Holiday Archive

While quarter 4 (the infamous holiday season of videogames) brought some solid titles, it has long flickered out of existence (trust me 1-3 weeks in the games world goes by in a snap).

This page is home to the holiday information:
2007

Wii Rainchecks

Still looking for that elusive Wii for Christmas?

Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime dropped two Wii-hunting tips in a special conference call yesterday:

• Nintendo and Gamestop will partner in a Wii raincheck program that promises Wiis to people who purchase the raincheck certificates on December 21 and 22 at a Gamestop store. The raincheck costs $249, the Wii's MSRP, and guarantees a Wii by January 29. However, this is only while supplies last. "Tens of thousands" of these rainchecks will be available, but in the ever-rabid world of holiday shopping, it's safer to get there sooner than later.
  
• A large quantity of Wiis will be released at "at least" six national retailers, including WalMart, Toys 'R Us, K Mart, Sears, Target and Circuit City. Remember, rainchecks are only available at Gamestop.

Sure getting a piece of paper promising a Wii isn't as fun as unwrapping the real deal, but just maybe it can still garner this kind of reaction:


_____________
Oh, and if you're a member of a wholesale club like Costco or BJ's, these places get Wiis too. Call in ahead of time and find out when the shipment is due to come in. Make sure you're on time because the last shipment of Wiis that came into my local Costco was gone in less than three minutes!

Family Holiday Games

Christmas-time is here... which means "Santa Claus" will spend countless hours researching what games are okay for children and clock even more hours hunting the games down on eBay. But fear not... the articles provided below will definitely help cut down shopping time, so "Santa" can get some well-deserved rest. The articles list family-friendly, quality videogames for each major system.

Videogaming is a fun hobby. Let's share it ^_^

I want friendly, family games for...

• Nintendo Wii
• Nintendo DS
• Playstation 3
• Playstation Portable
• Microsoft Xbox 360
• Computer (PC)

*All of these articles are living documents and very subject to change. Check back for updates :D

Wii Holiday Games

Usually, the better question about the Wii is what games aren't family-friendly? Here's a short list of good Wii games to keep an eye out for this holiday. This list will definitely be fleshed out later, so come on back for more info.

The plus signs next to game titles will lead you to the game's Gamerankings.com site, which contains links to loads of reviews.

+Super Mario Galaxy -- $49.99 -- E for Everyone
This game is a must-own for sure. Classic Super Mario fun reincarnated on the Wii with a soundtrack that I hear is out of this world.

+WarioWare Smooth Moves -- $49.99 -- E for Everyone
Wario's oddball minigame series continues onto the Wii, calling on players to wave, wiggle and move with the Wiimote to complete various tasks such as hoola-hooping, moving a ball through a maze, picking up trash or trimming nose hairs (yep, basic hygiene is FUN). Completing these five-second minigames will allow players to progress through the game and unlock MORE minigames, until a multi-player mode is unlocked. In multi-player, you and your friends share a Wiimote (BONUS: don't need to buy extra $30-$50 controllers) and can compete in four different games. Good entertainment that will last at least 15 minutes :D

+NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams -- $49.99 -- E for Everyone
Another game that may turn out to be as fantastic of an adventure as Super Mario Galaxy, Remade from a 10-year-old Sega Saturn game that is highly revered to this day.

+Guitar Hero III -- $89.99 -- T for Teen
Activision's hot guitar playing simulation. Getting this game and maybe an extra guitar for two-player options is a great gift.

+Metroid Prime Corruption -- $49.99 -- T for Teen
Definitely for the older kiddies; This creepy, realistic space shooter with lots of aliens and Space Pirates follows bounty hunter Samus Aran's adventures. Aside from shooting action, the game also requires players to solve puzzles in order to progress in the game.

+Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn -- $49.99 -- E for Everyone
Strategy game that is the sequel to the GameCube title Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance.

+Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure -- $49.99 -- E for Everyone
A delightful-looking puzzle adventure game that is getting some great reviews and attention. Looks like a great game for the kids.

+Wii Points Card -- $19.99 for 2,000 points to spend on Virtual Console games
NOTE: Your Wii needs to be able to connect to the Internet in order to buy/download games from the Virtual Console. Make sure your Wii has a working connection to the Internet before purchasing.
Click the here for the Virtual Console's official site, which includes a full list of games and point prices.
With this little card, your gamer can purchase anything their heart desires from the Wii's Virtual Console, an online store that vends old, classic games that are downloaded to your Wii. You can then play these games on the Wii. Virtual Console games can be classic games from the following systems: NES, Super NES, Nintendo 64 (N64), Sega Genesis, NeoGeo and TurboGrafx16. Games range from 500 - 1,000 points (N64 and Sega Genesis games tend to be more expensive). This is a great gift; got one for my friend last year and she wants another one ^_~

+Geometry Wars

Elebits?

DS Holiday Games

Handheld Holiday

The Nintendo DS--easily the most kid-friendly system out there (aside from the Wii, maybe) with plenty of safe games to choose from. Here's a list of DS titles, old and new, the whole family can enjoy for the holidays.

+Nintendogs
You may have finally found an answer to, "Mommmmm/daaaaad, can we please get a puppy?" This game has all the responsibility and fun of owning a dog with none of the mess. The DS's microphone allows you to give voice commands to your puppy.

+Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
The latest installment in the Zelda series that gaming publications have been raving about. Zelda games are always a good ride--I've been playing them since I was eight or nine. This continues the story established in Zelda: Wind Waker, as Link sets out to sail the ocean again guided by your touch screen and stylus.

+PokeMon Pearl/Diamond
Another safe bet, especially if your kid loves PokeMon. This is the most expansive handheld version of the game yet, and with wireless/online capabilities you can battle or trade PokeMon your neighbor or someone across the globe.

+Zoo Hospital
It's Trauma Center for the little ones. Kids get to play veterinarian for zoo animals. Where was this game when I was six years old?

+LEGO Star Wars the Complete Saga - $29.99
Good, fun Star Wars adventure. It has cooperative modes, so 2 people who have DSs and copies of LEGO Star Wars CS can play together.

+Animal Crossing: Wild World
It was released two years ago, but it doesn't change the fact that it's a great gift. ACWW is addictive, fun and has wireless/online capabilities so you can play with friends near and far. Think of it as a mini-MMO for kids (well, ACWW can appeal to anyone, but it's kid-friendly for sure).

+Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney
This might be too much for younger kids, but it's way too fun of a game to not put on here. You play rookie attorney Phoenix Wright as you defend various clients through five different court cases (FYI: All cases in this game are murder cases). You sleuth around crime scenes to gather evidence and then use your gathered information to pick out lies and contradictions in witness testimonies. The game is heavily text-based (the whole story is progressed by character dialogue), so it's a fun way to trick people into reading.

+Draglade
A fighting/action game hybrid from Atlus (who I know for their hit-or-miss quirky games). Previews look interesting, but wait until the game's release on 12/4 for more info before you buy.

+Ontamarama - $29.99

+Elite Beat Agents

These are all of the suggestions for now; check back later for more!

PSP Holiday Family Games

Sorry, for now this is another short list. Will update, add to, and flesh out later.

The PSP really is designed with older gamers in mind, at least that 15-16+ male demographic. But there are some clean, fun games out (well, mostly clean, anyway).

+Lumines -- E for Everyone
+Me and My Katamari -- E for Everyone
+Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions -- T for Teen
+Jeanne D'Arc -- T for Teen
+LocoRoco -- E for Everyone
+Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters -- $39.99 -- E for Everyone
+Daxter -- E for Everyone
+Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee -- E for Everyone
+Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness -- T for Teen
+Crush -- E for Everyone
+The BIGS -- E for Everyone
+Super Collapse 3 -- E for Everyone
+Sega Mega Drive Collection
+Gitaroo Man Lives
+Burnout Legends

PS3 Family Games

Oh, the PS3. What a frighteningly expensive system with such a troubled past. Maybe Sony can turn that around, and start turning a profit from it. But now is not the time to talk business strategies--it's time to talk about games.

PS3 and Xbox 360 (and even the PSP) are designed with older audiences in mind. That's not to say it doesn't also have some games your family can enjoy. Here are some suggestions you can look into for the holidays. Remember to look for online reviews or even test these games at a videogame retailer before you buy.

To look at an official catalogue of PS3, PS2 and Playstation Portable games, click here to look at Sony's online catalogue. It's got lots of nifty filters for narrowing your search.

Click on the "+" plus-sign next to a game title, to view its average review score on GameRankings.com.

All games are retailed at $59.99 unless otherwise mentioned.

+Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction -- E for Everyone
Quirky weaponry and gameplay as now-famous heroes Rachet and Clank travel the universe fighting evil. All of this, thrown onto a story about friendship. Awww.

+The Eye of Judgment -- $69.99 (price includes Playstation Eye camera) -- T for Teen

Remember Yu-Gi-Oh? That cartoon where the cards came to life and duked it out on a playing field? This is the exact same concept, except in real life and with different rules. You use physical cards and game board, and the Eye camera takes all of that in and presents it in its full-fledged fantasy form of dragons, monsters, etc. You'll definitely want to read through some reviews before committing to buy this one.

+Skate -- T for Teen

+Rock Band -- $169.99 for bundle (guitar, drums, microphone, game)/ $59.99 for game only --T for Teen
Pricey, but promisingly fun. Think of this as Guitar Hero with the rest of the band.

+Guitar Hero 3 -- $99.99 for bundle (game, guitar)/ $59.99 game only -- T for Teen
Not only does GH3 offer more songs, you have to duel rock legends to work your way through the set list. Not too mechanically different from it's predecessors, but it's definitely a little more difficult.

+Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga -- E for Everyone
Just fun. Everyone I know who's played these games have loved it and/or become addicted to it.

+DiRT -- E for Everyone
+MX vs ATV Untamed -- E for Everyone
+MotorStorm -- T for Teen
The three above titles are racing games, which you really can't go too wrong with as far as family gaming.

+LocoRoco Cocoreccho! (Downloadable Game from Playstation Store)
An well-rated action game dubbed the "interactive screensaver. If you've got access to the PS3's online store, pretty much all the games offered there are family-friendly. They also have some Playstation1 or 2 games available for download, but some of those may not be so nice (like Twisted Metal).

+Katamari Damacy / We Love Katamari -- Playstation 2 -- $29.99 / $19.99 -- E for Everyone
(^the slash separates two different games) A well-loved, quirky, cutesy little puzzle game series. Object of the game: rank objects' size and roll them into a ball collecting items from smallest to biggest. Eventually, your ball will grow big enough to pick up trees, houses, mountains and islands along for the ride. And the music is faaaaantastic.

Xbox 360 Familiy Holiday Games

Xbox 360... the system that's synonymous with the over-hyped Halo series. Here's a list of some more family-oriented games.

On their official games catalogue, Xbox 360 has a "family" search function that will display only family games for the Xbox 360. However, it doesn't give reviews or tell you if the game is any good ^_~ That's what this list is for.

NOTE: Not too long ago, Xbox 360 launched a family safety campaign to trumpet the new parental controls on the Xbox 360. If you'd like to learn more, click here.

Viva Pinata (Platinum Hits) -- $19.99 -- E for Everyone
Ever dreamed of having a pinata farm? No? Well anyways, here's your chance. You keep a garden with pinatas in it (of course), and whatever actions you do or don't take greatly affect your garden. You can control the pinatas daily lives or simply let them run free in your always-changing garden. Friendly, colorful, fun. (**Platinum Hits: essentially means this game has sold enough copies for Microsoft to be able to slash the price to $19.99)

Viva Pinata: Party Animals -- $49.99 -- E for Everyone
Lovable Viva Pinata franchise takes to the mini-game party genre. This is similar to Mario Party, except with pinatas. I really don't like to recommend party games because they tend to get old pretty quick and not have a lot of content (as was a big complaint in reviews of this game). However, with the quick, colorful gameplay and humor, kids may still enjoy this one, especially if they've played Viva Pinata before. For multiplayer/family gaming purposes, Scene It (below) might be a better choice.

Scene It -- $59.99 -- T for Teen
Scene It: Lights, Camera, Action! on your Xbox 360. Tests you on movie trivia. Comes with four big button controllers that are more conducive to trivia playing/answering. This may be a better choice than Viva Pinata: Party Animals.

Guitar Hero III -- $99.99 for bundle (game, guitar) / $59.99 for game only
Activision's hot guitar playing simulation. Getting this game and maybe an extra guitar for two-player options is a great gift.

+Rock Band -- $169.99 for bundle (guitar, drums, microphone, game)/ $59.99 for game only --T for Teen
Pricey, but promisingly fun. Think of this as Guitar Hero with the rest of the band.

Every Extend Extra Extreme: E4 -- 800points ($10.00) @ Xbox Live Arcade -- E for Everyone
Xbox Live Arcade, an option that can be accessed through online options when your Xbox 360 is connected to the Internet, has many cheap, friendly, fun games available. You could even allow your gamer a certain amount of points/cash to shop on Xbox Live Arcade (keep an eye on what they want to buy).

LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga -- $49.99 -- E for Everyone
Just fun. Everyone I know who's played these games have loved it and/or become addicted to it.

Super Monkey Ball Deluxe -- $29.95 -- Xbox, playable on Xbox 360 -- E for Everyone
An oldie, but a goodie. Includes all of the features, stages and multiplayer games from Super Monkey Ball 1 and 2.
NOTE: There's also a version of the game where a separate Sonic game is included on the same disc. The Sonic game was so-so, but if it's essentially free, why not? This is what the Sonic/Super Monkey Ball Deluxe game looks like.

Fusion Frenzy -- as cheap as $8 online (Amazon) -- Xbox, playable on Xbox 360 -- E for Everyone
I saw this on the Xbox game catalogue family section, and I just had to include it. I remember this came with our original Xbox at home (so yeah, it's a little old). It's a long list of challenging multi-player party games that are really fun to play if you have enough controllers (2 or more). The futuristic settings and cheesy, competitive one-liners from characters just add to its charm. The mini-games usually don't last much longer than a minute or two, but you can spend a decent amount of time on this game.

Target's got game

This week, make Target a holiday target for your shopping list. At least, if you live in the same zip-code as I do ^_^;;

Target's offering eight Nintendo DS games for only $25. But only three of them can truly be called a deal: PokeMon Diamond/Pearl, The New Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass.

They all have an MSRP of $34.99, so stock up now, especially that the Black Friday stampede has calmed.

PS3 Price Cut - Buying Guide Prelude

A year after release, will the PS3's price finally be right?

November 2, Sony slashed the PS3 80GB model's price from $600 to $500. In addition, they released a toned-down 40GB version of the system.

To date, there have been four models of the PS3, including the two mentioned above. The remaining two, a 20GB and 60GB model have been discontinued.

So, let's evaluate. The mighty morphin' PS3 will have two versions to choose from (although you could probably purchase the discontinued 20GB and 60GB online)

What do the 40GB and 80GB have in common? Sony says:

Both the 80GB and 40GB PS3 models come standard with Cell Broadband Engine™ (Cell/B.E.), Blu-ray Disc™ (BD) player, built-in HDD, 1080p high-definition output, , free PLAYSTATION®Network access, Wi-Fi connectivity and SIXAXIS™ wireless controller.

This is the jargon that tells you that, either way, you are purchasing one very fancy-pants system. In short both have: some specifications that will make your game look very pretty, Blu-ray disc player, the ability to connect to the Playstation Network, wireless internet connectivity and a motion-sensitive wireless controller.

But what is the 40GB version missing?

• can't play back Playstation 2 titles, but can play Playstation titles
• instead of being packaged with a PS3 game like the 80GB version, the 40GB has Spiderman 3 on Blu-ray disc
• the 80GB has 4 USB ports; the 40GB has 2 USB ports.
• the 40GB does not have the "multi-media memory card slot" that allows players to transfer their PS1/PS2 memory card data to the PS3. However, Sony says players can use other accessories such as this doohickey to transfer their data through one of the USB ports

By looking at this list, it looks like they dropped some of the extras, slashed the price a bit and called it a new model.

So here are consumer options for the holiday PS3-purchasing*:

If you just want to play PS3 games, and ONLY PS3 games (also if you already have a PS2):

• go for the 40GB model; it's got the bare necessities. The 80GB model is really geared towards the hardcore gamer who has to have all the extras.
  

If you don't have a PS2, but would like to play PS2 games AND have a PS3:

• Well, you could get the 80GB model with PS2-compatibility, but there have been some issues where the 80GB PS2 has difficulty playing some PS2 games. You can check if your PS2 games will work with the 80GB PS3 at Sony's backwards compatibility status site. This article from HardcoreWare.net, shows the results of one man pitting his 90 game PS2 library against a 60GB PS3 and 80GB PS3. Results: 84/90 games worked perfectly on the 60GB, and 50/90 worked perfectly on the 80GB.
• If backwards compatibility is a must then finding a used 60GB PS3 might be a better deal than buying the 80GB model. There are plenty on sale online, whether you prefer to shop on eBay, Froogle, or Amazon (just type in: 60GB PS3). Don't know if retailers like Gamestop resell them.
  
• Or, you could buy the 40GB PS3, and a used/new PS2. It would cost about the same as the 80GB model, and you'd have a sure-fire way to play your PS2 games. (As well as the PS2's built-in DVD-player, so you don't have to commit to buying Blu-Ray discs for your PS3).
• The Slimline PS2 is a great deal if you can find a used one for $99. Otherwise, it's a $129 MSRP.
  
• On this note: There is a new PS2 on the horizon. It's not any slimmer, and I haven't quite found out what the difference/improvement is yet, but it's on sale in Japan for $114. The rumor mill suggests its a revision of the slimline PS2, has built-in power supply and will sell for under $100 when it hits the US in 2008. I wouldn't put too much stock in the rumored price-tag, though.
• NOTE: On its backwards-compatibility status site, Sony said it is up to the game publishers and peripheral/accessory manufacturers to develop the appropriate hardware to play PS1 and PS2 games on the PS3. They did not/have not issued a date on when the backwards compatibility issue might be fixed.
  

That's a lot of options, and I realize it's intimidating to look at. But fear not. Just be confident in what you want. A PS3, like any game system is a big investment, and you should think carefully before purchasing. Please e-mail YFG if you have further questions about this post.



*(subject to change with any other price cuts that might follow :P)

XMAS in November?!?!?

I had the TV on last night while I was working on a 5-page yoga take-home test, and during commercial break, found myself being confronted by a housewife bundled in fashionable winter clothing, standing in front of her house, which had white Christmas lights hanging off the gate that enclosed her front yard.



My face:

o_o

o_O

O_O !!!!

CHRISTMAS AD!

This ad was from Walmart. I saw it FOUR times within 45 minutes or so of having the TV on. Trust me, I know that the blonde-haired woman in the commercial is getting her husband an HD-DVD player, and her family's gonna like it.

Even Pepto-Bismol has their own holiday plug out already, and we're still a few weeks away from Thanksgiving.

I find it a little ironic this premature bombardment of Christmas commercialism bothers me.
Being a gamer who constantly has her ear to the ground for future games on the horizon, the holiday gaming season is usually a time of great excitement and expectations. Yes, everyone in the industry, gamers and publishers included, love Q4--the fourth quarter of the year that contains the holiday season.

I mean, you start hearing about Q4 games as early as the springtime, and holiday lists are usually solidified by sumertime. In essence, as a gamer, you're planning your Christmas in July.

I just can't understand why the rest of the world is feeling the need to hawk their Christmas wares so early. I've heard Walmart has already wheeled out their Halloween gear, and replaced it with an abundance of Christmas clutter.

Is Christmas just going to keep coming earlier and earlier? Do companies really have that much more to gain by advertising this early?

Speaking of which, I've got some holiday game suggestions to pull together.

A moment of silence for the lapse of time between Halloween and Thanksgiving that used to be noncommercial (comparatively, anyway).