Photos: Fun with plastic--peripherals that changed gaming

This week marks the latest release in the Rock Band series. It features one of the biggest names ever in music--The Beatles. It also features pack-in instruments that are looking closer and closer to their real-life counterparts.

Rock Band was definitely not the first video game to necessitate special hardware, nor will it be the last. We've put together a list of some the most innovative peripherals and game titles that have helped change the way we play games.

Photo by Josh Lowensohn/CNET

Caption by Josh Lowensohn