Technology has always been a part of man’s life ever since history began. It may take different forms as time goes by and it may function differently as newer technologies emerge, but one thing always remains no matter when you are, technology plays an important role in our lives.

In fact, all of us have had a moment to experience technology during our childhood. I guess we just don’t appreciate it nowadays with all our gadgets, phones, laptops and tablets. So to refresh your memories, here are a few techie toys from the decade that was.

Nintendo Family Computer

Otherwise known as the Nintendo Entertainment System or NES is the iconic gaming console of the 90s. Unlike today’s hard drive based or Disc based gaming systems, the NES used cartridges which children blow air with their mouths whenever the system fails to load the game. The NES came with two controllers equipped with a 4-way navigational button, and 2 action buttons (labeled A and B).

The NES was the best-selling gaming console of its time and was later named in 2009 by American gaming website, IGN as the single greatest video game console in history.

Tamagotchi

The tamagotchi was the first digital pet to be introduced in the Philippines. It was first sold by Bandai in 1996 in Japan and slowly went viral all over the world. The object of the game is to raise a virtual animal or other type of living being from its birth, usually as an egg to adult stage.

On top of that, the owner of a tamagotchi is required to perform tasks or chores related to the development of the pet including bathing, feeding, and playing with the virtual pet. The tamagotchi can also get sick so it is the duty of the owner to cure him and help it recover. If the virtual pet dies or in any case that the owner wants to start over, a button can be pressed to reset the entire process.

The Brick Game

The brick game is the one of the affordable gadget in the 90s. With a price tag not exceeding 200 pesos, a lot of kids and even adults in the 1990s was able to enjoy this gaming device. The brick game allows the user to play a monochrome version of tetris on a small LCD screen with buttons similar to the NES.

Nintendo Game Boy

For those who were looking for a portable version of the NES, the Nintendo Gameboy offers the best of both worlds with functionality comparable to the NES but with a form factor very similar to the brick game.

Just like the NES, games for the Gameboy are stored in a cartridge and owners can buy and swap game titles whenever a new game is released. It also has the same navigational and action buttons as the NES and the brick game. It was usually powered by four AA batteries but a separate AC/DC adapter can be purchased for use in longer periods of time.

Electronic Dictionary

Another gadget that kids in the 90s were fond of is the electronic dictionary. Although it wasn’t really designed to be used as an entertainment device, its word game features was a hit for kids back then.

It’s definitely cheaper than a Gameboy but offers more functionality than a brick game. Furthermore, it can be brought to school without any problems with strict teachers and school administrators of that decade. If you’ve own one of these electronic devices or you classmate had one, I’m sure that you remember playing “Hang Man” or some sort of word guessing game during recess and lunch breaks.

And that’s it folks! Did we miss something? If you had the opportunity to play other techie games and toys that were not listed in this post back in the days, please tell our readers about it by leaving a comment below. You can also add TFL on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, or subscribe to our RSS feeds for other Filipino Lifestyle related stories.

To ordinary people, playing computer games is just a past time, something you would usually do whenever you’re bored or in need of some sort of entertainment. But for other people, playing computer games is their lifestyle and is an integral part of their lives.

For these people, they take gaming very seriously and most of them are willing to empty their savings account just to get the best and top of the line gaming accessories to enhance not only their gaming experience but also to improve their skills.

At present, there are numerous brands that offer computer accessories that are designed for gamers. We’ve listed some of the best gaming accessories that will certainly make gamers drool with envy.

KEYBOARD: LOGICTECH G19

Logitech’s G19 keyboard is probably the most gamer-oriented keyboard available in the market. The keyboard features a tiltable colour GamePanel LCD screen on top that displays game stats, system info, VOIP communication data, video playback and image slideshows.

It also has two high-speed USB 2.0 keyboard for you to connect other accessories. The keyboard also comes with 12-fully programmable keys which lets you configure up to 36 unique functions per game, including single keypresses or complex macros. On top of that, each key is backlit illuminated which users can customize through different colors.

The only downside to it is that all these extra features need more juice than your regular keyboard. The G19 needs to be plugged into an electric outlet for it to work.

MOUSE: RAZER OUROBOROS

The Razer Ouroboros is the newest addition to the company’s gaming mouse line-up. This mouse is really created to be used by gamers with features specifically designed to meet the needs of hardcore gamers.

For starters, the Ouroboros has adjustable parts that allow each gamer to customize how the mouse would feel and fit in their hands. The mouse’s length can be adjusted via the rear panel which can extend up to 20mm. It also has an adjustable back arch to create a flatter or steeper arch depending on the gamer’s hand profile.

Interchangeable side panels also allow fingertip users and palm grip users to have better grip on the mouse. The mouse can either be powered by a single AA battery that can last up to 12 hours of continuous gaming or it can used in wired mode for use in longer periods of time.

HEADSET: LOGITECH F540

One of the best gaming headsets in the market today is Logitech’s F540 wireless headset. At 2.4 GHz digital wireless connectivity, the F540 offers gaming-grade performance up to 33 feet from your machine.

To help the hardware of the F540 are laser-tuned drivers that analyse each acoustic element to optimize the drivers and pinpoint any unwanted distortion to give users a rich and clear audio. The headset is said to be able to last up to 10 hours with its rechargeable battery which can be replenished via the universal micro-USB cable.

For ergonomics, the F540 has an adjustable headband, plush noise-isolating ear pads, noise-cancelling microphone and on-ear controls that are conveniently located on the headset.

SPEAKERS: GENIUS SW-G2.1 3000

The SW-G2.1 3000 is part of Genius’s GX gaming series which uses 3-inch metal cones for vivid and vibrant middle and high sound in the curvaceous satellite speakers. The subwoofer has a 6.5-inch driver unit with a reflex port in a wooden cabinet for those heavy bass with frequencies as low as 35Hz.

The speaker system also has adjustable volume and bass controls, a microphone jack for chatting, a 3.5mm standard audio jack for PC games and audio players and lastly two RCA jacks for game consoles, DVD players and TVs.

CONTROLLER: RAZER HYDRA

Another great product from Razer is its gaming-grade motion sensing controllers – the Hydra. The Hydra uses magnetic motion sensing to deliver precise and faster control.

The controller has thumb-ergonomic analog stick for fluid control, 4 hyper-response action buttons, rapid-fire trigger and bumper for faster in-game response, a non-slip satin grip surface and true six degree-of-freedom magnetic motion tracking.

Its base station has low-power magnetic field which translated to lower power consumption, an ultra-precise sensor for 1mm and 1 degree tracking and low latency feedback.

 GAMING WHEEL: LOGITECH G27

For gamers who love racing games, Logitech’s G27 gaming wheel offers close-to-reality racing experience. It has dual-motor force feedback to let you feel every traction loss, weight shift and road bumps very accurately.

It also come with a six-speed shifter, a RPM/shift indicator LEDs and pedals for gas, brake and clutch for that truly immersive racing game experience. The steering wheel also allows for a 900-degree wheel rotation and 16 programmable buttons with a D-pad.

All three components of the system (wheel console, pedals and shifter) can be bolted to a table or sturdy furniture for that solid racing experience.

LAPTOP: ALIENWARE Mx18-R2

Alienware is the computer hardware subsidiary of Dell. The company has made a name for itself for producing high-performance desktops and laptops for gamers and hardcore computer users.

One of their gaming laptop offerings is the M18x-R2. This laptop is the updated version of the Mx18 with an intel Ivy bridge processor and a Nvidia 6 series GPU with up to 32GB of RAM. To be specific, the R2’s core i7 processor can be overclocked up to 4GHz with turbo boost. The laptop can also be loaded with up to 32GB DDR RAM² at speeds of up to 1600MHz. Storage wise, the R2 offers a hybrid drive, offering both SSD drive and a HDD to get the best of both worlds.

It also features an 18.4-inch full-HD WLED backlit display. Two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI audio and video outputs, an 82 key keyboard with AlienFX lighting controls, a 9-in-1 media card reader, a 12-cell Lithium ion battery and a slot-loading Dual layer DVD burner (standard).

DESKTOP: CYBERPOWERPC ZEUS THUNDER MAX

On top of the computer gaming equipment food chain is Cyberpowerpc’s Zeus Thunder Max. Cyberpowerpc is not really a well-known brand among Filipinos. This is because the company specializes in custom built, high performance machines that usually cost thousands of dollars.

One of their best models is the Zeus Thunder Max. You can get the Zeus Thunder Max with an Intel core i7-3960x processor, 16GB or DDR3 RAM with speeds of up to 1600MHz, a 4GB Nvidia GTX690 GPU, a 2TB SATA3 drive (7200rpm) HD and a LG 14x Blu-Ray rewriter.

And since the Zeus Thunder Max is a Cyberpowerpc, potential buyers have the option to fully customize it up to the last component. Starting price is a little over $3000.