For the true video game fanatic, buying a console and a game is only the beginning.
Here’s a sampling of some of the coolest gear for the true gaming guru. Most are available at video game stores.
– If you want to hear gunfire, screaming and video game music in surround sound, the Xbox 5.1 Surround Sound System (Spherex, $499.95) provides five independent audio inputs compatible with game systems, televisions, DVD players, computers and CD players.
– Also combining hardware and software is the Ace Combat 5 Flight Stick (Namco, $130). The package includes a copy of the PS2 game Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War, and a throttle and flight stick for a more realistic jet piloting experience.
– PC racing gamers can get the Logitech MOMO Racing Force Feedback Wheel (Logitech, $109.99). The rubber steering wheel and stick shift were designed by racing professionals for faster gear changes and flexible wheel rotation, and the pedal platforms can grip carpet.
– The PS2/Xbox Race Pac (Radica Games, $99.99) is a foldable padded seat with an adjustable metal bar connecting the racing pedals and steering wheel.
– The RedOctane Ignition Dance Pad (RedOctane, $99.99) is for serious Dance Dance Revolution players who want to practice their arcade moves at home. Dense cushions inserted in the pads give the buttons a different feel from the rest of the platform, replicating the arcade’s metal pads to improve consistency between the home and arcade versions.
– The Wireless Xbox Live Headset (Logitech, $79.99) allows players to coordinate with teammates and taunt opponents. The headset’s rechargeable batteries last six hours and can be used up to 30 feet from the system, with noise canceling to remove background sound.
– For nostalgic arcade fans, there’s the Street Fighter Arcade Stick (Nubytech, $59.99). The console, which was released for the 15th anniversary of the classic fighting game, replicates the joystick and button setup of an arcade machine with images of the video game’s characters.
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale (cdipasquale@tribune.com) and Kris Karnopp (kkarnopp@tribune.com)
