Hardware
| Catalogue ID | CVH-0344 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | RetroGameBoyz LLC |
| Region | United States |
| Year | 2025 |
| Type | Controller (Input) |
| Platform | ColecoVision and ADAM |
| Status | Released |
The ColecoVision Arcade Stick 4 Button SE is a modern arcade-style controller manufactured by RetroGameBoyz LLC specifically for the ColecoVision video game system.
Designed as an alternative to the original ColecoVision hand controller, the 4 Button SE combines arcade-style controls with the complete ColecoVision numeric keypad and four action buttons.
The controller features an 8-way JLF-style joystick with a ball-top handle and four arcade-style 24mm action buttons.
Internally, the controller uses RetroGameBoyz's custom “Sammy Board,” named in tribute to the manufacturer's father. A custom PCB is also used for the ColecoVision keypad.
Unlike conventional Atari-style arcade sticks, the 4 Button SE incorporates a complete 12-key ColecoVision keypad directly into the controller. This allows games requiring keypad selections or overlays to be operated without connecting an additional original ColecoVision controller.
The controller connects directly to the ColecoVision and uses an approximately five-foot cable.
Four action buttons provide additional control possibilities beyond the two buttons of the standard ColecoVision hand controller.
The additional buttons can be used by compatible homebrew software and also provide support for certain games originally designed for the Super Action Controller.
The 4 Button SE should not, however, be considered a complete replacement for the Super Action Controller because it does not include a Speed Roller.
The absence of the Speed Roller affects compatibility with several Super Action games.
Front Line and Rocky: Super Action Boxing can benefit from the four-button configuration without requiring the Speed Roller.
Spy Hunter and Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator can also be played, although both can alternatively be operated with a standard two-button ColecoVision controller through the use of keypad controls.
The three Super Action sports titles—Super Action Baseball, Super Action Football and Super Action Soccer—require both the additional action buttons and Speed Roller functionality and therefore are not fully supported by this controller.
The 4 Button SE uses a black enclosure with ColecoVision-themed styling, rubber feet and custom wiring. Some components are 3D printed, and minor variations in surface texture and appearance may occur between individually produced units.
The RetroGameBoyz 4 Button SE represents a modern attempt to combine the arcade-oriented nature of the ColecoVision game library with the system's unusually complex controller requirements.
Unlike a generic arcade joystick, it retains the complete 12-key keypad while providing four large arcade-style action buttons and a conventional ball-top joystick.
The design also demonstrates the continued evolution of ColecoVision controller hardware decades after the console's original production, providing modern ergonomics while maintaining compatibility with the specialized controls required by original and homebrew ColecoVision software.
Product: ColecoVision Arcade Stick 4 Button SE
Manufacturer: RetroGameBoyz LLC
Type: Arcade Stick / Controller
Platform: ColecoVision
Directional Control: 8-way JLF-style joystick
Action Buttons: Four
Keypad: Full 12-key ColecoVision keypad
Controller Interface: RetroGameBoyz “Sammy Board”
Cable Length: Approximately 5 feet
Speed Roller: No
Super Action Compatibility: Partial
Installation: External / plug-and-play
Status: Modern aftermarket ColecoVision hardware