Getting Into a New Game By aligning with developers, Logitech became a front-runner in the race to sell accessories for videogames

One of the most entertaining aspects of the PlayStation 2 game SOCOM: U.S. Navy Seals is the feature that lets you bark orders at soldiers using voice commands--a trick that works only if you're using a special headset manufactured by Logitech. SOCOM was an opening foray into videogame console peripherals for Logitech, a $1.3 billion Fremont, Calif., firm best known for its PC mice and trackballs. But the company quickly established itself as a front-runner in the $556 million aftermarket game-peripherals business. Logitech's sprint to the forefront of a new market has been powered by technical prowess and close relationships with game publishers like Electronic Arts and Konami.