The difference between a game controller and joystick is that in video games, the input device for movements guides on-screen objects. While joysticks are handheld vertical levers mounted onto bases which allow you to move them left/right or up/down accordingly. You can also press buttons as needed when using this type of pin whereas other types might be partly sticks so pressing all four at once will make your character do something different than if only one has been pressed hard enough.