What is the difference between a gamepad and a joystick: functions, appearance

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

Differences between a gamepad and a joystick

For various types of games come up with various control devices. For example, for racing there is a steering wheel. For aviation games - joystick. The second is intended for all genres, among which:

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

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

The joystick is like a gear lever in a car. Indeed, they need to be controlled like a lever, because the handle moves in different directions. In addition, the device has a set of buttons, the number of which may exceed those on the other device.

Appearance

The gamepad is a gamepad with a large number of buttons, for which you need to use both hands. On the left side there is a large button - a cross, which is responsible for controlling the character. On the right side there are 4 buttons that are responsible for actions (jump, shoot, make hits). There are also trigger buttons located in dual shocks.

The second looks like a small handle with a set of triggers and buttons. Each button has a different functional value, 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 gempad.

Functional differences

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

1. The joystick is controlled with one hand. For the second, both hands are needed. And all the basic functions will be performed by the thumbs and index fingers.
2. The first is more suitable for playing a flight simulator. The gamepad is suitable for most genres.
3. If you compare the price, the joystick is higher than the second.
4. The 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.

What 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, since 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 joystick model and set functions for all buttons as you wish. Then the functionality of the device will grow at times and may exceed the one that has the gempad. But such joysticks are expensive.

From the foregoing, 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 user's preferences. It is also important what games a person plays.