Gifts and Gear for the Gamer
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Xbox 360 Arcade
Xbox 360 action for less than $300
This newly announced version of the Xbox 360 console is a good way to jump into next-gen gaming without spending a fortune. The $280 Arcade lacks a hard drive (you can always buy a snap-on drive later), but boasts a wireless controller, a 256MB memory module, and five Xbox Arcade games on disc.
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PlayStation 3 (40GB)
Bargain-priced PS3—amazing!
If you've got a gamer on your list who's pining for the next-generation PlayStation console, you're in luck—Sony just released a 40GB version of the PS3 that's just $400. It's not backward-compatible with PS2 games, unfortunately, but you get a built-in Blu-ray player in the bargain.
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Nokia N81
A slider phone that takes gaming seriously
Know a deserving gamer who's dying to play some serious games on her handset? Nokia's new N81 slider boasts a series of dedicated gaming controls, and it supports the phone maker's newly updated N-Gage game platform.
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Nintendo Wii
Hard-to-Get Wii is the hot ticket for gamers
I wish I could tell you that snapping up a Wii will be easier this year than is was last season, but word is that demand for the hot little gaming console continues to outstrip supply. That said, the Wii ($250) is guaranteed to make young gamers on your list jump for joy.
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Rock Band
Let there be rock
Your favorite little rockers (or big rockers, as the case may be) will thrill to Rock Band, which takes the Guitar Hero formula and cranks it up to 11. The bundle comes with a wired drum kit, a guitar, and a microphone. Play in the same room with fellow rockers or tear it up online.
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Nintendo Wii Zapper
Turn on Wii, take aim, and fire!
Here's a little—but deadly—stocking stuffer for the Wii lovers on your list. The $20 Wii Zapper lets you take out baddies in Resident Evil, Medal of Honor, and Ghost Squad with deadly precision. Just snap the Wiimote and Nunchuck into the Zapper housing, then lock and load.
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Sony PSP
Slimmer, lighter PSP
Sony's portable version of the PlayStation got a much-needed refresh this fall. About 33 percent lighter and 19 percent slimmer, the new PSP boasts better battery life and faster loading times, as well as a TV-out port for watching games on a big screen.
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Logitech Z-5500 Surround Sound Speakers
Full-on surround sound for games
These surround speakers may look delicate, but they crank out 505 watts of den-shaking sound. The THX-certified Z-5500 system boasts an optical input for the Xbox 360 and PS3 for true 5.1-surround gaming, along with a wireless remote, and on-board decoding of Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks.
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Samsung LN-T3253H 32-inch LCD HDTV
HD gaming on a compact screen
Having a gamer on your list who's living in a dorm or a smallish apartment? Give 'em some HD goodness for their games without swamping their living space with a 50-inch set. This 32-inch LCD HDTV from Samsung's been getting good reviews, and at about $700 online, it won't break your budget.
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