Trackball
Rolling precision
The arcade input device that enabled precise analogue control for games like Centipede and Marble Madness.
Overview
The trackball is an inverted mouse - a ball that rotates freely in a socket, translating movement to on-screen cursor or character motion. In arcades, trackballs enabled precise, momentum-based control impossible with joysticks, creating unique games designed around their characteristics.
First appearing in Atari Football (1978), trackballs became essential for certain game genres, from shooters like Centipede to the literal ball-rolling of Marble Madness.
Fast Facts
- First arcade use: 1978 (Atari Football)
- Key advantage: Continuous analogue movement with momentum
- Peak arcade era: 1980-1985
- Home versions: Atari, third-party manufacturers
- Modern use: Still made for desktop computing
Why Trackballs Matter
Trackballs offered unique control:
- No centering - Position stays where you leave it
- Momentum - Ball keeps spinning
- 360° precision - Fine control in any direction
- Speed variation - Spin fast or nudge slowly
This enabled game designs impossible with joysticks or buttons.
Key Trackball Games
Games designed around trackball control:
| Game | Year | Why Trackball |
|---|---|---|
| Atari Football | 1978 | Player movement |
| Missile Command | 1980 | Cursor precision |
| Centipede | 1980 | Fast, precise dodging |
| Millipede | 1982 | Sequel |
| Crystal Castles | 1983 | Isometric movement |
| Marble Madness | 1984 | Literal ball control |
| Golden Tee Golf | 1989 | Shot spin |
Home Trackballs
Trackballs came home:
- Atari Trak-Ball (CX-22) - 2600 version
- Atari CX-80 - 8-bit computer version
- Wico Trackball - Third-party multi-platform
- Various modern - USB trackballs
Home trackballs never matched arcade quality.
The Marble Madness Connection
Marble Madness (1984) used trackball brilliantly:
- Player controls a marble - a ball
- Trackball IS a ball
- Input literally matches game
- Precise physics control
This direct mapping created intuitive mastery.