Since Ive finally come to the conclusion that Im not getting Johnny
Depp in his pirate outfit under my tree for Christmas, Ive decided to
become more practical in my holiday wishes. And although a girl can
always use another pair of fuzzy Godzilla slippers, there are other
presents that I have in mind this season. As a public service, Im
sharing my ideas for gifts your inner geek (or the gaming fiends around
you) would love to receive. So in the spirit of giving, here goes my
list of yuletide yearnings:
If Theyve Been Naughty
and youd like to keep
it that way, a two pack of Grand Theft Auto III and GTA: Vice City have
hit the shelves at a department store near you. Although there are some
copy-cat games coming out, if they havent visited this franchise,
theyre missing out. There is a lot to be said for a game that
encourages bloodshed, mayhem, and sex, and still manages to amuse more
often than not. If youre not quite up to being that bad yet, The
Simpsons: Hit and Run can ease you into things.
If They Like to Share in the Fun
There are some must-have
party games that have enough replay value to see you through until the
next season. When you get your gaming friends together, there are just
some titles you shouldnt go without. Tony Hawks Underground is not
just about skating any more, but all the flava is still there. In the
same vein, SSX 3 is a hit for the winter season. On the more
family-friendly racing side of things is Mario Kart: Double Dash!! A
personal favorite of mine is still Soul Caliber II from Namco. I just
never get tired of kicking butt with Ivy. And speaking of kicking butt,
some party fun at a lower price point can be found in Godzilla: Destroy
All Monsters (when did you think I wore my slippers?). Some other group
games that need dusted off (or purchased anew for the uninitiated) in
preparation for their next installment include Grand Turismo 3 and
HaloI believe Im drooling already, so keep these future gems in mind
for Valentines Day and anniversary presents for your loved ones.
Finally, I need to have a stockpile of group games that work when my
parents come to visit, so its always a good idea to have a copy of
Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and Monopoly on the shelf (besides, you can
always fit in the naughty category for strip Monopoly once the folks
have left).
For the Kid
in You
Just like a heroin
addict needing a fix, kids will be clawing for the latest Yu-Gi-Oh!
titles. But what out there is that exciting for adults? The Legend of
Zelda: The Wind Waker. This game is one that has appeal to everyone,
regardless of gender or age. Granted, you can only find this game on the
Gamecube, but it is still a must-play. If youd like a trip down memory
lane and a little nostalgia, you can try Kingdom Hearts, Dragons Lair
3D, or the myriad of updates and old-style favorites like Frogger,
Centipede, and Pac Man.
Not Just a Pretty Face
Although I am the first to fall madly in love with the pretty face of
graphics, I realize that this can only keep my attention for so long. I
have found several titles that I think have beauty and brains, if you
will. First and foremost is Prince of Persia: Sands of Time by Ubisoft.
I cant say enough about how lovingly crafted this game is, and how many
hours of enjoyment you and your loved ones will have playing it. It is a
deep and challenging game that enthralls you, but also makes you stop
sometimes in the middle of gameplay and exclaim, God thats gorgeous!
Another on the Ubisoft list is URU: Ages Beyond Myst. Although this game
is probably just for the patient puzzle solvers out there, it is a
really innovative and beautiful title. A franchise that I happen to
think is a great investment for both beauty and, in this case, brawn, is
Deus Ex. If you want to have your brain stretched and be able to create
havoc, you should try out these titles. And for our mature audience at a
lower price point, Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is a must.
For the Sports Fan
If you have a football
gaming fan in the house, John Madden 2004 is a sure hit (or should I
say, tackle?) There are also some interesting new games to check out,
like FIFA Soccer and Nascar racing.
Variations on a Theme
This is my favorite category of gifts to give and receive. This is where
you make a set of theme related gifts. First, the Wachowskis have made
life easy for you this year, and along with a gift of Enter the Matrix
(the videogame, which is all sorts of fun), you can package a copy of
the Matrix, Matrix Reloaded, the Animatrix, and/or theater passes to the
Matrix Revolutions. I myself am also wishing for a five foot poster of
Trinity for my bedroom wall, but well have to see how it goes. Or how
about a bundle including Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds (the
game) with one of her slaying-seasons now available on DVD. If youre
more middle earth than hell-mouth, try Lord of the Rings: Return of the
King (or one of the other two LOTR or Hobbit games) along with
Fellowship or Two Towers videos, or perhaps the animated version of the
Hobbit and movie passes for Return of the King. You can also make a gift
of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and perhaps the classic three
pack of episodes IV-VI (or one of those nifty lightsaber toys!). And
lets not forget Tomb Raider.
For the kids in your
life, consider Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup and one of the films
or, better yet, a book from the series. For the young girls on your
list, check out the Bratz videogame that can be paired with figures or
accessories from the Bratz line. Its a lot hipper that Barbie and you
dont have to worry about giving the girl a complex about gravity
defying boobs and feet that dont fit in anything but heels. There are
also kids games that have product tie-ins that make a great package,
such as Dragonball Z: Budokai, Finding Nemo, and Spongebob: The Battle
for Bikini Bottom. I am especially fond of the big stuffed Nemos,
complete with lucky fin!
Stocking Stuffers
All gamers can use extra
memory cards for their console, perhaps a memory upgrade for their PC,
or an extra memory stick for their digital camera. And sometimes an
extra controller is nice if you have little ones (or not so little ones)
that like to eat and game at the same time. Also, T-shirts of a persons
favorite video game (or the cool vintage Super Nintendo cheat code
shirts) can be rolled down to stocking size. Mousepads also count for
this category. Gift certificates for game rentals fit just fine and
handheld games are always a welcome choice. And some of the latest
digital cameras and phones with games are available if you have the
money to spare.
Then there are those things that you can do for your favorite gamer if
you are looking at a cash-poor Christmas. For instance, if your
significant other is a gamer and youre not, and you argue about time
spent gaming, give your love a set of coupons for guilt-free gaming.
Each can be limited to one hour where they can cash them in and you
promise not to nag or interrupt them, or give the gift of a day of
gaming with the guys/girls in which you promise not to make an
appearance. And, if you want to add an extra special coupon to the mix,
make a coupon for a night of passion with you dressed up like the game
hottie of their choice. If youre artistic or crafty, try taking a
headshot of your honey and drawing their body as their favorite game
character (Im still working on my Laura Croft look!). You may also
think about casting them as the hero/heroine in a videogame story you
write and illustrate or again, use pictures of them that you combine
with a collage of visuals from their favorite videogame magazine (just
make sure its not one theyre saving). Kids and adults alike get a kick
out of this last one.
A Final Note
One of the most addictive things I ever got was when my friend sent me
Elf Bowling via email, so it just goes to show you that its the
little things that count. I think I may throw my fear of copyright
infringement to the wind and try my hand at making comic book and video
gaming Christmas cards next year. Whatever you decide to do for the
people you love, remember that it is always the thought that counts, so
you should take the time to personalize your gift.
Happy Holidays!!
Monica Hafer |