Talk:Analog stick

message: I may be wrong, but I was always under that impression. ~~
You are wrong. The vectrex had it in the 80's and the atri 5200 had one. Laso, the nintendo 64 had it one month before the saturn analog controller came out.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.233.100.129 (talk) 17:23, 24 August 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Wasn't the Sega Saturn 3D controller the first analog controller? 

message: Late 70s dedicated game machines - such as the Telejogo  - had analog sticks. I have one of those, it's really a non-self-centering analog stick. Stormwatch 21:21, 14 March 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: By all means add it if necessary. --Thaddius 23:20, 22 June 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  History does not go far enough 

message: The history section goes into great detail about the dualshock controller, describing rumble features (or lack thereof) and even stating the first game to require two sticks. This seems to be irrelevant info. It's a history of the analog stick, not the dualshock controller. There's a page for that already. If no on minds, I'll remove the info that doesn't seem to belong. --Thaddius 14:19, 22 June 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Doom127, you revert my edit ad put all that stuff back. Huzah. now I want you to realize that I was taking out the rumble aspects of the article becuase this is about the Analog stick, not the history of the dualshock controller and it's rumble features. I'm going to go ahead and re-edit it. Hopefully you'll read in here before reverting it back. --Thaddius 22:03, 23 June 2006 (UTC)
replies: text:  If you're going to make changes to an article, please try and keep the article as accurate as you left it. There were changes to the analog aspects, such as the removal of flightstick mode. Please remain civil. -- Daniel Davis 01:42, 24 June 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Like I said, it used to be a detailed descrition on the vibration functions in the dual shock controller. Just cause I deleted irrelevant info you cared about doens't mean you have to have a hissy fit. I stated my intents here before doing it, no one objected. So just calm down and make it more accurate, keeping vibration technologies out of there. If people want to know the history of the dual shock controller, they can click on the link to it. Please remeber that this is an article on the analog stick and keep things relevant to the title. --Thaddius 16:25, 25 June 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: History of Analog stick is not a history of the dualshock controller

message: The way this article is written, it makes it sound like all "analog" sticks work on potentiometers. This couldn't be further from the truth. As the reference links show, many modern sticks work on the same digital photocell technology that mice use. Unfortunately, this confusion has spilled over into the N64 article, making its information on the analog stick outright wrong. I'll attempt to fix these issues as soon as I can. :) Jbanes 15:06, 22 September 2006 (UTC)
replies: text:  If you're going to make significant edits, make sure you use reliable references to avoid edit conflicts. Be bold. :D Ex-Nintendo Employee 22:46, 22 September 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Confusing Article 

message: From the article:
"physical instability of the system that would result if the player were to use both analog sticks at the same time."
How would the system be unable to stand having two sticks? This just doesn't seem right. Anyone think that someone should be deleting this?
Ilikefood 21:37, 2 February 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: I agree, it does seem unsourced. Ex-Nintendo Employee 00:18, 3 February 2007 (UTC)

text: I think it means that it would be hard to hold the PSP if both your thumbs are on the sticks, but that still doesn't seem correct anyways... Darth Walsh (talk) 05:18, 10 March 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  PSP? 

message: The entire article is naively console-centric for an entry which is redirected from "analog joystick."  Analog joysticks (yes, joysticks. where did this joystick-means-digital idea come from?) have a rich history on home computers--and industrial computers for that matter--that goes back way before Sony's 1995 flightstick.  Surely the ubiquitous Kraft sticks of the 1980s deserve a mention, and what of the bizarre springless pseudo-mouse stick on the CoCo--among many others.  If the "joystick" article is meant to bear that weight, then I suggest that an "analog joystick" search should redirect there instead of here.  This article is fine for what it is--a history of analog stick controllers on home videogame consoles--but it is far from the whole story.75.64.178.63 11:54, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: There is a paragraph about analog sticks in the 70s and 80s, but I agree that it's not detailed enough. If you have any resources, feel free to add to the article. Ex-Nintendo Employee 00:29, 15 March 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Computer sticks 

message: The start of this article claims that analog sticks are sometimes mistakenly called joysticks, then later in the article starts to talk about analog joysticks. The whole issue needs to be cleaned up, as it makes the article very confusing to read.
Also this whole article seems a little Sony Centric. Pretty much half the history article is dedicated to Sony, the flightstick, and the dualshock revisions, most of which is not particularly important in terms of the history of the analog stick.
I'm not knowledgeable enough to change the article but I think it should be addressed.
Qeee1 13:33, 19 July 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Cleaned it up a few days ago. POV is now more neutral; originally it was way too Sony-slanted. Kflester 16:28, 19 September 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Analog Stick vs Joystick + Sony Bias 

message: Just an interesting little detail: Some sticks have a range on both axis from [-1.0, 1.0], thus providing a square movement area, while others are restricted to sqrt(x^2 + y^2) <= 1.0, thus providing a circular movement area (moving stick full up and full to the right gives x=0.707, y=0.707=sqrt(0.5)). The later seems to be the logical choice for 3d character control in a game like Mario64, since it gives a maximum walk speed of 1.0 in all direction, while the other seems more logical for flight games and such, where it might be important to be able to go full 'left', even when already full 'up'. Might have some historic relevance, but then it might be just an to obscure detail for the article.  -- Grumbel 20:57, 30 July 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Stick Range 

message: However, the Wii Classic Controller does feature two analog sticks to allow for proper control in games from its Virtual Console service.
I don't think this is the real reason the classic controller has two sticks. The most advanced virtual console games are N64, and you only need one stick to play that. Maybe someone could clear that up if they agree? Darth Walsh (talk) 05:23, 10 March 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  Incorrect sentence 

message: Does this deserve a mention? True analog sticks use potentiometers to measure movement on an infintesimal level of degree. But the N64 stick, on the contrary, used a mechanism that was digital, much like mechanical mice do. This has not only been confirmed in Wikipedia's N64 controller article itself, but also is explicitely stated in two reference articles- such as this paragraph from A History of Controllers: "But Nintendo's thumbstick differed from previous designs in two important ways. First, it wasn't actually analog. Analog joysticks like the 5200's had too many moving parts and were prone to breaking. Nintendo's stick was digital, but provided enough levels of sensitivity that the distinction was moot."  Shouldn't this distinction be made, if the N64's controller wasn't REALLY an analog joystick? 75.165.103.122 (talk) 14:00, 4 December 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  Nintendo 64's analog stick isn't analog! 

message: Whether a control stick is analog or not depends on how the term "analog" is defined in the context of controllers. There are two ways the term can relate:
1. Analog movement/control - a device that can send a range of values from a given input.
2. Analog signal - a signal capable of varying throughout a range of electrical value.
The Atari 5200 was both of these. The Nintendo 64 and later consoles, were "analog movement/control", with an optical/digital signal.
It seems appropriate to classify any input device with "analog movement/control" as an "analog stick"
MachineKeebler (talk) 06:10, 25 February 2009 (UTC)
replies: text:  Regardless of your motives/beliefs about analog, you've been simply reverting the page to a version made months ago, erasing improvements to it that extend far beyond a description of the method of analog movement. Stop. 75.172.46.117 (talk) 08:06, 25 March 2009 (UTC)
replies: text:  I concur. 98.247.24.27 (talk) 17:47, 24 May 2009 (UTC)

text: on most of the more recent systems, doesn't any analog signal needs to be converted to digital at some point in the process? --TiagoTiago (talk) 01:57, 29 January 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  Nintendo 64's analog 

message: Wasn't the dual analog control scheme for console [FPS] games pioneered by Nintendo as well? I'm pretty sure GoldenEye 007 was the first console game that could be played this way by simultaneously using two N64 pads. (terrible revisionist Sony bias all the way through, by the way; it's sad to see those plagiarists getting away with stealing by spinning the gullible masses time and again – PlayStation Move, anyone?) – ὁ οἶστρος 13:37, 29 April 2010 (UTC)
replies: text: I'd hardly call it revisionist - more likely just pure ignorance. I didn't know until now that GoldenEye could be played with 2 controllers per person (checked it out on Project64 and it's certainly true). That said, are you sure it came before any on the PS1 did? Anyway, calm down - you sound an awful lot like a rabid Nintendo fanboy (not saying you are, but that's how you sound). I don't think ANYBODY looks at the PlayStation Move and doesn't think Wii-remote rip-off, even if it is a better implementation (it has certainly been shown to be more accurate than even Wii motion plus). AlphathonTM (talk) 14:52, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

text: Actually, having actually read the article, I see no Sony bias what-so-ever. No-where does it mention that SONY innovated dual-analog control for FPSs (as you seem to be suggesting), only that theirs was the first controller which had two sticks. The only mention of a specific dual-stick game isn't even an FPS, but Ape escape. AlphathonTM (talk) 17:46, 29 April 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  dual analog controls 

message: An analog stick is just a type of joystick, so why does it need a separate article?  Joysticks can be analog or digital, and this article could easily be pared down and added as a section to Joystick. Asher196 (talk) 15:12, 29 April 2010 (UTC)
replies: text: Seems fair to me, as long as a distinction is made between analog thumbsticks (which is what this article refers to) and other analog joysticks (flight sticks and the like). Also, analog stick should redirect to the analog thumbstick section (rather than just the article). AlphathonTM (talk) 16:43, 29 April 2010 (UTC)
replies: text:  I completely disagree. The difference between a simple joystick and the extensive history of the analog stick would create a massive, bloated article of low quality. There is enough differential between the two that it doesn't warrant merging. You might as well merge D-Pad, Game Controller, Joystick, Analog Stick, Light Gun, Dual Shock and Rumble Pak into one heaving Video Game Controller article. 75.165.122.44 (talk) 12:03, 7 May 2010 (UTC)
replies: text: Extensive history?  An analog stick is simply a joystick with a short handle.  How does that warrant it's own article?  Asher196 (talk) 12:20, 7 May 2010 (UTC)
replies: text: Technologically it is just an analog joystick with a short "handle" but the implementation is what makes it notable. I am pretty much neutral on the issue (it could work either way as long as we're careful), but I think you are over-simplifying it a little Asher196. It has it's own development history, distinct uses (which can neither be attributed to analog or digital joysticks) and as a control method is just as distinct from analog flight-sticks etc as d-pads are from digital joysticks - the difference being the form factor as technologically d-pads and digital sticks are the same as well. I think there is certainly a danger that if a merge isn't done properly that the resulting article become bloated. Likewise, there is a very real possibility that the quality would be adversely effected. As both articles stand, there is no way the analog stick could be shoehorned in, and it would require a significant reworking of both articles. If the Joystick article is left pretty much untouched (i.e. only info on thumbsticks added rather than a reworking) then thumbsticks simply wouldn't fit and would likelly be whittled down to something similar to the Arcade stick section. The current analog stick article has a significant history section, which the joystick article doesn't have, but is certainly notable. Basically, I would support a merge, but only if the joystick article were completely re-written to accommodate the entire (or close to) analog stick article since it is all relevant/notable. AlphathonTM (talk) 16:05, 7 May 2010 (UTC)

text:  Would we then also merge the other "stick" articles into joystick, like Dual Analog, Dual Shock and Nintendo 64 Controller? Seems like a slippery slope we're talking about. Certainly simple individual controllers are less worthy of their own articles than an entire multi-console spanning technology. FluffyPug (talk) 18:29, 7 May 2010 (UTC)
replies: text: Even if we do merge analog stick into joystick, merging articles about specific controllers is barely even related. I think you are simply trying to make a point about the slippery slope, but such an article does exist: Gamepad. However, it is a sort of overview article which covers the general topic of gamepads, while some of the more important ones (or simply ones which have a lot of info about them) rightly so also have articles of their own, such as the ones you mentioned. Actually, looking at the articles has got me thinking; this is a very similar case. Analog stick can easily retain it's own article while having a significant mention in the joystick article (similar to the DualShock having a mention in the gamepad article, which likewise has a mention in the even more overarching game controller article). It has also made me think, "wait a minute, the joystick article is about joystick controllers, NOT JOYSTICKS" if you see my distinction. The analog thumbstick can be seen as a type of input, while the things referred to in the joystick article are types of controller based around a joystick design. Joystick can easily refer to either the stick part or the whole controller, and I feel it refers to the latter in this case (in which case merging the two would be ludicrous). AlphathonTM (talk) 21:14, 7 May 2010 (UTC)

text: P.S. my position has changed to object for the distinction between the type of controller, and the controller input method. AlphathonTM (talk) 21:25, 7 May 2010 (UTC)

text: Oppose, per Alphathon. The Analog stick article refers to a type of control found on a Game controller, just as D-pad does, while the Joystick article refers to a type of Game controller, as does Gamepad. RamenFueled (talk) 09:12, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

text: I really hope you aren't being serious. All these things are clearly distinct and grouping them all together would be completely stupid. If you look at all the articles pertaining to gaming input devices and still think that they could all be condensed into a single article without losing info or creating a sprawling incomprehensible mess I'd like to know how. You might as well say "Why do all the consoles have individual articles?" because grouping them together would be about as concise. AlphathonTM (talk) 20:34, 19 May 2010 (UTC)
replies: text: I'm only being mildly serious to provoke discussion.  I just don't see how Analog stick has enough information to warrant it's own article.  I think it should be a section of Game controller, along with D-Pad.  I see now that merging with Joystick probably isn't the best solution. Asher196 (talk) 16:16, 23 May 2010 (UTC)
replies: text:  Absolutely not. Game controller has it's own set of problems- it's bloated, poorly laid out and is essentially just a collection of lists at the moment, linking to better articles. Trying to shove the entire history of analog stick development (which spans literally the entire history of game controllers) would only add to that conundrum. FluffyPug (talk) 07:06, 25 May 2010 (UTC)

text: I agree with FluffyPug; Game controller is bad enough as it is. Not only that but adding either D-pad of Analog Stick to the Game controller article is just as out of place as the Joystick article; Joystick is about a type of controller and Game controller is essentially a list of types of controller, so while mildly more relevant (since game controller is non specific) it has the same problem. Preemptively, Gamepad is no better so they can't go there either. Also you say "I see now that merging with Joystick probably isn't the best solution". The best solution to what? I honestly don't think there is a problem with it at the moment. AlphathonTM (talk) 08:39, 25 May 2010 (UTC)
replies: text: If I were to remove the unsourced content, there would be very little article here.Asher196 (talk) 02:00, 26 May 2010 (UTC)
replies: text: If by that you mean remove every sentence or phrase that does not have a citation on it, then yes, it would be very short. I'm not sure I see your point though; the game controller article is mess regardless of the citation in this one. Not everything requires citation anyway and much of the uncited info can be cited from within linked articles or is clear fact (for example citation is not needed to say that PlayStation analog controllers have 2 sticks - it is patently obvious by looking at one). Dates etc should indeed be cited, but can likely be easily found. If you are threatening to delete all uncited text then think again. That is not a good way to make encyclopaedic content, which is the purpose of citation...and all other wikipedia rules for that matter. That is why we have a "this article need citations" template at the top of the article, so that it may be improved. AlphathonTM (talk) 02:29, 26 May 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  Why is this article needed? Merge with [[Joystick]] 

message: How about this for the N64 paragraph?
On November 24, 1995 at the 7th annual Shoshinkai Software ExhibitionREF, Nintendo announced their Nintendo 64 controller (then known as the Ultra 64 controller) which included a thumb-operated control stick. Initially scheduled for release on April 21, 1996 but later delayed until June 24REF, the stick was digital rather than true analog (operating on the same principles as a mechanical computer mouse)REF but still allowed for a varying levels of input in both the x and y axes and near-360-degree control, translating into far more precise movements than were possible with a D-pad.
Still a little clunky I think, but getting there. Anyone care to share any info on the Dual Analog (not sure I trust the ref in its article - too ambiguous) and Sega 3D controller?
AlphathonTM (talk) 16:43, 28 June 2010 (UTC)
replies: text: On the surface, the press release you mention might seem ambiguous. However, if you check the date, you'll notice it was published on August 31, 1995. This places it's publication date many many months after the release of the larger PlayStation Analog Joystick. Since there was not another Sony brand analog joystick released or announced between the press release date and the PlayStation 96-97 Expo (where the Dual Analog was shown), this press release can only refer to said Dual Analog. The controller was obviously just delayed. For a really really long time. FluffyPug (talk) 00:27, 29 June 2010 (UTC)
replies: text: Fair enough. Honsetly I didn't spend too much time thinking about it, but it makes sense now you mention it. I haven't gone back to check (I can't assume you're telling the truth when we're talking about ref validity now can I :P), but while I think a clearer ref would be preferable, that one will do if nothing else can be found. It's times like this I wish people didn't have the habit of calling gamepads joysticks (etc); term ambiguity FTL. AlphathonTM (talk) 00:35, 29 June 2010 (UTC)
replies: text:  Everyone- Here's the reference from the Dual Analog pad article.  Feel free to peruse. It comes from the 1995 editions of Game Zero magazine, established in 1994. Sorry about being such a thorn in your side you all. 24.19.87.35 (talk) 01:05, 29 June 2010 (UTC)

text: Number 1- the ID name is "FluffyPUG", not "Pig". I do not appreciate you using my nickname in a disparagaing manner. Make note that insults such as that go directly against Wikipedia's policies. Secondly, you're just plain lying when you say it's referenced "by name"- they only say that "a sony brand analog joystick" will be availiable. They don't use the official term (which all press releases do, if you noticed). If they had been referencing the Sony Playstation Analog Joystick (as you'll notice they did with the MultiTap, a term Sony coined). The Playstation Analog JoyStick was something that had been out for a rather long time and which was all over the press circuit, they would not be referencing it as simply "a Sony brand" item, they would have used the same terminology. FluffyPug (talk) 12:17, 30 June 2010 (UTC)
replies: text:  FluffyPug, my sincere apologies, I assure you that misspelling of your handle was a mistake on my part and not an insult.  And it has been corrected.  As to the article, you seem to be making multiple assumptions in order to rationalize that the GameZero article must be referring to the Dual Analog.  They're clearly referring to US dates specifically in the article, and the PlayStation console hadn't even seen US release at that point.  Indeed, I can't find any reference to the PS Analog Joystick even releasing in Japan by that point, and sourced data from Sony themselves indicates the opposite  can you cite any reference as to such?  I also assure you my intent is not to "lie" and admit taking some offense to be told I am.  Also, multitap was a common term by that point, which I believe Hudson actually coined for their original multi-out controller extension for the PC Engine in the late 1980s.  Additionally relevant, I've just found reference to an analog joystick from Sega released for Saturn on September 29,1995 , meaning it predates all the controllers in question for N64, PS1 and Saturn in the article.  When the article is unlocked, it should likely be added ahead of the PS Analog Stick, who's only reference to release seems to be April 26, 1996 .(68.173.229.242 (talk) 12:54, 30 June 2010 (UTC)

text: In regards to your name, whatever happened to assume good faith, another Wikipedia policy. I didn't detect any malcontent from 68.173.229.242, and "Fluffypig" could easily be a mistake (it's an easy mistake to make - I'm sure a fluffy pig would be quite a cute animal) or a typo ("u" is next to "i" on qwerty keyboards after all). If it was used that way as an intentional insult then fair enough, but still, AGF. I would agree that it was not mentioned by name, but to be fair the words used do describe a stick better than a gamepad, so he/she's probably right. As I said above, it is at the very least ambiguous. AlphathonTM (talk) 12:34, 30 June 2010 (UTC)
replies: text:  To be fair to you, Alphathon, I will assume the best and accept that the reference is ambiguous. Since it doesn't reference it by name, we should avoid it. FluffyPug (talk) 12:38, 30 June 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  Reworking the history section 

message: On April 25, 1997REF, Sony released a similar analog stick equipped controller, known as the Dual Analog. It was based on the same potentiometer technology that was used in the Dual Analog Flightstick, which had been released a year earlier. The controller featured dual plastic concave thumbsticks (Nintendo's and Sega's controllers only featured a single stick) and could be used in three modes; Full Analog, FlightStick (for compatibility with games designed for the FlightStick) and digital (for compatibility with games which only accepted the digital input of the original controller).
Obviously with this version, the original FlightStick Paragraph would be removed.
AlphathonTM (talk) 01:27, 2 July 2010 (UTC)
thread_title: Dual Analog Paragraph

message: I would like to add a section about the inner parts of an analog stick boxes, with focus on those of the GameCube Controller, since that is the only type of controller I own. Now I have already made pictures that illustrate how they work, but I’m afraid uploading and explaining them here will get deleted anyway because it’s original content. So, should I write a detailed blog entry that can then be used as a source? If so, is it sufficient to write this on a forum’s user blog or does it have to be a dedicated blog? Kadano (talk) 10:08, 4 October 2013 (UTC)
replies: text: Your blog entry would not be a reliable source.  Please read WP:RS for more information on reliable sources.--Asher196 (talk) 15:20, 4 October 2013 (UTC)
thread_title:  Inner workings section 

message: Hello fellow Wikipedians,
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thread_title:  External links modified 

message: This article implies a couple things that I am skeptical of, but I don't have a lot of technical knowledge and I'm having trouble finding sources that clarify things. 
1. It says that analog sticks "use continuous electrical activity running through potentiometers". Is that really how all the controllers listed in the article work?  The PlayStation, the Wii, the Dreamcast, etc, they all use potentiometers? When I look up potentiometers in relation to videogames I mainly see discussion of more old fashioned control methods like Pong paddles and big joysticks.
2. It singles the N64 controller out with several sentences about how the N64's control stick is technically "digital", not "analog", creating an implication that the N64 controller is special in this regard. Is it? Or are other game controllers technically digital too?  — Preceding unsigned comment added by WanderingWanda (talk • contribs) 23:51, 22 February 2019 (UTC)
thread_title:  Technical questions.... 

message: I am not sure how this ended up with the shorter form "stick", but the term is "joystick" as one can see here on the talk page and in any number of references included in the body. It appears the shorter form, "stick", became common with Sony consoles. I suggest we move it to the proper term. Maury Markowitz (talk) 16:58, 27 September 2021 (UTC)
thread_title:  Proposed move to "analog joystick"