These days, most of us are used to a bit of on the move gaming. Even if it’s just Angry Birds or Farmville. It’s normal to see people of all ages passing the time with a game on their smartphone or dedicated mobile gaming device. We’ve come a long way from the days when Gameboy’s were only used by kids and geeks.
New mobile gaming devices are getting more sophisticated too. They’re not just temporary amusements designed to while away a few minutes while you get back to your games console at home. They’re designed as full on gaming platforms that you can take anywhere.
So if these devices are so portable, why not take them on vacation?
The Pros of Portable Gaming on Vacation:
The advantages of having a mobile games console on vacation are obvious. If you have long train journeys or flights, they provide an easy way to pass the time. And with interchangeable games, you have enough options to make sure you’re never bored.
They can also provide an opportunity for group interaction while traveling. If you have more than one PS Vita or Nintendo DS, then you can have multiplayer games to keep everyone engaged. Rather than everyone being plugged into an individual MP3 player or smartphone.
These systems also provide web browsers so they double as mobile Internet devices. So there’s plenty of functionality to keep you entertained.
The Cons of Portable Gaming on Vacation:
The problems with these kinds of devices are usually the same, battery. When you’re traveling you don’t have a lot of time to stop and plug devices in. So if the battery life isn’t long enough, you’ve got a problem. No matter what the functionality of a device is like; if it has no power, it’s no good. This can be a problem for the more advanced gaming systems, with some reported cases of 3 hours of gaming from a full charge on a Nintendo 3DS. Not great if your travel time is 5 hours plus.
The other problem with these devices is the danger that they’ll creep into other parts of your vacation. They’re great for traveling. But what about when you get to the hotel? Will you bring it to the pool? Does it leave the hotel with you when you go sightseeing? It may be simplistic but you could do that at home. There’s a whole world out there, that’s why you’re on vacation.
The Conclusion:
If you have enough battery life, these devices are great for passing travel time. As long as you don’t let it interrupt other parts of your vacation. Our Advice? Unless your mobile gaming device is vital to you, leave it at home.
