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Black Friday: Last minute loot-n-scoot roundup for slackers that prefer online buys
I am lazy. I like being lazy. When Black Friday was niche and relatively unknown compared to today the experience was fun for bargain hunting... Now, everyone and their grandmother get in on the wheeling and dealing. It's crowded, too crowded. I do not want to spend my Thanksgiving encroached by of slack-jawed mouth breathers in a line that lasts for an eternity. Ditching friends and football for a 50 dollar hard drive deal just isn't worth the hassle, oh, and I guess spending time with the family during commercials is important too. That doesn't mean those that don't participate in this consumer activism are left to fend for the scraps after the animals are done pillaging the brick and mortar stores. Some big chains are offering online Black Friday deals before "Cyber Monday" launches, another gimmick to rob poor blokes such as myself blind. I went ahead and compiled a list primarily of online deals that are suited towards MMOG players, and the necessary trappings and innards that connect our gaming contraptions to these fantasy worlds to make all that fanciful magic happen.
Joystiq Holidaze: Gaming Hots and Nots
On The O.C. the characters celebrated Chrismukkah. Virgin Mobile dubbed it Christmahanakwanzakah. We here at the 'stiq, because of our extreme desire to be politically correct, and at the same time share our pessimism, know it as the "Holidaze." That's right, with Black Friday (a holiday in its own right to certain groups) officially here, and soccer moms, Boy Scouts, and career shoppers getting ready to fall back on their most basic animal instincts -- fighting over doorbuster deals as if it was Prostitute v. Prostitute for custody of a baby as presided over by King Solomon -- we can't help feeling that we needed to do something. And here we are -- Joystiq's Holidaze: Gaming Hots and Nots 2007. By no means do we consider this guide a definitive source for your holiday shopping. Some people still need boxers, pencils, dress shirts, and notepads this holiday. This guide, unfortunately for those individuals, focuses solely on the games we think, after some heated discussions in our email thread, should make even the Ebenezers on your list as giddy as Tiny Tim. Well, what are you waiting for, friends? Hit the break, and know our list better, man! (And woman.)
Joystiq Holidaze: explaining the PS3 SKUs
We'd love to say picking up PlayStation 3 is as easy as going to the store and grabbing the first box with the console's name on it. For better and worse, this generation of consoles gives consumers many choices at the (potential) expense of causing confusion at the store.So it's with this in mind that we present you this handy guide for discerning the difference between the various PlayStation 3 versions (aka SKUs) out there. Please note that the red and green coloring is not only festive decor for the holiday season but also a subjective highlight of what each version excels in (or subsequently lacks). #comparechart { border: 2px solid #333; border-collapse: collapse; } #comparechart td { padding: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc; vertical-align: top; margin: 0; line-height: 1.3em; font-size: 80%} #comparechart th { font-size: 80%; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 4px; background: #eee; } #comparechart th.mainth { font-size: 100%; border-bottom: 1px solid #333; } #comparechart td.red { background-color: #f08c85; } #comparechart td.green { background-color: #b3e2c4; } #comparechart td.yellow { background-color: #ffffcc;} 80GB 60GB 40GB 20GB Hardware Model # CECHE01 CECHA01 CECHG01 CECHB01 Price $499.99 $499.99* $399.99 $499.99* Chrome trim Yes Yes Yes No USB 2.0 slots 4 4 2 4 802.11 b/g Yes Yes Yes No Flash cardreader Yes Yes No No Bundled Accessories Ethernet cable Yes Yes Yes Yes Video cables Composite Composite Composite Composite Backwards Compatibility PlayStation 2 Software** Yes (NTSC),Software** (PAL) No Yes PS One Yes Yes Yes Yes Notes:* This model is discontinued. The price on the chart represents the listed price before Sony axed it.** See explanation in F.A.Q. below.Alright, Joystiq, time to answer your own questions.Let's do this.
Joystiq Holidaze: explaining the Xbox 360 SKUs
We'd love to say picking up Xbox 360 is as easy as going to the store and grabbing the first box with the console's name on it. For better and worse, this generation of consoles gives consumers many choices at the (potential) expense of causing confusion at the store. So it's with this in mind that we present you this handy guide for discerning the difference between the various Xbox 360 versions (aka SKUs) out there. Please note that the red and green coloring is not only festive decor for the holiday season but also a subjective highlight of what each version excels in (or subsequently lacks). #comparechart { border: 2px solid #333; border-collapse: collapse; } #comparechart td { padding: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc; vertical-align: top; margin: 0; line-height: 1.3em; font-size: 80%} #comparechart th { font-size: 80%; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 4px; background: #eee; } #comparechart th.mainth { font-size: 100%; border-bottom: 1px solid #333; } #comparechart td.red { background-color: #f08c85; } #comparechart td.green { background-color: #b3e2c4; } Elite HaloEdition Pro Arcade Core Hardware Price $449.99 $399.99 $349.99 $279.99 $199.99* Storage 120GB HDD 20GB HDD 20GB HDD 256MBmemory card none Color Black Green/Orange White White White HDMI port Yes Yes Certain models** Yes Certain models** Bundled Accessories Ethernet cable Yes Yes Yes No No Headset Wired Wired Wired No No Play &Charge Kit No Yes No No No Video cables HDMI 1.2,Component,Composite Component,Composite Component,Composite Composite Composite Controller Wireless Wireless Wireless Wireless Wired Other Xbox Live Silver,1 Month Gold Silver,1 Month Gold Silver,1 Month Gold Silver,1 Month Gold Silver BackwardsCompatibility Yes Yes Yes No*** No*** Notes:* The Core model has been discontinued. The $199.99 price tag is based on the GameStop refurbished price.** See explanation below*** Hard Drive requiredAnd just in case you still have questions, we've gone ahead and written up a F.A.Q. after the break.
Joystiq Holidaze: The $500 budget
Derived from the French word, "budgette," the term "budget" rose out of the stale and hardened bread loaves used to beat errant children over the head whenever they begged for money to spend at the candy store. Indeed, the adherence to a budget often feels like a sudden blow when surrounded by the objects of your desire, and it is this article's duty to keep you in check when finances are less than fortuitous. When it comes to purchasing a new console, let us hover the bread over your head. In other, less interesting words, this is how we think you should spend your precious $500 (pre-tax for simplicity's sake) on the trio of current consoles. You know, the ones that are still expensive. In conjunction with our Black Friday deal round-up, you might just be left with some change.
Joystiq Holidaze: the guitar compatibility guide
#comparechart { border: 2px solid #333; border-collapse: collapse; } #comparechart td { padding: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc; vertical-align: top; margin: 0; line-height: 1.3em; font-size: 80%} #comparechart th { font-size: 80%; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 4px; background: #eee; } #comparechart th.x360th { font-size: 100%; border-bottom: 1px solid #333; background-color: #66FF99;} #comparechart th.mainth { font-size: 100%; border-bottom: 1px solid #333;} #comparechart th.ps3th { font-size: 100%; border-bottom: 1px solid #333; background-color: #99ccff;} #comparechart td.red { background-color: #f08c85; } #comparechart td.green { background-color: #b3e2c4; } 'Tis the season for shredding plastic guitar controllers in a virtual environment for screaming, adoring virtual fans - do you know if your plastic axe can rock with your game? Through playtests and corroboration via other sources, we have combined three handy charts (one for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and now Wii) to let you know what guitar controllers work with what games.First, the Xbox 360: Rock Band Stratocaster Yes No* No** Guitar Hero 3 Les Paul Yes Yes Yes Guitar Hero 2 Xplorer Yes Yes Yes Notes: * Can navigate menus, but during the songs the green button is stuck down, orange is red, and everything else is dead** Interestingly, the drums are recognized, so you can actually navigate menus using them, but playing songs is a no go.The PlayStation 3, however, has a much "easier" choice (after the break).
Joystiq Holidaze: best of Black Friday
Stuffed full of poultry, pork, potatoes, pie and gravy you rise from your food coma dazed, angry, and ready to shop. It's still dark outside. Welcome to Black Friday.We've trimmed the fat and cut the crap, bringing you the gaming highlights from the retail world's annual sale. Remember, the best shopper is an armed a prepared shopper. Use this guide to target the needs of your whiny loved ones, while avoiding bold-lettered traps (Joytip: It's no bargain price if you're cleaning out retail garbage). This year's sales favor Xbox 360 products, though there are valuable savings in the PlayStation 3 department. As for PSP? Not so much (actually, none at all). And only a few Nintendo-brand listings pop out (Joytip: Unless you're camping on the concrete, ignore Wii bundle listings; the console will be as scarce as ever).This Joystiq guide focuses on brick and mortar retailers (Amazon's Black Friday listings are here) and only includes our recommendations. (Joytip: Each image is linked to additional information about the corresponding product). Please use the comments section to share additional deals you've discovered!
Amazon.com's great Black Friday deals -- including Wii supply
Well look what we've got here, a nice list of Amazon.com's Black Friday deals which was conveniently left on our doorstep. The above photo reminds us not to venture anywhere near a retail space on Friday, but, darn it, we gotta shop! Some of the highlights of the list are Halo 3 Legendary Edition for $80 (saving $50) and BioShock for $40 (saving $20). We've also been told that there will be an allotment of Wiis, but don't expect those to last more than [fill in insanely short amount of time here]. There are also a slew of other deals for every system, check out the full list after the break. Make sure to check Amazon.com on Friday for other deals and revel in shopping from the comfort of your home.
