LEFTY™ Joystick Adaptor

The LEFTY™ Joystick Adaptor was produced by Suncom, Inc. of Northbrook, Illinois, as an accessory designed to make conventional Atari-style joysticks easier to use by left-handed players.

The adapter connects between an Atari-compatible joystick and the game system's controller port. The joystick is then physically rotated 180 degrees, placing the fire button in a more convenient position for a left-handed player. Because simply turning a joystick around would reverse its directional controls, LEFTY internally remaps the joystick signals so that up, down, left and right continue to operate normally.

The package also included a removable “LEFTY TOP” label that could be attached to the joystick to indicate its proper orientation.

Use with ColecoVision

Although ColecoVision is not specifically listed on the original LEFTY packaging, the adapter has two important applications within the ColecoVision system.

Standard Atari-style joysticks use a compatible 9-pin connection and can provide the ColecoVision with the basic directional controls and single fire-button function. When a game does not require the ColecoVision's full keypad or additional action buttons, an Atari-style joystick fitted with the LEFTY adapter can therefore serve as an alternative controller.

For games requiring keypad selections or additional controller functions, an original ColecoVision controller can remain available for those functions, including through compatible Y-adapter arrangements.

LEFTY is also directly useful with ColecoVision Expansion Module #1, Coleco's Atari 2600-compatible expansion module. Expansion Module #1 accepts Atari 2600 controllers, allowing the LEFTY adapter to be placed between an Atari joystick and the module's controller port while playing Atari 2600 software through the ColecoVision.

This makes LEFTY a relevant third-party accessory for a ColecoVision collection even though Suncom marketed it primarily for Atari-compatible systems.

Manufacturer: Suncom, Inc.

Product: LEFTY™ Joystick Adaptor
Date: Early 1980s
Connection: Atari-compatible 9-pin joystick interface
Function: Converts a conventional joystick for left-handed orientation
Original retail price: $6.95

UPC: 021626000113

Manufacturer location: Northbrook, Illinois
ColecoVision compatibility: Compatible with appropriate Atari-style joystick functions and with Atari controllers used through ColecoVision Expansion Module #1