The humble Joystick

[Audio]

Hey guys, when was the last time you played a game using a proper Joystick?
With all this chat about Sony having it's own wand and Microsofts silly camera things, I cant help but think back. Years ago, playing flight and space sims with a joystick was as immersive then as Wii sports is today.

The joystick used to be the gamers icon. Analog control pads have simply shrunk the joystick and rendered them almost useless. The idea was just awesome for the N64 as it changed everything, and i suppose the demand for flight/space sims dropped.

I'd like to think that if a decent sim came out, the joystick could relive some of its olden days. I dunno...an X-wing remake with a decent story, amazing gameplay and NO RPG elements...people would enjoy it and realize, "this would be great if i had a joystick"
I'm sure there are some good sims out there I think they need more love.

Anyone think the comeback of the joystick could happen?

 

[TimeLord]

I used to use a joystick with Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator. But not enough games cater for joysticks anymore.

I do love the Joystick in OP though xD

 

[Omikron009]

Other than flight simulator games, most modern games would be almost impossible to play with a joystick. I don't think it could make a significant comeback outside of niche markets.

 

[TimeLord]

Other than flight simulator games, most modern games would be almost impossible to play with a joystick. I don't think it could make a significant comeback outside of niche markets.

What about H.A.W.X 2?

That would work!

 

[Loonerinoes]

I believe it was when I rediscovered the X-Wing series. The joystick was dusty, but it still worked at the time. 6 years ago that was...

 

[Nerf Ninja]

The joystick has pretty much become too specialised to be widespread.

This was my favourite joystick, I just wish I could connect the thing to the 360, I really can't be bothered keeping my old Xbox out just to play one awesome game. It had foot pedals too!

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

I haven't used a joy in a long time and while they have improved lots, most games today work much better just with the good ol' mouse and keyboard.

 

[Audio]

I remember when the first Grand Turismo came out. The whole steering wheel + pedals was epic; for those whole could afford it anyway. Also, people where willing to buy that guitar for guitar hero...even seen some kid buy the skateboard!
Surely a good enough game could get people buying the ol' joystick again. Sure they keyboard and mouse will work but consoles are hogging the funky looking peripherals. Having the full desk size layout, like Nerf Ninja there, was bad ass . I can understand that the majority would prefer a smaller set like i posted but hey...they're not limited to one style.

 

[Nouw]

I can't recall. I don't think I even have. I want to though, looks incredibly fun.

 

[SnowdensOfYesteryear]

The joystick has pretty much become too specialised to be widespread.

This was my favourite joystick, I just wish I could connect the thing to the 360, I really can't be bothered keeping my old Xbox out just to play one awesome game. It had foot pedals too!

Oh god... Steel Batallion. Used to play that at a friend's house.

If you can't be bothered to bring it out, you could always send it all to me... >.>

OT: Joysticks aren't quite as compatible as they used to be. Though in some games they may work, in most... not really.

 

[GloatingSwine]

The thing with joysticks is that the genres they were good for are basically dead now. Space sims died after Freespace 2, and flight sims became increasingly beardular and nerdtastic.

I still have a joystick for my Xbox for games like Ace Combat and HAWX, but it's really only for those things.

 

[rokkolpo]

holy balony balls!

that blue thing is awesome!
however, unless we all start playing flight simulators (and don't stop after 10 minutes) i don't see joysticks making a comeback.

and am i the only one who can't say ''joystick'' with a straight face?
*you can always grab my joystick*

 

[Counterwise]

Tom Clancys H.A.W.X.
If you want a good non-flight game for the joystick I recommend Mechwarrior 4.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

Midtown Madness 2 on the computer. Holy Shit that game kicked ass.

 

[Petromir]

The thing with joysticks is that the genres they were good for are basically dead now. Space sims died after Freespace 2, and flight sims became increasingly beardular and nerdtastic.

I still have a joystick for my Xbox for games like Ace Combat and HAWX, but it's really only for those things.

They didnt they left the middle ground, most of the more serious end went more serious and the rest went stupidly casual with no reason to own a joystick over the more versitle gamepad. most flight sims these days are at the OMG thats so easy end of things with a coule of serious games kept alive by the modders.

casuals killed the joystick not the hardcore end of the market.

 

[Meggiepants]

Aside from flight simulation games which seemed tailor made for the joystick, I know plenty of people who prefer the joystick for fighting games.

They grew up on arcades you see, so that's how they learned to play those games.

Quite frankly, I know we don't see it this way, but thumbsticks are joysticks. They are just the modernized version of them. We've made them small and added a second one because games now have three dimensions and many more controls than they ever used to. But to me, they are joysticks.

It works pretty much like a joystick, looks like a miniature joystick, even has a "button" on top.

I know it's not a joystick the way you are talking about, but that is what happened to the joystick.

 

[Plinglebob]

The thing with joysticks is that the genres they were good for are basically dead now. Space sims died after Freespace 2, and flight sims became increasingly beardular and nerdtastic.

There were a couple of others, the X series is hard to get into thoughand I've forgotten the other one (Made by Microsoft and used mouse-look, was good fun). Sadly you speak the truth. I used to have a Sidewinder joystick and would certainly buy the one in the top picture if there were more than 3 games to use it with.

The joystick has pretty much become too specialised to be widespread.

This was my favourite joystick, I just wish I could connect the thing to the 360, I really can't be bothered keeping my old Xbox out just to play one awesome game. It had foot pedals too!

I remember one of my friends searching high and low for a copy of Steel Battalion with the controller. I miss big stompy mech games.

 

[Danzaivar]

It's been made mainstream in the new form of analog sticks. They ain't gone anywhere.

 

[powergamer8]

The only joystick i have is starwars x-wing alliance.

It's decent enough for me to play it every now and then, but as people are saying you just can't use a joystick the same way you can use a mouse and keyboard. They are part of a bygon era in gameing. They can still be enjoyed and should be remeberd but they wont work with most games these days, as big a disapointment as that is to some.

 

[octafish]

I actually prefer the mouse controls in Freespace 2, but I still dig out the old sidewinder for Crimson Skies.