As our Aragon’s 12 Technologies of Christmas blog series continues, the fifth technology is the perfect gift for kids this holiday season.
by Calvin Smith
For the fifth technology in Aragon’s 12 Technologies of Christmas, I would like to introduce the Apple gaming subscription service: Apple Arcade. In this blog, I will discuss why this service is the perfect gaming subscription for kids.
What Is Apple Arcade?
Apple Arcade was launched earlier this year in September and is a subscription service that offers over 100 hand-picked games by Apple that are compatible with iPhones, iPads, Macs, and AppleTV.
The subscription, as of recently, now offers two payment plans. You can pay monthly for the very affordable cost of $4.99 or pay an annual fee of $49.99. In addition, if you’re not ready to commit to the monthly or annual fee just yet, try out the service with a one-month free trial.
Why Should You Subscribe to Apple Arcade?
While I think 100 hand-picked games provides a sufficient amount of gaming options, others might not be quite sold on the gaming selections. So you might ask, “Why should I opt-in to Apple Arcade?” Three reasons:
Family Sharing
With the monthly or annual subscriptions, up to six members can play on a single account. Think about that! How difficult is it to have six members play on the Wii or Xbox? It’s nearly impossible! This is a unique feature that allows family and friends to come together for some bonding through gaming.
No Ads
Imagine paying a monthly or annual fee to play the games you want and before each game starts, you have to sit through a 30-second advertisement. Or imagine you’re about to hit a personal record and another advertisement comes your way. Not with Apple Arcade! Enjoy your favorite games without the added inconvenience of ads.
Download and Go
Are you taking your kids on a long trip by car and concerned that they will be bored out of their minds after the first minute? Not to worry! With Apple Arcade, you can download your favorite games and play without an LTE or WiFi connection. Imagine a driving trip without the constant, “Are we there yet?”
Access Apple Arcade through the App Store and discover why it’s the perfect gift to give this holiday season.
My Apple Arcade Experience
I recently subscribed to the one-month free trial of Apple Arcade. Over the course of a couple of days, I’ve been able to test out and play a variety of games. I have been pleased with the type of variety Apple Arcade offers—from puzzle games to adventure games to action games. There is enough category variety to keep users entertained.
One of the best features of Apple Arcade is the preview that you will experience when you select a game. The preview features either different levels or stages depending on the game, the suitable age rating (very useful for parents), the category the game falls under, how many players can contribute, and how many gigabytes (or less) of space the game will take up on your device. In addition, feel free to leave a review of the game (what works, what doesn’t) and the developer may respond back to you and incorporate your critiques.
Bottom Line
Apple Arcade is a can’t-miss gift for kids this holiday season. While its popularity may not compete with a Playstation, Wii, or an Xbox just yet, this application has plenty of games to keep your kids entertained and at a fraction of the cost.
The 12 Technologies of Christmas blog series will continue. Stay tuned for more of Aragon’s technology gift recommendations.