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Sucks to be Santa this year, what with the absolute deluge of new video games, consoles, accessories and other goodies begging to be put under good boys' and girls' trees. Better buy a bigger sleigh, fat man.
Not surprisingly, it gets harder every year to put together a gamers' gift guide and whittle this cornucopia of digital delights down to a few choice fruits. If the editors would let me, I could fill a dozen pages with suggestions for holiday gift giving aimed at the thumbstick-twiddling set. Somehow, they fail to see how cool that would be.
But these handpicked items are all games or gaming gadgets that I've used myself, have been duly impressed with and would actually buy for someone, if I loved them enough.
Which isn't likely. Bah, humbug!
For the gamer with a spouse/roommate/grandma who's a light sleeper:
Tritton AX360 Gaming Headphones ($165)
The sonic barrage of an intense gaming session can rattle the nerves of even the most understanding cohabitant, especially when it's German mortar fire in Call Of Duty 3.
The AX360 headset is compatible with most newer PCs and any game console with Dolby digital sound output, and it delivers satisfyingly crisp audio with separate volume controls for the main, center and rear speakers, all of which are contained in each hulking ear cup.
The illusion of surround sound isn't as precise as you'd get with a conventional 5.1 speaker configuration, but if you can't afford a full home theatre setup -- or if you can't afford your wife's wrath if you wake her up at 2 a.m. again -- these puppies could be the next best thing.
For the gamer who remembers the Beta vs. VHS war:
Xbox 360 HD DVD Player ($199)
It's not a gaming device per se, but if you already own an Xbox 360 and an HDTV, there is no cheaper way to stick your toe into the murky waters of high definition DVD than by laying down 200 bones for this hardcover novel-sized add-on, which comes with a free universal remote and a copy of Peter Jackson's King Kong in glorious high-def.
The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player attaches to your 360 via an included cable, and basically functions like a full-sized HD DVD player at a fraction of the cost. With HD DVD and Blu-ray locked in a struggle for next-gen DVD supremacy, this could be the best way of sampling the new generation of movie visuals without committing huge dollars to either format.
For the deadly serious PC gamer:
Microsoft Habu Gaming Mouse ($79)
It's odd to see scrappy mouse-maker Razer joining forces with stodgy ol' Microsoft, but the Habu laser mouse provides the kind of sensitivity and comfort -- words more often associated with latex contraceptives than computer mice -- that I haven't felt since the days of my old-school Razer Boomslang ball mouse.
The Habu comes with software that allows for a dizzying array of tweaks to sensitivity and button functions, and the glowing blue tubing will look right at home at your next LAN party. Be warned, though, the Habu currently needs software and firmware (!) updates right out of the box, and there have been reports of it not working properly with some PCs. For the hardcore only.
For the old school gamer who wants to relive his youth:
GameTap subscription ($9.95 US per month)
Believe it or not, there was gaming life before the Wii, PS3 and 360. Online game subscription service GameTap, which is now available to Canadian PC users, has a selection of 700-plus titles covering more than a dozen systems, from the Atari 2600 and Intellivision up to the Dreamcast and recent PC releases.
Not all the games are winners, but the all-you-can-play monthly fee and exclusive access to the new episodic Sam & Max game makes it well worth the 10 Yankeebucks per month. Heck, you probably spend more than that every week on lattes. I know I do.
For the Xbox 360 owner who already has Gears Of War:
Rainbow Six Vegas ($59)
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, unless it involves Team Rainbow kicking terrorist butt in the heart of Sin City. Our friends at Ubisoft Montreal have done it again, melding elements of the superb Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter with the SWAT-like tactics of Rainbow Six. Plus, if you have the Xbox Live Vision camera ($49), you can create an eerily lifelike digital replica of yourself to use in multiplayer matches. Damn, I look good in body armour.
For the Nintendo Wii owner who already has the new Zelda:
Rayman Raving Rabbids ($59)
Psycho bunnies, qu'est-ce que c'est? The latest entry in the beloved Rayman franchise has our limbless Gallic hero doing battle with scores of, well, evil rabbits. Essentially a collection of hilarious mini-games, this could be the sleeper hit among the Wii launch titles, and the best group game since the Mario Party series.
For those about to rock:
Guitar Hero II (PS2, $89 with guitar controller, $59 without)
This sequel to one of my all-time faves is even better than the original, with a new roster of songs, the ability to practice specific sections of tricky tracks and a new two-player mode that allows a friend to join in on rhythm guitar or bass. We salute you!
For the gamer too young to play SHOOTIN' GAMES:
Kim Possible: What's The Switch? (PS2, $39)
Games licensed from Disney TV shows may not set your world on fire, but Montreal-based A2M has crafted an excellent E-rated action-adventure title starring everyone's favourite flame-haired spy girl and that weird naked mole she hangs out with. It's way better than you might assume, and the kind of title that could appeal to parents and kids alike.
For the PlayStation 3 owner who already has Resistance: Fall Of Man:
Motorola H500 Bluetooth headset ($99)
One of my biggest gripes about playing PS3 games online is hardly anybody talks, because the PS3 doesn't include a headset in the box. Your PS2-compatible headset will probably work fine, but since the PS3 supports Bluetooth, why not go wireless with this bad boy? Then when you're done fragging foes in Resistance, you can use it with your mobile phone. Win-win!
For Steve Tilley:
Dell XPS 700 PC with Intel Core 2 Extreme CPU at 2.93 GHz, 4 GB DDR2 RAM, dual 1 GB NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GX2 graphics cards and 24-inch UltraSharp widescreen digital flat panel display, delivered and set up by Jessica Alba ($6,798 for the computer, pricing on Ms. Alba not available.)
OK, I haven't actually gone hands-on with EVERYTHING on this list. But a guy can dream. And how.