A Memorable Journey: Gaming at 30,000 Feet
Last week, I had the prospect to visit our team in New York City.The highlight of the trip? Indulging in appetizing burgers and refreshing beers! However, the downside was enduring a grueling 40 hours of air travel between Australia and the United States.
A Shift in Perspective on Long Flights
Not too long ago, the mere thought of spending such an extended period on a plane would have filled me with anxiety. I would have spent my time fiddling with a faulty audio jack to get sound from my armrest while struggling to catch some sleep or playing outdated games on my sluggish laptop—waiting ages for each turn.
The Game-Changer: Nintendo Switch
This time around was entirely different; I thoroughly enjoyed myself thanks to having my nintendo Switch by my side.To tackle battery life concerns during travel, I flew both legs on a Qantas A-380 equipped with power outlets beneath every seat. This feature proved invaluable for charging devices via USB-C. My Pixel XL phone also uses USB-C, allowing me to carry just one versatile charger instead of multiple proprietary ones—an efficient solution that charged both devices quickly.
On the initial 14-hour flight from Sydney to Los Angeles, I kept my Switch plugged in and played as much as I wanted. During the shorter five-hour leg from LAX to JFK aboard a non-powered 747 (where armrest USB ports lacked sufficient power), I still managed about three hours of gameplay by dimming the screen and utilizing airplane mode effectively.
Uncompromised Gaming Experience
From a technological standpoint, it’s remarkable how airline amenities can enhance gaming experiences. While playing mid-flight,it struck me that this wasn’t merely portable gaming; it felt like an extraordinary experience akin to enjoying one of 2017’s top console titles right there at cruising altitude.Every couple of hours spent immersed in Breath of the Wild left me awestruck—I was soaring across the Pacific Ocean while indulging in stunning graphics comparable to those displayed on my home television.
Had Nintendo opted for an obscure custom power cord rather of embracing universal USB-C standards, this experience might not have been possible or enjoyable at all. Instead,packing something as practical as USB-C made all the difference during this journey.
Immersive Gameplay Across Long Distances
Throughout both lengthy flights back home—approximately six or seven hours each—I found myself deeply engaged with Zelda, rather than simply passing time until battery depletion forced me into inactivity. With no daily commute due to working remotely from home, I’d primarily played on my couch before this trip; thus experiencing its portability firsthand transformed how I viewed this console’s capabilities.
Transitioning from older handhelds like Nintendo’s underpowered 3DS and PlayStation Vita prepared me for quite a leap forward regarding performance and enjoyment levels when traveling with modern technology like Switch consoles.
Rethinking Travel Experiences
Travel has often been synonymous with discomfort for me; I’d fixate anxiously on how much longer until reaching my destination—a mindset that typically left me feeling restless or irritable throughout long flights. However, armed with an engaging game world like Hyrule at hand allowed those worries to fade away completely! Instead of counting down minutes agonizingly slow ticking away before landing became irrelevant as entire hours vanished while exploring shrines and battling formidable foes known as Guardians.
The only minor drawback? The initial promotional video misled us about using detached Joy-Cons comfortably resting against tray tables mid-flight! After several hours gripping onto everything tightly within hands’ reach due solely as airplane mode disabled dialogue between controllers—it felt odd given its meaning showcased earlier during marketing campaigns!
Update: Discovering Hidden Features
I later learned you could indeed play using detached Joy-Cons after adjusting settings post-airplane mode activation! Kudos again go out towards Nintendo along their advertising partners!
While I’ve enjoyed various games ranging from Civilization through Fire Emblem up until now during previous flights—the unparalleled joy derived specifically through playing Zelda stands unmatched among them all thus far alone onboard without any companions nearby sharing copies such as Mario Kart alongside!
In conclusion: Traveling doesn’t need always be tedious if you embrace innovative technology available today—especially when combined seamlessly together enhancing overall experiences along way!