Gamepad-friendliness

Gamepad-friendliness refers to a game's ability to be 100% operable using only a gaming input device such as a USB gamepad or joystick. This is a desirable feature to have when playing games in a HTPC setup, in which using a keyboard may be inconvenient. If a game requires keyboard intervention during gameplay or menu navigation, then it would not be considered gamepad-friendly.

This is somewhat an abstract concept because there is a wide variety of gaming input devices available. Many modern game pads can have upwards of ten or more buttons as well as dual-analog sticks, much akin to PlayStation controllers. Most early PC joysticks, however, usually only had one or two. Because the particular gaming device used is, itself, a major variable, one cannot make a concrete blanket-statement regarding the gamepad-friendliness of a any game. At best, a game can be classified as gamepad-friendly with a certain type or brand of gamepad.

See also: Cabinet-friendliness