Merry belated Christmas! Hope your holidays are going great!
As I’ve gotten older, the focal point of Christmas has shifted from receiving to giving. I’m sure that once I have children of my own, that focus will shift even more. Though I generally expect less as time goes by, I still got a number of wonderful gaming related gifts from my loved ones. Thank you Santa for everything! Below is a list of stuff I got under the tree. What did you give/receive? Feel free to share in the comments!
Words With Friends Board Game
(Buy Now on Amazon.com)
I’m a fan of the iOS game and getting the physical version is really neat. I love how the standard board has slots for all of the pieces to sit in so they don’t slide around. Looking forward to adding this to Steff and I’s board game rotation!
Skylanders Giants Fright Rider Figurine
(Buy Now on Amazon.com)
Skylanders figurines were on my list this year, and Santa came through with Fright Night. Ironically, I ended up in a weird spot where I had the figure without the game, but more on that later.
Dark Souls
(Buy Now on Amazon.com)
Though I’m a bit of a wuss when it comes to difficult and obtuse video games, this one has crossed the point where I feel like I’m missing out on the gaming zeitgeist by not giving it an honest try. I am prepared for the worst, but I’m really hoping for the best! Anything I should know before jumping in?
Wii U Pro Controller
(Buy Now on Amazon.com)
Though finding the console on a store shelf isn’t all that difficult around here, finding a Pro Controller sure is. With one of these handy, I can enjoy many of the games that don’t require the big Wii U GamePad with a more comfortable controller or leverage it for local multiplayer action.
ZombiU
This one is hailed by many as the Wii U launch game that does the best job of showcasing what the Wii U GamePad has to offer. I’ve been meaning to try this one out for awhile now, and my interest in it piqued after enjoying Dead Island recently. Looking forward to diving into this one soon!
Nexus 7 Tablet
(Buy Now on Amazon.com)
I am a die-hard Apple fan and iPad owner. With that said, when someone insists that they want to give you a tablet for Christmas (which is what my mom did), you probably won’t refuse. I’m sure that I’ll come to grips with the Android framework relatively quickly. Also, I really like the 7″ form factor. The iPad Mini felt a bit too big for a small tablet, so this is perfect for me.
Having used it for a few hours, I’m quickly falling in love with it. It’s lightning fast and the ability to have widgets on your home screen alongside app icons is genius. The only real gripe I have with it so far is this weird screen flickering issue, which is a known problem that occurs when you have auto brightness on, WiFi optimization on and a weak WiFi signal present. By disabling then first two features, I’ve found that this makes the flickering go away.
Rocksmith Guitar Bundle
(Buy Now from Amazon.com)
Now might be a really awkward time to bring up my own daddy issues, but it is totally relevant to this gift. Since the day I was born, he’s been keen to share his love of playing the guitar with my brother and I. However, I immediately gave up on my own rock star ambitions as a kid the moment he tried to teach me on a real guitar and it hurt my fingers. At the time, I didn’t have the time or the patience to learn, and I haven’t picked up a guitar in earnest ever since.
So why now? Well, years of Rock Band drumming has translated into actual skills on a real drum set. Progressing from that, my dad helped me get started with the bass guitar, which I find very rewarding. Ever since Rocksmith came out last year, I’ve longingly stared at the guitar bundle, hoping that some day I could use it to give this guitar playing business an honest try. Thanks to Steff – the greatest girlfriend ever – this dream is now a reality. I doubt that I’ll be selling out arenas any time soon with my skills, but I owe it to myself, my dad and Steff to put this to great use. At the very least, here’s to hoping that it’s an enjoyable gaming experience!
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Boxing day goodies post coming soon!
In Third Person 