Editing Atari 5200 (section)

===Controllers===
[[File:Atari-5200-Controller.jpg|thumb|right|175px|The Atari 5200 controller included with the console]]
[[File:Atari-5200-Trak-Ball-Controller.jpg|thumb|right|175px|The Pro-Line Trak-Ball controller]]

The controller prototypes used in the electrical development lab employed a yoke-and-gimbal mechanism that came from an RC airplane controller kit. The design of the [[analog stick|analog joystick]], which used a weak rubber boot rather than springs to provide centering, proved to be ungainly and unreliable. They quickly became the [[Achilles' heel]] of the system due to the combination of an overly complex mechanical design and a very low-cost internal flex circuit system.<ref name="atarimuseum">{{cite web|url=http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/consoles/5200/A5200.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030808134516/http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/consoles/5200/A5200.html |url-status=live |archive-date=August 8, 2003 |title=The Atari 5200 Super System |publisher=atarimuseum.com |access-date=July 6, 2014 }}</ref> Another major flaw of the controllers was that the design did not translate into a linear acceleration from the center through the arc of the stick travel. The controllers did, however, include a pause button, a unique feature at the time.<ref name="NGen15">{{cite magazine|date=March 1996|title=The Next Generation 1996 Lexicon A to Z: 5200|url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-015/page/n33/mode/2up|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|issue=15|page=33}}</ref> Various third-party replacement joysticks were also released, including those made by Wico.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.atarihq.com/5200/sticks52.html|title=Atari 5200 Controller Alternatives|website=www.atarihq.com|access-date=2018-09-20}}</ref>

Atari Inc. released the Pro-Line [[trackball|Trak-Ball]] controller, which was used for games such as ''[[Centipede (video game)|Centipede]]'' and ''[[Missile Command]]''. A paddle controller<ref name="paddle">{{cite web|author=Curt Vendel |url=http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/consoles/5200/5200paddle.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040703205537/http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/consoles/5200/5200paddle.html |url-status=live |archive-date=July 3, 2004 |title=Atari 5200 Paddle Controller Prototypes |publisher=Atarimuseum.com |access-date=January 12, 2011 }}</ref> and an updated self-centering version of the original controller<ref name="selfcenter">{{cite web|author=Curt Vendel |url=http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/consoles/5200/5200joy.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040703210439/http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/consoles/5200/5200joy.html |url-status=live |archive-date=July 3, 2004 |title=Self Centering Joystick Prototypes |publisher=Atarimuseum.com |access-date=January 12, 2011 }}</ref> were also in development, but never made it to market.

Games were shipped with plastic card overlays that snapped in over the keypad. The cards indicated which game functions, such as changing the view or vehicle speed, were assigned to each key.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://atariage.com/system_items.php?SystemID=5200&ItemTypeID=OVERLAY|title=Atari 5200 overlays|date=31 January 2018|website=Atari Age|access-date=31 January 2018}}</ref>

The primary controller was ranked the 10th worst video game controller by [[IGN]] editor Craig Harris.<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 10 Tuesday: Worst Game Controllers |url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/690/690449p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060303093919/http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/690/690449p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 3, 2006 |website=IGN |access-date=December 13, 2019 |date=February 21, 2006}}</ref> An editor for ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' said that their non-centering joysticks "rendered many games nearly unplayable".<ref name="NGen15"/>