Gamer Gifts: Alice's Suggestions

While many gamers would no doubt be delighted to receive a backlight keyboard, batteries or combination emulator cabinet and beer keg, they're not for everyone.

Like me. I don't give, receive or particularly desire video game-related gifts. With that in mind, here are a few gift ideas with perhaps a little more general appeal.

Ed Harrison - Neotokyo

$9.99 in MP3, $11 on CD

CDs are a staple of winter gift-giving festivities and Ed Harrison's soundtrack for the multiplayer Source mod Neotokyo is an excellent album, even if you have never played the mod before.

Samples are available for your listening pleasure on the page and full versions of half are included with the mod, available on FileShack. You would do well to download it anyway for a solid dose of anime-inspired tactical action, though.

A Book

($1 to $30.8 million)

We all know that books are where young people got their stories during the period after widespread literacy but before the invention of the radio. What might surprise you is that books are still made to this very day!

Not only are books highly enjoyable but reading will remind you of how different and special a medium video games are--and how much more they could potentially do.

There are even novelisations of video games for those really opposed to anything that's not a video game. It's easy to scoff but I suppose any book is better than no book at all.

Clicky the Pixel Squid Socks

$6.99

Technically, the fact that this fetching footwear's design is pixel art makes them video game-related.

Being socks makes them a considerate and toasty-warm gift perfect for grandparents looking to give a practical gift.

And the reason for the squid motif? Because it's chuffing squid.