While the Xbox 360 Kinect may be a hit, there have been several failed video game add-ons and accessories released over the years. From Mattel’s ill-fated Power Glove to Sega’s Samba de Amigo Maracas, there have been some notable flops.
For example, do you remember Sega’s 32X? It was a 32-bit upgrade that plugged directly into the cartridge slot of the Sega Genesis. The high initial price tag, uninspiring games, and the impending release of the Sega Saturn made this add-on a lame duck.
Konami’s LaserScope was another turd. It was essentially a voice-activated NES Zapper that rested on your head. Bulky and inaccurate, the LaserScope was more of a prop than peripheral.
From the totally useless department comes the Atari JagLink. This little item connected two Atari Jaguar systems for some local network play. The problems were that very few people owned Jaguars and the JagLink itself only supported three games.
Looking for something a little more recent? How about the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive? Instead of integrating HD-DVD functionality into their console, Microsoft released a bulky and expensive add-on. Since Blu-ray was backed by Sony, it was built into every PS3 console. Ultimately, the format took hold and HD-DVD died relatively quickly.
If you’re interested in acquiring any of these oddball peripherals, they should be found on eBay. While most of them aren’t very useful or fun, they are interesting conversation pieces and collectibles.
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