Video game accessories have been around for just as long as video games themselves. We were enthralled by Duck Hunt and the original Zapper on the NES. We’ve played plenty of rhythm games involving little plastic instruments. Well, I took the time to meet up with some video game accessories companies while at E3 Expo in Los Angeles and here are a few of the highlights.
Gametrak Freedom and Squeeballs for Xbox 360
If you enjoy the waggle and wave-tastic motion controls of the Nintendo Wii but you’re “stuck” with “just” an Xbox 360, you’re in luck. Performance Designed Products (PDP) unleashed the first motion-based controller for the Xbox 360 in the form of the Gametrak Freedom.
This new controller may look a lot like the Wii Remote, but rather than working as a “pointer” like the Wii, the Gametrak Freedom uses a patent-pending ultrasonic 3D motion sensing technology.
You set up a pair of sensor bars, one on either side of your TV, and the system will be able to track your movements in 3D space. This goes well beyond the tilt-based accelerometer in the Wii Remote (which is also inside the Gametrak Freedom).
In playing Squeeballs, the mini-game collection that will accompany the Gametrak Freedom at launch, I found the controls to be quite different than the Wii. You really move the controller through 3D space rather than just swinging wildly.
The Gametrak Freedom and Squeeballs bundle for the Xbox 360 will sell for $69.99 when it’s released this fall. The slightly modified version of the game will also be made available on the Wii ($39.99) and the DS ($29.99).
Riiflex Weights for Nintendo Wii Fitness
Fitness games have suddenly become all the rage, thanks largely to the popularity of Nintendo Wii Fit. More recently, we’ve seen games like EA Sports Active and My Fitness Coach, both on the Wii, capitalizing on this trend. Not surprisingly, there are video game accessories jumping in here as well.
This unique product is not being catered to just one Wii game in particular. Instead, Riiflex is supposed to add an extra dynamic to whatever Wii game you’d like. Riiflex is a weighted peripheral that effectively converts both the Wii Remote and Nunchuk into dumbbells. They’re available in both 1 kg (about 2 pounds) and 2 kg (about four pound) models. Riiflex, not surprisingly, is sold in pairs.
Power Play says that they worked hard to ensure that Riiflex is made from quality materials and it shows. This is no cheap plastic throwaway accessory. The 1kg and 2kg pairs will sell for $24.95 and $29.95, respectively, when Riiflex starts shipping this summer.
Wii Rumble Wheel
Did you enjoy the Wii Wheel that came bundled with Mario Kart Wii? Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a little more to that plastic shell of a steering wheel? Dreamgear thought so too, so they created the Rumble Wheel.
This racing wheel attachment for the Nintendo Wii features its own rumble motors, offering “realistic driving effects” when you hit the virtual road on the Wii. As you may recall, Dreamgear is the same company that created the Rumble Blaster gun for the Wii. I guess they like that vibration.
The Rumble Wheel is listed at $19.99.
Nyko Type Pad Pro Adds QWERTY to Wii
I remember when the Opera Browser was first released on the Nintendo Wii many moons ago and how I thought it was cool how I could seamlessly surf the web on my TV. That’s all well and good, but the on-screen keyboard was a huge pain in the butt.
Nyko has a reputation for being a little quirky and they’re maintaining this rep with the announcement of the Nyko Type Pad Pro. While it may look like it belongs with Starfleet Academy, this is actually a QWERTY keyboard attachment for the Wii Remote (or Nyko’s Wand equivalent).
You get a split-QWERTY keyboard, while the A and B buttons are mapped as trigger buttons on the handheld. There is a switch near the front where you can swap the A and B buttons. The Type Pad Pro is certainly unique in its design and that’s quite the understatement. It’s listed at $19.99.
Dreamgear Arcade Fighter
I like fighting games and there’s something to be said about bringing the arcade fighting game experience into your living room. We’ve already seen the FightStick line from Mad Catz, but they’re not the only game in town.
Dreamgear is jumping into the fray with the Arcade Fighter. This high quality arcade stick features eight face buttons and a standard eight-way joystick. The Wii version comes in a blue and white color scheme, whereas the PS3 version is red and black. There is no Xbox 360 version for now, but Dreamgear is always working on getting that license too. Microsoft has always been tough on third-party accessories.
The Arcade Fighter, as you can imagine, has been designed largely for 2D fighting games like Street Fighter IV, but you can use it for other titles too. In addition to the Arcade Fighter, Dreamgear also has the smaller Arcade Fighter Micro and the gamepad-style Arcade Fighter Classic Pad, the latter of which features six face buttons like the Mad Catz FightPad.
The Dreamgear Arcade Fighter for PS3 is $59.99. I’d imagine that the Wii version will be priced similarly.
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