A game controller, gaming controller, or simply controller, is an input device or input/output device used with video games or entertainment systems to provide input to a video game. Input devices that have been classified as game controllers include keyboards, mice, gamepads, and joysticks, as well as special purpose devices, such as steering wheels for driving games and light guns for shooting games. Controllers designs have evolved to include directional pads, multiple buttons, analog sticks, joysticks, motion detection, touch screens and a plethora of other features.
Microsoft SideWinder is a former brand name for a family of video gaming peripherals developed by Microsoft for PCs. It was initially marketed from 1995 to 2003 consisting of game controllers, then again from 2007 until the early 2010s with gaming mice and keyboards.
A direct-drive mechanism is a mechanism design where the force or torque from a prime mover is transmitted directly to the effector device without involving any intermediate couplings such as a gear train or a belt.
The NeGcon, stylized as neGcon, is a motion-based game controller manufactured in 1995 by Namco for the PlayStation. One of the first third-party peripherals for the system, the controller is connected by a swivel joint, allowing the player to twist the halves relative to each other. The controller also replaces the "symbol" buttons on the original PlayStation controller with two "A" and "B" buttons, as well as "I" and "II" buttons that allowed for analogue control. A black variant was released exclusively in Japan.
Thrustmaster is an American designer, developer and manufacturer of joysticks, game controllers, and steering wheels for PCs and video gaming consoles. It has licensing agreements with third party brands as Airbus, Boeing, Ferrari, Gran Turismo and U.S. Air Force as well as licensing some products under Sony's PlayStation and Microsoft's Xbox licenses.
A gear stick, gear lever, gearshift or shifter, more formally known as a transmission lever, is a metal lever attached to the transmission of an automobile. The term gear stick mostly refers to the shift lever of a manual transmission, while in an automatic transmission, a similar lever is known as a gear selector. A gear stick will normally be used to change gear whilst depressing the clutch pedal with the left foot to disengage the engine from the drivetrain and wheels. Automatic transmission vehicles, including hydraulic automatic transmissions, automated manual and older semi-automatic transmissions, like VW Autostick, and those with continuously variable transmissions, do not require a physical clutch pedal.
Various accessories for the PlayStation 3 video game console have been produced by Sony and third-party companies. These include controllers, audio and video input devices like microphones, video cameras, and cables for better sound and picture quality.
The Gran Turismo official steering wheels are a series of racing wheels designed by Logitech in collaboration with Polyphony Digital. These racing games controllers are designed to be used with the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 systems but later models can be used on PC as well due to their USB connection. The GT Force is the central part of a driving simulation cockpit installation. Official kits are co-designed and released in Japan by Logicool and Sparco, while compatible kits are designed and released worldwide by European manufacturers such as Playseat® and MoveTech.
The Logitech Driving Force GT is a racing wheel peripheral designed for racing games on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and Microsoft Windows and Linux PCs. It is manufactured and distributed by Logitech International S.A of Romanel-sur-Morges, Switzerland. The wheel was released on December 13, 2007.
A sim racing wheel is a control device for use in racing games, racing simulators, and driving simulators. They are usually packaged with a large paddle styled as a steering wheel, along with a set of pedals for the accelerator, brake, and clutch, as well as transmission controls. An analog wheel and pedal set such as this allows the user to accurately manipulate steering angle and pedal control that is required to properly manage a simulated car, as opposed to digital control such as a keyboard. The relatively large range of motion further allows the user to more accurately apply the controls. Racing wheels have been developed for use with arcade games, game consoles, personal computers, and also for professional driving simulators for race drivers.
The Logitech G27 is a racing wheel made by Logitech. It supports PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2 and PC. It replaced the Logitech G25 in 2010, with some new features including the use of helical gearing instead of the previous straight gears used on the G25. As of December 2015, the G27 is no longer sold by Logitech, in favor of the newer G29 and G920 steering wheels now offered by Logitech.
GT Racing Cockpit is the name of a line of Gran Turismo official video game racing cockpits designed by Sparco and Logitech in collaboration with Polyphony Digital.
Car controls are the components in automobiles and other powered road vehicles, such as trucks and buses, used for driving and parking.
The Logitech G29 is a racing wheel made by Logitech. It supports PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PC. The Logitech G920 is compatible with the Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One and PC, with different buttons and logos. It replaced the Logitech G27 in 2015, but retains the internal design and technical specifications. Its successor is the Logitech G923, released in August 2020, however, the G29 is still available for sale. They both share a similar exterior design.
A full motion racing simulator, sometimes called a full motion sim rig, is a motion simulator that is purposed for racing, and must provide motion simulation in all six degrees of freedom, as defined by the aviation simulator industry many decades ago. The six degrees of freedom coincide with Earth physics, and are commonly referred to as:
A direct-drive simulator steering wheel is a simulator steering wheel with a direct-drive mechanism between the drive and output, i.e. without gearing, and is used similarly as with other simulator steering wheels for providing torque feedback so that the driver, through movement in the steering wheel, gets an interface for sensing what is happening to the car in the simulator. It is an example of human–computer interaction in driving simulators, racing simulators, and racing video games, and is an example of haptic technology
A simulator pedal, sim pedal or gaming pedal is a pedal used in a simulator for entertainment or training. Common examples are throttle and brake pedals for driving simulators, and rudder pedals for flight simulators. For minimum latency, they are often connected to a computer or gaming console via cabling, for example with USB-C.
Endor AG was a German electronics company founded in 1997 headquartered in Landshut, Bavaria. The company manufactured and marketed the sim racing game peripherals mainly under the name of the Fanatec brand, compatible across racing games. The company filed for bankruptcy in July 2024, with the remaining business assets, including the Fanatec name brand, being bought by gaming peripherals maker Corsair Gaming. Corsair wound up the Endor AG company in September 2024, with no jobs being lost and the Fanatec brand name continuing for the time being.
