Holiday 2006 Video Game Gift Ideas

2006 Holiday Video Game Gift Ideas

So what's available in the world of video games? Quite a lot, actually. The types of games and accessories you can buy boil down to just a few categories, making it simple to find and buy the best present possible. If you're shopping for someone who already owns a video game console, make sure the games you look at are for the right system. Read below for an overview of the major gaming systems available in stores this 2006 holiday season.

Nintendo Wii

Launched in the U.S. on November 19, the Wii has turned out to be quite a hot item. The Nintendo Wii is all about one thing: simple fun. Using a unique motion sensitive controller, players can interact with their video games by waving the controller (Wii Remote, or "wiimote") in the air. For example, the pack-in title -- Wii Sports -- lets you play tennis, golf, baseball and more by actually swinging your arms. The unique way of playing games is sure to capture everyone's attention, not just video game fans.

Overview

+ Low price point ($250)

+ Unique games

+ Family-friendly

- Small selection of traditional video games

- Graphics not as advanced as other systems

• For more holiday Nintendo Wii gift recommendations, including games and accessories, see our article Holiday 2006 Nintendo Wii Video Game Gift Ideas.

Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 was last year's hot holiday item and is still going strong today. Big name games continue to appear on the system (like the incredibly well-received Gears of War) and the online service, Live Arcade, lets owners download casual games such as Bejeweled and play them in their living room.

The Xbox 360 is geared toward a more traditional video game player and has a library of deep and involving games to match. You'll find epic role playing games alongside immensely popular war titles and first person shooters, not to mention plenty of sports games to go around. Because the Xbox 360 has been on the market for a year, there's a much larger selection of games to choose from this holiday season. And with Microsoft's continued efforts on Live Arcade, the online service alone might be worth the purchase.

Overview

+ Competitive pricing ($300)

+ Excellent online service for multiplayer and game downloads

+ Huge library of games

- Fewer Japanese titles means less gaming variety

- Not as friendly to use for non-gamers

• Also see our article Holiday 2006 Xbox 360 Video Game Gift Ideas.

Sony PlayStation 3

Another hot item for this holiday season is the Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3). Launched in the U.S. on November 17, gamers camped outside of retail stores for several days, hoping to be one of the few to snatch the limited supply of systems. Production numbers were lower than expected, making it scarce on store shelves.

The PS3 is by far the most technologically advanced video gaming system on the market. It outstrips the Wii and Xbox 360 in terms of performance and features some amazing-looking games as a result. There are also a lot of enormously popular titles on the horizon.

Overview

+ Gorgeous looking games

+ Promised support from a number of developers+

+ Full 1080p HD support

- High price ($600)

- Low availability

- Few interesting games available for the holidays

• Be sure to check out our article Holiday 2006 PlayStation 3 (PS3) Video Game Gift Ideas for game and accessory recommendations.

Portable Video Gaming Gifts

For anyone who travels a lot or likes their video games to fit in their hand, be sure to check out the Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable (PSP) gift idea articles. These handheld gaming systems offer a number of great games that pack a ton of fun into a small, less pricey package.

Related Links

• Holiday 2006 Computer (PC) Video Game Gift Ideas
• Holiday 2006 Nintendo DS Video Game Gift Ideas
• Holiday 2006 Nintendo Wii Video Game Gift Ideas
• Holiday 2006 PlayStation 3 (PS3) Video Game Gift Ideas
• Holiday 2006 Sony PSP Video Game Gift Ideas
• Holiday 2006 Xbox 360 Video Game Gift Ideas