Nintendo is a company that is known for their ability to come up with new and innovative ideas for the video game landscape.
Nintendo is a company that is known for their ability to come up with new and innovative ideas for the video game landscape. From perfecting the directional pad on the Super Nintendo to the revolution of motion control gaming on the Wii, Nintendo is a legendary force to be reckoned with. Many ideas are iconic; however, that doesn\’t mean they aren\’t strange — make that very strange! I\’ve comprised a list of the wackiest hardware that we have seen in video game history.
1. R.O.B. (Robotic Operating Buddy)
Release: July 1985
R.O.B., primarily known as \”R.O.B. the Robot,\” had a very short product lifespan and supported only a few games. He also received commands via optical flashes on your TV. Once the screen lit up, R.O.B. was ready to receive one of his six commands. Nintendo had high hopes for the hardware and, though he wasn\’t around for long, he will never be forgotten. Hell, maybe he will show up in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS !
2. Vitality Sensor
Release: Never
The Vitality Sensor is a cancelled accessory for the Wii. It was first announced by Satoru Iwata during Nintendo\’s E3 press conference in 2009. There is very little known about the Vitality Sensor and how it would have been integrated into video games. It has been suggested by Iwata that it would have been used to relax the player, informing them about their heartbeat and body. I think Nintendo made the right decision to not move forward with this odd piece of hardware; it would have added very little to a gaming experience.
3. 2DS
Release: October 2013
The Nintendo 2DS was announced in August 2013; soon after that, the handheld was released on October 12th, 2013 to coincide with the launch of Pokémon X and Y . The announcement came as a surprise to everyone. Hearing the name \”2DS\” for the first time was awkward and felt weird just saying it out loud. However, like most of the Big N’s products, names like \”Wii\” and \”2DS\” become natural after a short while. Funny how Nintendo has the ability make the most bizarre names work out in the end.
4. Virtual Boy
Release: August 1995
The Virtual Boy is a short-lived virtual reality console that Nintendo ran after the SNES. The idea of virtual reality gaming was grand, but Nintendo\’s Virtual Boy just couldn\’t be executed properly, given the hardware restraints at the time. Now, just about twenty years after its release, we are finally seeing other video game manufacturers using today\’s technology to work on virtual reality headsets, like the Oculus Rift and Sony\’s Morpheus. I\’m sure we will be hit by a tidal wave of awesome experiences using VR in the near future. Maybe Nintendo will take a whack at virtual reality again?
5. Game Boy Micro
Release: September 2005
The Game Boy Micro was officially unveiled by Nintendo at the company\’s E3 press conference in 2005. Oddly enough, this Game Boy SKU released after the Nintendo DS and was the last console for the original Game Boy line. The lifespan was short, seeing that the Nintendo DS was dominating in sales. The Micro is unique, to say the least; it was and still is the smallest dedicated gaming device you can find and even came with the function to swap out multiple face plates. You can still find these bad boys new on Amazon for around $250 USD.
6. Power Glove
Release: 1989
The Power Glove is a controller accessory for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was a bit of a let down due to its wonky control setup. Two games were released with specific features for the Power Glove: Super Glove Ball , a \”3D puzzler,” and Bad Street Brawler , a “beat \’em up.” Both games were playable with the standard NES controller as well but included moves that can only be used with the Power Glove. Although it was tough to use, it will always be an iconic Nintendo accessory.
7. Pocket Sonar
Release: 1998
The Game Boy Pocket Sonar was a peripheral for the Game Boy made by Bandai Namco that used sonar to locate fish underwater for the real life sport of fishing. No, this is not a joke — it actually exists! It also had a fishing mini-game built in! I can\’t make this up!
8. Circle-Pad Pro
Release: October 2009
The Circle-Pad Pro is a controller add-on that adds one additional circle-pad to the 3DS. This bulky accessory is compatible with games like Monster Hunter 3G and Resident Evil: Revelations . It opened up a lot of possibilities for the 3DS; sadly, it isn\’t utilized as much as gamers hoped for. Many people bashed on its design due to its \”boat-like\” qualities. With the recent announcement of the “ New Nintendo 3DS\” and it featuring a second control stick, maybe that will give developers the incentive to integrate it into their games.
9. Power Pad
Release: 1988
The Power Pad floor mat is a controller for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It is a gray mat with twelve pressure sensors embedded between two layers of flexible plastic. The Power Pad was implemented into a total of eleven games on the NES. In hindsight, this accessory foreshadowed what was to come in the future with games like Dance Dance Revolution that also used a floor mat as a controller.
Release: Never
I am pretty sure this one speaks for itself.
Written by Brett Medlock
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