Many gamers like myself are getting up in years. The first generation of Pong players are easily 35+ now, own multiple game consoles, a zillion games, and a nice PC. In other words, we got cash. That's why I am pulling out some of the bigger, more outrageous gifts this year. When it comes to playing, I ain't playin'!
Your old-school passion will never be doubted with the three-sided
Dreamcade 2.0 Cocktail Arcade cabinet
. Three joysticks, a trackball, a glass-covered 21-inch screen as the table top, and more than 145 classic games from developers including Atari, Midway and Namco. The sum of those parts means years of pleasure to offset any RSI injuries or arthritis that may come your way battling your friends. Plus, it's a PC-based machine; hence, if '80s bleeps and blips aren't good enough for you, you can add your own music. Available at
» READ MORE: www.dreamarcades.com
, $1,899 (+S&H).
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Some of my fondest gaming memories as a kid are sitting in a secondhand La-Z-Boy, playing the Intellivision console. My dad had rigged the thing to play through his quadraphonic sound system and life was good.
Fast-forward 30 years and witness the
Renegade Game Chair
, a throne that puts all games and consoles under its thumb. The full-fledged recliner sports 12 vibrating motors, speakers built into the headrest, and the guarantee of many long nights of drool-dripping sensations with a massage mode as well. Personally, this thing scares me. It is like some kind of portal to an ultimate gaming dimension from which you may never extricate yourself.
Available at
» READ MORE: www.ultimategamechair.com
for $299, but word on the street says you can find them at Sam's Club at way below the MSRP.
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The musical game series Guitar Hero has surpassed all expectations. Who could have known a game that requires a fairly expensive guitar controller would be so popular?! Heck, Guitar Hero III, which hit shelves a couple of weeks ago, made $115 million its first week.
That is why these custom-painted
Limited Edition AG RiffMaster Guitar Controllers
will sell, and sell well. The 17 faux-gits have some of the heaviest metal bands ever painted on them. Kiss, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Megadeth, Ozzy and Pantera designs are available. Imagine showing up at a Guitar Hero competition with one of these bad boys. At
» READ MORE: www.artguitar.com
. $399.
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Of course the Nintendo Wii will be on everyone's list, but chances of scoring one will be slim. The
Sony PlayStation 3
isn't a substitute, but the console is finally starting to get some legs with a more affordable gaming system. Simply put, it is an excellent choice this holiday season.
Better PS3 games are finally starting to hit shelves with more frequency, the Sony online store is beginning to offer more downloadable games, and at $399, this is the cheapest Blu-ray player on the market. If you are into the high-definition movies (but not old PS2 games, as this new system won't play them), this version of the PS3 is really a no-brainer.
- Rob Watson,
"Bare Knuckles" columnist