The origin of the term is contested, but may be derived from “George Stick”, named for a possible inventor.

I knew the device itself predated gaming, but I always assumed it gained the joystick name from some game company. I’m surprised to to learn its unrelated!

    • Paraneoptera@sopuli.xyz
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      4 months ago

      Yeah, it’s bogus. This is some speculation that someone put in Wikipedia but there’s no published source. It’s just a folk etymology that some enthusiast thought was endearing. Not a single reputable source will substantiate this, like most folk etymologies.

  • fubo@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    4 months ago

    I always thought video games got the term from pilots, and pilots got the term from the control stick’s resemblance to an erect penis.

    • PlasticExistence@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      4 months ago

      It’s company policy never to imply ownership in the event of a joystick… always use the indefinite article ‘a’ joystick was found in your luggage. Never your joystick

  • glibg10b@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    4 months ago

    may be derived from “George Stick”

    Was the personal computer invented by “John Computer”?

    • fidodo@lemmy.world
      cake
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      4 months ago

      No, his name was Percival Computer. Personal computer is just a common mishearing of the word.