Unusual gaming devices and how they play games

Contents:

• Who started it all
• How unusual controllers are created
• The most unusual ways to complete games

For many years, gamepads and keyboards with mice remained the standard devices for gaming. However, gamers are constantly looking for unconventional approaches to playing video games. The use of alternative controllers and unusual control methods has become popular among enthusiasts, opening up new horizons in gaming. These creative solutions not only add variety to the gaming experience but also spark interest in classic games, allowing you to look at them from a new perspective.

In this article, we will discuss who pioneered the use of unconventional items in gaming. We will learn how a potato can become a controller and what other unique devices gamers have invented.

Who started it all

Game companies began experimenting with unconventional gamepads as early as the 1980s. Nintendo introduced the famous Zapper gaming gun and the Power Glove motion tracking glove for NES owners. The pistol supported a limited number of games, and the glove was compatible with only two titles. The moderate success of these devices opened up new possibilities for Nintendo and other companies, allowing them to continue experimenting in the years that followed. Innovations in game controllers became an important part of the evolution of video games, contributing to a more interactive and engaging gaming experience.

In 2005, a unique chainsaw-shaped GameCube controller was introduced for Resident Evil 4. The buttons on this gamepad are located on the top of the controller, while the L, R, and Z bumpers are located in the grips. This unique gamepad can be used not only for Resident Evil 4 but also for any other GameCube game, as it adheres to standard controls. This unusual design attracted the attention of gamers and became a collector's item for fans of the series.

Unusual gaming devices gained real popularity with the release of music games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band in the mid-2000s. Plastic guitars with buttons that users pressed, simulating the sound of strumming, connected to game consoles. These devices revolutionized the approach to music games, allowing players not only to enjoy music but also to feel like real musicians. With each new release of such games, interest in gaming guitars and similar accessories continued to grow, contributing to the development of an entire niche in the video game industry.

It's unclear who exactly first began playing hardcore games using Guitar Hero and Rock Band controllers. However, streamer gbbearzly was one of the first to popularize this style of play, specializing in unusual challenges in Dark Souls. In September 2014, he posted a video in which he defeated the Ornstein and Smaug bosses using a guitar from Rock Band in a record-breaking four minutes. The video has garnered over a million views, demonstrating the growing interest in unconventional approaches to challenging games.

gbbearzly manually remapped the guitar buttons to control character movement and attacks. Due to the limited number of buttons, the streamer had to forgo the heavy block, diagonal movement, and right camera rotation. This solution demonstrates a creative approach to gameplay, adapting a standard controller for a unique gaming experience.

After playing guitar, gbbearzly began using other unique devices. He completed the first Dark Souls playing the Rock Band drums, used bongos to play Donkey Kong, as well as a piano and even his voice. After retiring from streaming, he became known for completing Dark Souls using a Dance Dance Revolution dance mat, making him one of the first players to use this approach.

gbbearzly's example inspired many players and became the catalyst for a new trend in speedrunning – speedrunning games on non-standard devices. Using dance mats, guitars, and other unusual instruments, enthusiasts began to beat popular FromSoftware titles like Bloodborne, Dark Souls 3, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring. This trend soon spread to less challenging games: for example, Super Mario 64 and Cuphead were successfully completed using drums. Through such experiments, speedrunners are discovering new horizons in gameplay, bringing variety and creativity to familiar mechanics.

Speedrunning games on incompatible devices has become a real trend on Twitch and other streaming platforms. Viewers watch with interest as gamers overcome difficult levels using not the most comfortable controllers. Such streams attract millions of views, and interest in them continues to grow thanks to the release of new hardcore games in which unique skills can be demonstrated.

How Unusual Controllers Are Made

The methods for creating controllers depend on whether the player is using an official gaming device or trying to connect third-party controllers. There are various methods for connecting already created controllers, such as musical instruments or gaming wheels. Connecting such devices may require the use of adapters, specialized software, or additional drivers. It is important to consider the compatibility of the controller with the gaming platform to ensure stable operation and maximum gaming enjoyment. Choosing the right connection method will not only improve the gaming experience but also expand the possibilities of interaction with your favorite games.

• USB adapters - the console or PC perceives a device such as a steering wheel or bongo as a gamepad with its own button configuration;
• Controller emulation programs - applications like XInput that simulate an Xbox controller in PC games;
• Modifications - users change the settings so that the game treats a device such as a guitar or drums as a keyboard or gamepad.

The situation with non-gaming devices is more complicated. Connecting them directly to a computer or console is impossible, forcing players to resort to alternative methods. These workarounds allow non-gaming devices to be integrated into the gameplay, providing deeper interaction and unique experiences for players.

• Device emulators and modifications. Players modify game code so that touches on non-gaming devices are recorded as keyboard buttons.
• Instrument programs. Professional applications like Bome for drums allow you to assign specific beats or movements as keyboard buttons.
• Makey Makey toolkit. A gamepad-like device connects to a computer via USB: its wires can be connected to household electrical conductors like play dough, and the device records touches on the object as keyboard button presses.
• Direct connection to the controller board. Using a soldering iron and other tools, you can transmit button presses and stick movements through a wire to another device.

Using these methods, you can transform almost any object into a fully-fledged controller. However, the main problem is the limited number of buttons. For convenient and comfortable gaming, you will need more than ten keys.

You can bypass these limitations by using homemade game controllers. For example, in Skyrim, 13 connected controllers were able to run, which was enough to perform movements and standard actions, such as attacking and using inventory. Such solutions allow you to expand gaming capabilities and create a unique experience for users, which is especially relevant in the world of video games. The development of custom controllers opens up new horizons in control and interaction with the gameplay.

Using non-gaming devices in reaction games is a complex task. However, streamer Rudeism was able to complete the game Hades using ten pieces of pomegranate as a controller. This unusual approach led to significant difficulties: he often got his hands dirty and encountered connection issues due to pressing too hard on the "fruit controller." Such experiences highlight not only the creativity of players, but also the limitations they may face when using non-standard gaming devices.

The Most Unusual Ways to Beat Games

Chloe Desmoineau developed an innovative way to interact with Counter-Strike: Global Offensive using lipstick as a control. She connected the lipstick to the Makey Makey kit, allowing the game to recognize each touch as a shot. The character was controlled using the mouse buttons, creating a unique gaming experience. This approach demonstrates the creative use of technology and everyday objects in the world of video games, opening up new horizons for interacting with gameplay.

Desmoineau's method, called Lipstrike, is a unique approach in which lipstick becomes a tool for challenging stereotypes. This method pokes fun at the common belief that women are incapable of playing video games and are only good at makeup. Lipstrike demonstrates that girls can be not only makeup masters, but also seasoned gamers willing to challenge preconceived notions.

A Japanese player named Wakou successfully completed Super Mario World using a flute and his left nostril to control the game. He used a program called Audio Pad, which emulates button presses when playing certain musical notes. For example, the note "C" is responsible for Mario's jump, and the note "G" activates the B button on the SNES controller. This unique approach demonstrates the player's creativity and skill, and also shows how music can be used to control video games.

Wakou connected the flute to the Audio Pad on his computer and completed the game using only the instrument's sounds. To increase the challenge, the player played music on the flute exclusively with his left nostril. This unique approach to completing the game made his experience even more memorable and original.

An Overwatch fan named Rudeism surprised players by beating Hades using grenades and connecting Makey Makey to a Nerf toy bow. In this experiment, he controlled Hanzo, the Overwatch archer, using the draw and release of the bowstring as a left-click. He controlled the character's movements with his feet using a dance mat. Using the toy bow, Rudeism achieved a double kill, demonstrating a unique approach to gameplay and creative use of gaming accessories.

Tech blogger Allen Pan conducted an interesting experiment by connecting wires from a DualShock 4 board to a treadmill controller. As a result, the game perceived movements on the treadmill as signals from the left stick of the gamepad. The rest of the player's actions were performed using the standard DualShock 4 buttons. This approach opens up new possibilities for combining physical activity and video games, allowing players to more actively engage in the gameplay and improve their skills.

To more deeply immerse themselves in the world of Death Stranding, Pan and his friends used heavy backpacks. The game with such a load became a real challenge, and it was almost impossible to last longer than a few minutes. However, the unique treadmill-style controller allowed the gameplay to be combined with cardio training, adding interest and physical activity to the game.

On the DJ booth. The authors of the ODS channel adapted the DJ Hero controller for Xbox 360, remapping all the buttons for use on PC. This allowed them to participate in online matches of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The results of the experiment showed that the device turned out to be surprisingly convenient. With enough practice, controlling the character's movements becomes quite comfortable.