Video game accessories can enhance game play and usability of both console and hand held video game systems. Accessories can be found in many flavors, including:
- Controllers. Provide richer functionality and more intuitive control for games requiring quick response time, such as shooting or racing games.
- Headsets. Allow communication between players on network based, multiplayers games.
- Touchpads. Can be used for games requiring full body movement, such as the popular Rock Star or Dance Dance Revolution.
- Modchips. These small devices are used to modify the firmware settings of a gaming system, and can achieve any number of modifications
- Memory Cards. Used by both console and hand held systems to save player progress, and store secret levels, character information, and more.
In recent years, the video game accessory industry has grown considerably, due largely to fierce competition among game makers, and subsequent innovation in gaming technology. Hardware makers have become increasingly creative, most notably with controller accessories, which range from life-sized musical instruments to realistic weapons.
While gaming platform developers like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo offer accessories, the market is comprised mostly of independent manufacturers such as Logitech, Mad Catz, and RedOctane. In a competitive market, gaming platform developers have been forced to develop most of their resources to their core systems, and smaller companies have achieved great success by marketing accessories that are cheaper and broader in scope than those made available by game system developers.
For retailers, video game accessories offer high demand, quick turnover, and fair margins. Accessories for console based systems such as the Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii, and Xbox 360 are in high demand. Among hand held systems, modchips and cards for the Nintendo DS, DS Lite, and Sony Playstation Portable are popular.
Do you already deal with electronics, toys, or other relevant products? Whether you operate a brick and mortar business, an online storefront, or both, expanding your offering to include video game accessories for today's popular systems is a great idea.
Take the following steps to get started:
- Find What's Popular. Game Yeeeah is a popular retail site offering a wide variety of accessories for a large range of platforms. Check out sites like this to see what's new, what's selling, and a basic overview of the accessories available for each system.
- Find A Bulk Supplier. Sites like Game Yeeeah and Pinpoint Games offer bulk pricing on accessories, and ship internationally. Services such as GlobalSourcesDirect.com offer a directory of bulk distributors. Some popular accessories I recommend include Nintendo DS Fire & Media Cards, Toptoys (Nintendo DS DSTT), and Xbox & Nintendo Wii Modchips.
