History AwesomeButImpractical / SystemsAndAccessories

* The Creator/{{Nintendo}} Virtual Boy. The mechanism used to generate the video game image is cool when you think about it. It works like a supermarket scanner, except on your eyes, and without a laser. However, many players reported it hurt their eyes and head. Worse, the Virtual Boy came on a stand and had no headband, so finding a comfortable position to actually play any games was difficult.

** Although there have been many advances in virtual reality to the point where there are more successful VR devices like Steam VR and Sony's PSVR, many gamers still feel that while they obviously provide a fantastic sensory experience, there's relatively very little that they achieve in terms of gameplay, especially given the cost. If you just wanna play ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' or a FightingGame, there's practically zero point in VR gaming.
*** Additionally, even with the improvements in VR technology, many players still get motion sickness and eye pain from VR.

* The ''AtariJaguar'' heavily promoted itself as the first "64 bit" gaming console. However, the console lacked a true 64 bit processing unit, but two 32 bit processing units who theoretically could work together to do 32-bit calculations. The problem is that this multi-processor setup was difficult to code games for, and most of the Jaguar games looked similar to ''SuperNintendo'' titles. Atari's obsession with making a 64-bit machine was later shown to be misguided, as later game consoles like the ''Playstation2'' used 32-bit processors.

* The Creator/{{Nintendo}} Virtual Boy. The mechanism used to generate the video game image is cool when you think about it. It works like a supermarket scanner, except on your eyes, and without a laser. However, for some people, it hurt their eyes and head.

** Although there have been many advances in virtual reality to the point where there are more successful VR devices like Steam VR and Sony's PSVR, many gamers still feel that while they obviously provide a fantastic sensory experience, there's relatively very little that they achieve in terms of gameplay, especially given the cost.
* Extremely high resolution on PC games. Sure, you're outputting your game at 4k resolution and have visuals that would make fantastic wallpapers, but it means nothing if your PC can't even run the game at more than 30 frames per second, and in games that are very action-intensive and rely on split-second decisions, it's far more useful to use a lower resolution that achieves 60 frames per second instead. If you just wanna play ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' or a FightingGame, a more conventional TV/monitor will do.

* Extremely high resolution on PC games. Sure, you're outputting your game at 4k resolution and have visuals that would make fantastic wallpapers, but it means nothing if your PC can't even run the game at more than 30 frames per second, and in games that are very action-intensive and rely on split-second decisions, it's far more useful to use a lower resolution that achieves 60 frames per second instead.

* Metal ''VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolution'' pads are vastly more durable compared to soft pads. They don't slip, rip, or fold, they don't break easily, and you can use your shoes on them. However, they cost hundreds of US dollars. Worse, they're even more unstable than soft pads, as dancing frantically (especially on higher difficulty DDR songs) has a tendency to make the board wobble all over the place. You'll have to bolt it to something else or elevate the entire pad to make it stable. For the cost, it's far cheaper to just buy a soft pad... or, you know, practice on a real DDR machine in an arcade.

* The Nintendo 3DS 3D feature. While it gives 3D without the need for glasses, it drains the battery life much faster than normal and it can be disorientating if not viewed at the right angle.

* Metal ''VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolution'' pads. They don't slip, rip, or fold like soft pads. They don't break easily, and you can use your shoes on them. However, they usually costs hundreds of US dollars.

** Creator/{{Sega}} had their own VR system planned, and unlike the Virtual Boy, it was capable of displaying games in full color, unfortunately the test results determined that the device could cause headaches and other potential injuries, so Sega decided against releasing it. Makes you wonder why Nintendo didn't follow their example.
*** ExecutiveMeddling

** Running high resolution screens on very old PC games can also cause this; at best, the screen will look distorted. At worst, the game refuses to run or crashes.
* The add-ons for the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis, the Sega CD and the Sega 32X. The wonders of improved graphics, CD-level sound and bigger space to make games with, but it made the thing look incredibly clunky and each one required its own power supply. That's right - if you wanted to play all three of these systems, you better have a surge protector. And some extra money to pay for the extra power.
** Generally speaking; this was practically SEGA's modus operandi; their consoles tended to favor the use of tech that was often ahead of it's time to the point of being unrealistic in a money-making sense. This was especially true of their many, many attempts at making headway into online gaming well before the audience at large was really ready to make decent use of it; only finally succeeding with the Dreamcast and Phantasy Star Online - and even then, it was crippled by its built in modem that wouldn't have carried it very far with the onset of much faster speeds.
* The OLED screen on the original model PsVita. Beautiful colors, insanely dark blacks, but drains the battery in only about 4 1/2 hours. (for comparison, the Newer slim model uses an LCD screen and the battery lasts a full 2 hours longer)

* The ''VideoGame/{{osu}}!'' [[http://store.ppy.sh/store/product/20 keyboard]], a two-key mechanical keyboard designed exclusively for playing ''osu!''. It looks pretty, but it costs 40 USD, i.e. $20 per key. For the price of three of these controllers, you can get a full-sized mechanical keyboard that has 50 times more keys and can be used for a much larger variety of games.

* The Nintendo Virtual Boy. The mechanism used to generate the video game image is cool when you think about it. It works like a supermarket scanner, except on your eyes, and without a laser. However, for some people, it hurt their eyes and head.
** Sega had their own VR system planned, and unlike the Virtual Boy, it was capable of displaying games in full color, unfortunately the test results determined that the device could cause headaches and other potential injuries, so Sega decided against releasing it. Makes you wonder why Nintendo didn't follow their example.

* The add-ons for the SegaGenesis, the SegaCD and the Sega32X. The wonders of improved graphics, CD-level sound and bigger space to make games with, but it made the thing look incredibly clunky and each one required its own power supply. That's right - if you wanted to play all three of these systems, you better have a surge protector. And some extra money to pay for the extra power.

* Many early color-screen handheld systems, due to requiring a backlight and a large number of batteries, and even then will often run for 5 hours or less before requiring battery replacements. This is why Nintendo held off on making a system with a color screen until 1998 (UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor) and one with a built-in light until 2003 (UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance SP).

* Many early color-screen handheld systems, due to requiring a backlight and a large number of batteries, and even then will often run for 5 hours or less before requiring battery replacementrs. This is why Nintendo held off on making a system with a color screen until 1998 (UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor) and one with a built-in light until 2003 (UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance SP).

** ExecutiveMeddling