What to by your Gamer/Techno Friends...
Posted by: EG Admin on November 23, 2006 2:53:13 AM (490 Reads)

Well it's thanks giving and everyone buying someone something as a gift this time of year is asking themselves the same thing, "What do I get?". That is never an easy answer, but we hope to help you with your gaming and techno friends.

Well now that all three major consoles are out, you might be asking yourself what you should buy. Well that really depends and we went over this in greater detail in an article the other day, so I will limit this to solely what is in stock and will be relatively easy to get your hands on, the Xbox 360, it has all the great things going for it HD gaming, huge game library to choice from, extremely large online player base, and its been in production for a year so it has most all the kinks worked out on it.

Unless you preordered and already have a PlayStation 3 don't even try getting your hopes up and don't waste your money on EBay, just wait until about March of next year when supply should be coming close to meeting demand. As for the Wii, there should be 2,000,000 units by Christmas here in the US so you have a pretty good chance of getting one, so that's a great alternative to the Xbox 360 if you don't have an HD T, you love the first party games of Nintendo, Can't forget the Nintendo and Sega Classics on Virtual Console, or your on a budget.

Before we get to games lets talk more about hardware, maybe you have a Wii, and/or Xbox 360 and your looking for accessories, well we have compiled a list of the "must haves" for both Consoles.

Lets start with the Xbox 360:

Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel
Racing has never felt so real! Hold on tight as you hug corner after corner, skid through the sand, or trade paint with rival cars fighting for position the wireless wheel simulates all the resistance and force, immersing you in a relentless and unparalleled racing experience. Featuring sleek design and cutting edge technology like dual Rumble motors and powerful Force Feedback, the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel is a masterpiece of form and function.

Xbox 360 Wireless Headset
You've got a voice. Now use it. Experience enhanced voice chat with the Xbox 360 Wireless Headset. Designed specifically to work seamlessly on your Xbox 360, this hands-free, wire-free headset employs the same technology as the award-winning Xbox 360 Wireless Controller. Pair up both accessories for superior performance, freedom, and comfort. Use up to four Wireless Controllers and Wireless Headsets simultaneously on one Xbox 360 for the most intense multiplayer gaming sessions ever.

Xbox Live Vision
Put a face to your gaming experience* and make the most out of your Xbox Live Gold subscription with video chat and messaging. Both Xbox Live Vision packages also include the Xbox Live Arcade hits UNO and TotemBall, available for download from Xbox Live Marketplace.

Xbox 360 Quick Charge Kit
Recharge in a flash and kiss disposable batteries goodbye with the Xbox 360 Quick Charge Kit. Quickly recharge up to two battery packs at the same time. Your Xbox 360 Wireless Controller needs a new battery? Swap in a fresh pack from the Quick Charge Kit. Multiple wireless controllers? Pick up a couple of extras, so you'll always be ready with a fully charged battery that's ready to go.

Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows
The Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows lets you take your quality, wireless gaming experiences that you enjoy on your console and experience them on your Windows gaming platform.

Lots of first party accessories that are worth having, are there third party accessories, yep there sure is. What I recommend is that you look at the accessories in the store (Best Buy, Comp USA, Circuit City, Ect.) and get an idea what what you like better, some stores will have demo's of the accessories That will give you a better idea of what would be better for you/the person you are buying for.

What is in store for the Nintendo Wii Gaming Console accessory wise? Below you will se a list of out favorits:

Third Party
JOYTECH Wii Sports Pack:
Further enhancing the realism of Wii sporting software, the Wii Sports Pack features three separate accessories: A Racing Grip*, Golf Grip and Racket Grip, which each attach quickly and safely to the Wii Remote, transforming the game play experience. Designed to match the aesthetics of the Wii Remote, the Wii Sports Pack is a must for all sporting fans.

*JOYTECH Wii Racing Grip:
Grab pole position with the Wii Racing Grip! Attaching quickly and safely to the Wii Remote, the Racing Grip is ideal for any and all Wii racing games, quickly transforming your Wii Remote into an “arcade style' racing wheel!

JOYTECH Wii Power Station:
The Wii Power Station features not one, but two high quality rechargeable Battery-Packs, designed for use in up to two Wii Remotes, removing the need for replacement batteries. When finished gaming, the Docking Station charges, stores and protects up to two Wii Remotes and provides a retractable cradle to store the Wii Nunchuk controller.

There is no real great first party accessories yet, but I am sure Nintendo will come up with something just not before the end of the holidays.

Ok now that we have covered some basic accessories I think we can safely move on to games, again I am going to focus on the Xbox 360 and the Wii, we will have follow up guides as the holiday season progresses that will cover Computer Accessories, games, and the PlayStation 3.

So keep the flow going the start with Xbox 360 Games:

Gears of War
Gears of War utilizes the breathtaking new Unreal Engine 3 to create cinematic, high-definition visuals for a gaming experience that truly ushers in the next generation. Experience beautifully rendered interactive environments and characters so lifelike they appear to be made of flesh and bone. The next-generation visuals create a world in which the tiniest detail is vivid in the largest battle.

Gears of War unites next-generation technology with classic, emotional storytelling and a revolutionary tactical combat system, engrossing the gamer in a horrifying epic story of war and survival.

*A highly recommended game.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Step into the most richly detailed and vibrant game world ever created. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is the latest chapter in the epic and highly successful saga from Bethesda Softworks.

Oblivion is the sequel to the best-selling, award-winning role-playing game (RPG) The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, named 2002 RPG and Game of the Year for Xbox. Oblivion is another leap forward in role-playing with its combination of freeform gameplay and cutting-edge graphics.

*This Title and the one above make this console worth having.

Sonic The Hedgehog
The game is set in the beautiful lagoon city of Soleana. In his first adventure set in the human world, Sonic meets a beautiful princess named Elyse, whom he quickly befriends, but Princess Elyse is abducted by none other than the calculating Dr. Eggman, who is working under dark and sinister motives. In order to restore safety and serenity, Sonic maneuvers his way through a series of adventures and challenges where he encounters and interacts with a bevy of allies and enemies, and ultimately goes head to head against the menacing doctor to thwart his malicious plans.

Along the way, Sonic encounters a mysterious character named Silver. Blocking him with unique supernatural powers, even the Blue dude with the 'tude will find it difficult to out-maneuver the enigmatic Silver! As Sonic speeds through the huge kingdom and within the human world, the mysteries unravel.


Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas
Team Rainbow makes its next-generation hardware debut in the most dramatic installment of the renowned first-person shooter franchise to date. In Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas, Rainbow operatives take to the chaotic streets of Las Vegas as an escalating terrorist siege in Sin City threatens to take world terrorism to new, uncontrollable heights.

The future of global security hangs in the balance as you battle to defend classic Vegas locations and environments like Fremont Street, the Strip, and world-famous casinos. Experience Las Vegas like never before, through revolutionary next-generation technology as you work against the clock to keep one of the world's most recognizable cities from utter devastation.


Call of Duty 3
Through a seamless narrative that delivers the rush of unrelenting battle and breathtaking action, players assume the roles of four ordinary Allied soldiers American, British, Canadian and Polish and are thrust onto an authentic, living battlefield for an unprecedented variety of combat.

Experience advanced high-definition graphics, detailed character animations, and explosive on-screen action, delivering the most immersive and cinematically intense war experience ever.


The Xbox 360 has many great titles and many more coming out in the next couple of years the games above either stand out because they are new or they are top tier exclusive games.

Not its time for the Wii Games that stand out:

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
AiAi and friends come to the Nintendo Wii! An all-action extravaganza of unique new puzzles and madcap multiplayer gameplay, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz takes the ground-breaking Nintendo Wii controller and shows the world exactly what it can do!

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Link, a young man raised as a wrangler in a small, rural village, is ordered by the mayor to attend the Hyrule Summit. He sets off, oblivious to the dark fate that has descended upon the kingdom. When he enters the Twilight Realm that has covered Hyrule, he transforms into a wolf and is captured. A mysterious figure named Midna helps him break free. With the aid of her magic, they set off to free the land from the shadows.

Rayman Raving Rabbids
Developed by the team behind Beyond Good & Evil and Peter Jackson's King Kong, Rayman Raving Rabbids is the edgiest and most off-the-wall gaming experience in the history of the Rayman franchise.

This new Rayman game features the funniest, zaniest, wackiest antics ever when hordes of nasty bunnies invade Rayman's world and he is enslaved and forced to participate in a series of gladiator- style trials. In order to win his freedom, Rayman must entertain and outwit these crazed, out-of-control bunnies.


Madden 07
Utilizing the unique game controller of the system, you can get out on the line of scrimmage like never before. Players can hike the ball with a real "hike" move. They can punt the ball with motions that simulate a punt kick, with the angle and straightness of the punt determined by how clean the "punt" is. They can even control the speed and accuracy of passes with the precision of their real throwing motions. It's football, played the way it never has been before!

The games above are the "exemplary" or best of the best launch titles of the Wii and are all worth checking out, I personally hate sports games and with the Wii Mote Madden is the first football game I have ever found fun.

Well this is my stab at helping you start your holiday shopping experience off right. Why no prices? Simple, they will be different for everyone and I want this article to be relevant longer then 48 hours. Those of you in the US happy thanks giving and happy safe shopping tomorrow.




There are no comments attached to this item.

Post a new comment

BBCode Actions : Close Tags

Name : Anonymous

Ratings 0 %
%