Technologies and video games – 10 of the strangest ideas and solutions

The tech and video game industry can be quite strange at times. Companies often come up with really unusual solutions – and that’s what we’re going to focus on.

Technologies and video games are mines of great entertainment and great, innovative ideas. However, there are situations in which … we can feel a slight surprise or even consternation. Here are 10 weird solutions that surprised gamers.

1. Kartridże do Nintendo Switch

Nintendo probably never officially announced it, so I wonder who discovered it and why. Nintendo Switch game cartridges are coated with a special substance that makes them … extremely bitter. If you have a game in the physical version for the latest console of the Japanese giant, I recommend giving it a try – you will be surprised. You may wonder why Nintendo decided to do something like this. The reason is not as bizarre as the idea itself seems – it is so that children do not accidentally swallow the cartridge.

2. Wii U discs

Speaking of Nintendo, it’s also worth mentioning the WiiU discs. They are specially pressed in such a way that it is not possible to jam the edges of the disc. It was probably also done mainly with children in mind.

3. Filmy na UMD

Although the last Sony portable console, PlayStation Vita, used cartridges, the already legendary PlayStation Portable offered quite a non-standard medium. We are talking about the UMD format, i.e. small plates in plastic bindings that were inserted into the flap on the back of the console. However, someone came up with the idea to release … films in this format. So there are some theatrical productions on tiny UMD discs – anyway, for some reason I own Spider-Man 2 on such a medium.

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4. Duck gun

When Pegasus reigned supreme in Poland, the console gun also became extremely popular. A wired plastic gun could be connected to the console and thus fired at the targets displayed on the screen. Technology that at the time seemed truly cosmic … actually was. While the idea was great, no one knew how it worked. In theory, the photodiode and lens installed in the gun reacted to the contrasting light from the TV at the time of the shot, in practice … no one knows. The gun ended up causing people nothing but consternation – although the hype of owning it was huge.

5. Aura Interactor

Aura Interactor is one of the biggest scams in history when it comes to technological inventions. In theory, we were going to get a vest that vibrated with explosions and on-screen events, adding immersion to the game. In practice … it was an exorbitantly expensive speaker that we put on our backs. It was supposed to be “VR of the 90s”, it turned out to be a big flop.

6. Nintendo ROBs

You have no friends and would like to play party games? Nintendo figured out a way to do this and released ROB (Robotic Operating Buddy), which could replace the second player in NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) productions. At first it was released for Stack-Up and Gyromite, but the idea was not particularly warmly received, so the big N decided to end its adventure with the robot. It is worth noting, however, that later the add-on received support in several games. The idea failed, although it was really unique.

7. Dyson Zone

Dyson Zone are headphones with … an air purifier. The magnetically attached cover directs a continuous stream of purified air to the nose and mouth without touching the face – and this, according to the manufacturer, is supposed to affect hygienic and comfortable breathing. More comfort and a great idea, or a strange gadget that doesn’t bring much? I leave that to your judgment.

8. LG PuriCare

LG decided to release the best mask in every respect. PuriCare is a smart mask that has built-in fans for better airflow through the filter. In addition, the mask – as befits a smart device – has a built-in microphone. During the pandemic – a dream.

9. Razer Zephyr

Razer also released its mask – but by the standards of this company, it is much more gaming. There is no shortage of RGB LEDs here and a much more eccentric design. The mask inside even has a microphone so that we can easily communicate with other people without having to reveal the mouth and nose. If you want to stand out, it’s worth checking out.

10. Cooking Mama do Wii

We’ll end this list with perhaps the strangest addition to the console. We are talking about … a plastic plate, fork, spatula and knife, to which we had to put Wiilots to enjoy virtual cooking “at its best”. The whole thing looks strange enough to be intriguing – but the gadget worked similarly to the Pegasus duck gun … so no one really knew how.

Which solution seems the strangest to you? Have you seen these examples before? Let me know in the comments!