Gamers are a picky bunch. That goes for console gamers and PC gamers. (It's one of the few times they can be lumped together.) Only the gift-getter knows what he really wants. The best approach? Ask him what he wants and get exactly that. That's it. They're happy, you win. Spiked egg nog and bonus level points all around. But lets say you want to be old fashioned and surprise the gamer in your life with a gift or gifts that will leave him in awe of your game-gifting abilities.
There's some simple recon you should do before you take the risk of shopping for your favorite gaming geek.
Step 1: Go Through Their Game Collection
If you have access, look through their game collection. See what titles they own, and pay attention to what types of games they've collected. For example, if you see a whole row of Japanese role playing games (RPGs), it's a safe bet they're into that. Or, if you see games like "Spec Ops: The Line," "Call Of Duty - Black Ops 2" and "Battlefield 3," you know they're into military shooters. So on and so forth. IMPORTANT! Note what system their games are marked for. It's a total bummer to get the game you want, only to fond out you've purchased it for the wrong system.
If they have most of their games downloaded on a PC, then just observe what they play while they're playing. Ask questions.
Step 2: Know Your Budget
Games aren't cheap and can cost upwards of $60 on average. But once you know what you're after, there are ways of still impressing without dropping major cash. If you know what the gamer in your life is into -- what games they have -- after looking at his or her collection, you can go the used game route. There's ALWAYS a game or two a gamer wishes they had but just never got around to buying. These are the games that can be bought used on the cheap. Look around at places like GameStop, Ebay or other auction sites for specific titles.
If you're prepared to spend more on a new game, swing by a GameStop, Best Buy, Toys R Us or another chain that carries electronics. If you're buying hardware or a console, then going the new route is better advised than skimping on a refurbished unit, or getting something cheaper like an Xbox 360 without enough hard drive space.
Step 3: Check Reviews Before Buying
Especially important if you're attempting to get a game that wasn't requested. Take a couple minutes and search out some online reviews for the game you're looking at getting. Metacritic.com is a great place to get a sense of how well received a game is.
Step 4: Check The Age Ratings
If you're buying for a kid, or somebody under the age of 18, check the age ratings and restrictions. Do you want to buy your 10-year-old a game with exploding heads and adult themes? Probably not. Video games are like movies, and they aren't all for kids. "Grand Theft Auto" games, for example, probably aren't the best choice for, say, your 8-year-old daughter.
Step 5: Buy! Revel In Success Of A Great Game Gift!
It is worth the effort.
Still need some more help? Check out the slideshow below for some sure bets to make any gamer -- and in some cases non-gamer -- happy. The main theme here is choice.
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Why is the Wii U the console to buy this Christmas over the Xbox360 or PS3? It is the first significantly updated system to come out since forever. Microsoft and Sony are looking to release their new systems Holiday 2013 or 2014, so buying an Xbox360 or PS3 now would mean only a year until they're replaced by newer models. Considering the lifespan of the current console generation, that's not enough time to justify an investment right before the new systems come out. Get the Wii U Deluxe at $349.99 with 32GB harddrive. Game harddrive space goes fast, and it's worth the extra few bucks.
Turtlebeach has consistently made some of the best quality headphones for gamers of all systems, at a variety of price ranges. While nothing truly beats a killer surround sound system, a quality pair of headphones with a mic will many times become the gamer's sound system of choice. The best part? They can turn the sound up as loud as they want without disturbing relatives, wives or husbands or neighbors. Turtlebeach offers gaming sound gear for $39 up to $300 from "light gamers" to "heavy gamers." If the gamer in your life plays online, be sure to get a headset with a mic!
Videogames New York has fairly consistently been lauded by the press over the years as one of the best independently owned game stores out there, selling hard-to-find retro games and imports. Get the gift that keeps on giving: a gift certificate. Recommend at least a $50 certificate to make it worthwhile.
Musterbrand designs some slick, modern clothing based on game designs. They have designed clothing lines for "Assassin's Creed 3," "Hitman: Absolution," "Deus Ex," "Resident Evil 6," "Street Fighter X Tekken," and "Metal Gear Solid." The best part about these themed clothing lines is that they don't have to be considered "gamer" clothing. They hold up on their own. While not cheap, it's stylish stuff. If your gamer is more for the overstated "I'm a gamer!" type clothing, Nerdyshirts.com has a pretty decent collection of gaming T's and retro gaming T designs, compared to other online T-shirt stores. (Like the "Galaga" T-shirt. We'd buy that one.) Casuallyhardcore.com also has a pretty nice selection and lets you customize your own.
Steam is the premier online service for downloading PC games both new and old. It consistently has excellent video game deals and a stellar community. Steam's CEO Gabe Newell is also talking about releasing a Steam powered set top console in the coming year to compete with Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony, so there's the potential of a person's steam library being fully available in console form in the future. Suggest AT LEAST a $50 wallet code, but $25 could do for the gamer looking to do a bit more bargain hunting. You can purchase at GameStop locations in-store and online at BestBuy. Information on redeeming Steam Wallet Gift Codes can be found here.
Let them find their own games. That's part of the fun. For those with an iPhone or iPad, an iTunes Gift Card worth $20 should be enough to load up on games.
Like iTunes, the Google Play store gift card is a great choice for giving to anybody with an Android phone. On the off chance they don't game at all, they can always use the card to purchase any other kind of app. $20 is a good bet.
Propaganda posters are neat, at least when they're not being actively used as well, propaganda. Here are a couple of cool ones found on ThinkGeek.com for $39.99. We're especially fond of the Tron poster.
The Dreamcade Vision 29 stand-up arcade cabinet is custom built, comes with over 200 arcade games pre-installed (you can install more), has a 29 inch screen, and an mp3 jukebox player. The catch, it costs $2,699. This isn't for the casual gift giver. This is for those that have the money to spend, people with awesome game rooms and a serious itch for a cool new toy to show off. The less expensive showoffy alternative is to get Xbox Live for Xbox360 and download classic arcade games.
Available in $20 and $50. The Playstation Network card is a great gift for the playstation nut who is difficult to shop for, especially if you're looking last minute and just haven't a clue.
Microsoft's Xbox Live points system one of the best ways (and in many instances it's the only way) to get game add-ons, content packs, arcade games and more on Xbox Live. 2400 points is enough to get a decent selection of downloads from the service for $30.
For any gamer into Japanese games and anime, life is not truly complete without a visit to Tokyo's Akihabara district, the Otaku mecca. If you know where to look, you can find great travel deals to Tokyo, Japan from the United States, with fares as low as $500. For example, a quick search on Skyscanner.com for a roundtrip ticket from Los Angeles to Tokyo from March 1 to March 18 is $759 including taxes.
LeapFrog, makers of educational toys, have been putting out handheld gaming systems since way back in 2006. The LeapFrog Explorer Game System is a great place to start for parents looking to make sure their kids get a little learning in with their gaming. LeapFrog Explorer Game System is currently on sale for $47.97 on the LeapFrog website.
Hey, just because somebody is old doesn't mean they can't enjoy videogames. There's a reason why retirement homes across the country have group Wii bowling sessions. An 85-year-old man even set the record for most perfect Wii bowling games scored. A new Wii will set you back $129, while a used one will cost about $70.
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