QuickShot

QuickShot was a brand of accessories owned by Spectravideo (SVI), a computing company which manufactured several largely unsuccessful computers during the 1980s. Bondwell took over SVI at some point, and when SVI closed its doors in 1988, QuickShot became a Bondwell brand.

Originally QuickShot referred to one specific SVI-created joystick from 1984, one often cited as the world's first ergonomic controller of its type. Its success led to other QuickShot models, starting with the QuickShot II. Designs ranged from the traditional joystick setup to trackballs and gamepads and were designed to be compatible with the majority of home computers available at the time (both in North America and Europe). Towards the end of the 1980s QuickShot were producing "Sega-compatible" controllers, built primarily for the Sega Master System and later Sega Mega Drive.

The exact number of Sega-compatible joysticks is currently unknown, as when the series started, Sega consoles were not available in majority of the western world. The first to advertise the Master System were the QuickShot XV and QuickShot XVI, though it is likely earlier entries have some primitive compatibility with the console. QuickShot abandoned its numbering system in the late 80s.

In the early 1990s a new batch of QuickShot accessories were released, again compatible with Sega consoles. An odd naming scheme was adopted at this time - for example, the Python 1 has some compatibility with home computers, the Python 1M is compatible with more, the Python 2 is for the NES, the Python 2B for the Super NES, the Python 3 for the Sega Mega Drive, Python 4 for the TurboGrafx-16 and Python 5 for the IBM PC.

Some of the Master System-compatible joysticks were adopted as official accessories in Brazil by Sega's distributor Tec Toy. The QuickShot brand has not been seen since 1999.

Hardware produced

As many computers and consoles used DE-9 ports for input, many, if not all of QuickShot's controllers can be used with a number of home computers from the era. Furthermore almost identical sets of controllers were produced for rival systems such as the NES. In the interests of simplicity Sega Retro classes all two button controllers as Sega Master System accessories, and all three button controllers as Sega Mega Drive ones.

Master System

• Aviator 1
• Flight Grip
• Intruder 1
• Maverick 1
• Python 1M
• QuickShot XV
• QuickShot XVI
• Starfighter 3W
• Wireless Controller
• WizMaster

Mega Drive

• Aviator 3
• Chimera 3
• Conqueror 3
• Conqueror 3+3
• Eagle 1
• Intruder 3
• Invader 3
• Maverick 3
• Maverick 3+3
• Python 3
• Starfighter 3
• Starfighter 3B
• Starfighter 3 Plus 3

Saturn

• AstroPad
• StrikePad