Games - Analog stick

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	Games - Analog stick

An analog stick, sometimes called thumbstick, often mistakenly referred to as a joystick, is an input device for a controller, often a game controller, that is used for two-dimensional input. It consists of some sort of protrusion from the controller, and the input is based on the position of this protrusion. While a digital joystick relies on single electrical connections for movement (with contacts for up, down, left and right), an analog stick uses continuous electrical activity running through potentiometers. The analog stick has greatly overtaken the D-pad in prominence and usage in console video games.

Usage in video games

In video games, an analog stick is often used to move some game object, usually the protagonist. It may also be used to rotate the camera, usually around the protagonist. The analog stick can serve a great variety of other functions, depending on the game. Today many analog sticks can also be pushed like other buttons on a controller.

Its use is prevalent in 3D games, where more than 8 directions are needed (which is all that was offered on the d-pad). Using a d-pad in a 3D game greatly limited the ability to move. For example, in a 3D platformer like Mario 64, using a d-pad would allow Mario to move forward, left, and forward-left, but nothing in between. Some early 3D games like Resident Evil over came this limitation by allowing the left and right buttons on the d-pad, to spin the character instead of making the character move in that direction. However with the prevailence of analog sticks, the limitation of the d-pad no longer became an issue.

Dual sticks

Following the adage "two of something are better than one", two analog sticks offer greater functionality than just one. On modern game controllers, the position of the first stick is where the left thumb usually rests, usually to the upper left of D-pad. (A notable exception being Sony's iterations of the DualShock controller where the D-pad and left analog stick are reversed, probably for reasons of symmetry. See the picture to the right.) The position of the right stick is usually to the lower left of the face buttons. Although this is a slightly awkward position for the right thumb, it understandable seeing as the buttons that normally appear on the face on the controller are used more often.

In most new games, two analog sticks are used. With genres such as action, adventure game, platforming, and shooting, the left stick normally controls the protagonist while the right stick controls the camera. The use of a second analog stick alleviates problems in many earlier platform games, in which the camera was notorious for bad positioning. The right stick not only allows for camera control in third-person platform games, but it almost essential for most modern first-person shooters like Halo. In Katamari Damacy by Namco, both analog sticks are used at once to control your character.

The PSP has been criticized for the lack of a right analog stick. The reason behind this may have been the physical instability of the system that would result if the player were to use both analog sticks at the same time.

History

In 1982 Atari released the first controller with an "analog" stick for their Atari 5200 home console. However, the non-centering joystick design proved to be ungainly and unreliable, alienating many consumers at the time. During that same year, General Consumer Electronics introduced the Vectrex, a vector graphics based system which used a self-centering analog stick, obviously a precursor to the modern design.

For many years, consoles ignored analog technology, instead using the digital D-pad. It wasn't until the emergence of 3D gameplay that the analog stick was brought back for widespread use.

In 1996 Nintendo introduced a modern analog stick on their Nintendo 64 controller. Unlike the D-pad, the analog stick allowed for varying levels of pressure and 360-degree control, translating into more precise movements in games such as Super Mario 64. Incidentally, Super Mario 64 DS was criticized by some for imprecise control due to lack of an analog stick on the Nintendo DS.

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