Interchangeable input mechanisms for control devices

A handheld video game controller, comprising:

• a plurality of input buttons;
• and
• at least one thumbstick comprising
• an interchangeable thumbstick element comprising a proximal contact surface configured to contact a user's finger and a distal socket extending from the contact surface to a distal end of the thumbstick element, the socket having at least one protrusion that extends to the distal end of the socket and protrudes inward from a wall of the socket, and
• a base component comprising a convex surface disposed at least partially below a casing of the video game controller and configured to pivot in a multi-directional manner about a center point below the housing, the base component further comprising a plug that extends outward from the convex surface to a proximal end and define a single piece with the convex surface, the base component defining a recessed circumferential wall space about the plug to define an annular channel between the plug and the circumferential wall so that a distal end of the plug is disposed below at least a portion of the convex surface, the plug having at least one recessed groove on an outer surface that receives the at least one protrusion of the socket to align the thumbstick element relative to the base component,
• wherein the socket of the interchangeable thumbstick element is configured to releasably couple to the plug of the base component such that a distal end of the socket is positioned in the recessed annular channel and extends below at least a portion of the convex surface.

A handheld video game controller kit, comprising:

• a video game controller unit comprising
• an interchangeable cross-shaped directional pad,
• a plurality of input buttons,
• a pair of thumbsticks, each of the pair of thumbsticks comprising
• a removable thumbstick element comprising a proximal contact surface configured to contact a user's finger and a distal socket extending from the contact surface to a distal end of the removable thumbstick element, the socket having at least one protrusion that extends to the distal end of the socket and protrudes inward from a wall of the socket, and
• a base component comprising a convex surface disposed at least partially below a casing of the video game controller and configured to pivot in a multi-directional manner about a center point below the housing, the base component further comprising a plug that extends outward from the convex surface to a proximal end and define a single piece with the convex surface, the base component defining a recessed circumferential wall space about the plug to define an annular channel between the plug and the circumferential wall so that a distal end of the plug is disposed below at least a portion of the convex surface;
• the plug having at least one recessed groove on an outer surface that receives the at least one protrusion of the socket to align the removable thumbstick element relative to the base component, the socket of the thumbstick element being configured to releasably couple to the plug of the base component such that a distal end of the socket is positioned in the recessed annular channel and extends below at least a portion of the convex surface;
• and
• a plurality of interchangeable thumbstick elements configured to replace the removable thumbstick element, at least two of the plurality of interchangeable thumbstick elements having a different size or shape.