Add-ons kick-start PC, console games
By Marc Saltzman
Gannett News Service
If you are looking to spice up your gaming console or Windows-based PC, pick up an accessory for your system.
Flight sticks, steering wheels, wireless controllers and high-end speakers are some of the popular add-ons available for video game fans using PCs or consoles such as the Sony PlayStation 2, Microsoft Xbox or Nintendo GameCube.
Here are a few picks:
Intec Wireless Racing Wheel, which retails for $59.99: Racing game fans need not be tethered to their console any longer. The latest PS2 and Xbox driving wheels are wireless, and Intec's 2.4-gigahertz offering also has vibration feedback so you can burn rubber and feel all the bumps and grinds while reclining on the sofa. Features include rubberized grips and analog pedals for realistic acceleration and braking.Nyko Air Flo EX, which retails for $29.99: The Air Flo EX controllers for the PS2 or Xbox filter cool air through pores to keep your hands dry. Each controller features rubberized grips, pressure-sensitive analog buttons, varying air speeds and a built-in vibration function. PC gamers may opt for the Air Flo Mouse ($14.99) to prevent sweaty palms while playing computer games.Ideazon Zboard, which retails for $49.99 for base, $19.99 for overlays: Many PC games suffer from a steep learning curve, but most players do not want to keep referring to a manual to figure out what all the keys do. The solution is the Zboard, a computer keyboard with snap-in interchangeable faceplates that include graphics and words to explain which keys do what. The overlays are specific to games such as "Doom 3" and "Half-Life 2." Overlays are also available for productivity programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.Nyko SpeakerCom for Xbox Live, which retails for $19.99: Talk trash while playing an online multiplayer round of "Halo 2" -- without a headset messing up your new haircut and a microphone in your face. The first alternative to the official Xbox Live headset is a controller-mounted speaker and mike unit, enabling Internet players to chat and listen during voice-enabled Xbox Live games. This product is also ideal for two gamers on the same television to chat online at the same time.Pyramat PM550 Sound Lounger, which retails for $149.99: Gamers who want to lie back and relax while carjacking vehicles in "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" won't find a more comfortable lounger than the ergonomically designed Sound Lounger. This horizontal high-tech mat features integrated 150-watt speakers and a vibrating subwoofer in the backrest that lets players hear -- and feel -- every twist and turn on the road (20-foot audio cables included). Works with all game consoles and also can be used with televisions, CDs and DVDs.
