Joystick

Joystick

 

A joystick is an input device that allows the user to control a character or machine in a computer program, such as a plane in a flight simulator. They look similar to the control device you would find on an arcade game, but nearly always include extra buttons for additional functionality. The picture shows the Logitech Freedom 2.4, an example of a joystick.

When was the first joystick invented?

The first joystick was invented at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by C. B. Mirick and patented in 1926. It was a two-axis electronic joystick, similar to the joysticks in use today, and was original designed for remotely piloting aircraft.

Computer joystick ports

Today, most computer joysticks connect to the computer using a USB port. Below is a listing of all of the type of ports that have accepted a joystick.
Bluetooth
Game port
Serial Port
USB

Related pages
Setting up or installing a joystick or gamepad.
Computer joystick manufacturers.
Computer joystick help and support.
Game terms, Game port, Gamepad, Hardware terms, Input device, Paddle, Pointing device, Yoke

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Gamepad

Gamepad

A gamepad, game controller, joypad, or video game controller is a peripheral device designed to be connected to a computer or console gaming system. It has multiple buttons and may have one or two mini joysticks. 

A gamepad is used for playing video games of many types, including sports, first-person shooters, role-playing, and others. The picture shows an example of the Xbox 360 controller for Windows and a popular gamepad for the computer and consoles.

Gamepads is the primary peripheral device used on console gaming systems like the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo WII. Some portable gaming systems have a gamepad built into the gaming device itself, like the Sony PSP. However, some gamepads are also made to work with a computer, typically featuring a USB connection.

The first gamepad was introduced in 1985, first by Nintendo, then by Sega, for use with their video gaming systems. Since then, many forms of joypads have been made and sold, but all still have a similar design.

Related pages

Setting up or installing a joystick or gamepad.
Gamepad help and support.

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Setting up or installing a joystick or gamepad

Setting up or installing a joystick or gamepad

Before a joystick or gamepad will work with your computer, you must install the software for it, usually located on an installation CD. If you've lost the software installation CD, check the manufacturer's website for the software. Most manufacturer's allow you to download the latest drivers for game controllers. Check out our listing of input device manufacturers, including game controller manufacturers, for links to the company's website to download the software.

Setup joystick or gamepad and installing software

Every joystick and gamepad should come with the software used to install on your operating system.

Connect the joystick or gamepad using the USB cable.

Insert the CD that was included with the joystick or gamepad. If the CD does not automatically start the install program, open My Computer, double-click on the CD drive, and then double-click the Setup.exe or Install.exe file. If you've downloaded the drivers, run the downloaded setup file.

Follow the installation wizard to install your joystick or gamepad and its associated software.

Testing the joystick or gamepad

After the joystick or gamepad has been installed in Windows, open the joystick or gamepad software to customize the buttons. Then you can test it through the Set up USB game controllers utility in Windows. To open the Set up USB game controllers utility in Windows, follow the steps below.

Click Start or open the Window Start Screen.

In the Run or Search text field or at the Windows Start Screen, type "game controller" and click the Set up USB game controllers option.

Click the name of the joystick or gamepad you want to test and click Properties.
Note: You may need to perform additional configuration steps to set up your joystick or gamepad to work with games on your computer. Check the settings in game and look for a configuration menu or option for configuring the game controller.

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