bike, those Boing Boing people need to get a grip. And I don’t mean of an Atari joystick. Do any of them know what “fun” is? Doesn’t look like it. Not exactly very ballsy, either, using made-up details so they could post their petty displeasure. Tsk.

Nevermind needing a shag, they need to get te’fook. Fannies.

Those who think that BoingBoing reader has a point there should perhaps see the page about building a USB adapter for Atari-type joysticks…

that’s it. I’m buying a Dremel and raiding my attic!