

Videogames aren't just about weapons. The other 5% of videogaming is cool gadgets that make the iPhone look like a glass bead. Hopefully, there are inventors and whatnot working on these ten gadgets right now, because these are the things we really want to see.
After the jump are the 10 videogames gadgets we wish we had.
10) The magnetic boots from Ratchet & Clank
Perfect for reaching those hard-to-reach places when painting your house. Also good for climbing skyscrapers, if you're ever so inclined.
9) The moss arrows from Thief
Not necessarily for sneaking around, since there aren't a lot of stealth missions in real life. But I'm thinking this would be handy if you have tile floors and live someplace where it gets cold. Just fire a moss arrow along the direction you're walking and it'll lay down a soft relatively warm path of moss.
8) The backpack from Diablo
Actually, this doesn't have to be the backpack specifically in Diablo. I could do with any of the various extradimensional spaces that serve as personal storage in a typical fantasy RPG.
7) The roar from Midnight Club Los Angeles
You can fit the cars in Midnight Club Los Angeles with one of four special devices, but the engine roar would be the most useful in real life. Fire this off and any traffic in front of you scrambles to get out of the way. Unfortunately, it wouldn't help during a typical rush hour traffic slog, since it only holds three charges.
6) The hearthstone from World of Warcraft
No matter how far you travel, you'd only ever have to buy a one-way ticket. And you can stay wherever you're going longer because the return trip will be instantaneous (except for the loading screen).
5) The nano-suit from Crysis
With separate modes for stealth, speed, and strength, you can't deny this would come in handy for plenty of occasions. Say, for instance, the lid is stuck on a jar of spaghetti sauce. Also, it's form-fitting enough that you could wear it under a heavy coat if you didn't want people to stare.
4) The time rewind sand from Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
Who wouldn't like a 10-second buffer in real life? Unfortunately, without lots of sand monsters roaming around, I'm not sure where you're supposed to get more Sand of Time to refill it. It's probably like inkjet printers where they really nail you with the cost of toner cartridges.
3) A Madcat from Mechwarrior 2
Really, I'd take a bipedal mech from pretty much any game. But who isn't partial to the sleek lines of a Madcat? And it wouldn't even need to have guns. I just want to stomp around in it.
2) The portal gun from Portal
The translocator in Unreal Tournament used to be the ultimate in personal transportation and convenience. Just toss out a little marker and instantly zap to it. But then along comes the Portal gun. It establishes connections that are two-way, persistent, and free of headache-inducing teleportational disorientation. Also, it looks a heck of a lot more stylish than the translocator, which limply tosses out an ugly puck. The Portal gun's sleek white Apple vibe is downright stylish.
1) Yuri's mind-control headset from Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2: Yuri's Revenge
I bet you thought this was going to be the gravity gun from Half-Life 2. Pshaw. That's what movers are for. Instead, the number one videogame gadget we wish we had is the mind-control headset worn by Udo Kier in the Red Alert games. Even if you aren't set on global domination, this would constantly come in handy. Now go get me a cup of coffee. See, if I had Yuri's headset, that would have actually worked.
By Chijts at 7:26 AM ON 01/23/09
"free of headache-inducing teleportational disorientation."
You tell me you wouldn't get disorientated if you jumped down off something only to then be flying forwards, or being at the bottom of a pit then ending up falling through another rooms ceiling onto a box with a heart on it.
Seriously though, where can I get my hands on that Portal gun model?
By PodrickPayne at 9:50 AM ON 01/23/09
Does a red shell count as a gadget?
By Vine34 at 4:00 PM ON 01/23/09
By Tom Chick at 7:40 PM ON 01/23/09
Mr. Payne, I'd have to say the red shell is awfully close to being a weapon, albeit a Mario-ized kid-friendly one.
As for teleportational disorientation -- a bona fide medical condition! -- you have a point, Chijts.
By Morr88 at 6:00 PM ON 01/24/09
What about the grav gun from half-life2?
By MARR at 7:53 PM ON 01/24/09
WHAT ABOUT IT???
By Peeps McJuggs at 4:44 PM ON 01/29/09
Forget the red shell...I want a raccoon suit! You might suggest the Tanooki suit...but can you imagine how HOT that damn thing is?
By Peeps McJuggs at 4:45 PM ON 01/29/09
Forget the red shell...I want a raccoon suit! You might suggest the Tanooki suit...but can you imagine how HOT that damn thing is?
By CollegeStudent at 5:59 PM ON 01/29/09
Sure the Madcat can be without weapons, but imagine how much sweeter it would be if it had them. Me: i want a land raider from Warhammer 40k or power armor.
By Darth_Rock at 6:35 PM ON 01/30/09
Hey... a good old fashioned Lightsaber anyday over what is listed in the article... LOL!
By DrewBear at 3:59 PM ON 02/02/09
Anyone know where one could get a hearthstone like the one in the picture of it? ive tried amazon and ebay but cant seem to find anything like that, if it exists at all outside of that one photo prop that is....
By Pathetic at 11:05 PM ON 02/02/09
Lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame lame.
By lithium at 2:46 PM ON 02/22/09
The Madcat was from Mechwarrior 3, not 2. It was called a Timber Wolf in 2... Just sayin...
By Fat Llama at 12:28 AM ON 02/23/09
@ Drewbear: The hearthstone is actually a bar of soap. Just Google it and you should be able to find some results for it.
By anon at 10:19 AM ON 02/23/09
Cereberal Bore - Turok. Think about that one.
By Shafty at 8:50 PM ON 03/02/09
I always wanted the hookshot-- simple, yet effective.
By not lithium at 3:48 AM ON 04/10/09
"The Madcat was from Mechwarrior 3, not 2. It was called a Timber Wolf in 2... Just sayin..."
actually the mad cat is a mark 2 from mech warrior 4 vengeance but thanks for playing
not lithium:
"The Madcat was from Mechwarrior 3, not 2. It was called a Timber Wolf in 2... Just sayin..." actually the mad cat...More »