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

Re:Precision, what?

[drsquare]

There's a reason all of the serious online gamers use PCs - a console controller won't cut it. When the difference between headshotting someone is 3-4 pixels in hi-def, well, good luck on a PS3.

If there's a game where you need split-second, pixel-perfect precision in order to succeed at it, then I've no interest in playing it. Unreal Tournament isn't really a good example as it was designed for stupid twitch play.

Maybe if PCs had controllers rather than mice, then PC game designers might have to make games that weren't just mouse-clicking contests. Every PC FPS I've played seems like it was designed for people who's bloodstreams were 60% caffeine, and who had 25" monitors and specialised 'gaming' mice. Seriously, there are people who turn down all the graphics just so they can see a single pixel of someone's head a hundred yards away, then click on that exact pixel within a fraction of a second. I prefer games that you don't need to be some sort of freak to play.

1280*1024 is considered medium resolution in fact by most PC gamers

PC gamers will spend more on a video card that you could get a PS2 or Xbox for, so I wouldn't consider their opinions worth much.