Whether you use your hands or your feet, companies that produce computer and gaming system accessories have been very creative with products this year. Yes, they even have given your feet attention. So that might be a good place to start.
– For racing-car fans, there’s the CH Racing Wheel (CH Products, $89.95; 800-624-5804; www.chproducts.com) to complement CH Pedals ($50) and Pro Pedals ($70) from a few seasons ago. Units are compatible with Windows 95 and DOS. A variety of all-in-one units are popping up in retail stores, such as InterAct ($89.99; Windows 95).
– Sony Playstation lovers will give a high-five to The Glove (Reality Quest, $89.95; 888-96-GLOVE; www.theglove.com). Beat the pants off the competition as you execute complicated moves with your fingers instead of wearing out your thumb. For Playstation and Sega Saturn, there is Lunar Gun (Naki, $27.99; 800-626-NAKI) with quick auto reload to kill the toughest monsters and bad guys.
– To get a real handle on first-person games there’s WingMan Warrior (Logitech, $99; 800-231-7717; www.logitech.com). The double-fisted, 360-degree controller boosts survivability for computer games such as “Doom,” “Hexen” and “Quake.” Requires DOS 3.3, Windows 95 and CD-ROM drive.
– And while most folks cringe when they hear “bug” and “computer” in the same breath, Computer Friendly Stuff, a local computer toy and software company, has created a way to make the bug your friend. The Original Computer Bug, a wacky little animated fellow, comes in two forms, as a screen saver and as a nifty toy that sticks to the side of your computer or anywhere in your workstation.
The CD-ROM includes 20 screen savers. His goofy antics are entertaining as he eats computer chips, knocks on your screen, tells ridiculous jokes or plays racquetball. Also included are birthday and holiday screen savers. $14.99 (Bug and CD); $6.99 (Bug alone). 888-FUNBUG8 or www.computerbug.com.
