Types of game controllers

A gamepad, like any other computer peripheral, requires a balanced choice. Otherwise, you run the risk of acquiring another contraption of dubious use, which will become the first contender for redistribution. How to avoid it? You need to clearly understand what you are going to play, what low-cost you have, understand the features of game controllers and those parameters that you need to pay attention to.

The most common game controllers are joysticks and steering wheels, but the list of available player companions is not limited to them at all - in the wilds of the Internet you can find ship control panels or young engineer kits to control the railway. But this is exotic, very, very highly specialized. We will concentrate on the periphery of a wide range of applications.

Joysticks

Gaming joysticks for computers in the narrowest sense of the word are a platform with a movable handle and a button on it, a kind of lever. But now the term unites a whole family of game controllers, the crowning achievement of which is multifunctional gamepads.

The classic one-button joystick has evolved into sophisticated steering wheels for playing flight simulators. It perfectly imitates the control elements of various aircraft (starships, submarines, etc.) and very reliably conveys the player's commands to control the aircraft. But, again, the joystick has a narrow scope - it is inconvenient to drive a car, it is also of little use in a fighting game, and we won’t say anything about a joystick in strategies.

A joystick can be a single device or a bundle of a joystick itself, a control lever (English: throttle) and even a control panel. Naturally, the more extensive the kit and the more features the manipulator has, the higher the price. But it is worth considering one more thing - such a "unit" is not so easy to set up and it will fully work with very few games.

Gamepads

Well known to all of us from the game consoles of youth and childhood - these are grippy devices with arrows and buttons. However modern gamepads resemble those plastics very vaguely (and are much more like control panels for futuristic technology). Advanced gamepads combine miniature joysticks, wheels and buttons, and the latter can be indecently many and place them almost around the entire perimeter of the manipulator.

This class of game controllers is divided into digital and analogue, according to the type of signal that is transmitted to the computer. Button gamepads are digital, in which the state is described by the logical variables "yes" and "no", and analogue joysticks describe the state using variable X and Y coordinates. The difference in signal types is fundamental - the digital one is not able to describe the nuances of the command to the computer, but only its fact (signals that the button is pressed or not), analogue determines important details (for example, that your starship needs to smoothly accelerate, and then make a sharp jerk to the side).

Most commercially available gamepads and joysticks of medium and high-end combine these modes depending on the type of manipulator (button or mini-joystick) and even know how to force one or another signal.

Game steering wheels

A well-chosen steering wheel can transform the game into racing. Only the steering wheel will allow you not only to drive a virtual car well, but also to really feel like in the driver's seat. But only the right steering wheel.

The steering wheel, like no other manipulator, depends on the manufacturer and price category. The high class of the accessory will provide feedback and ergonomics of control, which are extremely important for a positive gaming experience. And the manufacturing quality of the device plays an important role - with an active game, he will have to endure serious loads.

Mediocre steering wheels are equipped with a vibration motor, which to some extent creates feedback. As experienced gamers notice, it's like screwing a phone to the steering wheel - it seems to be trembling, but it's of little use. Such feedback will require the active work of the player's imagination to create such an important effect of presence. Another thing is FFB (Force Feedback), this technology provides the presence of a servo and came to the gaming industry from aviation. Equipped with FFB, the steering wheel not only shakes in time, but can even create resistance to the player, for example, when skidding. Having acquired a gaming steering wheel with FFB from a well-known manufacturer, you will fully appreciate the charms of this type of manipulators.

The steering wheel must certainly be equipped with a set of pedals, and really cool models also have a gear lever and even a handbrake. When assembled, the playing place with the steering wheel in many ways resembles the interior of a car and takes up a lot of space - but this is a price for naturalness in a game of racing.

Compatible with PC and game

The vast majority of gamepads connect to a computer via a USB port (wireless ones usually use a radio transmitter) and, theoretically, are universal. But it often happens that not everything works as originally intended, especially if you got an outlandish accessory from a little-known company. Buying, for example, the eminent Logitech joystick is 98 percent insured against connection problems, similarly with other major players in the industry.

The second nuance is the support of your favorite games by a specific accessory (or vice versa - the games of your manipulator). Usually on the packaging of the device there is a list of titles with which it is guaranteed to work. With everything that goes beyond this list - how lucky. The same steering wheel can correctly control the car, but the game will not respond to the pedals, or the triggers (buttons on the top of the gamepad) will not be picked up, and the mini-joysticks will transmit a digital signal instead of an analogue one.

Which game, which gamepad:

Joystick - all kinds of simulators in which you have to control flying and floating (under water) vehicles.

Gamepad - fighting games, arcades, racing, simulators, RPGs, shooters (with a certain skill). This type of gaming controller is the most versatile.

Steering wheels - racing.

How to choose the right joystick (gamepad)

When choosing a joystick (gamepad), proceed from the games you prefer to play. The more complex control models they suggest, the more cool the joystick is worth buying: with a plentiful set of buttons, feedback, a reliable design, a suitable set of additional accessories and, of course, a trusted manufacturer. Chinese fakes, although incomparably cheaper than the "company", are likely to disappoint more than please.

Be sure to read the detailed description of the model you like on the manufacturer's website or thematic resource, look for reviews (not advertising) and browse the forum threads. First of all, for compatibility with your operating system and the games you plan to play. Information about the "childhood diseases" of the model and ergonomic features will also be useful. If possible, thoroughly feel the manipulator, make sure that it fits comfortably in your hand. Ideally, if you manage to play at least half an hour.

What to look for when choosing a gaming steering wheel

The steering wheel will only justify the purchase if it provides the effect of presence in the game, gives you a feel for the car and feel the adrenaline of racing at breakneck speed. Forget about cheap models - they do not win over a regular computer keyboard, and even lose in many ways. The steering wheel must be of high quality, reliable and moderately expensive.

It is very desirable to twist the game steering wheel you like at least a little before buying. Likewise with the pedals, gearbox. You will get used to the uncomfortable steering wheel for a long time. If you've never played with a steering wheel in your life, it's highly recommended to give it a try - although the racing experience with this paddle is juicier than the clapping on the keyboard, it's different. It is possible that you will not want to change the user experience.

Make sure the specific controller is compatible with the games you are interested in, and also find out about the availability of a utility for customizing the steering wheel to your preferences. Ideally, everything should be configured - from the appointment of a small red button to the sensitivity of the transfer of force during the rotation of the steering wheel. The already mentioned FFB servo is a must, otherwise you will never experience bumps on the roads and drifts on the verge of a foul.