XXL Holiday Gaming Guide
Tis the season to be jolly, but sometimes the holidays can be met with indecision, leading to a flurry of last-minute shopping as you search for the perfect gift for the gamer in your life. At XXL we want to remove the mystery of shopping for you by presenting 10 hot console and games that is sure to put a smile on someone’s face.
PlayStation 4 ($399)
Release date: November 15th
The PS4 system is capable of 10x the processing power of the PS3 system and Sony designed it to be more developer friendly than the previous model. Under the hood features a unified 8GB of high-speed GDDR5 RAM and eight core X86 CPU and a powerful graphics processor. Sony’s console is also equipped with 8GB of unified system memory increasing the richness of content achievable. That 100 friends limit you had to rock on the PS3 has been increased to a whopping 2,000 online friends for the PS4. If that’s not enough for you, it also comes with Remote Play which enables users to stream their PS4 gameplay to their PS Vita via WiFi, freeing up the television for other uses. Clearly Sony has the virtual gloves off for this next-gen console battle.
PlayStation Camera ($59.99)
Release date: November 15th
If you plan on copping the PS4 you might want to throw some extra dollars at the new PlayStation Camera as well. The peripheral has been newly designed for the PS4 incorporating two cameras that are so sensitive they can recognize the depth of space. In addition users will be able to login to their PS4 with face recognition and are capable of using their own body movements or voices to enjoy enables games more intuitively. As an extra caveat, the camera is also compatible with the PlayStation Move motion controller.
PlayStation Vita ($200)
Release date: Out now
Almost two years old the Vita is still going strong and the fact that it serves as a companion to the PS4 only enhances its value. As mentioned before via remote play, the PS Vita will connect directly to a PS4 and make it into a second screen, offering extra options to certain games, and allowing you to play the PS4 game on the Vita making it as strong a holiday gift as anything out there.
Xbox One ($599)
Release date: November 19th
The Xbox One fancies itself as more than just a gaming console but more like an all-one entertainment system for your living room. The new One console wants to be your one-stop entertainment solution for the living room by integrating live TV, games, movies and web services such as Skype, all controlled using Kinect's improved voice recognition features. Feature wise Xbox One was designed from the ground up to be the centerpiece of every living room with modern hardware, and it features the all-new Kinect, the new Xbox One Wireless Controller, a 500GB hard drive, an eight-core, x86 processor, wireless networking connectivity, HDMI®, three super-speed USB 3.0 ports, and a high-speed Blu-ray™ disc player. Sony might be ready for war but Microsoft by all indications seems prepared to land the counter punch.
GAEMS Vanguard Personal Gaming Environment ($320)
Release date: Out now
Sometimes a person has a hectic life and as much as they'd want, they can't stay at the crib vegetating playing video games 24/7. The most practical solution for home console gaming on the go is the GAEMS Vanguard Personal Gaming Environment that cleverly packs a 19-inch LED screen into a suitcase design. It's easy to set up and works with any Xbox 360 or either the slim PlayStation 3. You simply slide the system into the harness, connect it, plug it into a wall outlet, and you can then take it with you anywhere (provided there are power outlets), playing off the included LED monitor. The well designed case is made sturdy enough to protect your valuable console from sustaining any damage in the event of any mishaps.
Killzone: Shadow Fall ($59.99)
Platform: PS4 (launch title)
Release date: November 15th
Killzone Shadow Fall is a PS4 launch title and the only FPS launching this holiday season designed exclusively for the next generation of gaming. Killzone’s developers claim the technology behind the PS4 will allow for quicker load times and it will take players only about 3 minutes to start playing from the time that the disc is inserted. Multi-player has been ramped up as well as Killzone Shadow Fall offers a fully customizable multiplayer design. Players set their own rules by selecting the maps, modes, classes, abilities, and weapons available in each game. This one is a no-brainer cop.
Forza Motor Sport 5 (Standard $59.99, Limited $79.99)
Platform: Xbox One (launch title)
Release date: November 22nd
Forza has always been one of the more beautifully stunning racing games on the market, now with the power of the Xbox One behind it Forza Motor Sport 5 is one of the must-have titles this holiday. Built from the ground up to take advantage of Xbox One and the vast power of the cloud, Forza promises to delivers the wide-eyed thrill of racing like none other. The game also has the most diverse lineup of vehicles ever seen in the series: from classic sports cars to modern tuners, purpose-built racers to extreme exotics and, for the first time in “Forza Motorsport,” open-wheel race cars. It will be available in three different editions—Standard, Day One, and Limited with the latter coming packed with all the bells and whistles.
NBA 2K14 ($59.99)
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One
Release date: PS4 - November 15th, Xbox One - November 22nd
The NBA 2K series already ran the hardwood on what is soon to be the old generation of console gaming, but with their unveiling of NBA 2K14 for the PS4 and Xbox One, 2K Sports seems poised to raise the bar even higher. The company already assured gamers that 2K14 would not just be a port and the all-new Eco-Motion Engine seems to back up that claim. Eco-Motion promises to bring the NBA experience to life in ways never before seen in a video game, including crowd reactions, atmosphere, coaching strategies, real player voices, and most of all the emotion of the game. 2K14 will also feature “Real Voice” which brings audio from actual NBA interviews – the voices of both player and coaches – directly into the game. With over 600 in-game interviews the only thing missing will be Metta World Peace yelling “Queensbridge!” after his post game interview.
Nabi Jr Nick Jr.($139.99)
Release date: Out now
Kids love spending countless hours playing with tablets, (usually an adults) Fuhu recognizing this came out with the perfect device in the Nabi Jr. the first full-featured learning tablet built especially for kids. Targeting children from ages 3 to 6, the shorties can play, read and watch with their favorite Nick Jr. characters including Dora the Explorer, Team Umizoomi, Bubble Guppies and more. The Nabi Jr. runs a version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich powered by NVIDIA Tegra 3 Super 4-Plus-1 Quad-Core with, 16GB of storage, and a 5-inch, high-resolution (800 X 480), capacitive touch screen and rotating front and back camera. Prepared to take a beating, Fuhu outfitted its 5-inch, child-friendly device with a soft, reddish-orange, rubber bumper to protect the tablet from toddler tumbles. If you want to keep your iPad out of your kid’s clutches, you’ll want to purchase them the Nabi to keep them busy.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Plankton’s Robotic Revenge ($29.99)
Platforms: X360, PS3, Wii U, Wii, 3DS, DS
Release date: Out now
Play as 5 of your favorite characters—SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, Sandy and Mr. Krabs—as you try to defeat Plankton and his legion of robots who have destroyed the Krusty Krab. Plankton's Robotic Revenge features references and humor from the hit Nickelodeon TV animated series that kids will instantly recognize as they scour the town hunting for hidden collectibles. There is even a co-op party mode where gamers of all ages can get together on the fun.—(written and compiled by DJ Rhude (@DJRhude)
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