As the size of the phone screen is getting bigger and bigger, more and more kinds of games have the mobile version. Back to 2000s, people are satisfied by the snake using only four direction keys. But the evolution of mobile games requires plentiful ways for the users to play. One solution is to simulate the joystick as in the video game console set on the phone screen.
First, the virtual joysticks are lack of feedback. The users have no way to know the success of their operations directly from the operations. Visual inputs (with sound feedback sometimes) from the screen are the only way for the users to learn the consequence. As the time of continuous playing increases, people tend to push harder and harder on the screen due to lacking feedback and needs to keep moving.
What’s more, when playing with a physical joystick, the relative position of the finger and the joystick is fixed. But on the screen, users have to move their fingers and rub on the screen. This will cause pain even injury to the finger. I personally got cocoon on the tip of my left thumb after playing a MOBA game for two weeks.
The reason why virtual joystick is popular among several particular types of games is it provides the real-time and continuous way to move the position of the character in the game. If the virtual four directional keys are provided, users are hard to operate the role accurately at the first time. Furthermore, it follows the philosophy on the video game which may help users get familiar with the game faster. At first glance, it is a good way to play MOBA games on the phone. The disadvantage will appear after a user spends some time and becomes quite noticeable after longtime use.
The disadvantage of the virtual joystick is so obvious that you can find a lot of solutions on eBay. Like shown in the picture, people can buy a physical joystick sticking on the screen to replace the virtual one. Another solution is using mobile app simulator but that doesn’t actually improve the user experience on the phone.
