A couple of months ago, we took a look at the Top 10 Worst Gaming Peripherals. It was a devastating reminder of how much of a riproff being a video game fan can be. However, in correlation with the release of Tony Hawk: Ride, which comes with a full sized skateboard peripheral, we thought we’d exercise our limited abilities of optimism and take a look back at some of gaming’s most successful (and useful) peripherals.
As you might recognize, many standards of gaming today once began as a mere add-on of some prehistoric console, but was so ingenious that the concept was eventually integrated into the industry standard. These are their stories.
10. Power Pad
9. Resident Evil 4 GameCube Controller
8. Nintendo Zapper
This is the light gun that inspired all other light guns. The Zapper also holds the distinction of being one of the few accessories no one can seem to recall where they got it from. Some think it may have come packaged with their NES, while others think their parents might have picked it up at a garage sale. Either way, anyone that had an NES had a Zapper, likely took the time to play one of CraveOnline’s Top 10 First Person Shooters of all time, Duck Hunt.
Regardless of how you may have acquired it, the Zapper helped fuel the need for violence within the 1980’s youth and improve the marksmanship of 5 year olds across the globe.
7. RedOctane Hard DDR Pad
6. Wii Balance Board
5. Guitar Hero Guitar
4. Nintendo WaveBird
3. Rock Band
2. Rumble Pak
1. Hard Drive