An analog stick, often mistakenly referred to as a joystick, is an input device for a controller, often a game controller, that is used for two-dimensional input. It consists of some sort of protrusion from the controller, and the input is based on the position of this protrusion. Unlike a joystick, an analog stick is physically small compared to the controller, is not a controller in itself, and is not handheld. The analog stick has greatly overtaken the D-pad in prominence and usage in console video games.

Usage in video games

In video games, an analog stick is often used to move some game object, usually the protagonist. It may also be used to rotate the camera, usually around the protagonist. The analog stick can serve a great variety of other functions, depending on the game. Many analog sticks can also be pushed like other buttons on a controller.

Most modern game controllers have two analog sticks, which offers greater functionality than just one.

Analog sticks and Mario Party

Main article: Mario Party series

Analog sticks are normally intended to be used with the players' thumbs. However, many people who played Nintendo's original Mario Party, in which many of the minigames required the player to rotate the analog stick as rapidly as possible, instead used their palm, which often resulted in blistering or other injury. As a result, Nintendo agreed to provide special gloves to owners of the game.