Make Fortnite a fun time for all the family
Gaming is synonymous with violent gun battles and ‘‘man caves’’. It’s assumed to be inconsistent with a modern, family-friendlyliving room.
Fortnite Battle Royale, one of the most popular games for children, means gaming may well be unavoidable in your home.
Yet trying to incorporate such a fun, silly, and addictive game at your place without it feeling like a student’s dormitory might feel like a struggle.
A gaming experience the whole family can enjoy will start with a large 4K TV, as consoles such as the Xbox One X (and One S) render scenes in the highdefinition quality game makers intended.
Today’s range of 55-inch-plus 4K TVs are the standard offering in
New Zealand. Most are sleek and, despite their relative size, reasonably unobtrusive when wall-mounted.
Gaming consoles are equally unnoticeable – most are only slightly bigger than a DVD player, have wireless controllers and can easily hide away in a home entertainment unit.
However, modern incarnations of the Xbox and the PlayStation are so slick and attractive, even non-gamers would be forgiven for wanting to put them on display.
Adam McElroy, TV Group marketing manager for Samsung NZ, said gaming was becoming more mainstream and it was often something parents enjoyed with their children.
‘‘We’re seeing gaming becoming more inclusive, so more often than not you’ll find a gaming console and TV in the living room where everyone can enjoy it,’’ he said.
McElroy also believed, with the high-quality audiovisual experience that a game like Fortnite provides, anybody watching will enjoy the quality of the graphics, not just those playing.
Some still held the perception that gaming was an anti-social activity; as if video games were best played in a dark, cramped room.
Many of today’s gamers are trying to change this notion, as it can be a real social experience.
‘‘For friends and families who game together, playing on big screens that allow multiple people to join in is essential,’’ McElroy said.
‘‘Whether it’s multiplayer car racing titles, or quiz-style games that require group participation, the TV can play a great role in family entertainment.’’
In-home gaming solutions
‘‘More often than not you’ll find a gaming console and TV in the living room where everyone can enjoy it.’’ Adam McElroy
often are curious to kids with little fingers, who will inevitably want to touch and play with them.
This means there are some safety considerations to think about in their living room setup.
Traditionally it has been necessary to keep peripherals close to the TV – because of the short lengths of connected cables – which has restricted how and where electronics can be secured.
Many of the latest TVs have addressed this problem – Samsung’s ‘‘One Connect Box’’ acts as a covered hub where everything is connected, and needs only one single cable that extends up to five metres.
McElroy explains: ‘‘This means you can place your precious gaming console in a safe cabinet or shelf away from prying fingers.’’
This article is editorial content produced in association with Samsung.