Get my new Windows 7 eBook (PDF) for $7 with 70+ Tips. Download Now!
How to Pick the Best (and Worst!) Christmas Gifts for Gamers
Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed
These are some excellent tips for buying gifts for console gamers. Not only did he send in the top five things to buy them… we also get the top five things *not* to buy!
Top Five Best Gift Ideas for Console Gamers
- A game is usually just kinda like oh, it’s a game. I realize games are expensive, but chances are you don’t get one of the good ones cuz they can tend to be sold out. How about 2 or 3 of the Platinum hits, they’re about the same price total, from 19.99 to 29.99, and you really feel like “hey, it’s a great gift” and he/she will be like “wow, that’s a lot of games” or “I always wanted to play that”.
- Accessories – this is a hit or miss. Something like a second controller, an extra battery pack, a charging station, these are gifts that most any gamer can use. I’d recommend against the cameras, as they lead to other issues.
- Gift cards for purchasing games and customization features: MS points or even ps3 will soon have their cards for sale, Wii i believe also has their own points cards. You can also make these part of a nice gift box: either add it list item 1 or 2, or for 360 owners even w/ say a 12month live membership for xbox 360.
- Ok, now those are a bit obvious let’s try something you might not think of. Have that nephew who has been playing online but can only do so by disconnecting the main computer? Why not give him a router? This is a major tool for most any gamer, console or pc. How bout wifi? Not very recommendable for gaming, but it is an option.
- Ok, this is the last item so i’ll try and make it a good one. An A/V selector… the television is often disregarded. It’s fine if you have to disconnect a cable here and there, but if it’s the tv in the family room and you’re out of connections, you will have to share one with another device. How about hooking it up to the a/v device and allowing room for even more growth? This is especially a great idea for those with multiple consoles.
Top Five Worst Gift Ideas for a Console Gamer
- Cd wallets and cleaning kits: yeah, woo, ok, really?If I want to clean my console, all i need to do is go get a soft towel, damp it a lil and good to go. I don’t need soft wipes for my plastic and metal case. Most gamers aren’t displaying their consoles in a special case so you don’t really care bout finger prints and such. Cd cases, we all know what happenes. You’ve been into most people’s cars. They have the wallets with games here and there, out of order, and with the teeth for the zipper, most don’t realize, as you slide a disk in and out, this can start to scratch it once the wallet starts to get full.
- Cheap a/v cables: ok, now I don’t really know why you would be buying some for someone as a gift, so just don’t. If you can’t get them expensive Monster cables, don’t bother. The gift will not be appreciated and at best, it’ll end up tangled and never used. The original cables that ship with a console will always outperform anything from madcatz and the like.
- Cheap bargain bin games: ok, this one is a no brainer. In the bargain bin you will find games such as Battle Tech, Bionicle Heroes, and Happy Feet. Yes, they made a game. Now, while you may find some good titles, chances are you will crash and burn. Avoid this at all costs. You may be able to get by if it’s for a 7 year old, but you try this on a teenager and, well, you get the idea.
- Strategy Guides: Who uses these? Chances are if they’re stuck, they’ll either hit up the message boards online for help or ask a friend. You don’t buy a book that is in essence equal to being led by the hand through a haunted house. If they can’t figure it out, and they need a guide, they have no business playing the game.
- If you want to buy a console game for someone (say… the Wii), and it’s sold out… do NOT get a rain check. You pay for the console that may not come in for many weeks, and they give you an empty box to wrap. Poor Johnny opens it, and is tormented knowing that it’s empty, and there’s no game. Spend the money on something else, and get the game later.
[rssbullet:http://shop.tagjag.com/products/xbox]
Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:
What's your #1 source for Internet needs? GoDaddy has new domain names, transfers and renewals as low as $1.99. Plus, check out their hosting plans, Web site builders, secure certificates and much more. Plus, as a listener of The Chris Pirillo Show, enter code CHRIS3 and get your .COM domain name for just $6.95 a year. Get your piece of the internet at GoDaddy!
42 Comments
Windows Vista Torrent
December 21st, 2007
at 6:36pm
Tech Interviews AMD Spider Phenom Computer Review (and Computer Giveaway Tease!) How to Send SMS Messages (Texting Tips) How to Keep Your PC Clean and Fast (Speed up Tips)How to Pick the Best (and Worst!) Christmas Gifts for GamersHow to Make Coffee at Home – French Press and Peet?s How to Deal with Winter and your Car Why Your IT Department Doesn?t Love the iPhone Should you buy an LCD or Plasma HDTV? How to Travel
Left Of Center
December 21st, 2007
at 10:49am
Chris Pirillo »How to Pick the Best (and Worst!) Christmas Gifts for GamersPosted 3 hours ago
Zig
December 21st, 2007
at 10:16am
I think if you are cutting it close, just giving the person money is always good and cannot go wrong. They can always use that money for whatever they want.
kevoc2008
December 21st, 2007
at 1:26pm
I also have a energizer 15 minute charger, but it is about 2 year old so it does not have the car adapter. The only thing about the 15 minute charger is that the fan will still run about another 15 minute after it is fully charged because the batteries are preatty hot if it is just charged for 15 minutes.
Sarthran
December 21st, 2007
at 3:10pm
sadly all of these thing written in this blog is true. as a former professional gamer (yea, i used to get paid to play games.) all of this is 100% freaking true. i hope this list helped you as it did for me, when i couldn’t think of any boobie gifts. :P
Connor
December 21st, 2007
at 4:56pm
Great tips, I can use these for some of my friends.
Zero
December 21st, 2007
at 6:46pm
Those are some really great tips and as a gamer i would know about that, and if you really don’t know about what to really get a gamer a gift card would work like you said but something better would be a Pre Paid Card because sometimes gamers can get stuff online using the Pre Paid Card or go to different stores instead of just one.
Schmidtydogg
December 21st, 2007
at 7:06pm
Wow ha ha for the top 5 worst i got them all and i loved them i was so stupid. Chris thanks for these tips again man
David Truesdale
December 21st, 2007
at 7:28pm
Thank you, this was very helpful. I think my wife wants the slave labor everyday of the year though, not just at Christmas.
VistaMeetsNick
December 21st, 2007
at 8:37pm
lol me and my cousin were just discussing this topic. I am a huge gamer for pc, and 360, and all my games go to gift cards! Also now i know a little more about picking the rite game. Thanks
montanna631
December 22nd, 2007
at 7:26am
dont matter its working.the vlume was down
danielsjohnson
December 22nd, 2007
at 8:43am
what is DVD-R and DVD+R? I’m obviously not a nerd/geek so i don’t know (but i want to know). The only DVDs that i know of are the regular/common ones and blu-ray discs.
Piddy
December 22nd, 2007
at 3:31am
I think the 2-3 games is the best thing to get.
But of course I would buy at least one of the good games even if it took me the whole weekend.
ohh…. Rainchecks are the worst of all time.. I’ve gotten those couple of times, and it sucked big time.
Although, I was the only guy in the class still getting presents in January ;)
firefoxbrooks666
December 22nd, 2007
at 11:31am
one burns from the inside out and the other burns from the outside in.. thats my take on it.
gman323
December 22nd, 2007
at 1:36pm
2 words a fuckin koo game and some clothes to play it with in style lol
BladeAssault
December 22nd, 2007
at 2:55pm
nice, those razor mouses’ are expensive and great for gaming.
BladeAssault
December 22nd, 2007
at 2:59pm
88luda88: seriously stfu, and stop acting ignorant. And like Peach said, you sound like some spoiled little kid. Peach is right, technology does get old VERY fast, and gifts made by someone specifically for you are a lot more important.
NeoYoshi1
December 22nd, 2007
at 8:10am
I happen to be a big gamer and I am for sure going to the store and getting that 15 minute battery charge…thingy now that i’m aware it exists! I am soooo going to make my parents read this list! Thanks for the tips! and have a nice and safe holiday!! :D
Elswalbe
December 22nd, 2007
at 3:54pm
I dont know about your state of washington… but my state of washington, people love getting candy and magazine subscriptions, blank cd’s/dvd’s for stalkings and that sort of thing.
I love getting blanks for christmas.
gamer2502
December 22nd, 2007
at 5:10pm
i hope i get good presents
tyserx
December 22nd, 2007
at 5:38pm
for a girl, spend $12 to 20 on hair products.
for a guy, get them a good DVD of a movie you know they’d watch.
Tracker
December 22nd, 2007
at 3:38pm
One good thing might be a Wii Controller. You can use it for many things…pcs and stuff even
FrosChannel
December 23rd, 2007
at 6:07am
I got my dad a 10 pack of blank CDS. XD
Foxontherun2
December 23rd, 2007
at 9:42am
Dude, some one once gave me their old software for windows 95 and a bunch of floppy disks for xmas, its like , wow thanks
C222
December 23rd, 2007
at 3:08am
Sadly, I have done all 5 of those worst thing to do and lived to regret it.
One of my most successful gifts was a fully loaded Steam account. (Half-Life 2, Counter Strike: Source, Garry’s Mod)
TheThing669
December 24th, 2007
at 3:35am
i know its expensive but an ipod nano would be a great gift
ArcticSheep
December 24th, 2007
at 4:24am
my father got me a keyboard for my birthday :(
ArcticSheep
December 24th, 2007
at 4:28am
hahha i asked for blank DVDs
undeadcorpse
December 24th, 2007
at 7:13am
hmmmmmmm.
thats all i have to say
Kaaaasse001
December 24th, 2007
at 10:25pm
I got a Wi and super paper mario for Crhistmas yay!
FatDan92
December 25th, 2007
at 7:13pm
I got an iPhone and a new PC
wCurtis
December 25th, 2007
at 4:11pm
Gift cards are usually the best last minute Christmas idea.
DJDigitalMonster
December 26th, 2007
at 12:41pm
i got a keyboard for xmas and am happy as hell.
this xmas was the 1 year use anniversary of my Logitech G15 Gaming Keybord =]
wynjones1
December 26th, 2007
at 10:08pm
Best:Juggling clubs
Worst:Socks
ArcticSheep
December 26th, 2007
at 11:27pm
lucky :)
he got me a standard microsoft keyboard.. i wish i had the G15
BIGUNITZERO
December 26th, 2007
at 11:34pm
Chris how much did you watch Super Size Me anyway.
GovernmentSlave
December 26th, 2007
at 6:07pm
One thing I use when buying a game for someone is if all the games they have and play are FPS games, I don’t take the chance by getting them a role-playing game.
AsheDarkthorne
December 27th, 2007
at 2:52am
Actually i wish i would have gotten some Blank Dual layer DVD’s WOW!!!a WALLET!!!lmao hysterical bud
Stephen Parent
December 26th, 2007
at 8:08pm
I recommend also to ensure that you’ve hinted around something as well. Such as “have you seen those new Apple Mighty Mouses?” then you will get some honest input, which will then help guide your choice of a gift.
Just my two cents on how I work.
DJDigitalMonster
December 27th, 2007
at 9:05am
logitech makes superior peripherals. with the exception of some of thier webcams =/
im using the G15 Gaming, and a logitech MX-Air mouse. both work great. but the mouse is good for media centers, and the keybord is good for gaming =/
if you use the MX-Air mouse in air mode for FPS games, then youll dislocate your shoulder [telling you from experience]
redparrot53
December 29th, 2007
at 9:31pm
I love giving and GETTING homemade goodies for gifts!
Berniesboy
May 14th, 2008
at 5:43am
I got underwear which were cool because they were family guy boxers! They are cool