Difference between revisions of "Competition Pro"

From Sega Retro

(Created page with "{{Company | logo= | width= | founded= | defunct= | tseries= | mergedwith= | mergedinto= | headquarters= }} {{sub-stub}}'''Competition Pro''' is a brand created in the UK durin...")
 
Line 11: Line 11:
 
{{sub-stub}}'''Competition Pro''' is a brand created in the UK during the early 1980s. Similar to [[QuickShot]], it is a brand which derives from a specific (and extremely popular) joystick, the "Competition Pro". The Competition Pro line lasted throughout the 1980s to the point where the name was considered more relevant than the companies involved, and so was used on a variety of other products during the late 80s and early 90s.
 
{{sub-stub}}'''Competition Pro''' is a brand created in the UK during the early 1980s. Similar to [[QuickShot]], it is a brand which derives from a specific (and extremely popular) joystick, the "Competition Pro". The Competition Pro line lasted throughout the 1980s to the point where the name was considered more relevant than the companies involved, and so was used on a variety of other products during the late 80s and early 90s.
  
Many companies have claimed to have either created or own the rights to distribute Competition Pro accessories, including Kempston Micro Electronics, Coin Controls, Happ Controls, Dynamics Marketing, Powerplay Group and SpeedLink. Some of these companies have worked closely with [[Honey Bee]] and [[ASCII]], leading to non-Competition Pro-branded versions of accessories. The details behind all of this are unclear at present.
+
Despite its widespread success, very little documentation exists about the creator of the Competition Pro, and its ownership history. Multiple companies marketed the product and distributors varied between regions. Four destinct models of the joystick were created during the 1980s, the original Competition Pro, the Competition Pro 5000, the [[Competition Pro Star]] and the Competition Pro Extra. Multiple colour schemes and third-party offshoots were created during this time, but aside from turbo features, most Competition Pro joysticks involve two buttons (later four) and a joystick.
 +
 
 +
During the early 1990s the Competition Pro line expanded past traditional joysticks and onto game pads and similar accessories. In most situations, these products were not produced in-house, but rather licensed from [[ASCII]] or [[Honey Bee]]. In this period, Happ Controls distributed products in the United States, while the Powerplay Group were the distributors in the United Kingdom. This conduct continued until the mid-to-late 90s, where for whatever reason, the brand went out of circulation.
 +
 
 +
Today, the Competition Pro line is owned by Speed Link, which produces cheaper USB versions of the classic joysticks. No other products use the Competition Pro name.
  
 
==Hardware Produced==
 
==Hardware Produced==
  
 
[[Category:Companies]]
 
[[Category:Companies]]

Revision as of 11:22, 19 December 2012


This teeny-tiny article needs some work. You can help us by expanding it.


Competition Pro is a brand created in the UK during the early 1980s. Similar to QuickShot, it is a brand which derives from a specific (and extremely popular) joystick, the "Competition Pro". The Competition Pro line lasted throughout the 1980s to the point where the name was considered more relevant than the companies involved, and so was used on a variety of other products during the late 80s and early 90s.

Despite its widespread success, very little documentation exists about the creator of the Competition Pro, and its ownership history. Multiple companies marketed the product and distributors varied between regions. Four destinct models of the joystick were created during the 1980s, the original Competition Pro, the Competition Pro 5000, the Competition Pro Star and the Competition Pro Extra. Multiple colour schemes and third-party offshoots were created during this time, but aside from turbo features, most Competition Pro joysticks involve two buttons (later four) and a joystick.

During the early 1990s the Competition Pro line expanded past traditional joysticks and onto game pads and similar accessories. In most situations, these products were not produced in-house, but rather licensed from ASCII or Honey Bee. In this period, Happ Controls distributed products in the United States, while the Powerplay Group were the distributors in the United Kingdom. This conduct continued until the mid-to-late 90s, where for whatever reason, the brand went out of circulation.

Today, the Competition Pro line is owned by Speed Link, which produces cheaper USB versions of the classic joysticks. No other products use the Competition Pro name.

Hardware Produced