diff --git a/src/prelaunch/aerial.a b/src/prelaunch/aerial.a
index 894c12239..f955a5d53 100644
--- a/src/prelaunch/aerial.a
+++ b/src/prelaunch/aerial.a
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@
          sta   $5393      ; patch - don't decrease lives
          sta   $7166      ; patch - don't increase lives
 +
-
+         lda   #$80
+         sta   $71ce      ; fix joystick down
          +DISABLE_ACCEL
          jmp   $4000
 
diff --git a/src/prelaunch/ascend.a b/src/prelaunch/ascend.a
index 168eca24c..2600df70f 100644
--- a/src/prelaunch/ascend.a
+++ b/src/prelaunch/ascend.a
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@
          sta   $63B0      ; patch - don't increase lives
          sta   $40BE      ; patch - don't decrease time
 +
-
+         lda   #$80
+         sta   $509c      ; fix joystick down
          +DISABLE_ACCEL
          jmp   $4000
 
diff --git a/src/prelaunch/battlot.a b/src/prelaunch/battlot.a
index 56bffee10..0ffa22f52 100644
--- a/src/prelaunch/battlot.a
+++ b/src/prelaunch/battlot.a
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@
          sta   $40D6      ; patch - don't decrease lives
          sta   $4095      ; patch - don't decrease time
 +
-
+         lda   #$80
+         sta   $6a88      ; fix joystick down
          +DISABLE_ACCEL
          jmp   $4000
 
diff --git a/src/prelaunch/bootskell.a b/src/prelaunch/bootskell.a
index 670c0820a..7521f88eb 100644
--- a/src/prelaunch/bootskell.a
+++ b/src/prelaunch/bootskell.a
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@
          sta   $4097      ; patch - don't decrease lives
          sta   $4080      ; patch - don't decrease time
 +
-
+         lda   #$80
+         sta   $6dd5      ; fix joystick down
          +DISABLE_ACCEL
          jmp   $4000
 
diff --git a/src/prelaunch/cacorm.a b/src/prelaunch/cacorm.a
index 558b533dd..28de02d95 100644
--- a/src/prelaunch/cacorm.a
+++ b/src/prelaunch/cacorm.a
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@
          sta   $584E      ; patch - don't increase lives
          sta   $4091      ; patch - don't decrease time
 +
-
+         lda   #$80
+         sta   $4f82      ; fix joystick down
          +DISABLE_ACCEL
          jmp   $4000
 
diff --git a/src/prelaunch/cavit.a b/src/prelaunch/cavit.a
index fe9f84c99..5ca8da730 100644
--- a/src/prelaunch/cavit.a
+++ b/src/prelaunch/cavit.a
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@
          sta   $40D9      ; patch - don't decrease lives
          sta   $4088      ; patch - don't decrease time
 +
-
+         lda   #$80
+         sta   $76ef      ; fix joystick down
          +DISABLE_ACCEL
          jmp   $4000
 
diff --git a/src/prelaunch/cracky.a b/src/prelaunch/cracky.a
index 45db1f776..372ca69a7 100644
--- a/src/prelaunch/cracky.a
+++ b/src/prelaunch/cracky.a
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@
          sta   $4276      ; patch - don't decrease lives
          sta   $4259      ; patch - don't decrease time
 +
-
+         lda   #$80
+         sta   $6601      ; fix joystick down
          +DISABLE_ACCEL
          jmp   $4000
 
diff --git a/src/prelaunch/hopman.a b/src/prelaunch/hopman.a
index 782303698..73511412d 100644
--- a/src/prelaunch/hopman.a
+++ b/src/prelaunch/hopman.a
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
          sta   $454B      ; patch - don't decrease time
          sta   $4562      ; patch - don't decrease lives
 +
+         lda   #$80
+         sta   $633b      ; fix joystick down
          +DISABLE_ACCEL
          jmp   $98D9
 
diff --git a/src/prelaunch/lift.a b/src/prelaunch/lift.a
index dc3221def..12fb3d2d4 100644
--- a/src/prelaunch/lift.a
+++ b/src/prelaunch/lift.a
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@
          sta   $40B5      ; patch - don't decrease lives
          sta   $409E      ; patch - don't decrease time
 +
-
+         lda   #$80
+         sta   $6370      ; fix joystick down
          +DISABLE_ACCEL
          jmp   $4000
 
diff --git a/src/prelaunch/mazy.a b/src/prelaunch/mazy.a
index c91f2380c..73ef4061c 100644
--- a/src/prelaunch/mazy.a
+++ b/src/prelaunch/mazy.a
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@
          sta   $70FB      ; patch - don't decrease lives
          sta   $70B4      ; patch - don't decrease time
 +
-
+         lda   #$80
+         sta   $71e7      ; fix joystick down
          +DISABLE_ACCEL
          jmp   $7000
 
diff --git a/src/prelaunch/neuras.a b/src/prelaunch/neuras.a
index babb90003..70bfebdd2 100644
--- a/src/prelaunch/neuras.a
+++ b/src/prelaunch/neuras.a
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@
          sta   $40A8      ; patch - don't decrease lives
          sta   $40CB      ; patch - don't decrease time
 +
-
+         lda   #$80
+         sta   $6f23      ; fix joystick down
          +DISABLE_ACCEL
          jmp   $4000
 
diff --git a/src/prelaunch/yewdow.a b/src/prelaunch/yewdow.a
index 10cab4e76..deedb3ee6 100644
--- a/src/prelaunch/yewdow.a
+++ b/src/prelaunch/yewdow.a
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
          sta   $4882      ; patch - don't decrease lives
          sta   $4866      ; patch - don't decrease time
 +
+         lda   #$80
+         sta   $6a68      ; fix joystick down
          +DISABLE_ACCEL
          jmp   $99D0