What is the difference between a gamepad and a joystick?

Many people believe that a gamepad and a joystick are one and the same device. But do not confuse them. Both products have different shape and functionality. Also different is the genre of games for which they are used.

Differences gamepad from the joystick

For different types of games come up with various control devices. For example, there is a steering wheel. For aviation games - joystick. The second is designed for all genres, including:

1. Race.
2. Shooters.
3. Simulators.

The differences concern not only the functionality, but also the appearance. The gamepad is a bit like a butterfly and requires both hands to use (the left hand controls the character, the right hand performs actions).

The joystick is similar to the gear lever in a car. And really they need to manage like a lever, because the handle moves in different directions. In addition to the device has a set of buttons, the number of which may exceed those on another device.

Appearance

A gamepad is a gamepad with a large number of buttons, for which both hands must be used. On the left side is a large button - the cross, which is responsible for controlling the character. On the right side there are 4 buttons that are responsible for the actions (jump, shoot, make strikes). There are also buttons in the form of hammers, located in dualshokah.

The second looks like a small handle with a set of knobs and buttons. Each button has a different functional meaning, and their number can be large (more than 12 keys).

Reference! The lever is designed to control the movement of the character, like a cross in the game board.

Functional differences

To identify the differences, let's compare the functionality of both devices:

1. The joystick is operated with one hand. For the second, both hands are needed. And all the main functions will perform the thumb and forefinger.
2. The first is more suitable for the game in the aircraft simulator. Gamepad is also suitable for most genres.
3. If you compare the price, the joystick is higher than the second.
4. Gamepad is more popular because it is convenient to use. It connects via USB to any device. The joystick is only suitable for flight simulators and space games.

Which is more convenient joystick or gamepad

When choosing a device, attention is paid to the following criteria:

1. Convenience. It is believed that getting used to the gamepad is a little more difficult, because it requires the use of muscles that were not previously used for the game. But if you get used to it, it will become more convenient to play than on the second device.
2. Functions. Both devices have enough buttons to perform various operations. But the gamepad is designed for most types of games, and the joystick is mainly for flight simulators.

Reference! You can buy an expensive model of joystick and set the functions for all buttons on your own. Then the functionality of the device will grow at times and may exceed that of the gempad. But such joysticks are expensive.

From the above, we can conclude that the main thing is to get used to using the device. But a lot depends on the user. What to choose depends on the preferences of the user. It is also important what games a person plays.