Gamer Gifts: Garnett's Suggestions

I figured games would fill my list when I first started thinking about it. Then I remembered how that was always the fallback for my mom. She had no trouble knowing what games I wanted. It was anything else game-related that threw her for a loop. So I'll go that route here and leave the subject of what games to get for gifts for another day.

Xbox 360 Messenger Kit

$29.99

The numbers Microsoft reported on the initial success of Twitter and Facebook since their addition with the most recent Live update surprised me a little. Sure, everyone uses these services but don't they already have better access points? Regardless, if you plan to spend any time at all with them, or even just chatting or sending messages to your Live friends, this little add-on is indispensable.

SteelSeries Merc Stealth keyboard

$89.99

I never was much for the Zboard modular keyboards that let you snap in special keys for different games. The Merc, on the other hand, takes advantage of what they learned about layout and manufacturing and uses it to make a nice gaming keyboard. I don't always use the left-hand extension with its special keys designed around the classic WASD shooter control system but when I do they lay comfortably under my fingers. Most importantly, the keys on the keyboard feel right with a responsive bounce that I like. And with the Stealth version you get three colors of illumination to choose from.

iPod Touch 32 or 64GB Model

$299 or $399

I know, an iPod as a Christmas present--revolutionary. I'm putting this out there, though; specifically as the handheld gaming machine I'd be most interested in this season. The games matured beyond the deluge of Tower Defense clones and showed an indie-like spirit of creativity with gems like Eliss. In addition to a moderate bump in processor speed the latest hardware revision also included better support for OpenGL which gives developers even more potential to work with. And while the initial investment is more than a DSi or PSP, most of the games come in well under $10 apiece making it easy to always have something new to play.