Gaming.

I can't recall specific occasions but I'm sure I've had the piss taken out of me several times for indulging in this, my favourite pasttime/hobby.

On the other hand there's one thing I can definitely, categorically, 100% state I CAN remember being made a laughing stock of more so than liking gaming itself and that is for this:

Gaming with Peripherals.

I've had 'em all - the microphones, the EyeToys, the buzzers and the bongos. Hell, if I had the money at the time I probably would have bought an X-Box just for Steel Battalion and it's monster dual-sticked, desktop-swallowing, more-buttons-than-you've-got-fingers-and-toes controller.

Respect due.

Unfortunately, the walls of the office at work still ring with the laughter of fellow colleagues, mocking my decision to go to town one dinner time and buy Dancing Stage Megamix and a dance mat for the PS2. You see, from my experience, peripherals are a whole load of fun but, to the uninitiated, they're nothing but a joke.

But, fuck 'em. Peripherals are ace and it's me who's giggling like a big girl. Anyone who thinks they're some kind of kiddies plaything has obviously never used one. I'd go as far to say I've never laughed as hard or as loud as I have whilst gaming with peripherals and all this has come about in the last few years. Yeah, we've had stuff like steering wheels and light guns for ages but now things are getting more...specific. I don't care if I look like a twat. If I want to strut about the place like a drug-addled rawk legend, well now I bloody well can.

Cocaine and hookers sadly not included.

And thankfully, the excellent Gibson SG guitar controller bundled with Guitar Hero on the PS2 has restored the balance a little. No, make that a lot. Work colleagues are no longer teasing but sitting up and taking notice. Or should that be pretend stage-diving and rocking like demons?

To be fair, this peripheral does actually look like a kiddies plaything but, most importantly, it's brilliant fun. It's the perfect companion for the game, it's the ONLY companion for the game (apart from friends, of course) - playing it with a joypad is simply unimaginable. Furthermore, those who have said it's the best gaming peripheral ever are quite correct. But possibly only until Nintendo's Wii is released. (Ahem.)

Nintendo's Wii in no joke caption shocker

Hopefully, in the next few days we will finally be able to see the different ways in which the Wii's unique controller is going to be used in games. You see, it has the potential to be the all-in-one, universal peripheral that can be used any way you want it to be. It's already been discussed here but just think, once again, of the possibilities. Using it as a sword in Zelda, a scalpel in Trauma Centre, a light sabre in Star Wars. That's the obvious stuff. Get two controllers and use them as sticks for an imaginary drum kit. No need for dance mats - strap a couple to your legs and dance like a bastard. Launch it out of the window like a javelin. If nothing else, it will save me a packet in additional controllers. But will this kind of stuff happen? Lord knows but one things for sure, if the controllers secret feature is to dispense beer then it truly will be the best thing ever.

Now, if a few of those doubters are willing to invest, soon I might not be the only one singing, dancing, rocking, bongo-ing and definitely laughing my way around the living room.

July 2006

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