ScreenStick is an arcade joystick that sticks to your tablet’s screen

If you’ve ever played a game on your tablet only to be frustrated by the controls, this is the device for you. It’s called ScreenStick, and it’s an arcade joystick that sticks to your tablet’s screen.

It uses good old-fashioned suction cups. And as anyone who’s ever nearly ripped their windscreen off while removing their satnav will tell you, these things stick.

There are two models: the Simulator Stick and the Gaming Stick. The inspiration for the former came from the controls to a remote-controlled plane. The Gaming Stick, meanwhile, has an ergonomically-shaped joystick with a non-slip surface.

You can use it with any game with on-screen controls, be it an RPG, sports game, first-person shooter, platformer or something else.

Both are made of aluminium, so should be durable, and promise precision control.

Hopefully they can improve on the rather unresponsive on-screen controls. But there is another issue. On-screen controls block your view, and with either of these suckered to the screen, it’ll be even harder to see what’s going on. The problem is even worse on mobiles than tablets. But screens are getting bigger, so maybe it will be less of an issue.

Read more: Apple granted patent for snap-on game controller and keyboard

An alternative is the Logitech Powershell or Mad Catz L.Y.N.X. 9, which keep the controls separate from the phone or tablet.

If you want to control a remote controlled vehicle from your phone, the ScreenStick looks just the thing. And it costs just £16, which isn’t bad at all.

It’s passed its funding goal of £6,000 and should ship in April.