41 Most Unnecessary Consoles and Accessories of All-Time

[TrekMD]

Den of Geek has posted an article discussing what the author considers some of the most unnecessary consoles an accessories of all time.  Everyone has an opinion, of course, but what do you think of some of the stuff posted?

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[font=georgia:1wioq0yt]When it comes to gaming, there are winners and there are losers. Here are 41 systems and accessories that truly were a waste of time.

Putting hand to formed plastic as you try out a new video game controller or peripheral that works well—one that really clicks—is a magical experience. Gameplay melts into you as your body becomes an extension of the console, this humble device fusing with your hands into a single new, exciting umbilicus.

Or now it's just a lot easier to use the joystick without getting repetitive stress disorder.

Whatever the reason, a good gaming device is indispensible. I'm sure most of us can't imagine playing a Gamecube without a Wavebird Controller, shaking a Wiimote without the MotionPlus firmly attached, blazing through a classic on the Sega Saturn without the 3D Controller, or facing off against a competitor that isn't via an online network. Many of these additions even become synonymous with a console or game they're so fundamental. And sometimes these efforts plummet into the lava instead of saving the princess and are virtually forgotten and never spoken of again. That's what this list is interested in; the products that didn't need to happen or were utter failures. But let's break this up a little bit and start with the unnecessary installments in the retro era before moving onto contemporary uselessness.[/font:1wioq0yt]

Read the rest here:  Den of Geek.

[zapiy]

Great article but i can't help thinking i want them all anyway.. 

[bogstandard]

The only one I can easily identify as useless is the NES Speedboard.  Many peripherals just needed better game support.

There were many misses in those days but I miss them nonetheless.  You can hardly find a generic joystick with rapid fire nowadays :/

[TrekMD]

I agree, loon.  Some of those just lacked the support they needed to shine.  He has the JagCD listed here yet, without it, we wouldn't have as many homebrews as we do now for the system. 

[Antiriad2097]

I have a few of those.

The SNES mouse was decent in its day. Owning it didn't put me off getting one for my PS1 either. Mouse and gaming sometimes works. Though trackball is better, as the Atari ones proved. I still use a trackball for PC gaming.

I have link cables for both PS1 and Dreamcast. Both work very well. Why would you want to play split screen where you can see the other player, when its much more tactical and atmospheric to have a screen each. We usually set up with tellies at 90 degrees to one another so we can still see each other to hurl abuse, but not see the screen. Funny he didn't mention the DC one.

I don't have the Sega 3D glasses, but I'd like a pair. Knew someone with them briefly bitd, very surprised more systems didn't use the system. Have always been tempted to pick up a PC pair but never quite got around to it. They used to be stupidly cheap, but I suspect they aren't so readily available now that 3D TV finally arrived and uses much the same tech.

To date I've still never used my DC microphone though!

Never used a NegCon, but the JogCon is great. Not sure why the latter gets so much hate - its a steering wheel on a pad, with mighty impressive force feedback. Its like Hard Drivin' in my hand.

Speaking of hands, I have one of the Playstation 'glove' controllers. I bought it out of curiosity (not new I hasten to add), and it pretty much controls like you'd expect it to. I'm sure there must be at least some games it would gel with, but I've not found them yet. It just seems a bit odd. I rather hoped I could use it with my PC, so I could replace WASD with it. Doesn't work too well like that though, but maybe I just need practice.

[guest5190]

I disagree with Den of Geek's assessment of the Playstation serial cable.

That cable enabled me and my friend to connect our Playstations together and play Doom death match mode against each other.

Yes we needn't two televisions close together and two copies of the game, but this was hardly a hardship.

We got to play in this manner long before the Internet became mainstream for such things.

Very silly for DoG to say it was all pointless.

[TrekMD]

Well, it's an opinion and I'm sure there are many of us who don't agree with the writer's assessment for every device posted.  I certainly disagree with what he said of the JagCD, as I noted earlier. It certainly is a nice way to generate discussion. 

[guest5190]

Well, it's an opinion and I'm sure there are many of us who don't agree with the writer's assessment for every device posted.  I certainly disagree with what he said of the JagCD, as I noted earlier. It certainly is a nice way to generate discussion.  :4:

I adored mine!

[WiggyDiggyPoo]

Meh

The whole list is a bit shonky TBH Including the 3D0 default controller is a bit weird (but not the console itself) esecially as they critisiz other stuff like Stellaview for being expensive! The PSOne cable downright scandalous as if to say we're too thick and lazy to do anything other than squint at a half a 14" screen on split screen...

[Vyothric]

I still want a 64DD, Power Glove, Master System 3D glasses and R.O.B.the Robot.

The speedboard is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen though.

[WiggyDiggyPoo]

I still want a 64DD, Power Glove, Master System 3D glasses and R.O.B.the Robot.

The speedboard is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen though.

MS 3d Glasses and 64DD are heroic failures, doesnt make them pointless