Buying Joysticks for PC Games

There are countless older and newer computer video games on the market. Unfortunately, hardly any games come with their own joystick. Truth be told, you can play most PC games by using your keyboard and mouse. Computer games are simply easier and more fun when you are using a joystick instead. There are numerous places to find any controller you could need for your computer. Here are just a few tips for buying joysticks for PC games.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Begin by determining how much money you want to spend on your computer joystick. A simple controller will cost you no more than $15 but a more intricate joystick can set you back over $100. Once you know how much you want to spend, you can better search for the right joystick for you.

2. Consider which games you'll be playing while using the joystick. For basic computer games or role-playing games, a simple controller similar to those used for console video games will suffice. A more sophisticated joystick should be purchased if you'll be playing complicated games that require a lot of movement and buttons.

3. Read computer joystick reviews. Consumer Search is a great website that lists plenty of free reviews on computer joysticks and controllers (see Resources below). These reviews are written by both “experts” and gamers like yourself, giving you the best information possible about the joysticks listed.

4. Visit a local video game store. Places like Gamestop and EB Games sell both console and computer video games as well as controllers and joysticks. Speak to a sales associate at the store about your gaming needs. This person will be able to recommend the right joystick for you. If the store doesn't carry it, they will even tell you where you can find and buy that particular joystick.

5. Look for PC joysticks online. You may actually save a lot of money by purchasing your controller on the Internet as opposed to buying from a store. Nextag lists pages of controllers as well as the stores that sell those particular joysticks (see Resources below). The website even lists items by price, helping you save even more money.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider buying a specialty controller. If you play racing games, for example, you could buy a wheel joystick. There are several different specialty joysticks made for flying games. The drawback to this, of course, is that these joysticks really can't be used with other "normal" games.

Resources

• Consumer Search Joystick Review
• Computer Joystick on Nextag

[Felicity]

on 10/26/2008 Thanks for the helpful pointers.