are xbox360 controllers better on PC compared to the usual joystick?

[william_90]

I more emphasis on movement part, i've a joystick and its movements just like the keyboard's WASD, no difference, only 8 way direction, I played on xbox360 and the movement was in a full circular direction, i guess it has 360 point to move in, but my joystick has only 8 point to move in,
if i buy an xbox360 controller, will it help the issue, or this feature is exclusive to consoles

 

[boju]

xbox controllers work natively in windows. If the game supports controllers there will be no issue.

 

[william_90]

xbox controllers work natively in windows. If the game supports controllers there will be no issue.

what about the movement? will a 360 controller's left stick, control ur character smoothly (mostly in 3rd person games)
for example my character in Darksiders moves in only 8 direction, and when i check the xbox360 version on youtube
the movement was so different, it was smooth, in a 360 degree direction
i donno if its a weak porting of a game or a joystick issue

 

[boju]

the thumb stick will be the same but with shorter strokes.

 

[william_90]

the thumb stick will be the same but with shorter strokes.

pls forgive me ignorance, im not familiar with terms, will u tell me what do you mean by shorter strokes?

 

[boju]

shorter strokes as in not as far to travel, essentially thumb stick is a joystick, only smaller. Both work with the same x/y points.