How to Use a Joystick
Posted on June 3rd, 2009 by Marck
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For many computer games, a joystick is a very helpful and fun computer peripheral. Many side-scrollers, flight simulators, racing games, and fighting games can be made more enjoyable with the aid of a quality joystick. Here are some tips to help you buy one that fits your needs and gaming style.
Selecting a Joystick
It pays to buy a quality joystick, instead of those cheap plastic ones you can get for a few dollars. Not all joysticks are made the same way, so you need to consider some important factors when buying one:
- Features. Extra buttons can help you navigate through and play more games. Besides buttons at the base, it also helps to have buttons or a directional pad on the top of the joystick, especially if you’re playing a flight simulator.
- Ergonomics. The way the joystick molds to the contours of your hand can greatly help ease discomfort and stress when you’re playing a game for a long time. Make sure that you’re comfortable using the joystick.
- Sturdiness. A good joystick has a sturdy, heavy base that prevents the peripheral from moving too much, which can cause injury or discomfort.
Configuring Joysticks
Once you have bought a joystick, it’s important to make sure it works on your gaming device. There are usually no issues for game consoles if you buy a replacement or third-party device, but you may have to configure a joystick when using it with a computer:
- Device drivers. Most joysticks are plug-and-play devices connected to the USB port, although you may need to install device drivers (either from the support CD or an Internet download) to make the
- Axis and button configurations. The movement of the joystick axis, as well as the button configurations, are usually set up on the game options screen. If you plan to use the joystick as a pointing device, you can use the Control Panel to configure your joystick movement.
Joystick Safety
Joysticks are very intuitive to use, but they can cause injuries when used improperly. Here are some safety reminders when using joysticks:
- Handle it properly. Use the contours on the stick and the base as your guides to help position your hand in the safest and most comfortable position.
- Keep the joystick stable. Instead of placing the joystick on your lap, place the joystick on a table or flat on the floor.
- Don’t use the joystick for too long. Like any other computer peripheral, you need to limit your use of the joystick. Two hours with an intense game is usually fine; any longer and you may experience pain on your wrists or fingers.
Joysticks are a fun and awesome way to enjoy computer games. With these tips, you can master just about any game with one of the most popular computer peripherals for hardcore gamers.
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