The best gifts for gamers

All gamers know this: You need more than just a system and games to have a great video gaming experience. So this holiday season, surprise your favorite gamer with one of these awesome gaming gifts.

Tritton AXPro headphones: I'm all about a totally immersive experience, and 5.1 surround sound is a must for today's video games. The big problem is that not everyone has the space or sound-proofing that surround sound requires (this one goes out to all of you gamers in small apartments like myself). The Tritton AXPro solves this problem with true 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound (via optical-in) in headphones that feature eight speakers (four in each ear). The headphones also feature a detachable microphone that can be used with Xbox Live and Playstation 3. But these headphones aren't just great for gaming—they're also perfect for watching the occasional late-night movie. At $179 (lower at some retailers), they're not cheap, but keeping your gamer's noise level down at night is priceless.

Controllers: This sounds absolutely generic and silly, but trust me on this. First-party controllers (those that are made by Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo) are pretty pricey at $50-$60 a pop, so your average gamer is going to have a hard time getting four controllers in house. When choosing controllers, try to stick with first-party—yes, they are considerably more expensive, but the quality is worth the extra cash. Your gamer will thank you for it.

Logitech diNovo Mini: Logitech's small and sleek mini keyboard makes for a perfect home-theater companion. It's completely wireless, and it's compatible with both PC and Playstation 3 systems. It features 63 back-lit keysIt's perfect for talking a little smack online in between matches on Metal Gear Online, and its ClickPad makes it easy to browse the web or load up video clips on your PS3 or PC. Available online right now for $119 directly from Logitech.com.

Rock Band 2/Guitar Hero: World Tour: I'm almost sure you've heard all about these great games, and you probably don't need me to tell you why they make great gifts. However, there is one thing you should know before buying the game. First, if you already own the Rock Band 1 kit, the entire kit is compatible with Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero: World Tour (yes, even the drums), so you can skip out on the bundle and just buy the disc. Both games have their pros and cons, but one thing is for certain—whoever is getting this for the holidays will be a happy camper for sure. Both are available now at about $180.

Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer 3.0: Yes, this is the oldest product on this list, but in my opinion, this is the greatest mouse ever created. The Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer was released many, many years ago and then discontinued, but after listening to the cries of many PC gamers around the world, Microsoft decided that this mouse should have an encore performance. It's a basic 5-button wired mouse with a standard scroll wheel, but it's comfortable, ergonomic, affordable, and accurate. Many gamers will agree with me—this is the best basic mouse for gaming there is. It's available now for $39.99 at many retailers right now. Now... if they would make one of these with the new BlueTrack technology...

Games, games, and more games: Games are what make the world go 'round for us gamers. This holiday season, there are tons of games to choose from for every system. My personal quick picks are: Gears of War 2 (Xbox 360), Little Big Planet (PS3), Madden NFL (multiplatform), Animal Crossing (Nintendo Wii), Fallout 3 (Xbox 360 and PS3), and Call of Duty: World at War (multiplatform).

Ion Drum Rocker: This one is strictly for the Rock Band and Guitar Hero nuts like myself. The Ion Drum Rocker is a $299 drum kit specifically designed to bring a pro-level feel to the music games, and if you have a rhythm game nut in the family, they will not be disappointed with one of these. Christopher Null has a full review on the kit here, but you can take my word for it—it ownz (with a z). The Xbox 360 version is now shipping, and remember, it works with both Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero: World Tour.

Got any other items on your wish list for this holiday season? Let me know in the comments below.