The Alien 3 JoyStick is a joystick video game controller manufactured by Cheetah in 1992 as part of their CharacteriStick line of licensed joysticks. Released as merchandising for Alien 3, variations of the joystick were created for compatibility with home console and personal computer versions of the 1992 Alien 3 video game.
Each joystick features a plastic Xenomorph bust that acts as the pivoting handle of the joystick, as well as a trigger button placed above the Xenomorph's chest. One or more red buttons are included on the base of the joystick, and certain variations include a Turbo switch as well.
Variations[]
Nintendo Entertainment System[]
Produced alongside the Alien 3 NES game, the NES version of the joystick includes two red buttons for A and B, Start and Select buttons, as well as a Turbo switch.
SEGA Master System & SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive[]
Tied to the Master System and Genesis/Mega Drive releases of the Alien 3 video game, this joystick variation is largely identical to its NES counterpart, though it lacks a Select button.
Home computer[]
Coinciding with the Commodore 64 and Amiga releases of the game, the Alien 3 JoyStick for home computers featured only a single button on its base and no Turbo switch, though it had wider compatibility with the following devices:[1]
- Sinclair Spectrum +2/+3 computers
- Commodore computers and video game systems
- Atari computers and video game systems
- Amstrad computers
![Cheetah ChacteriStick Joystick ad[2]](/wiki/File:Cheetah_ChacteriStick_Joystick_Ad.png "Cheetah ChacteriStick Joystick Ad.png (848 KB)")
Reception[]
Contemporary reviewers are largely critical of the Alien 3 JoyStick, often describing it is as unwieldy and uncomfortable to hold.[1][3][4]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sharkie's Gaming Controllers (March 4, 2013). "Cheetah Alien 3 Joystick (Atari/Sinclair/Amstrad etc) CharacterStick Series".
- ↑ "Internet Archive: CPC Attack Magazine Issue 06".
- ↑ Stuart Ashen (February 3, 2013). "Old Joysticks Roundup | Ashens".
- ↑ Chris Jager (May 19, 2014). "Remembering The Alien 3 Joystick: The Best/Worst Game Controller In Existence".