Abstract: An eight-way joystick control system is disclosed. The joystick comprises a control shaft having a handle end adapted for grasping and deflection of the control shaft by a user, and pivot defining a fixed point about which the control shaft is deflected at the handle end by the user. The control shaft has a central neutral position and eight control sector positions spaced radially around the neutral position. An indicator is included that produces a distinctive electrical signal when the control shaft is in each of the control sector positions. A control structure defines a deflection limit of the control shaft in an octagon shaped deflection pattern with eight corners. Each corner corresponds to one of the eight control sector positions such that when the control shaft is deflected into any one of the eight corners the control shaft is positioned in the corresponding control sector position.