If you're not sure whether a game you like requires a special input device

Game Pads

Most people know game pads from the console game systems that sit under their television sets—wires come out from the console and end in bulbous loaves of plastic, covered with buttons, that gamers hold with two hands. Many games for Windows, especially driving and sports games, are also played with game pads. They're also good for action and some role playing games (RPGs).

Here's what to look for when selecting a game pad:

Thumbsticks. Most game pads come with two miniature joysticks that you control with your thumbs. These thumbsticks provide 360 degrees of movement and you'll find one on each side of the game pad. Thumbsticks typically have an "extra button" that you activate by pressing straight down on it. Are they within easy reach of your thumbs? You'll use the left one the most, to move your character within the game. If they're comfortable, they're satisfactory.

They provide 360 degrees of movement.

D-pad. Usually, your left thumb rests on the d-pad (short for directional pad) and you want to be able to reach it comfortably. Again, comfort and ease of reach are the first concerns. A deluxe, uncomfortable d-pad is no better than a comfortable, basic d-pad. There are three varieties:

Four-way. Lets you move in four directions only: forward, backward, left, and right. This is the most basic of d-pads.

Eight-way. Lets you move forward, backward, left, right, forward-left, forward-right, back-left, and back-right. This gives you more precision to maneuver through tight spaces in any of the games you'll play with the game pad.

Proportional. You get the full 360 degrees of movement with the proportional d-pad, which allows you the most flexibility from a control standpoint.

D-pads are used for more than movement. You might use them to select weapons or change your point of view within the game. Since most games allow you to program inputs, you may set these functions to your thumbsticks or other inputs. It all depends on your style. Even if you only use d-pads occasionally, make sure that placement is within easy reach of your thumb. D-pads are typically found underneath the left thumbstick.

Buttons. Most game pads come with six buttons and two shoulder buttons. You'll find the six buttons on top of the pad in a group, and the shoulder buttons under the pad. The shoulder buttons are often shaped like triggers and some people even call them triggers or trigger buttons. There is typically a start button as well, but you'll mostly use the six buttons and the triggers once the game starts.

All the buttons must be comfortable to use. If you have large hands you might press the wrong button by mistake, and if you have small hands you might have to strain to reach some buttons. Everyone must find the right fit for a game pad to work for them.

Force feedback. Similar to force feedback joysticks, force feedback game pads will vibrate roughly when you hit something or are hit. Walk into a wall in the game or get shot and sometimes you'll feel it even before you know what happened because your hands will tremble from the impact.

This is a nice feature to have since the vibration often gives you clues to hidden or hard to find bonuses in the game.

Wireless. With the advent of 2.4 Ghz technology, wireless remote control took a giant leap forward. Wireless joysticks now feature first class reliability. The price for this feature is still at a premium, but the tidiness of reducing the wires on your desk and being freer in your choice of seating can make a huge difference in gaming fun. Just remember to be aware of your battery life; dead batteries in the middle of the game can be a real mood killer.

1. Feel - How does the gamepad feel once you have it in your hands? How long can you play with it without feeling any discomfort? Most gamers know from experience that many gamepads were absolute death for the hands, causing blisters and pain after those all-nighters. The original NES controller is a perfect example - the corners would dig into your hands after a while, and your hands would be sore after extensive gameplay.

2. Responsiveness - How "quick" does the gamepad seem? Can a user go from brain to thumb to pad to screen without a hitch? Many third-party gamepads have been plagued by this problem. Either the D-Pad sticks a bit, or is a bit hard to push down, or just doesn't do what it's supposed to quickly enough. This is the sole biggest criterion in the judgment of a gamepad. With many older games (for example Tetris), the input direction is important. Many PC gamepads have a very hard time distinguishing between straight directions and diagonal directions. Thus, in a game like Tetris, pushing slightly off "right" could cause the gamepad to register "down-right", which pushes the piece down, and would obviously ruin the experience. The NES controller was very direct in its directions, and thus was appropriate for the NES version of Tetris.

3. Versatility - How many games can the gamepad play? How far will a gamer's dollar go on this gamepad? Some gamepads are designed with a specific genre in mind. For example, Microsoft's gamepad site designates each gamepad with its "optimum" genres. We test all our gamepads on a variety of games, with the hope that it will perform well for all games.

4. The "Gimmick Factor" - This is easily the smallest factor in the scheme of things, but nonetheless an important one. Some game controllers offer a specific gimmicky feature. For example, Logitech's WingMan Gamepad Extreme offers "G-Force Tilt" motion sensing that allows a player to lean into a turn or bank. These features are excellent for some situations, and gamers may benefit from the gimmicks.

5. Software - How well does the controller get along with Windows? Is there any included software, and how well does it work? Are there any free games? Of course, software is the perfect compliment to any good piece of hardware. In many cases, it can make the process of using the game controller seamless, especially when a pad's extra features aren't supported by Windows' Control Panel.

ome Leading Game Pad Manufactuers