Exploring 7 Weird Video Game Accessories from Nintendo

7 Weird Video Game Accessories No One Needed or Asked For

In the world of video games, the number of accessories released for a console often reflects its level of success. Platforms like the Nintendo Wii and the Game Boy sparked experimentation and testing of various accessories. Not all of these accessories are useful or necessary.

In the end, many companies have released accessories that make no sense at all and are quite strange. Here are the seven weirdest video game accessories that no one asked for. Nintendo was one of the most experimental companies when it came to hardware accessories.

7. SEGA Game Gear TV Tuner

The SEGA Game Gear TV tuner has nothing to do with gaming but it works. For some reason unknown to anyone, SEGA decided to bring the Game Gear experience, one of its few handheld consoles, to a new audience. That's why they literally released a TV signal receiver so users could watch any program directly on the device.

This seems like one of those ideas made by executives to broaden their customer base, similar to how Kinect once introduced streaming services to a console. In 1991, the release of this peripheral capitalized on the Game Gear's color feature, which set it apart from the Game Boy.

This accessory was also part of a trend at the time when small portable TVs were popular, especially among sports fans. Obviously, because it was such an unusual accessory for the console, it drained the battery almost immediately. However, the users received it particularly well.

Considering the time period, this type of accessory was quite revolutionary and tried to capture a niche audience that enjoyed portable accessories. Sports and other content were available on many free-to-air channels back when TV and cable were less common.

However, this accessory appears to contradict the intended purpose of the console itself. Although this accessory serves its purpose, its design did not prioritize gameplay.

6. Saitek Booster Boy for the Nintendo Game Boy

Various accessories were available for the original Game Boy to enhance its screen and other features. The Game Boy's popularity was such that they even released a magnifying lens so players could see the screen better, especially because it was very small.

Saitek took advantage of this by not only making a magnifying lens, but they also built an entirely new casing for the console to increase the button size. This 1993 peripheral was one of the most comprehensive, improving numerous console features. The idea was to turn the Game Boy into a much larger and easier-to-use device for any player.