This mini-kit makes it easy to mount a PSP/Xbox-like thumb joystick to your project. The thumbstick is an analog joystick - more accurate and sensitive than just 'directional' joysticks - with a 'press in to select' button.
Since it's analog, you'll need two analog reading pins on your microcontroller to determine X and Y. Having an extra digital input will let you read the switch.
The pack comes in three parts - the joystick itself, a soft-touch rubber 'hat' and a nicely designed breakout board. Adafruit designed the breakout so that you can attach the joystick to a panel easily - every other breakout we wanted to carry had the mounting holes so they were in the way of the joystick movement! A 5 pin 0.1" spaced header makes it easy to connect either in a perfboard/breadboard setting or free wiring. You'll need to solder the joystick into the PCB using a soldering iron and solder, but its very simple and will only take a minute.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
EagleCAD PCB files on GitHub
Fritzing object in Adafruit Fritzing library
Dimensions: 1.5" wide x 1.5" long x 1.25" tall (when assembled)
Weight: 12 grams ( 0.4oz )
Power: Usable with any voltage up to 5V, 2 analog outputs. 1 milliamp draw when used with 5V