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E3 2011: The lesser-seen hardware

You know all about the Wii U and PS Vita...now check out the rest of the odd hardware we saw on the E3 show floor.

Scott Stein Editor at Large
I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.
Expertise VR and AR, gaming, metaverse technologies, wearable tech, tablets Credentials
  • Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps
Scott Stein

Gaming on the jDome.
Gaming on the jDome. Sarah Tew/CNET

Sure, you know about the Wii U. You know about the PlayStation Vita. But do you know about the jDome immersive game screen? How about a device that takes physical game pieces and puts them in games? Or, what about a triple-mount TV stand for all your motion-control camera gear?

Weird hardware of E3 2011 (photos)

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The E3 Expo is always known for its explosively loud gaming demos and endless play kiosks (not to mention costumed absurdity), but tucked away in the corners are lesser-known companies hawking peripherals and technology that ranges from the intriguing to the absurd. In years past, these odd bits of gaming hardware were confined to Kentia Hall; now, they're spread around the show floor, and are easy to miss.

Related links
E3 2011: 5 things we learned
2012: The year of the second screen?
E3 2011: Complete coverage

Click through the slideshow for our tribute to the odd, the quirky, and the possibly useful E3 hardware we happened to glimpse that wasn't named Wii U or PS Vita. See you next year, E3.