PixlBit

My favorite version fo Jingle Bells. It always makes me laugh

Hey Pixlbit, it’s Monday, and start of another chilly week. Everything good? Any new games/consoles/toys/hobbies you guys and gals might have picked up? Let’s hear about it! As for myself I thought since we are getting close to the end of the year, I’d like to look back on the consoles I’ve purchased this year. I have an idea of what I want to write about for the coming weeks, and this was an open spot, and I thought this was a good topic for me to cover (plus the idea came to me while in everyone’s favorite thinking spot…the shower). So sit back, relax, check out some recycled pics of the consoles I’ve picked up and my thoughts about them. Cool? Cool!

 

Playstation Vita

 

I started 2013 off with a random trip to Target, where I saw a couple of PS Vita’s in the glass case with the familiar red clearance sticker on them. Turns out they were repackaged items but sold at a really good price especially for what came with them

 

That one-cent always seemed odd to me

 

The bundle contained a copy of Call of Duty, and a 4 GB card. Since I no longer needed to buy a memory stick, I had more options for games. So with two additional games, I thing I spent around the same price as a retail Vita. I actually traded Call of Duty to GameStop for $25 store credit. I bought Touch My Katamari and something else (maybe that Deadliest Catch game)

 

I picked up Lego LotR, and NFS Most Wanted and a couple of days later Madden 13.

Having this handheld for almost a year I can say that I am satisfied with my purchase. I got a handheld that I really enjoy, especially since I also have PS+ and I got to take advantage of a lot of games through that, as well as my physical library of games (current count is around 18). Do I think there should be a bigger physical Vita Library? Of course I do. Everyone who owns a console should expect a wide and varied library. I’m not counting the already established digital games from the PSP, Playstation, or the Minis, but actual games developed for the Vita.

I do feel that Sony dropped the ball in not having more games support PS3 to PS Vita crossover play. We got a glimpse of it with the PSP and PS2, and it should have been a bigger feature in the PS3/PS Vita but other than a few games, there really wasn’t any incorporation into last gen gaming. I am hoping that Sony finally utilizes this with the PS4 and the Vita.

 

Nexus 7 Tablet

 

My next “handheld” is the Nexus 7 2013 model. I decided to purchase this tablet even though I already owned the 2012 32GB version

 

Turns out I bought it around Nov. 2012

The 2013 version had a ton of improvements like a back camera, improved processor, better screen, and fixed all the problems the 2012 version apparently had (I never encountered them). I jumped on the bandwagon of buying the latest and greatest version I’ve become such a fan of the product, and because it gives you so much bang for your buck (I love Apple, but at the Nexus 7’s price point compared to the iPad Mini, it is a STEAL! Anything bigger, than I’d go to the iPad)

 

Comparing my “old” Nexus on the right to the new fresh out of the box Nexus on the left

Looking back, I have to say I made a decent pickup, not great. For the average user the older Nexus 7 is just as good as my new one. My aunt gave my old Nexus 7 a good home, and she adores it. For what she uses it for, it works perfectly.

My Nexus is my daily driver when it comes to tablets, but the majority of its use revolves around playing Android games. There are hundreds of games available to users, many being free, and there are always deals to be found on the paid games. The games themselves have their own achievements, connectivity with Social Media, and the controls and graphics are constantly improving, so you don’t miss much when you’re gaming on the go.

The one thing that drives me nuts is all the in-app purchases, which turns the game into “Freemium” titles. If developers wanted cash, charge a couple of bucks for the games. If your game is good, I’ll spend the 1-6 bucks on them. Heck I bought the same game on iOS and Android because I enjoyed the game that much.

I do want to see more Android/iOS games associated with console/PC games. Games like NFS Most Wanted and Injustice did an excellent job of incorporating your progress in the handheld games to their console counterparts.

 

X-Box 360

 

My final console that I purchased in 2013 is my X-Box 360. Don’t get me wrong, I love this console but I am a Playstation person, not fanboy, first and foremost. I bought this console because GameStop was blowing out their old stock for $100. So when I did the coin can test, I realized I had more than 50% of the cost of a new one (I actually paid $70 out of pocket for my 250 GB 360)

I proceeded to go nuts in picking up games (way too many games), and bought a nice collection on the digital side (plus the freebie games were cool too).

I do like this system because of it’s exclusives, and for the older multiplatform games because they offer achievements, and the PS3 doesn’t offer trophies for. It’s a good console, and the tiles are interesting, but I do still get lost in where to find things. I do like that X-Box gives out free games (even if they are older) and they’re no strings attached free. I also like the sales in the X-Box store. I picked up 3 games that were no more than 2-3 dollars each.

The 360 does have some drawbacks in that the wireless controller’s battery life isn’t good. It seems I have to plug it in more often than I do for my PS3 controller. I am also not a fan of the fact that the console sounds likes a jet taking off when I play certain games. The sound I can live with, but the battery life is just plain annoying. Do I regret buying the 360? Not at all. I think it’s a good console, with a deep library. I don’t see myself buying an X-Box One anytime soon however but when I do buy one, I hope to have similar experiences (hopefully the battery life is better) with it.

Well folks that is my look back at the consoles I bought this year. Hopefully my next console pickup happens in January with a certain Playstation product. Oh before I forget to mention, I saw a bunch of X-Box Ones at Target. If you are looking for one, check out Target.

 

That’s all for now, more later!

-Chris