he holiday shopping season is something I know that I am alone in enjoying. Despite the angry shoppers who clog up my favorite shopping centers, the spirit of the holidays and a mild addiction to shopping fuel my journey from storefront to storefront.
Online shopping is both convenient and will save you the hassle of restraining yourself from wanting to choke people. This year I present you with a holiday shopping guide filled with a gaggle of geeky baubles perfect for gifts or for your wish list.
Apparel
Gamer or not, clothing is the one essential everyone needs and thanks to the power of the internets and just general wacky creativity, there are a billion websites out there that offer some decent originally awesome shirts.
That's all fine and dandy for everyday wear, but what about gamers with jobs that must conform to a strict dress code EULA? Brighten their day and their wardrobe with geek-approved work wear.
Have an aunt who insists on buying you socks every year? Don't sweat it! Just email her some of these ideas for clothing accessories with a twist. Or something very near and dear to my heart — jewelry! Both classy and nerdy, these pieces are the unique gift you've been looking for.
Gaming Accessories
Shopping for the gamer that has everything? Fear not, you will always have the option to buy them some of the basics to keep their hobby thriving. If you know what console they prefer to play on, buying them subscription cards to play on Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network from any game retailer is probably one of your best options.
The Xbox, PlayStation 3 and the Wii all offer an online marketplace to download games directly to the console. Just like the subscription cards, retailers carry point cards that can be redeemed for whatever your gamer prefers. It's like a gift card for their favorite hobby!
In my home wireless controllers are king, and batteries are constantly being switched out as they lose their juice. For the ultimate gaming efficiency, we have two batteries for each person (one in the controller and one to charge). So why not show the gamer on your list that you believe their gaming experience is of prime importance to you and should not be interrupted by a dead battery.
If they prefer PC games, find out if they use Steam or any other popular digital distribution service. A quick look at their account will tell you what games they already have, plus Steam lets you buy games as gifts for others. Check it out as well as these other sites that provide you with the power to give the gift of PC gaming.
Portable game devices are guaranteed to need something for protection as well as the games that go with them. Not to mention a fancy stylus to make things a little more comfortable and stylish. Don't forget to check your local retailers too!
Music games are a big deal with my family, so it is inevitable that pieces get lost or damaged from long term use. Check out some of these cute accessories to replace or augment anyone's gear.
Is your gamer into Major League Gaming? AstroGaming is the place to go for top of the line MLG bags and speaker tags. What's a speaker tag? They are magnetic covers for the sides of the A40 headsets. You can order custom speaker tags from their site, which is definitely a more cost effective gift for someone who already owns a pair. But if you have the dough to spare, headsets are always a nice thing to have.
Lifestyle
Most gamers out there like to incorporate their hobby into their life in varying ways.
Clothing is the easiest way, but with every year there are new products being created for everything outside of our wardrobe, and while some are cheesy, there are quite a few tasteful pieces that wouldn't look out of place in any grown-up domicile.
With the eventual release of Star Trek Online I felt it would be appropriate to mention that there is a line of Star Trek cologne by GenkiWear. With names like Pon Farr, Tiberius, and Red Shirt, your qapla' is guaranteed.
Make your house feel like homebase with these adorable frills.
Holiday Decor
Let's not forget the decorations!
From greeting cards, to wrapping paper, to ornaments and other embellishments, no gaming abode should go without a few gewgaws to remind us of the holidays.
Take a gander at all the crazy stuff you can buy for your own home.
After all, what's the timeless moment of your loved ones opening gifts of geek-yule without those colorful reminders of the season — and your favorite, nerdy stuff — all surrounding?
So, there you have it for this year. Take my ideas, run with them, and, of course — merry shopping!
