The Atari 2600 platform provided four types of controllers:

• Joysticks
• Paddles
• Steering Controller
• Keyboard

Let alone(at least by now ) the Keyboard controller it is possible to detect which type of controller we have connected by observing that:

• A joystick controller will never present (UP and DOWN) active at the same time, same apply to (LEFT and RIGHT) and both paddle readings will return in its maximum value
•  An steering controller will surely present UP+DOWN at the same time during its operation
•  A paddle controller will eventually present LEFT+RIGHT and will present a valid value for paddle readings.

With that in mind it is possible to fulfill the USB report using a more standardized form:

• Joystick: X and Y axes with button 1
• Steering Wheel: Axis X an button 1
• Paddle: Axes X and Y and buttons 1 and 2

The algorythm of detection can be something like:

1. Sample Padddles
2. if paddle values within valid range we have a paddle, goto step 5
3. if UP+DOWN detected we have a driving controller, goto step 5
4. if none of the conditions apply we have a joystick.
5. handle the dada sampled
6. do it all again