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Gifts gamers will go ga-ga for
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With the holidays fast approaching, shopping for a video gamer or techie can be a hassle. There are so many choices, and giving a gift card is impersonal.
We at Q-T3CH put together the top 10 holiday gift ideas for the video gamer or the techie on your list.
In no particular order:
The Nintendo Wii
Cost: $249
Location: Many retailers, but they sell out fast.
Why this is our choice: The Wii has been hard to find since the system's November 2006 launch. It's more than a year later, and shoppers are still buying them. If you see one, buy it.
It's a must-buy because it brings a physical level of interaction like bowling, tennis and baseball to video games. You are really doing the basic movements.
Here's to hoping you find one this holiday season.
• • •
Nintendo DS Lite
Cost: $129
Location: Many retailers.
Why this is our choice: The bargain shopper will love its price. You can land a DS and a few bargain titles — I found a DS game for just $9.99 at Target. It features hit games like "Brain Age," "Super Mario Kart" and other titles, most of which are $19.99 each. It also plays Game Boy Advance games.
• • •
The Apple iPod
Cost: $79 and up
Location: Many retailers and the Apple Store.
Why this is our choice: The iPod isn't the new kid on the block, but it always gets attention. If you want to take your music, photos and movies on the go, you have two choices this holiday season — the iPod and the Zune.
More on the Zune later.
• • •
"Rock Band"
Cost: $159.99 for the PS2 version/$169.99 for the Xbox 360/PS3 versions.
Location: Many retailers, but the boxes are huge so they are usually in the storeroom.
Why this is our choice: "Rock Band" is one of the most innovative video games to hit the market. From the creators of "Guitar Hero," "Rock Band" offers an experience that's sure to start a trend. You can shred like "GH," but now, you can tear up the vocals and drum like Ringo Starr. If you ever wanted to start a band, "Rock Band" is here to answer your longing.
• • •
"Super Mario Galaxy"
Cost: $49.99
Location: Many retailers, but the holidays could deplete supplies.
Why this is our choice: Mario has been saving Princess Peach since I was a preteen. Nonetheless, he's a hero who saves her over and over again. Well, some baddies have kidnapped her again, and Mario travels across the galaxy to rescue her.
Mario, dude, you should re-evaluate your relationship with the Princess and the level of risk involved.
• • •
"Halo 3/Mass Effect"
Cost: $59.99 to $129.99.
Location: Many retailers.
Why this is our choice: Both of these games have found a comfy home on the Xbox 360. "Halo 3" is the most popular game of the year on the 360, selling more than 3 million copies its first weekend. "Mass Effect" is a story of a space officer who is trying to save the galaxy from a barrage of enemies. Both are must-buys if you own an Xbox 360.
• • •
"Guitar Hero III"
Cost: $59.99 to $99.99
Location: Many retailers.
Why this is our choice: There's no denying that "Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero III" are going head to head for the battle of the music video gamers. However, for gamers who can't shell out $160 plus for "Rock Band," "GH III" is a great alternative. You can shred with legendary rockers on your wireless controller and still keep the party going.
• • •
Samsung LN-T4671 46-inch Flat LCD 1080p HDTV with 120Hz "Auto Motion Plus" Technology
Cost: $3,199
Location: Best Buy, online retailers.
Why this is our choice: Go to a Best Buy and watch the screen. You'll swear you are on the movie set, it looks so vivid. And hooked up to an HD DVD player or a Blu Ray HD player? Sweetness squared. It slows the motion down to give it a lifelike display. You'll be creeped out watching the intense action of "Transformers" on it.
LCD TVs with the Auto Motion Plus feature range in size from 40 inches to 52 inches.
• • •
Microsoft Zune
Cost: $147.99 and up.
Location: Many retailers.
Why this is our choice: Last year, the Zune was playing catch-up with the Apple iPod. Fast forward a year, and the release of a new Zune has sales as hot as a fiery furnace. Shoppers are having tough times finding Zunes these days.
That's great news for Microsoft. But what makes it so popular? It features MP3 playback, displays a photo slideshow, plays videos, has an FM radio built in and has the ability to beam songs to another Zune. Top that, iPod!
• • •
Garmin Nuvi 250W GPS
Cost: $374.99
Location: Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Target and other retailers.
Why this is our choice: The rage lately has been GPS devices that show roads with signs and the link. The Nuvi gives you the turns, the street names and all of that for under $400.
• • •
Honorable mention
"Call of Duty 4/Assassin's Creed"
Cost: $59.99 to $69.99
Location: Many retailers.
Why this is our choice: "Call of Duty 4" is a short first-person shooter but intense action. "Assassin's Creed" features a spiderlike man — he can climb walls in a single bound — traveling all over 10th-century Israel. Both have stunning graphics and to-die-for gameplay. Both are available on the Xbox 360, PS3 and cell phones.
