Gamepad

Game controller 

The NES game controller

A gamepad, also called joypad, is a type of game controller held with both hands and used to provide input for video games. Gamepads generally feature a set of action buttons handled with the right thumb and a direction controller handled with the left. The direction controller has traditionally been a four-way digital cross (D-pad), but most modern controllers additionally (or as a substitute) feature a small analog stick. The analog stick was introduced with the Emerson Arcadia controller.

Most modern game controllers are a variation of a standard gamepad. Some common additions to the standard pad include shoulder buttons placed along the edges of the pad, centrally placed start, select, and mode buttons, and an internal motor to provide force feedback. Gamepads are also available for the PC, but are far less popular than the keyboard and mouse for the system except for a small segment of games.

Milestones in gamepad history are that the Famicom controller introduced the D-Pad, the SNES introduced the Shoulder Buttons, and the Nintendo 64 controller introduced the Rumble Pak with an attachment.

List of gamepads:

• Gravis Gamepad
• Microsoft Sidewinder
• NES controller

External Links

• Gamespot.com gamepad listings and reviews