Buying video-game peripherals can be a more daunting task than trying to decide which system to buy. There are hundreds of alternative controllers, joystick, memory cards and other seemingly cool gadgets intended to lure gamers’ dollars. The trick is to figure out which ones are worth buying.
Even though there’s a lot of junk on the market, there are some items that can enhance the gaming experience. Before you make a decision on any peripherals, try them out first. To get you started, here’s a rundown of items, from expensive extras to functional must-haves.
– Intensor chair (BSG Labs, $300-$600) for PC, Nintendo 64 and PlayStation. The Intensor chair will literally rock and roll you out of your seat. The chair is armed with five built-in speakers that surround the user in sound. Subwoofers target the spine so you can feel every move. The chair is a cool idea, but a little pricey.
– Digital Sound System 80 (Microsoft, $250) for PC. If you’re interested in spending a little more to get the most out of your PC, Microsoft’s Digital Sound System 80 delivers incredible sound. These high-end speakers could add some thundering realism to your PC games, but look around before you buy. You might be just as happy with a less powerful — and less expensive — sytem.
– Steering wheels (various manufacturers, $50-$100) for Nintendo, PlayStation, PC. Wheels can come with or without force feedback, which allows gamers to feel explosions or any contact made in the game. One of the best wheels for all systems is Act Labs’ RS Racing System. Microsoft’s Sidewinder Force Feedback Wheel is a good choice for a PC.
– Light guns (Konami and Namco, $30-$60) for PlayStation. Konami’s Justifier and Namco’s GunCom are great guns with dead-on accuracy. The Justifier has more buttons on the back so gamers can use special weapons. GunCom comes with Time Crisis and plugs into the TV for more accuracy but is not compatible with older PlayStation games.
– Controllers (Nintendo, Sony, Alps or Microsoft, $30-$129) for Nintendo 64, PlayStation, PC. There are a lot of controllers on the market crammed with switches and buttons to help gamers complete their quests. But are they worth it? It depends on the sytem.
N64 owners should stick with Nintendo’s official controller. In general, the third-party controllers aren’t as good. They range from less comfortable to downright clunky.
PlayStation owners have more options. Other than the original Sony controller and the Sony Dual Shock Analog Controller, gamers should check out Alps Interactive Gamepad for its slick design and smooth control.
PC players should take Microsoft’s Freestyle Pro for a spin. It’s a little pricey, but this new controller should give you flawless game play with its new-motion sensor control — a device that allows gamers to affect movement in the game by tilting the controller.
– Memory cards (Nintendo or Sony, about $20) for Nintendo 64, Playstation. It is tempting to buy the third-party memory cards because they’re cheaper and offer two or three times the amount of memory. However, these cards aren’t as reliable as those produced by Nintendo or Sony. The less-expensive cards compress the data so that more can fit onto each card. Sometimes the data becomes corrupted and fails you when you need it most. Play it safe and buy only first-party memory cards.
– Game Boy Camera (Nintendo, $50) for Game Boy. Game Boy Camera without a doubt is the most innovative peripheral available. The camera is actually an attachment that fits into any Game Boy or Game Boy Color unit. It has a swivel, large-eye lens that transforms the handheld video-game system into an easy-to-use, low-cost camera. The camera saves up to 30 black-and-white images that can be flipped or stretched. Images also can be printed on the Game Boy Printer.
