FIVE WAYS GAMERS CAN SPEND THEIR CHRISTMAS MONEY

The Christmas season is fast approaching, and if you’re fortunate you might find yourself sitting on quite a bit of money from Santa. So, how do you spend it if you’re a gamer?

While some of our options might be a little more expensive than others, we at Shine+ have come up with five ways you can celebrate this Christmas season and treat yourself.

Pick up that new console you’ve always been after

The current generation of consoles aren’t slowing down in terms of the amount of games produced for them, so if you haven’t scored one yet – or you’re looking to expand your collection – now is a better time than any to pick one up.

Whether you’re looking to pick up a new shooter in the Call of Duty franchise, or highly anticipating the upcoming Legend of Zelda game from Nintendo, there is a console which is going to cater to your interests.

Gaming consoles, however, are one of the most popular Christmas gifts and after-purchases, so don’t be too stunned if you find them to be sold out for a short period of time.

Upgrading the graphics card

Most modern day graphics cards for PCs are fantastic in the fast that they can be constantly updated through drivers, meaning they will last you for years. Personally I’ve been satisfied with my 970 up until this day, however, if you have the cash and love playing games at Ultra settings it doesn’t hurt to upgrade to the latest models.

The newest graphics cards cater to the present, and often upcoming, generation and engines of the latest games, ensuring that you gain the maximum benefit and experience from using them. If you’re running on outdated hardware, or are just a gamer who keeps up with the latest upgrades, then splurging on the newest model of graphics cards might be a great use of your Christmas money.

Investing in a MMO

Massively Multiplayer Online games are one of the most popular genres out there, with the top games commanding hundreds of thousands, to even millions, of subscribers every month. They are a deep, immersive experience which rewards both solo play and finding friends to play group content with. There is always something for every type of player, which makes them so rewarding and attractive to gamers.

Two of the most popular titles, World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV, are both going through heavy content updates and inclusions in upcoming months – making now a better time than any to jump on board and experience the new gameplay with countless others.

If you’re already an avid MMO player, perhaps a long subscription purchase would be a great use of Christmas money: the companies behind the games often have great bargains for purchasing 6 and 12 month subscriptions.

Updated peripherals

Your mouse might not be as accurate as it used to be, or your keyboard is in shambles and keys have popped out. Maybe your mic on your headset isn’t as clear as it used to be. Why not drop some money on upgrading your kit?

A sturdy mechanical keyboard will last you 5+ years if you maintain and treat it properly, as would a gaming mouse. The modern peripherals produced by some companies have much better longevity than their earlier counterparts, so the money is definitely worth it. They also often look quite fancy, so you can treat yourself visually this Christmas by purchasing these peripherals. This is a relatively cheap, yet excellent, purchase for gamers.

Virtual Reality Rig

Chances are most people won’t be able to afford this one, but it’s always good to dream right? That is the spirit of Christmas, after all.

Virtual Reality technology has been exploding in the past year, and constant modifications and updates to the technology are making it a better experience as time goes past. Not only can it be used for gaming, but there have been some additions to VR lately that allow you to spectate professional DotA 2 games alongside other VR users.

The downside, of course, is the cost: not only do you need to pay for the expensive VR headset, but you need a top end PC rig. These costs are probably going to rack up in the thousands, so it might be a little out of your reach. For those who can afford it, however, I can’t think of a more fitting gift for Christmas than the future technology of gaming.

Do you know what else would go great with these gifts? A seven-pack of Shine+, to keep you functioning for longer hours with no crash over those long Christmas holidays gaming sessions. Make sure to check out how to pick up Shine+ here.

WORDS BY HAYDEN FITZGERALD