Our take on the best gifts for gamers, including the hottest hardware of the 2011 holiday season and the top 10 accessories, peripherals, and newly redesigned consoles.
The holiday season is upon us. Run for your life! Or, alternatively, check out some of the hot items in gaming that can bring a smile to the face of even the most well-supplied gamer! From consoles to accessories, peripherals to handhelds, this year has seen an explosion of new hardware, from the Wii U to the Vita. But if the price tag on those is alarming, there are still plenty of ways to satisfy all manner of gamers at all price points.
So this holiday season, if you are shopping for a gamer – they can be easily identified by their heightened hand-eye coordination, ability to multitask better than others, and improved eyesight (all proven facts, take that Jack Thompson) – we have some options for you. From the high dollar to the stocking stuffer, we’ve got you covered.
| The most economical item on our list also delivers the best bang for the buck. This is a gift for a true gamer, one who really puts hours into either their PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 – so much so that the grip on the analog sticks has begun to wear down. It’s a common problem even with moderate use, and any gamer can tell you that a slick and worn analog stick means it’s time to get a new controller. Or does it? With official controllers costing as much as $60, it feels like a waste to replace the whole thing just because a tiny piece of rubber has worn down. That’s where the Grip-iT analog Stick Covers come in. Simply pop a rubber cap over the thumb sticks and your old controller is as grippy as new. And for the price, you cannot beat that with a stick. Get it? Stick? Analog stick? Moving on. |
Hauppauge’s HD PVR 2, and its predecessor the PVR, allow you to capture video of a console on your PC. If you don’t see the benefit of that, then clearly this gift is not for you – but it may be for the gamer on your list. The device is simple and easy to use. You just plug your console and your TV into the PVR deck, and then have an output going to your computer. The included software will help to walk you through the rest. Again, if you aren’t sure what the point of that is, move along, move along. But for those with a use for that sort of video capture technology, this is an awesome gift to give them, and bonus points for thinking outside the box. |
| If you aren’t familiar with the Xbox 360, then well done. Your stubborn obstinance and complete lack of cultural awareness is remarkable, and borders on a superpower. You can be sure that the gamer in your family is more than aware of it though. So if you are considering helping someone enter the brave new (7-year-old) world of the Xbox 360, then you have picked a good time. The library is filled with years of hits, and the software continues to push this device into the realm of entertainment thanks to apps like ESPN, Hulu Plus, and HBO Go. There are deals to be had this Holiday season and multiple bundles to consider. One deal, for example, has the 360 with a 250GB hard drive along with incredible games Forza 4: Essential Edition (a trimmed down version of the excellent Forza Motorsport 4) and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. This is a limited-time offer, but there are other deals to be had, as well as bundles that cost less and include the 4GB Arcade version of the console. But trust us, with the constantly expanding selection of digitally distributed content, a bigger hard drive is a plus. You can always purchase one separately at a later date though. So if you are interested in the 360, shop around and find the bundle that works for you. Some have the Kinect, others instead offer a larger hard drive and a game. There are plenty of choices. |
| The fastest-growing section of gamers can be found not on any one particular system, but on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. But even though mobile gaming is expanding, the limitations of the platform are apparent. You can offer a different product that can rival traditional gaming, but you’ll never be able to accurately recreate a game on a mobile device if there isn’t a comparable way to input commands. Enter the Moga. The Moga controller is a portable unit that connects to Android-powered devices through Bluetooth, and comes with a clamp that allows you to attach your device to the controller, giving you a new way to game on your smartphone or tablet. Calling it a game changer would be a silly and obvious pun, but also somewhat accurate. At the moment, the device only works on games designed with the Moga in mind, but the list is already fairly impressive, and continues to grow every day. |
| Nintendo’s replacement for the best-selling gaming system of all time had a rough birth. It was plagued by an anemic selection of launch titles, a price point that was prohibitive, and a generally apathetic reception. There just wasn’t much heat behind the handheld system, and Nintendo knew it. Shortly after the launch, the Japanese gaming giant significantly lowered the price, and then immediately and profusely apologized to all the early adopters that had their loyalty to Nintendo rewarded by getting screwed. Several free games later, all was forgiven as the 3DS finally began to gain traction. The library has improved significantly, the apps available are better than ever, and the community continues to grow, making this an excellent time to pick up a 3DS. If you prefer to save a few bucks, the original model is available for $179, but for just $25 more you get a much bigger screen and a slightly more ergonomic design. In all other regards the two models are the same, but the larger size just makes more sense. Either model should make for a happy gamer come the Holidays though. |
Nintendo’s newly released Wii U signifies the start of the next generation of consoles. For many, that alone will make it the “hot” item this holiday season. Unlike the riot-spawning Tickle-Me-Elmo dolls that nearly set the world ablaze due to some shortages, you probably won’t be able to wrestle a console out of the hands of an unsuspecting shlub that came unprepared to fight to the death for gift-buying dominance; the vast majority of the consoles have already been purchased. For the few still unclaimed, the sooner you act, the better the chance you can snag one before the bloodbath to obtain one begins. Following the launch, units have already hit eBay at $100 to $150 mark up even though there are still units available. That price is probably going to be considered reasonable as December draws to a close. If you do manage to find available units – and you still have the option – the two models are similar, but the Deluxe Edition comes with a larger internal hard drive and a game, Nintendo Land. If cost isn’t an issue (lucky you), this is definitely the better model to purchase. |
| For the gamer who takes his or her gaming very seriously, you can never go wrong with a controller created specifically for tournament play. Like a fine wine, this gift will be best appreciated by true connoisseurs of gaming, especially those who revel in online play. As mentioned above in the section discussing the Grip-iT Analog Stick Covers, different analog sticks can help improve responsiveness. Well, it isn’t just the sticks that can be improved. Many of the changes are subtle, and unless you are constantly engaging in online action that requires incredibly quick reflexes, these improvements will mean very little to you. You may enjoy the slightly modified design, but most of the tweaks will be lost on you. For gamers anxious to squeeze even the tiniest bit of an advantage out of their controller, then the Power A Fus1on line for PS3 and Xbox 360 are worth a look. And if you are shopping for someone interested in trying their luck in a gaming tournament, you just found one of the best gifts imaginable. |
There is something to be said for the thrill of opening a present and finding something tangible there, not to mention respecting the care that went into the selection of the perfect gift. But sometimes, when the act of buying a gift becomes a responsibility and not a joy, pragmatism has a good place in the discussion. In other words, if you have no idea what to buy the gamer in your life, why not buy them something they can use to buy something they really want? The digitally distributed market (content available to purchase and download online) has seen an incredible boost this year, and it shows no signs of stopping. In Q3 alone, digitally distributed content netted $1.4 billion in sales, up 22-percent from last year, and developers are taking note. Some of the best games released this year have been distributed digitally, and games are only one part of the content available on the various consoles. With gift cards, the recipient can also rent movies, download music, and generally consume a bevy of digital content. The price of the gift cards is, of course, entirely dependent on the amount you want to give, but most digitally distributed games cost around $15 (some more some less), so the $20 range seems like a decent gift, and anything after that is just a bonus. |
| As with the Xbox 360, Sony’s console is more than just a gaming system. It’s an entertainment hub featuring several apps that allow you to watch online media content through things like Netflix and Hulu, plus it is a Blu-ray player, which in itself has justified the purchase for more than a few households. If this gift is specifically for a gamer, you are also granting access to the wide selection of PlayStation-exclusive titles, both full retail releases as well as countless digitally distributed games. Again, as with most of these options, this is a big gift due to the price. But if you are considering it, your best bet is to find a bundle with a decent hard drive that’ll allow the recipient to stock up on games delivered digitally, as well as one that comes with a game, because why not? There are plenty of options, but highlights include the Assassin’s Creed III bundle with a 500GB hard drive for $299, or the Uncharted 3 bundle with a 250GB hard drive for $249. |
If the Nintendo 3DS isn’t your target’s proverbial cup of tea, then perhaps the PS Vita bundle will float their equally proverbial boats. Sony’s handheld system has been met with its fair share of criticism, including an underwhelming library despite some big franchise games, and a price point that puts it into the “luxury” item category. For the same price (or close to it), you can get a PS3 that has a built in Blu-ray player, or an Xbox 360 that has plenty of other uses that anyone in the household can share. But don’t count the Vita out yet. The library is improving, and the increasing availability of digitally distributed games, as well as classic PS One titles, is a huge boon. But besides being a gaming system, the Vita can also play videos, music, make video chat calls, and offer a slew of other media-based options. It’s a powerful piece of technology, but obviously its appeal is limited to those with the cash to drop, plus it’s better utilized by those who already own a PS3 (although that isn’t required). If none of that scares you off, there are a few options to look at, including one model with a 3G connection via AT&T, or another Wi-Fi-only model that will save you a few dollars. One particular bundle ships with the brand new Assassin’s Creed game made exclusively for the Vita, and it also comes in a snazzy white shell. If that sounds like minor deal, just tell that to the iPhone fans who were poised to flip over cop cars when the white iPhone faced shortages. |
Source : digitaltrends[dot]com
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