View Full Version : What are/were some of the coolest peripherals ever?
digitalpress
12-31-2002, 07:31 AM
I'm finishing up a small column on the more esoteric of peripherals over the years, like the maracas, the Bemani devices like the guitar and keyboard/scratch disc controller, the U-Force "hands free" controller and the Steel Batallion monster.
What were some of your favorites?
maxlords
12-31-2002, 07:54 AM
Personally, I dig the Saturn and Dreamcast Twin Sticks for Virtual On...those kick so much ass! :) Also...don't leave out the infamous Rez Trance Vibrator (anyone actually HAVE one of those??)! 3D Glasses for Master System were pretty dame cool too.
Masco73
12-31-2002, 08:06 AM
Even though it was pretty much useless, you got to include the ROB. It was pretty cool when it was all set up and working correctly.
autobotracing
12-31-2002, 08:16 AM
3d glasses for master system were the shit .I had a pair and they ruled
sniperCCJVQ
12-31-2002, 08:22 AM
The Power Glove, you look like a bionic man when you put this on your arm, but you if can play at least 5 minutes with it....well your arm MUST BE a real bionic one :-D
1. Any type of trakball/roller controller.
2. Atari 1020 printer/plotter.
3. Atari Touch Tablet.
Does ComputerEyes count?
Stark
12-31-2002, 09:34 AM
I'd agree that the Power Glove still looks cool and those Sega 3D Glasses were great back in the day.
hamburgler
12-31-2002, 10:11 AM
my favorite's
Wavebird wireless controller
Controller S
Socom headset
Xbox live headset
Ps2 multitap
Extension cord for Ps2
Guncon 1&2
Stunner Gun for saturn
3D controller for saturn
Turbo tap for TG-16
Turbo Pad for TG-16
Turbo cd
Turbo booster plus
Ps2 dual shock pad
Dreamcast controller
Broadband adapter for Dreamcast
Memory card 251 for Gamecube
Dreamcast VMU
Dreamcast 4x memory card
Dreamcast VCD controller
NES controller pad
Gravis gamepad for computer
Nes controller
Nes four-player adapter
Snes controller
ROB the robot
Dreamcast keyboard
Atari 2600 tennis controller
Atari 2600 controller
Genesis multitap adapter
Genesis controller
Turbo stick
Saturn Multitap adapter
Gc to gba adapter
and that's about it for me.
I have a video game controller that worked off of a Nordic Track Ski machine. It was for use on the Genesis and SNES. There were two settings. One for having to stay in a target speed range, or the gas button wouldn't be held down. And 2, the faster you went, the faster your vehicle would go.
There was also the golf club controller. I have one that worked with PGA golf and there were supposedly other carts that you could plug into the club's mat that would make it compatable with other games.
Then there was the baseball bat...
FRED
Arcade Antics
12-31-2002, 10:35 AM
Sega Maracas!
(if only they had made a DC version of Fire Fighters with hydrant/hose peripheral!)
ColecoVision Driving Module
ColecoVision Roller Controller
Chunky
12-31-2002, 10:42 AM
Sega Maracas!
yup.
DDR pad
ROB
that rez viabrator thing that i played with once.
Mayhem
12-31-2002, 10:51 AM
Lipstik voice controller released by Access...
stonecutter
12-31-2002, 11:03 AM
I am with fcw3,
the golf club is called TeeV golf and works with the PGA games, I have the Genesis version, there is also a SNES one. My friends and I have lots of fun with this.
THe baseball bat I have is for SNES, it is called Batterup, and works with all of the baseball games. It has some dip switches that you set for the different games, the settings vary depending on what the button configuration of the game is on a standard SNES controller.
I also like my Dreamcast fishing rod as well.
samuraiX
12-31-2002, 11:17 AM
How about the Power Pad
as far as things already mentioned:
DDR Pad
Steel Battalion Controller
R.O.B.
U Force
Konami's Guitar
Maracas
Power Glove
Konami's Drum Set
... that's all for now.
Achika
12-31-2002, 11:17 AM
Sega Maracas are by far the best of the odd ball peripherals I've actually used.
Sure, the Game Boy Singer is cool, so is the SNES exercise bike, but I've not actually used one, so I don't know how cool they are.
ClubNinja
12-31-2002, 11:26 AM
I think the Atari Mindlink is the clear winner here...
; )
The Virtual On Twinsticks are quite nifty as well.
digitalpress
12-31-2002, 11:41 AM
I have a follow-up question:
Can anyone explain how the CBS "Booster Grip" works? I mean in somewhat technical terms. I understand what it does for Omega Race, and I know that I can use a ColecoVision controller in its place but how exactly does it convert a one-button stick into a two-button stick? Is it simulating some other button or combination? Do tell.
Arcade Antics
12-31-2002, 11:43 AM
I think it's along these lines: it's just a new button that is mapped to the same place as, eg, the ColecoVision button #2. Then, 2600 Omega Race has the code to tell the button what to do and viola!
How about the NEC Power Console (http://members.tripod.com/faberp/PC.htm)? Looks like Steel Batallion before it's time :)
-Kevin
IGotTheDot
12-31-2002, 01:24 PM
2600 joyboard
2600 Track and Field controller
5200 Track Ball
I have also seen (from Japan) a controller for the PC Engine (I think, it was before I was realy paying attention to VG stuff) that attatches to your O_O ,....... a..... well....let's just say that only boys can play O_O . Has anyone else seen this? Probably not something you can put in tips and tricks. :P
Arcade Antics
12-31-2002, 01:47 PM
2600 joyboard
2600 Track and Field controller
5200 Track Ball
I have also seen (from Japan) a controller for the PC Engine (I think, it was before I was realy paying attention to VG stuff) that attatches to your O_O ,....... a..... well....let's just say that only boys can play O_O . Has anyone else seen this? Probably not something you can put in tips and tricks. :P
But it sounds like it could go in "Tips and Trixxx"...
crivit
12-31-2002, 01:56 PM
Konami laserscope gets my vote. I had WAAAAY too much fun playing duck hunt and hogan's alley with that back in the day. I used it so much it eventually fell apart on me :( In addition to the fun factor there's also the added bonus of making people wonder why you're yelling "kill" at the tv all day :D
MrRetroGamer
12-31-2002, 01:58 PM
Vectrex 3D goggles!
That's right ! The PC-Engine had a Pachinko controller for flipping balls into the pinball-like gamefields.
And don't forget the "Le Stick". The Atari 2600 compatable joystick without a base. It used some form of mercury switches to register movement.
And guns. Don't forget guns. Lots of guns... @_@
FRED
nesman85
12-31-2002, 04:03 PM
gameboy camera and printer.
autobotracing
12-31-2002, 04:16 PM
dont forget this little jewel :D
http://www.syberpunk.com/images/misc/boonga/boonga2.jpg
Mr-E_MaN
12-31-2002, 06:26 PM
I think the wavebird is the best and most useful peripheral I have ever owned... I bought 2 of them the day they came out and my console never fell off my TV since... The next best would have to be the 4 player adaptor for the SNES because 4 player bomberman rocked.
christianscott27
12-31-2002, 06:38 PM
i heard nintendo made a NES controller for quadroplegics called the hands free where your chin controlled the joypad and the 2 buttons were controlled via a straw, sip for the b button and blow for the a...
anybody got one of these?
________
FERRARI ASCARI HISTORY (http://www.ferrari-wiki.com/wiki/Ferrari_Ascari)
Phosphor Dot Fossils
12-31-2002, 07:21 PM
dont forget this little jewel
But I already have a white box with a red X in it!
I have to nominate the early voice synthesizers: Intellivoice and, my fave, the Voice of Odyssey 2. " LOL HA ha ha ha HA! That's incredible!" Ain't nothin' better!
Kinda pedestrian, I know, but when you keep in mind that the add-on voice box became extinct as of the very next generation of consoles (i.e. the 5200's talking Baseball cart), those peripherals are kind of unusual in retrospect.