It is less than three weeks until Christmas but there is still plenty of time to shop for the right tech gift for your family and friends. Were now well into Tech Guide’s 12 Days of Christmas Gifts Ideas.
Today were looking at Gaming – a popular pastime in Australia where we have a very high participation rate.
Families play a lot of games together in the industry is healthier than ever with not only a range of consoles to choose from but also the latest titles.
A gaming gift is something families and people of all ages can enjoy.
Here are the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas
DAY 5: Gaming/Toys
DAY 6: Tablets/eReaders
DAY 7: Drones/Gadgets
DAY 8: Smart/IoT devices
DAY 9: In-car gadgets
DAY 10: TVs/Blu-Ray/4K
DAY 11: Appliances
DAY 12: Computers
DAY 5: Gaming/Toys
XBOX ONE X – $649
The Xbox One X can lay claim to being the most powerful console in the world with 40 per cent more power than any other console on the market.
It has 12 GB of graphic memory that adds speed and power to the gaming experience so you can expand your horizons like never before.
Onboard is a 6 Teraflop GPU which is the key to 4K environments, lifelike characters, more detail and smoother animation.
There are also faster loading times so you’re doing what you bought the machine to do – play games and not just wait around for the next level to load.
On the design side, the Xbox One X is pretty slick.
But it doesn’t just look good, it’s got it where it counts under the hood too.
4K gaming on the Xbox One X is also enhanced with HDR (high dynamic range) as well as spatial audio.
Games you can play in 4K include Forza Motorsport 7, Crackdown 3, State of Decay 2, Sea of Thieves and Super Lucky’s Tail.
And the Xbox One X can also play 4K UHD Blu-ray discs.
It’s an all-round entertainment powerhouse that the whole family can enjoy.
PLAYSTATION 4 PRO – $559
Sony’s PlayStation 4 Pro has been in market for some time but is still a very popular console with a number of exclusive games and entertainment options.
On the gaming side, of course, there are plenty of titles to choose from and they look great in 4K HDR.
It has 8GB RAM and a massive 1 TB hard drive along with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Users can also access a wide range of content through the console including movies and music.
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW OF THE PS4 PRO
NINTENDO SWITCH – $549
The Nintendo Switch is one of the most versatile gaming consoles you can buy.
There are three ways to play including linking it to your television, playing on the Switch display in Tabletop mode and also playing on the go in Handheld mode.
You can also link up to eight consoles for local multiplayer and also sign up to a subscription service to play online as well.
And, of course, there is a massive range of games you can enjoy on the device including some classic Nintendo characters and franchises.
CALL OF DUTY WWII – $79
The latest addition of the blockbuster franchise goes back to where it all began with an amazing historically accurate campaign set in the European theatre of World War II.
It puts players at the centre of the action as troops battle German and fight for survival.
The popular multiplayer also delivers with excellent maps to challenge even the best of players.
And the zombies are back as well.
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW OF CALL OF DUTY: WWII
STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT II – $79
Set in a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars Battlefront II now includes an exciting campaign where players form part of an imperial squadron following the events of Return of the Jedi.
From here the gameplay moves from system to system with players mixing it up with weapons and vehicles on the ground and piloting TIE fighters and X-Wings in space.
Some of the most popular Star Wars characters also make appearances in the game including Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia.
On the multiplayer side, you got several choices to take part in massive battles set in the well-known systems that appeared in the movies as well as more intimate and challenging skirmishes.
SPHERO BB9E AND R2D2 – $249.99 (BB9E) and $299.95 (R2D2)
With The Last Jedi about to open in theatres, Star Wars is red hot right now and if you want to get in on the action then check out BB9E and R2D2 from Sphero.
These droids can be controlled with an app so it’s like having the characters from the movie right there with you.
Players can also enjoy augmented reality and explore holographic simulations which place the droids into memorable Star Wars locations.
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW OF SPHERO’S BB9E AND R2D2
LENOVO JEDI CHALLENGES
Another Star Wars product, Jedi Challenges from Lenovo, can make a fantasy for many fans come true and let them wield a lightsaber to take on Darth Maul, Kylo Ren and Darth Vader.
The augmented reality experience uses an app on your smartphone with a dedicated headset and an impressive lightsaber replica to hone your skills as a Jedi.
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW OF JEDI CHALLENGES
ANKI OVERDRIVE – $269
The old slot car set has gone back to the future with Anki Overdrive.
You simply open the box build your track and place your cars and the app takes care of everything.
The vehicles can be controlled from your mobile device so you can race and battle.
Each vehicle has its own capabilities so you can enjoy open play, go head-to-head with AI -controlled Commanders and play the Overdrive campaign.
The Anki Overdrive Starter Kit includes 10 track pieces and two vehicles so you can get started in seconds.
COZMO – $349
Cozmo is a high-tech toy with a difference – it’s a real-life robot that can be your new best friend.
It’s a bit like having a small electronic puppy because you can teach it tricks and its always ready to play and always happy to see you.
The companion app lets you interact with Cosmo in a number of ways. It also comes with three smart blocks which you can pick up, roll and carry.
It’s a little supercomputer on treads that is dying to meet you.
