Worst/Wierdest Gaming Peripherals In History?

Belfast · (06-28-2006, 07:00 PM)

We discussed this a bit in the teamspeak chat the other night and I figured I'd open up the discussion to the rest of the forum. We all know that over the years, third parties have tried to capitalize on innovation by releasing some really strange shit or just oddly designed controllers that don't have much of a practical use.

While I know they aren't the worst, my votes go to the Turbo Touch 360 controller from the 8.16-bit days. These things had a "touch-sensitive" d-pad (OMG Nintendo copied!) instead of a traditional raised one. You were supposed to just slide your finger across in the direction you wanted to go, but in practice it was frustrating and lacked the tactile appeal that made the traditional d-pad so wonderful to use.

The other one I remember is a one-handed RPG controller so you could use your other hand to flip through a strategy guide (noobs!). Of course, one could easily think of other situations where such a controller might just come in handy.

Sgt. Killjoy · (06-28-2006, 07:01 PM)

in before the

sure its not really a peripheral, but you know someone would

Oldschoolgamer · (06-28-2006, 07:04 PM)

More like the best AMIRITE?

FortNinety · (06-28-2006, 07:04 PM)

Archie · (06-28-2006, 07:06 PM)

in before wiimote

edit: and the turbo tuch 360 ruled!

soul creator · (06-28-2006, 07:08 PM)

lol, I've always liked that pic.

as far as the topic goes, I may have to nominate the Sega Activator

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...66196223400692

the genesis pad was too complex, so sega was trying to bring in the non-gamers! lol at how tedious it is to set up

TigerKnee · (06-28-2006, 07:08 PM)

Power glove and Activator

/thread

Idioteque · (06-28-2006, 07:09 PM)

Everything ever made by Nintendo ever.

GhaleonEB · (06-28-2006, 07:09 PM)

lol I got one of those for free for some kind of promotion. I didn't work at all.

Brannon · (06-28-2006, 07:11 PM)

R.O.B. for NES

Of course Nintendo only used it to get their foot in the door after Atari fcuked up the videogame sector. Fortunately it worked. Unfortunately videogames are still referred to as toys to this day. The very definition of a double-edged sword.

Belfast · (06-28-2006, 07:12 PM)

Originally Posted by Oldschoolgamer:

More like the best AMIRITE?

Jane thinks so!

OuterWorldVoice · (06-28-2006, 07:14 PM)

Originally Posted by DJ Brannon:

R.O.B. for NES

Of course Nintendo only used it to get their foot in the door after Atari fcuked up the videogame sector. Fortunately it worked. Unfortunately videogames are still referred to as toys to this day. The very definition of a double-edged sword.

ROB did not cause video games to be seen as toys. The demographic did.

Lord Helmet · (06-28-2006, 07:15 PM)

Originally Posted by soul creator:

lol, I've always liked that pic.

as far as the topic goes, I may have to nominate the Sega Activator

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...66196223400692

the genesis pad was too complex, so sega was trying to bring in the non-gamers! lol at how tedious it is to set up

OMFG. I've never seen that until now. And I thought the power glove was the worst...

Thaedolus · (06-28-2006, 07:17 PM)

Originally Posted by soul creator:

lol, I've always liked that pic.

as far as the topic goes, I may have to nominate the Sega Activator

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...66196223400692

the genesis pad was too complex, so sega was trying to bring in the non-gamers! lol at how tedious it is to set up

Wow...just...wow.

Good old early 90's gaming...

OuterWorldVoice · (06-28-2006, 07:17 PM)

Before DS, before Wii, there was this.

Brannon · (06-28-2006, 07:20 PM)

hmm, maybe.

But I do know one thing... this thread is making me feel OLD.

FlameOfCallandor · (06-28-2006, 07:23 PM)

Originally Posted by Stinkles:

Before DS, before Wii, there was this.

wtf is that?

Brannon · (06-28-2006, 07:27 PM)

You used to play Pokemon at the mall and won first place all the time and you don't know what that is!?!?!

Your reactions to the U-Force sicken me.

the year 20XX · (06-28-2006, 07:27 PM)

The Roll 'n Rocker!

The controller so bad it was produced by LJN!

SuperJ · (06-28-2006, 07:40 PM)

Originally Posted by the year 20XX:

The controller so bad it was produced by LJN!

I haven't heard the name LJN in over a decade

koam · (06-28-2006, 07:40 PM)

Originally Posted by TigerKnee:

Power glove and Activator

/thread

The power glove rocks. The problem with it is that the NES was not powerful enough to support it properly. People made 3D apps on the PC that worked with the powerglove and they were pretty cool. The power glove had the same 3d position tech as the wiimote except that the precision wasn't as fine tuned.

Ronabo · (06-28-2006, 07:41 PM)

Basicly all that piece of crap thing was nothing but a speaker that you wore.

the year 20XX · (06-28-2006, 07:41 PM)

Originally Posted by SuperJ:

I haven't heard the name LJN in over a decade

Too bad. You missed out on an excellently terrible Dreamcast racing game.

FnordChan · (06-28-2006, 07:44 PM)

The Atari 2600 Mindlink.

FnordChan

Belfast · (06-28-2006, 07:44 PM)

Originally Posted by soul creator:

lol, I've always liked that pic.

as far as the topic goes, I may have to nominate the Sega Activator

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...66196223400692

the genesis pad was too complex, so sega was trying to bring in the non-gamers! lol at how tedious it is to set up

There's just no possible way to make that look cool. Sorry surfer dude and generic black guy!

Reilly · (06-28-2006, 07:47 PM)

http://www.vidgame.net/SEGA/Sega/gen.../activator.jpg

Az987 · (06-28-2006, 07:52 PM)

Originally Posted by Ronabo:

Basicly all that piece of crap thing was nothing but a speaker that you wore.

Oh man I remember wanting that so bad as a kid but I always wondered what happens when your characther dies!! DO YOU DIE!?!

soul creator · (06-28-2006, 07:55 PM)

Originally Posted by the year 20XX:

Too bad. You missed out on an excellently terrible Dreamcast racing game.

it's kinda sad that I knew exactly which game you were talking about...

Gek54 · (06-28-2006, 08:35 PM)

Namco Jogcon for RR4

First TFF console controler iirc. Fun until it started to hurt.

knoo · (06-28-2006, 08:36 PM)

Originally Posted by Gek54:

D-Pad looks pretty good, but WTF is that thing in the middle?

lyre · (06-28-2006, 08:50 PM)

Originally Posted by knoo:

D-Pad looks pretty good, but WTF is that thing in the middle?

The 'steering wheel', I'd assume.

Snookie · (06-28-2006, 08:53 PM)

I remember the U-Force we had. We never really could get it to work and there were additional pieces you had to setup around it. I want to say it sold for close to $100. I know Powerglove was over 100 i believe.

FnordChan · (06-28-2006, 08:54 PM)

Originally Posted by yudaan:

The 'steering wheel', I'd assume.

Yep, it was a force feedback steering wheel. Worked pretty well, though it's got nothin' on the original NeGcon.

FnordChan

Larry Bird · (06-28-2006, 08:56 PM)

dreamkats · (06-28-2006, 08:56 PM)

any turbo pad for 8/16bits systems

especially this one:

http://images.google.fr/images?q=tbn...97/5f/94_2.JPG

Chittagong · (06-28-2006, 08:57 PM)

The NES SuperController

GoutPatrol · (06-28-2006, 08:58 PM)

Originally Posted by Ronabo:

Basicly all that piece of crap thing was nothing but a speaker that you wore.

I wonder where mine is. I haven't seen it in several years. It hurt my back after I played too long.

ahmad · (06-28-2006, 08:59 PM)

Originally Posted by FnordChan:

The Atari 2600 Mindlink.

FnordChan

Disturbing to say the least

MetalAlien · (06-28-2006, 08:59 PM)

Robts in general, Sega/Nintendo whatever... robots! The trance thing would be cool if it came with that girl.

OH and I still have my Negcon, only the buttons are kinda wore out.

the year 20XX · (06-28-2006, 09:01 PM)

Originally Posted by dreamkats:

any turbo pad for 8/16bits systems

especially this one:

http://images.google.fr/images?q=tbn...97/5f/94_2.JPG

Oh, that reminds me:
the Ore Commander!

And, while on the topic of bizarre Periborg/Hori stuff... the Shock-C!

I want to buy these just to reward the insane, weirdo creativity involved in their creation.

Milhouse31 · (06-28-2006, 09:02 PM)

M3wThr33 · (06-28-2006, 09:03 PM)

I have one of these. I used it to play Super Mario RPG.

salva · (06-28-2006, 09:06 PM)

Originally Posted by Milhouse31:

roflmao

/thread

_leech_ · (06-28-2006, 09:08 PM)

ahmad · (06-28-2006, 09:08 PM)

Originally Posted by Milhouse31:

WTF

the year 20XX · (06-28-2006, 09:14 PM)

Okay, but technically, the Game Boy is a peripheral for the (I think embroidery) machine. So over at the Sewing-Age Forums, the same picture is showing up in the "Worst/Weirdest Sewing Peripherals in History?" thread.

FortNinety · (06-28-2006, 09:15 PM)

You also have the Death Crimson controller.

C4Lukins · (06-28-2006, 09:17 PM)

Originally Posted by FortNinety:

You also have the Death Crimson controller.

Yes I have four of those in my home, just in case I make some friends and they agree to come over to my house.

Ranger X · (06-28-2006, 09:20 PM)

So many abominationss, i can't stop laughing

Belfast · (06-28-2006, 09:25 PM)

Originally Posted by Milhouse31:

New Touch! Generations title confirmed?! This one could really bring in the old folks!