The F-1000 Arcade Stick allows you to play like you would in the arcade.
Credit: Genius
Video games are not just about console and television. There’s a whole world out of there of sometimes cool, sometimes ridiculous accessory devices. Here are reviews of a few new gadgets vying for your precious living room space.
Hauppauge HD PVR 2 Gaming Edition
Hauppauge
$199
4 globes
Along with makeup tutorials and creepy videos in which mustached men try to hypnotize you, the video game walkthrough is one of the more popular YouTube genres. A vital tool in their arsenal is an HD recording device. You’d be hard-pressed to find an item more up to this task than Hauppauge’s new HD PVR 2 game-centric video recorder. It offers live recording in 1080p so you’ll never miss your most precious gaming moments. It works flawlessly, but the next-gen consoles (particularly the PS4) are eyeing this idea for their own.
Korg Kaossilator Pro+
Korg
$299
5 globes
Korg’s new touchscreen-based synthesizer is only ostensibly gaming related. It is, however, a perfect entry point to jump into the burgeoning world of chiptune (video game) music. The sound bank contains tons of NES and SNES blips, and the unit is built from the ground up to cater to non-musicians. You’ll be making it sound like Mario is rhythmically collecting coins in no time. Oh yeah — it can also make other kinds of music.
F-1000 Arcade Stick
Genius
$60
4 globes
Modern controllers are great for certain genres, first person shooters being the best example. Fighting games, however, really shine when you get a hold of an old school joystick. The F-1000 is a great example of modern design mixed with retro favorites like turbo buttons. This is all you’ll need to be a major player in the world of competitive gaming. Just a warning, however: It only supports PS3 and PC. If you are an XBOX gamer, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
