Xbox 360
Image © Ciao
Many Xbox consoles are still toting a puny 20GB hard drive as the main storage device. With Xbox Live Marketplace carrying movies as well as games and many titles benefiting from a hard drive installation, that's not much room, so a new 120GB hard drive under the tree will be appreciated. The package includes the necessary cables and instructions to transfer data from the old drive. Another option is the 60GB Starter Pack, which includes a hard drive, headset and 3 months Xbox Live subscription - perfect for upgrading the basic Xbox 360 Arcade package.
When it comes to the games themselves, Xbox exclusives are thin on the ground this December, but there are several titles available now or very shortly that are going to be topping Christmas lists.
Image © Ciao
Halo 3: ODST is available to buy right now. A spin-off of the smash-hit Halo series, ODST cleverly drops players into an open-world hub with flashback missions activated by remnants of battle. Another 360 exclusive on sale at the moment is Forza Motorsport 3, a highly detailed racing sim featuring 400 cars and tons of engine tweaking options for petrol heads.
Image © Ciao
If you've been keeping an eye on gaming news, you'll no doubt have heard the controversy over the very high RRP of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. If the cost of games is proving a little too much, there is a cheaper alternative with the Xbox classics range, which includes brilliant games like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Mass Effect, for less than £20.
Another low-cost stocking filler is an Xbox Live points card, the 21st century book token. Points can be used to purchase games, additional content and movies from Xbox Live, so it's perfect if you're not quite sure what to buy.
Playstation 3
After a slow start, the PS3 has really taken off with a slew of fantastic releases. Many big titles have been delayed until early next year but there are still lots of excellent Playstation 3 games to fill stockings this Christmas.
Image © Ciao
Like the awesome Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, for instance, a next generation action-adventure in the Tomb Raider tradition that combines a great story with fast paced platforming and combat, and showcases some of the best visuals on the Playstation.
There's more platforming fun to be had with Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time, and it's a little more kid-friendly than Uncharted 2. The colourful sequel isn't massively different to previous entries but it is a polished and funny adventure that's safely rated 'E' for everyone and has enough content to last well into the new year.
Image © Ciao
Another family friendly option is EyePet, which makes clever use of the Playstation Eye camera add-on by bringing to life a cute creature that will interact with objects in the view of the camera and even emulate your sketches. EyePet doesn't offer much in the way of actual gaming, so won't appeal to grown-ups for long once the novelty has worn off, but it's a fun toy for kids.
Image © Ciao
One essential accessory for any Playstation 3 owner might be a new Dualshock 3 controller. The SIXAXIS pads originally bundled with the console lacked the vibration feature that's been a standard part of games consoles for years, so Sony released the Dualshock 3 with both vibration and the SIXAXIS motion sensing. A small change, but it can make a big difference.
PC
With an open architecture and so many companies producing hardware, there are thousands of PC accessories available, which is a blessing and a curse if you're shopping for a PC gamer, so here are a few tips.
Image © Ciao
A good mouse and keyboard is a must. The Logitech G5 is a few years old but still one of the best - it's accurate, comfortable and packs lots of buttons. The newer G500 offers a high-tech update on the same design, and the Microsoft SideWinder X8 also comes highly recommended.
The Saitek Cyborg and Logitech G15 are premier gaming keyboards, both offering programmable keys and fancy lights. The G15 has a slight edge when it comes to gadget appeal for its integrated LCD screen, which does actually serve a purpose by displaying in-game stats and system information.
Image © Ciao
Any keen PC gamer will always be looking to upgrade their system; a graphics card is easy to install at home and can give an immediately noticeable boost in performance. The brand new AMD ATI Radeon 5850 is a cutting-edge card with support for DirectX 11, improved energy efficiency and outstanding performance making it one of the fastest cards on the market.
It isn't cheap, though, so a more cost effective option may be the Radeon 4850 or the NVIDIA GTX 260, both powerful gaming cards at half the price of the new AMD model. It's worth noting that AMD cards feature integrated sound chips and HDMI output, so it's a breeze to plug the PC into a big flat-screen TV.
Image © Ciao
Like the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, PC gamers are also waiting until the first quarter of next year for some of the most eagerly awaited titles, but that doesn't mean they'll be forced to watch the Queen's speech and back-to-back Bond movies on Christmas day. Football Manager 2010 is on sale now, and just as addictive as ever as it continues to somehow make a compelling game out of a colourful spreadsheet.
Wii
Image © Ciao
The new Wii Sports Resort, which went on sale a few months ago, is a follow-up to the Wii Sports game bundled with every console. Wii Sports Resort offers a semi-realistic take on fun sporting activities including disc golf and archery. Like the original, it's at its best when played with a group of friends and makes a great party game.
Image © Ciao
In order to play Wii Sports Resort though you will need at least one Motion Plus, an accessory that increases the accuracy of the motion sensitive controls. This little gizmo attaches to the end of a controller and allows for a more realistic experience. Outfitting four Wii remotes with WMPs is expensive, but you can share one controller between four players for most activities in Wii Sports Resort, and the WMP is becoming essential for many other titles, too.
Probably the biggest game coming to the Wii this Christmas is New Super Mario Bros., a riotous multiplayer spin on the classic Mario platformer recipe where you're joined by up to three friends. This is going to be a big hit.
Image © Ciao
Wii Fit Plus - a fitness trainer for the Wii console - is also going to be massively popular, and like last year's Wii Fit, you'll need to get in quick before they sell out. Wii Fit Plus introduces new and expanded training modes and the ability to create customised routines. Wii Fit Plus can be purchased by itself or with the balance board accessory, a pressure-sensitive pad that detects body movement. Many other games now support the balance board as well so it won't go unused when you're not working out.
Multi-platform releases
Many games coming out this Christmas are multi-format, often appearing on Xbox, PS3, PC and Wii simultaneously. If you've got friends or family into games, chances are that one of these will be appearing on their Christmas list.
Image © Ciao
Undoubtedly the biggest is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, a gritty first-person shooter with a heavy focus on online multiplayer combat, available for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. It'd be hard to go wrong buying this, so it's the default choice for anybody stuck for gifts. This is one for older players only, though.
Image © Ciao
Guitar Hero 5 is also massively popular as it allows players to strum along to popular songs using a plastic guitar, and there's no violence, so it's safe for kids. The game is available with or without the guitar if they already own the accessory. Available on PS3, Xbox and Wii.
Image © Ciao
Finally there's Dragon Age: Origins, the only game with a chance of knocking Modern Warfare 2 from the top of the charts. An expansive fantasy adventure in the tradition of Lord of the Rings, Dragon Age is an eagerly awaited role-playing title on PC, Xbox and PS3. It promises a deep and complex story with over 80 hours of adventuring. If you buy this for someone, don't expect to see much of them for weeks.
Shop console and computer games
