Controllers
As far as controllers go, the Microsoft Controller S is the top of the line for the Xbox. Third-party controllers from MadCatz and Pelican can work in a pinch, but do yourself a favor and try to pick up a Controller S.
The only third-party controller I would recommend is the Logitech Cordless Precision controller. It is wireless and works almost as well as the Controller S.
Steering Wheels
Racing games are 100% more fun when you play them with a steering wheel accessory. They can get pretty expensive, but if you are serious about playing racing games they are worth the money. We recommend the MadCatz MC2 Universal Wheel because it works great and you can use it with the Xbox as well as the PS2 and GameCube. We also highly recommend the Fanatec Speedster 3 Wheel. The Speedster 3 wheel costs quite a bit, but it offers by far the best and most realistic driving experience you can get on the Xbox.
Arcade Sticks
If you are a fighting game fan, then you already know how much a good arcade-style fighting stick can improve your game. There have been a lot of decent sticks released for the Xbox, but most of them are very hard to find these days as they were gobbled up by hardcore gamers and collectors. Which leaves us with just one we can recommend, but thankfully, it is one of the absolute best. The X-Arcade Stick uses real arcade parts to give you a real arcade feel. It costs quite a bit, but it is compatible with pretty much every game system thanks to a series of adapters you can purchase separately.
Light Guns
There are only a handful of Xbox games compatible with light guns, but nothing beats blasting away at stuff with a light gun. If you are interested in playing House of the Dead 3 or Silent Scope Complete, your weapon of choice should be the MadCatz Blaster. It is fairly cheap, easy to set up and use, and is the only worthwhile gun available.
Other Accessories
There are a lot of other accessories that don’t really fit into a category. These products are all highly recommended and the best you’ll find at what they do.
Remote Control: If you want to watch DVD movies on your Xbox, you need a Xbox DVD Remote
System Selctors: If you have multiple game systems hooked up to one TV, the Pelican System Selector Pro or its cheaper (and far less fancy) brother the Pelican HD System Selector are recommended.
Easy Wireless Networking: Xbox Live online play is a big part of the Xbox experience, but if you are overwhelmed and intimidated by setting up a wireless network and don’t want to string wires all over your house, the Logitech Play Link is the way to go. You just plug and play.
Headphones: Headphones are a good idea for apartment/dorm dwellers, and the best ones you’ll find for the Xbox are the Turtle Beach Ear Force X2s. They feature a microphone for Xbox Live play and allow you to hear game sounds and chat in both ears rather than one like most headphones. You can hook them up to anything with a sound output, so these are excellent general use headphones.
High-Def Monitor Adaptors: If you don’t have an HDTV but want to play your Xbox games in their full glory, there are two products that allow you to connect your system to a computer monitor. The Neoya X2VGA+ and Vdigi VD-Z3 are both fine products that are highly recommended. Each has its own pluses and minuses, so read the reviews before you decide which one is for you.
Record Your Games: And finally, if you want a cheap and easy way to record game video or take screenshots, the Adaptec Gamebridge 1400 is recommended. It can be found for very little money and does a good job. Don’t expect great things from it, but for the price you can’t beat it.
