It is that time of the year again. That's right gamers, it is time to find the special gifts on your list for your gaming buddies, kiddos, and spouses. Thankfully Gamercide's Grim Reaper spoke to a few of Santa's elves who recommended the following gaming goodies for every budget that are sure to get the reaction you are looking for.
For The Social Gamer
The Social Gamer. The gamer who spends their time playing games to keep in contact with friends or uses games as an attempt to make new friends.
The "I Love Farmville" Mug - $9.99, Amazon.com
This white mug is perfect for the social gamer who spends hours sitting in front of the their PC or iTouch/iPhone playing Zynga's farm building game on Facebook, Farmville.
Playfish Cash Card - $10 and $25, available at select retailers including Walmart, Walgreens, and Gamestop
Playfish is a popular social gaming company that offers game such as Country Story, Pet Society, Madden Superstars, and Restaurant City. The Playfish Cash Cards are redeemable online via Playfish's website. These cards can be used to make online purchases for select games where you can make purchases through coins, game currency, and the points can also be used to be certain items that otherwise unavailable.
The Sims 3 - $39.99, available online at various websites and wherever video games are sold
Not every social gamer sticks to playing gaming apps on Facebook, Myspace, and/or their smart phone. The Sims 3 which is available on the PC, Xbox360, and PS3 allows gamers to create a virtual mini me of themselves where they can take on various jobs, eat, sleep or in some cases drink espresso, raise a family, shower, and take a number two.
Zynga Game Cards - $10.00 and up, available online and at retail stores
Everybody knows who Zynga is. They are the creators behind some of the most popular social apps on Facebook, Myspace, Yahoo, and the iPhone. The Zynga Game Cards can be used for Farmville, Zynga Poker, Mafia Wars, and their many other apps that Social Gamers cannot get enough of.
For the PC Gamer
The PC Gamer. The gamer who prefers to play on a PC and argues about how much better gaming is on a PC compared to a silly console.
Hello, My Name is Leeroy Jenkins T-Shirt - $15.99 to $17.99, available online at ThinkGeek.com
Everybody knows about the character Leeroy Jenkins and the World of Warcraft incident that has taken on a life of it's own. The video which is plastered all over
Razer Naga: MMO Gaming Mouse - $79.99, available online at ThinkGeek.com
This mouse is designed for the MMO player. There are 17 MMO optimized buttons and you can program thousands of in game commands. This mouse is the ultimate buy for any serious MMO gamer.
Newegg Gift Card - $10 - $2,500, available at www.newegg.com
You can't go wrong with a gift card from Newegg.com. Accessories, storage, games, and hardware. You name it, Newegg has it.
Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard - $98.96, available online
This online gaming friendly keyboard lets you know what servers your friends are playing and other important information via the Logitech LCD GamePanel. The backlit keyboard which is perfect for late night game sessions, features 6 G-keys that you can use to create macros without having to stop what you are doing. You can manage your cords by routing them through channels that are on the underside of the keyboard making this keyboard a neat and organized gift for the PC gamer.
For the Younger Gamer
The Younger Gamer. We all know one. The young kid who looks to be about 10 standing in line to buy Gears of War, but is turned away by store employees do to his age or your younger brother or sister who picked up a controller at the tender age of 2 and never looked back.
Nintendo New Super Mario Bros. Mini Duffle Bag, $24.99, available in store at Toys R Us
Know a little gamer who loves Mario and Luigi and goes to sleepovers at their grandparents or friends house? Featuring side pockets and a large pocket, this duffle bag can easily store the essentials for the little gamer on your list.
Toy Story 3 The Video Game - $29.99 to $49.99, available at video game retailers and online at GameStop.com
Disney's Toy Story 3 was not only a hit in the movie theater, but also as a video game. Scores ranging between 7.5 on the Wii and 8-9's for the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, Toy Story 3 gained mostly positive reviews from the media and from little gamers all over.
Vtech MobiGo Touch Learning System - $55.00, available in stores and online at Vtech.com
Not every gamer is old enough to handle a PSP or Nintendo DS. Not every parent wants their child to be playing a PSP or DS either. This is where the Vtech MobiGo comes in. The layout is easy to use and you can purchase educational, but fun games for it featuring Toy Story, Shrek, and others. This handheld is perfect for on the go travel or just to get your kids learning in a fun way.
Epic Mickey - $49.99 - $69.99, available at video game retailers and online
Colorful and edgy, Epic Mickey is a must have for the older child who owns a Wii. Epic Mickey received rave reviews from critics everywhere and was called, "The Best Wii Game" by IGN.
For the Zombie Loving Gamer
The Zombie Loving Gamer. The gamer who cannot get enough of zombies and lives to play every zombie game around even if it is complete crap.
Resident Evil - $19.99, available online at amazon.com
Maybe you have a gamer on your shopping list that never played the game that started it all when it comes to horrifying zombies, then this would be the perfect buy. Or maybe you have a friend on your list that brags about how awesome and scary L4D is and you want to prove him wrong. Set in a creepy mansion, Resident Evil has it all. From the undead, dogs that will make you leave yellow streaks on your furniture, and crows that want nothing more than to pluck your eyes out this game is must have for anybody who loves zombies.
"I Love Zombies" Apparel - $2.50 to $35.00, available online at trainedmonkeys
This funny design for the zombie lover can be put on everything from buttons, coffee mugs, shirts, sweaters, and tanks. They have female and male sizes so it is perfect for the male or female in your life that cannot get enough of these special undead creatures.
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War - $9.00 or below, available at Barnes and Noble
Maz Brooks retells the terrible tragedy that took place when the Zombie War fell upon us. Featuring interviews and eyewitness reports, this novel is sure to please anybody who is preparing for the zombie apocalypse.
L4D Apparel - $15.00 - $40.00, available online at Zazzle.com
These creative zombie shirts features sayings from the L4D series. Ranging from "Hunter on Zoey", "I survived a zombie infested carnival and I got was this gnome", "Don't Startle my Witch!" and more these shirts are sure to please the male or female L4D gamer on your list this year.
For the Console Gamer
The Console Gamer. Lives, eat, and breathes their Wii, PS3, and/or Xbox 360.
Turtle Beach Ear Force X41 - $159.00 and up, available online and at some electronic retail stores
This wireless headset is a beast. It features 7.1 surround sound allowing Xbox 360 gamers to hear every little in game noise possible. Every gamer's ear deserves the best and this headset is one of the best out in the market today.
Playstation Move - $29.99 and up, available in bundles or sold separately online and at video game retailers
Sony's entry into the motion controlling craze that has seemingly taken over gaming universe is "smart". The Move works with the Eye Toy and will select a color for your orb on the the Move depending on what colors can be distinguished amongst the rest. The Move is wireless and charges via an USB "mini" port on the controller. This motion controller won the 2010 Popular Science award for "Most Immersive Controller".
Super Mario Bros. All Stars Limited Edition - $29.99, available online at amazon.com and at video game retailers on December 12.
It's the 25th Anniversary of the release of Super Mario Bros. and for Wii owners who love Nintendo's flagship character, this game is perfect. Containing all of the classic Mario games, this is sure to provide Mario lovers with hours of fun and memories from "back in the day".
Staff Recommendations
Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged - Comes with Geometry Wars/Bejeweled 2 Deluxe, Wik - Fable of Souls/Hardwood Backgammon, Outpost Kaloki X, Texas Hold 'Em and One Month Subscription to Xbox Live. A great starter kit for any new 360 owner. $17.99
Prey $8.50 Probably the best early 360 game. It used portals before Valve had their success with Portal. Just a wonderful, often missed game. Everyone should own Prey.AudaciousKevin: While they may still be close to full retail price, there are two games that I would highly recommend to any gamer, that are both completely worth it.
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood - $55 (Amazon.com)
Assassin's Creed II was a fantastic game and in every way an improvement over the groundbreaking original game. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood improves even further upon the best parts of Assassin's Creed II, and adds several great new features, including one of the most refreshing multiplayer experiences I have played in a long time. It's much more than an expansion or spinoff, too. There is easily just as much to do in the single player campaign as there was in the previous games. I highly recommend this game. If you're looking to get started on the Assassin's Creed series, you can find the first and second game for around 10 and 30 dollars respectively. You could start with the second, as it has a recap of the first game in the intro, and fixed practically all of the game design flaws present in the first.
Halo: Reach - $50 (Amazon.com)
Halo: Reach continues Bungie's tradition of redefining what a multiplayer game should truly be. There are so many different ways to play, from the campaign, to versus modes, to wave defense against AI that can be played solo or with friends, and exceptional community features such as a level editor, options to record clips or entire matches in theater mode, and a file share to share your screenshots, maps, and videos with friends. All of these features, that you'd normally expect to only see in a PC game, are all available on the Xbox 360 console. Being a prequel, you don't need to play the other games in the series for the story to make sense, either. I can't recommend it enough.
CoyAndChris:
CoyAndChris's Pick for Budget Priced Shooter -
Shadowrun
Currently can be bought for $0.39 from Amazon.com(plus shipping obviously)!!! A great game that can be played cross-platform with PC players.
CoyAndChris's Pick for the Racing Enthusiast-
Forza 3
Forza is Microsoft's definitive racing simulator. Boasting a gratuitous amount of vehicles and customization options, this newest entry into the series is guaranteed to please any gearhead.
CoyAndChris's Pick for Family Gaming -
Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4
The Lego games continue to roll out for consoles everywhere, with the newest taking a magical turn into the world of Harry Potter. With a huge cast of characters, this Lego entry is fun for the whole family and places a larger emphasis on puzzle solving instead of combat.
CoyAndChris Pick for the Role-Playing Enthusiast -
Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition
Bethesda's Fallout 3 is an expansive and engaging epic adventure. The Game of the Year edition includes all the additional storylines and locations to explore and adds many hours of gameplay to an already amazing experience. Recommended over the newer Fallout: New Vegas because of the current amount of unpatched glitches in the newer entry.
First up, how about a little Star Wars action? The R/C Millenium Falcon is great for that Star Wars geek in your life and may even get them to go outside and get some of that dreaded sun. It's also great for flying around in larger living rooms. It's a little on the expensive side, but not a bank breaker at $69.99 over at R/C Millenium Falcon.
Next up, let's try a few books out. The Gears of War books are great reads all the way around and can even be found on Amazon's Kindle bookstore fairly cheap, while the actual paperback versions can be found for just over $10 apiece. Any fan of the series really needs to check them out and as with most books, they make the perfect gift.
Gears of War: Jacinto's Remnant
Next up, let's go for the movies that almost anyone can love. One is the most underrated film of the year and my winner for Best Picture that will never be nominated for any major awards. The other is the best 2+ hours I've ever spent in a cinema.
With Scott Pilgrim Vs The World you get gaming references abound and a very unconventional love story. This one will find your DVD/Blu-Ray player multiple times and with all the extras on the disc it will take you a good 10+ hours to get through everything. At $25 for the Blu-Ray and $19 on DVD, it really is a steal.
Scott Pilgrim Vs The World (Blu-ray)Scott Pilgrim Vs The World (DVD)
Next up is Inception. I really can't say enough about this film. Christopher Nolan made me think for 2 weeks after seeing this film and kept me coming back to the theater multiple (Read 5 times) to watch the film. Enough good things can not be said about it. Amazon as the Blu-Ray on sale for $18 and the DVD for $17.
Lastly, let's go for one big gift. The one thing that is on my list that I know no one is going to get for me. It is still reasonably priced, but at $250 I'll be buying this one on my own.
The Nook Color is Barnes and Noble's answer to Amazon's Kindle. Sure the Kindle is more widely known and overall more popular, but the Nook Color runs on the Android OS and has the potential to be unlocked in to a full fledged Android based iPad clone. More over, there are magazines and almost as many books as Amazon offers for the Kindle. With apps, more customization and much more I think the Nook Color is going to force Amazon to soon look (If not already in development) in to making something very similar. This is the big gift on my list and I'll get one soon. Even if I have to get it myself.
Siren: I recommend the Touch Screen Rubik's Cube. Not really a video game recommendation, but it's fun. It'll set you back between $50 and $150 depending on where you purchase it, but it's bright and colorful and will keep your hands busy.
Star Wars Mimobot Thumb Drives, $29.99 - $34.99. Available online at ThinkGeek.com, these cute Star Wars thumb drives can hold up to 2-4 GB of information. You can purchase all the major characters from the Star Wars franchise including Darth Maul, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Yoda, and more.
Know somebody is pregnant and loves to game? Courtesy of ThinkGeek.com comes the Maternity shirt that says, "Geekling Inside" on the belly. Totally adorable and only costs $17.99 - $22.99.
Halo Risk, $39.99 and available online at ThinkGeek.com.
Three different modes, three different factions. All Halo themed. 'Nuff said.
Available online at amazon.com for $29.99 is everybody's favorite Companion Cube. This weighted cube will never leave your side and stick by you through thick and thin.
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