PaigeFTW: A Gamer’s Gift Guide
Many people — kind, well-intentioned people — want to buy me something video game-related when Christmas comes around. Inevitably this is a failure, because as a general rule, if it’s a game that I’m interested in, I’ve already bought it.
Luckily, there are other options than the literal for avid gamers. Here’s my short gift guide to the holidays.
- 1. T-SHIRTS
T-shirts are an easy gift — both to buy and to mess up. You want to avoid the tacky gaming shirts you can find in malls. A giant promo picture of Link slapped on a shirt is cool when you’re 10. The best gaming shirts are online. I like the ones at GamerPrint (gamerprint.co.uk), which aim for a knowing subtlety with designs like “Mario Brothers Plumbing Services” and “Oak Laboratories.”
- 2. FIGURINES
Action figures are never not cool, especially since when you grow up you can put them into fancy cabinets and proclaim them aesthetic decisions and not childhood relics. This is especially true if you invest in Square-Enix’s Play Arts Kai (square-enix-shop.com/us) line of figures. Sweeping, dramatic takes on both Final Fantasy classics and even Marvel and DC heroes make for seriously sweet gifts. (Won’t someone buy me Captain America redesigned by Tetsuya Nomura?)
- 3. MEDIA
A classy idea is always the artbook or soundtrack route. You’ll demonstrate that you’re well aware of their gaming interests, and you’ve accordingly found something that supplements their love for it. Because, let’s face it, nobody buys artbooks on their own. We all wait to be gifted such treasures. I can’t help but recommend The World of Thedas Vol. 1 and 2 for the Dragon Age fans in your life — they are beautiful encyclopedias that document every last detail of the series, including recipes, language and more.
- GIFT CARDS
Sure, it seems uncreative. But a good gift card will never go unused. Go the Steam route and fund their next Summer Sale binge now.
