Whatever Happened To The Joystick?

Ant writes "MSN UK has up an article that looks into the 'downfall' of the joystick: 'Sometimes technology disappears completely, but often it just fades into the background — still existing, still being used and sold and, occasionally, desired, but probably looking wistfully back on past glories. Which neatly described the joystick's steady slide away from its role as THE gaming peripheral to a fondly remembered also ran. But the joystick's tale is a long and convoluted one — and it is worth looking back into its often mysterious and ill-studied history before explaining why it will rise from the ashes like the mythical phoenix.' Seen on ClassicGaming."

Comments

What happened to the joystick?

[suso]

It broke after playing the 100m dash in Summer Games.

Re:What happened to the joystick?

[Notquitecajun]

Now that we're done comparing each others JOYSTICKS....

Its easy

[arkham6]

The joystick met its Doom

It was inevitable, really

[bytesex]

The day they started flying planes with joysticks, the gamers were done with them. No sharing of our l33t technologies man !

Re:Joysticks are everywhere.

[Lust]

> A true joystick is much bigger, and is grasped in your entire hand -- usually, fairly comfortably.

That's what she said.

Re:I still have both of mine

[Critical Facilities]

Oh gosh, mine are long gone. They were pretty worn out from RealSports Baseball and trying to time the jumps over the crocodiles in Pitfall. I had totally forgotten about the EVIL paddles. Why is it that they all seemed to develop that "stuttering" motion after a few uses? I hated using them because whatever you were trying to control with them never moved smoothly across the screen, so you'd end up overcompensating since you weren't sure where things were going to go.

I guess I'm just bitter that I could never get past level 9 playing Kaboom!

Re:Good ones are expensive

[gstoddart]

Today's games require dual analog controllers and about 27 buttons. A decent joystick set that has all that functionality does exist - but it's primarily relegated to the flight sim community.

And that, is why the Wii is selling more games.

Most of us old geezers don't have the manual dexterity to run those damned controllers. Whereas we can whistfully waggle our Wiis nowadays whenever we wish. ;-) ducks

Cheers

Re:Joysticks are everywhere.

[jollyreaper]

> > A true joystick is much bigger, and is grasped in your entire hand -- usually, fairly comfortably.

> That's what she said.

Such tiny, tiny hands.

Happy Memories

[kieran]

I was at some sort of huge fair along with my air cadet squadrons one summer many moons ago, and one of the other squadrons in attendence had brought along a 3/4 scale model spitfire, you could sit in it and everything.

There was a breakfast television crew wandering around filming and some hot blonde TV presenter was being shown said spitfire and helped to climb into it. Upon trying to sit down down in the cockpit she suddenly finds her way impeded and asks the cadet sergeant "Oops! What's this between my legs?"

Cadet Sergeant, with big grin: "That's the joy stick". Cue red-faced presenter and much laughter.

I don't think that bit ever made it on the telly...

Re:Happy Memories

[RealGrouchy]

That must have been a while ago.

I had the opportunity to tour an aircraft carrier a decade or so ago, and I got to sit in the cockpit of a fighter jet.

The flight control interface on the jets had recently been upgraded--four fist-size square buttons "W, A, S, D" are arranged in front of the pilot.

I'm relieved to learn that the gaming industry is finally taking advantage of this advance!

- RG>

Re:Good ones are expensive

[moderatorrater]

Whereas we can whistfully waggle our Wiis nowadays whenever we wish And that's why so many grandpas are creepy.

Re:Good ones are expensive

[tgd]

You need to masturbate more.

Most of the slashdot crowd doesn't have issues with wrist strength.

Re:Joysticks are everywhere.

[gstoddart]

"A true joystick is much bigger, and is grasped in your entire hand -- usually, fairly comfortably." That's what she said.

I have one in the middle of my laptop keyboard, and I twiddle it with my finger.

Everyone I know has referred to those as a clitoris for at least a decade. It's small and frustrating to manipulate,and doesn't always get you where you wanted to be. :-P

Cheers