Game board, game board, controller or simple pad is a game controller held by two hands, in which the fingers (especially the thumb) are used to provide input. They are usually the main input devices of video game consoles.

The game controller usually has a set of buttons operated with the right thumb and a direction controller operated with the left hand. Direction controllers are traditionally four-way digital forks (also known as levers or d-pads, never arrow keys), but most modern controllers have one or more analog joysticks in addition (or instead).

Some common additional features of a standard keyboard include shoulder keys (also known as "bumpers") and triggers placed along the edge of the keyboard (shoulder keys are usually numeric, i.e. only on / off; triggers are usually analog); centrally placed start, select, and mode buttons, and an internal motor to provide force feedback.

There are programmable joysticks that can simulate keyboard input. Usually, they are made to avoid the lack of joystick support in some computer games. Belkin Nostromo SpeedPad n52。 There are several programs that simulate keyboard and mouse input through the game handle, such as free and open-source cross platform software Antimicro, enjoy2 or proprietary business solutions, such as joytokey, xpadder and pinnacle game profiler.

1962 video game space war! The game was initially controlled by a toggle switch built into the computer's readout display. These switches are clumsy and uncomfortable to use, so Alan kotok and Bob Saunders are built-in and wired in the game's independent control device. The device is known as the first gamepad.

The original Sega Genesis / Mega Drive dashboard had three face buttons, but a six button dashboard was later released. SNES controller also has six action buttons, four face buttons arranged in diamond shape, and two shoulder buttons positioned for use with index finger. Since then, the design has been imitated by most controllers. The addition of six action buttons is influenced by the popularity of the street fighter arcade series, which uses six buttons.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, analog joystick was the main form of PC game controller, while console game controller was mostly digital. In 1996, the situation changed when optional simulation controls were introduced in all three major consoles. Sony dual analog controller has a double convex analog pointer, Sega Saturn 3D control pad has a single analog pointer, and Nintendo 64 controller combines digital and analog controllers in an integrated machine, and begins to have the trend of both analog handle and D. -Pad.

Despite these changes, the joystick actually continues to follow the template set by the NES controller (a horizontal controller with two or more action buttons for the right thumb and a steering wheel for the left thumb).

Although several PC game consoles have become popular, such as the gravis PC gamepad, gamepad has failed to gain any dominant position outside the home console market.

Game consoles can also be used for personal computers. Examples of PC game controllers include ASUS EEE stick, gravis PC, Microsoft Sidewinder and Saitek cyborg series, and steam controller. You can use a third-party USB adapter and software to take advantage of the console joystick on your PC. On systems with Bluetooth capabilities, dualshock 3, dualshock 4, Wii Remote and joy con can be used with third-party software, and USB can also be used on dualshock 3 and dualshock 4. Windows officially supports Xbox 360 and Xbox one controllers, drivers provided by Microsoft; they can be connected wirelessly using dongle, or they can be connected directly to the computer through USB (Xbox 360 controller in wired version is sold as PC game handle in Microsoft, and Xbox one controller can be connected to PC through its USB) micro USB slot).