5. Champion Video Game Gloves
Much like the Nintendo 64 Controller Glove, this is a device that purports to sell it self as being absolutely necessary to the next level of the gaming experience, but one that resolutely fails in that quest. These gloves are extremely well-padded, with the idea being that this will stop players from getting cramped, blistered or in any way harmed hands during play. They even had the, erm, consideration to provide a padded thumb sleeve for those extra-intense button-mashing sessions where our good 'ol hands just weren't up to the task alone. Besides being an incredibly wimpy gimmick - because even the coolest kid in the class will be reduced to a laughing stock if he puts these on - one has to really ask the question as to whether we
want our hands to be protected so much. Aren't those blistered thumbs sort of helpful in allowing you to persevere beyond particularly tough sections of a video game? And above all else, they were a freaking badge of honour to show off to the other kids in the playground; "My case of PlayStation Thumb is bigger than yours, loser!".