Jubenhimer
Member
Console gaming is filled with gimmicky hardware. Platforms need to stand out from each other, so they need unique hardware features and controller inputs that developers can use for their games to stand out on the system. Often times, many of these features end up as cool concepts that go under-used, or concepts that sound great on paper, but are only so-so in practice. Of the consoles (and handhelds) that you've played. What "Gimmick" did you feel like was fairly underused, but well executed in the games that did use it, or were neat novelties that ended up being impractical for most applications.
For me, I always apricated the VMU of the Dreamcast
It's a weird, ambitious device only held back by the limitations of the tech at the time. It's battery life was terrible, using expensive obscure watch batteries to boot. It's internal storage was anemic, and most of the games you could play on it were ridiculously simplistic. But Goddamn if this wasn't a cool concept. Having a Memory Card be a gaming device unto itself, complete with a controller layout, multiplayer, AND can be used as a second screen for Dreamcast games? And those games could then unlock and gain new stuff in the main game? I'd be lying if I said the VMU wasn't ambitious as a hardware gimmick.
For me, I always apricated the VMU of the Dreamcast
It's a weird, ambitious device only held back by the limitations of the tech at the time. It's battery life was terrible, using expensive obscure watch batteries to boot. It's internal storage was anemic, and most of the games you could play on it were ridiculously simplistic. But Goddamn if this wasn't a cool concept. Having a Memory Card be a gaming device unto itself, complete with a controller layout, multiplayer, AND can be used as a second screen for Dreamcast games? And those games could then unlock and gain new stuff in the main game? I'd be lying if I said the VMU wasn't ambitious as a hardware gimmick.
Last edited:
