The Bug

The Bug was a micro-switched joystick produced by Cheetah in the nineties. It featured a short stubby directional stick, two fire-buttons and an autofire function.

The Bug ("The Cheetah Bug")
Brand	Cheetah
Launch	199x
Connectivity	Atari Style 9-pin
Cable Length	5ft
Directional Input	8 way microswitch
Buttons	2 Fire buttons, 1 Autofire
Compatibility	Amiga, Amstrad, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Commodore VIC-20, ZX Spectrum +2, ZX Spectrum +3

Manufacturer's Description

• Ergonomically designed body for supreme comfort
• Suitable for right or left hand
• 2 ultra-sensitive microswitched fire buttons
• Auto-fire function
• 8-directional microswitched control
• Indestructible metal shaft
• Automatic centering
• +2/+3 selector connector
• Compatible with Sinclair Spectrum +2/+3, Commodore, Atari and Amstrad computers and video game systems.

Reviews

"The Bug certainly lives up to its namesake: it's incredibly tiny and would be an ideal starter stick for a

young child. Suitable for either left or right-handed players. the device comes with a five-foot cable and two firebuttons placed at the front of its compact body. These are activated by the player's thumb with the stick's shaft conveniently located towards the centre of the device . Again , the main failing with the st1ck is its abysmally short shaft which allows little or no grip and therefore, a subsequent loss of control. If only manufacturers would realise that a knobbly end and long stick are essential ingredients in a successful joystick and not sacrifice such aspects for gimmickry such as this."

• Atari ST Review
• May 1992

"This one's a cutie. It looks like a bug as well with it's large, from fire buttons resembling black eyes. The most palm friendly of all the palm friendlies. The Bug is one that takes some getting used to, but if you take a shine to it you may find you'll never pick up another joystick in earnest. Some may find the short stick too fiddly, but for me it's the most manoeuvrable of the lot. The Bug is a favourite at AF and my two bugs have taken a fair bit of battering over the past few months and are still going strong. Our editor Marcus, however, has destroyed four in just a year!"

• Steve Bradley
• Amiga Format
• August 1993