AGF Joystick & Interface

ZX Computing

ADDING ON YOUR SPECTRUM Our review team take a brief look at some of the hardware add-ons fir the ZX Spectrum. Now that the ZX Spectrum has well and truly established itself on the micro market, it is amply supported by a wealth of hardware add-ons. Most of these peripheral devices have been manufactured by the people who supported the ZX81, but just as the Spectrum has attracted new users with its prowess, so too has it attracted a new following from the add-on manufacturers. In this brief guide, we have not tried to cover all the devices currently available on the market but rather give you a flavour of the technology you can add on to your Spectrum. As joysticks are an obvious favourite, these have been covered in some detail whereas RAM packs are fairly standard and so have only been briefly touched on. Also included in this section area number of quite specialised add-ons like sound units and a digital tracer. If you own a Spectrum, you will no doubt have begun to realise the potential you hold in your hands. Over the next few pages you will hopefully see further applications for you and your computer to explore. JOYSTICK INTERFACE MODULE - AGF HARDWARE The AGF joystick interface, a version of which is also available for the ZX81, has been designed to connect to the back of the Spectrum via the rear edge connector. There is also an extension edge connector allowing further devices to be added. The interface is built solidly but is not completely closed off. The connection to the read edge connector is good, and can be easily removed without too much worry of it falling apart in your hands. The special feature of the AGF interface is that it includes an enable switch which makes the keys of the Spectrum inoperative excepting the 2, W, S, Z, 9, 0, L and Symbol Shift keys. There is room for two joysticks, and the positions for the joysticks are both clearly marked. Moving onto the joysticks themselves, they are very reminiscent of those employed by the Atari computer. As can be seen in the photograph, they are very solid with an easy-to-grip stick made of hard rubber-like substance. The joysticks at first seemed a little stiff, but with use could be manipulated with precision. The red firing button was easy to use when moving the stick and always fired when you wanted it to. The joystick interface and joysticks come complete with instructions and a short piece on using the joysticks in your own programs. The hardware is also covered by a three month guarantee for the joystick and 1 2 months cover for the interface. The first commercial program written for two players using the AGF joystick arrangement is soon to be available from Silversoft. AGF are also selecting other programs for use with their joysticks. The cost of one joystick and interface module is £23.50 and comes complete with a free demonstration program, Video Graffiti. Extra joysticks are priced at £7.45 each. For further details of these devices contact AGF Hardware, [redacted].

The joystick interface module from AGF Hardware, complete with Atari-style joysticks.

Sinclair User

JOYSTICK FOR ALL MACHINES AGF Hardware has produced a joystick interface which fits on the expansion port of a ZX-81 or Spectrum and imitates the keyboard. Both versions simulate the cursor keys and the 0 key on joystick 1 and keys T-Y-U-I-P on joystick two. There is no soldering to do as the board is plugged into the expansion port and any other devices plug in after it. The joystick is very easy to use and it speeds games enormously. The other advantage is that while it is enabled - via a switch - the rest of the keyboard is inoperable, thus preventing errors. Several programs already work with the joysticks though some require the disabling of the joystick while speeds are chosen. The only disadvantage is the cheap edge connector and the fact that you cannot select which keys are simulated - that would allow an arcade game to be played. Joystick interface costs £15.96. Joystick £7.54 inc. VAT. from AGF Hardware, [redacted]. Interfaces are accompanied by a free cassette of demonstration programs and instructions how to alter your own.