JOYSWITCH MULTIPORT JOYSTICK DATA SWITCH by Lead Pursuit, Inc.

Reviewed by Gavin Adams

INTRODUCTION

You're playing Tie Fighter, using your trusty CH Flightstick, and decide to change the pace a little. A few sorties of Air Warrior sounds good. Wanting to use your Thrustmaster PFCS, WCS Mk. II, and rudder pedals, you have two options. Either unplug and plug in the different devices, or flip a switch. Difficult choice.

Lead Pursuit's Joyswitch alleviates the need to do all this swapping. Simply plug in all of your joysticks, flightsticks, rudder pedal, driving wheels, flight yokes, and accelerator/break pedals into the Joyswitch, and select the combination you want.

SPECIFICATIONS

The Joyswitch is just not a glorified A/B switch box. It supports 4 joystick inputs, 2 foot pedal inputs, and one of the joystick ports is even wired to supply power to your WCS Mk. II, even if you select a different joystick port.

The box is just a little smaller then the bases of most joysticks, and with rubber feet and a nice matte black exterior, is unobtrusive on the desktop. Both the front dials and the rear ports are well marked and easy to understand. It also comes with a 6' cable to plug into your game port, thereby allowing you to place the Joyswitch wherever it is most convenient.

All of the joystick ports pass through all of the functions of both joystick ports. The foot pedal selector passes through the X axis of joystick port 2, which is normally used for rudder control or accelerate/break functions. The foot pedal also has an "off" selection, which allows, with a Y-cable, the ability to plug in two joysticks for those games that support 2 controllers.

WHERE CAN I GET ONE

The Joystick is available from either the manufacturer, Lead Pursuit, or from Flight Sim Central. I would also expect the Joyswitch to be available from other mail order companies such as Chips-n-Bits or Zeros and Ones in the near future. For the MSRP of US$49.95, you get the Joyswitch and short installation pamphlet. The installation guide is well written and covers every possible use of the Joyswitch, including multiple joysticks, using the Joyswitch in conjunction with a WCS Mk. II, and the basics of how the Joyswitch operates.

SUMMARY

The Joyswitch is a must-have for those gamers who have collected different kinds of controllers for different games (such as myself) and want to reduce the wear and tear on their joysticks and game port connectors. It is also the easiest and fastest way to switch between different controllers and controller combinations. Lead Pursuit can be reached at 714/362-8698.


This review is Copyright (C) 1994 by Gavin Adams for Game Bytes Magazine. All rights reserved.