Gamers want the best gear they can get their hands on to make those long hours of questing across the countryside, diving into dungeons and blowing terrorists to smithereens as much fun as humanly possible. In order to do that, they need the best gear on the market. With dozens of developers crafting consoles, gadgets and peripherals to enhance the world of gaming, it can be tough to tell which pieces of hardware will prove to be a solid investment.
Whether you’re gaming on the go, in front of the TV or the monitor, here’s a breakdown of some of the latest and greatest items geared at making your gaming experience a real blast:
Big things in small packages
While more console, PC and mobile games continue to be offered, a little device known as the Ouya is looking to carve out a unique niche for itself. The Ouya, at its core, is an open-source games console that’s about the size of a can of soup. It plugs into your TV in order to provide some big gaming experiences. At only $99, it’s also one of the most affordable ways to dip your toe into the world of living room gaming.
Running on Android, the Ouya allows gamers to play more casual games they might typically find on a tablet or smartphone from the comfort of a couch, blasted onto a big screen TV, and with a controller in hand. Larger, meatier games are also in development for the Ouya, especially now that the console developer has invested a whopping $1 million to help crowdfunded titles for this miniscule device, notes Engadget.
If you’ve already got yourself a nice gaming console, chances are pretty good you’d still like to be able to take some of that experience with you on the go. That’s where the Nvidia Shield comes in. Another Android-based device, the Shield lets the user stream PC content to this (admittedly bulky, but still pretty awesome) portable device, complete with a flip-up screen and full controller. You can use the Shield to watch videos and stream music, too, making it a potentially ideal way to take the home computer gaming experience on the go with you. And with faster Internet packages going for as low as 15 bucks these days, according to http://www.verizoninternet.com, it’s not hard to imagine the appeal of enjoying your PC’s entertainment content from poolside or snuggled up in bed.
Game-changing gear
If you’re gaming in front of your home computer, though, chances are pretty good a standard mouse and keyboard aren’t exactly keeping up with your lightning-fast clicks and button presses. Thankfully, there are a metric boatload of mice and keyboards specifically designed for game-oriented computer nuts, allowing users to find the right feel, options and capabilities to fit their individual gaming lifestyle.
PC Mag offers a nice breakdown of 10 great gaming mice and keyboards that fit pretty much whatever type of gaming you plan to get into. For those who just want a nice, comfortable gaming mouse at a decent price, the Roccat Lua Tri-Button offers a comfy fit and decent options for a reasonable $30. The same goes for the Rosewill Mechanical Keyboard RK-9000I, which comes in at a $89.99 (about half of what you’d pay for some of the more “professional” boards), with a sturdy construction to boot.
The next generation
Finally, for those who prefer to do their gaming from in front of the television, the next generation of consoles is just around the corner. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are both expected to launch by the end of the year, bringing the latest in HD graphics, social features and content streaming services you could ever wish for. The One will be priced a little higher than the PS4 ($499 and $399, respectively), but it also comes with the new Kinect camera in the box for all of the latest voice command and motion-controlled options. If you’re looking to game in front of the TV during the course of the next eight or so years, you’re likely making a sound investment by picking up either of these consoles when they finally hit store shelves later this year.
Creative Commons image by Saad Faruque