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

The joystick is alive and well.

[Lilith's Heart-shape]

The controllers on my PS2 and my Xbox 360 each have two joysticks that you can move with a thumb instead of using your whole hand. One usually controls movement, and the other the camera.

What do you mean?

[houghi]

What do you mean where it went? I play with my joy stick all the time. I am just not allowed in many public places anymore.

Re:How big are your hands?

[drsquare]

It comes down to the placement of the left thumbstick...you have to "reach" your thumb in order to use it effectively, whereas with a gamecube/xbox/360 controller, the way your hand naturally cradles the controller places your thumb EXACTLY where the the thunbstick is, no movement necessary.

You must be a girl or Jeremy Beadle. My thumbs reach the sticks no problem. In fact they often overextend too far and I end up pressing the button in the middle that makes the screen go black.

Plus when you've got your fingers on the shoulder buttons, having your thumbs on the sticks in the middle gives you a firmer, more balanced grip on the controller than where the buttons/Dpad are.