GameSpot AU Holiday Gift Guide 2012-October 2024-www.zddgame.com

GameSpot AU Holiday Gift Guide 2012-October 2024

Oct 19, 2024 2:45 AM

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　　$10 - $25

　　$25 - $75

　　$75 - $150

　　$150+

　　Ship to AU?

　　All prices in US$ unless otherwise stated

　　Mass Effect Cards

　　Buy from BioWare Store for $8.00 Buy from ThinkGeek for $4.99

　　As a galaxy-saving, alien-bedding hero, Shepard probably doesn't have much time to play cards. If he did, though, he'd almost certainly be the first to say "I'm Commander Shepard and this is my favorite deck of playing cards in the galaxy." All of the aces and royal cards feature different characters; Miranda is Shepard's queen of spades, Jack is a jack, Joker is a joker… you get the idea.

　　8-Bit Sunglasses

　　Buy from House of Sun. for $9.99 Buy from ThinkGeek for $7.99

　　Ever wondered what your family and friends would look like as 8-bit characters? Well, keep on wondering; donning these sunglasses won't make folks look like videogame characters at all. It'll make a small portion of your own face look like something out of a retro game, but the people and places around you will just look darker. That's what sunglasses do.

　　Spelunky Minis

　　Buy from Attract Mode for $5.00 Buy from fangamer for $5.00

　　Much like the characters in Spelunky that they're based on, these diminutive figurines are best kept away from fire, explosions, mammoths, and bottomless pits. If none of these potential hazards are prevalent in your home, Spelunky Minis will thrive there and, assuming you're not looking to them for companionship, they make great pets. That's assuming your blind box doesn't contain the snake.

　　Retro Keychains

　　Buy from fangamer for $10.00 Buy trio from fangamer for $20.00

　　Forever losing keys from your collection? Wish there was some way to keep your keys together so that losing one means you lose them all? The answer to your problems is staring you in the face: keychains. These ingenious little devices can hold not one, not two, but a whole bunch of keys, plus they look good doing it. Available in three double-sided retro flavors.

　　Sega Saturn USB Joypad for PC

　　Buy from Play Asia for $9.94

　　Got a retro-fan who still complains about current joypads being too bulky and not ergonomic to his/her liking? Just get them a couple of these Sega Saturn joypads and they'll be happy as nostalgia-laden clams. It's also a great gift for fighting game fans who prefer pads over joysticks.

　　Skylanders

　　Buy from Toys R Us for $9.99+ Buy from Amazon for $9.96+

　　The enjoyment that can be derived from toys is often proportionate to the quality of your imagination. For some, bedrooms and backyards can become battlegrounds beyond compare; for others, there are Skylanders. Give your imagination a rest with toys that, once placed on the portal of power, come to life inside a videogame world that's already been imagined for you.

　　Prices correct at time of writing

　　$10 - $25

　　$25 - $75

　　$75 - $150

　　$150+

　　Ship to AU?

　　All prices in US$

　　Operation R2-D2

　　Buy from Amazon for $22.69 Buy from ThinkGeek for $24.99

　　Operating on a guy with a red lightbulb for a nose apparently doesn't cut it anymore. Perhaps because his most obvious abnormality was the one thing you couldn't attack with a pair of tweezers? Regardless, nowadays you can perform surgical procedures on all sorts of licensed characters and, of course, no conversation about licensed products would be complete without Star Wars.

　　Donkey Kong Jenga

　　Buy from ThinkGeek for $24.99 Buy from Amazon for $19.99

　　If you've ever played Jenga before, you can't help but have noticed that what the game really lacks is a compelling narrative featuring an antagonistic ape. Donkey Kong Jenga addresses this common complaint with the addition of Mario quadruplets who, as the game progresses, must climb to the top of the Jenga tower to rescue Pauline from the titular simian kidnapper.

　　Dragonborn Figure

　　Buy from Symbiote for $12.99 Buy from Amazon for $12.99

　　When Bethesda inevitably releases its oft-rumored but unannounced Elder Scrolls kart racer, this super deformed Dragonborn will surely be one of the drivers on the starting grid. Modeled after Skyrim's protagonist, he comes complete with a detachable crash helmet and two weapon-themed choking hazards. Also available unpainted for those of you who are artistically inclined.

　　Olly Moss Book

　　Buy from Titan Books for $16.95 Buy from Amazon for $10.27

　　Remember that cool Resistance 3 box art that cleverly incorporated New York's skyline into the dental work of a Chimera skull? Olly Moss did that. He also put together this book titled Silhouettes from Popular Culture that features exactly what you think it does. Images aren't labeled and there are no answers pages at the back, so if you don't recognize someone, you're out of luck.

　　The Metagame

　　Buy from Amazon for $25.00 Buy from iam8bit for $25.00

　　Which is more tragic, Tetris or Tekken? Which is sexier, Passage or Pac-Man? These are just a couple of the countless question and answer combos that you might debate with friends during a game of Metagame: Videogame Edition. Warning: In the cities of Melbourne and Sydney this game has been proven to cause intelligent discussion, learning, and podcasting.

　　Revoltech Zone of the Enders figure series Buy from 1999.co for $35

　　What better way to complement the recently-released Zone of The Enders HD Collection than with a bunch of PVC figures based on the esoterically-designed Orbital Frame mechas of the series? Going at just $40 apiece, you don't have to go beyond the bounds price-wise to make your friends happy.

　　Shepard Figure

　　Buy from BioWare Store for $20.00 Buy from Amazon for $18.74

　　Your Commander Shepard might look nothing like this one. He might have different hair, he almost certainly wears different armor, and he might be a she. This action figure comes with approximately 100 percent fewer customization options than the in-game character that it's based on, as well as a code that can be redeemed for some Mass Effect 3 in-game content.

　　Prices correct at time of writing

　　$10 - $25

　　$25 - $75

　　$75 - $150

　　$150+

　　Ship to AU?

　　WoW Monopoly

　　Buy from Blizzard Store for $39.95 Buy from Amazon for $33.50

　　Remember when every game of Monopoly used to be preceded by an argument about who got to play as the car and who would get stuck with the iron? Well now you can argue about mechagnomes and flight path boots instead. World of Warcraft Monopoly is one of many themed sets available. Other videogame-themed sets include Nintendo, Street Fighter, and Sonic the Hedgehog.

　　iCADE 8-Bitty

　　Buy from ThinkGeek for $29.99 List of iCade games on ThinkGeek

　　Purportedly compatible with "thousands of games" on iOS and (most) Android devices, this boxy little Bluetooth controller works well with the kinds of games that were originally released on cartridges and cassette tapes. Assuming your touchscreen device's protective case of choice incorporates rainbow and faux wood motifs, the 8-bitty will also look right at home alongside it.

　　Minecraft Lego

　　Try to buy from Jinx for $34.99 Buy on ebay for $70+

　　Last year it was Skylanders figures, this year it's Minecraft Lego. Sold out everywhere, this diminutive Lego set is, at the time of writing, available only to those who are willing to pay around double the recommended retail price on ebay or, to put it another way, around 15 cents per tiny brick. There are definitely more impressive Lego sets and Minecraft items available for that sort of money.

　　Retro Duo Console

　　Buy from ThinkGeek for $49.99 Buy from eStarland for $39.95

　　Looking to spend significantly less than $400 on a new Nintendo console this holiday season? Not hung up on what the word "new" really means? For a fraction of that cost, you can get your hands on a RetroDuo console that functions as both a NES and a SNES. Back of the box features include a power switch, air vents, two controller ports, and more! Comes with two controllers and zero games.

　　Halo Risk

　　Buy from Amazon for $39.38 Buy from B&N for $39.95

　　Like Monopoly, Risk is a game that's available in a myriad of different licensed flavors at this point. Unlike Monopoly, the different licenses have a significant impact on how Risk plays. This Halo Legendary Edition comes with a couple of two-player maps in addition to its oversized Halo ring map, for example. Other gaming editions of Risk include Metal Gear Solid and StarCraft.

　　Aperture Gear

　　Buy bag from ThinkGeek for $69.99 Buy sleeve from Popcultcha for $49.99

　　No doubt engineered using science of some kind, these matching Aperture containment and carrying apparatus are no longer reserved for test subjects. Available in orange and orange, they can be used to transport cake, potatoes, hopes and dreams, and even other, smaller containment and carrying apparatus. Well, except for the small one; that's designed specifically for your iPad.

　　Minecraft Vinyls

　　Buy from Jinx for $29.99 Buy from Simply Toyz for $24.95

　　Given that their primary means of human interaction is to pursue you and then blow up, why you'd willingly invite a Minecraft creeper into your home is a mystery. Fortunately, this vinyl creeper is both inanimate and explosive-free, so it's relatively safe. Vinyl models of Steve and Diamond Steve are available at the same 15cm scale, but only the creeper comes with a sweet diamond block.

　　Mini Portal Gun

　　Buy from ThinkGeek for $59.99 Full size coming soon for $99.99

　　Portal guns can be tricky to get a hold of; limited edition life-size replicas sold out within 30 minutes of going on sale, new replicas won't be available until December, and real portal guns simply don't exist. Yet. These mini replicas, on the other hand, are available right now. They also cost less than the life-size ones and have the added benefit of making you feel like a giant.

　　Prices correct at time of writing

　　$10 - $25

　　$25 - $75

　　$75 - $150

　　$150+

　　Ship to AU?

　　All prices in US$

　　RC Mario

　　Buy from Amazon for $84.99 Buy from Toys R Us for $99.99

　　Efforts to recreate Mario Kart in the real world have, to date, been hampered by a shortage of red shells, blue shells, bloopers, and mega mushrooms. This 1/8th scale (huh?) RC Mario does absolutely nothing to rectify this unfortunate situation, but throw down some banana skins, pick up an RC Yoshi as well, and you can enjoy Nintendo-brand racing anywhere with a lot of floor space.

　　Sphero

　　Buy from Sphero for $129.99 Buy from ThinkGeek for $129.99

　　Balls don't usually cost over $100, but they also don't usually have robots inside them. Sphero does. It's a robot that you can drive around using an iOS or Android device. There are already a good number of different Sphero apps available, including a shooter that's played using the ball as a controller and a multiplayer game that uses its color-changing capabilities. Cats love it.

　　Minecraft Jacket

　　Buy from Jinx for $79.99 Buy from Amazon for $79.99

　　Far more comfortable than Minecraft outfits created with leather, gold, iron, or diamonds, this fleece jacket is perfect for those cold nights when you're stuck outside of your cave, cabin, or castle. There's not enough of that green lining for this to double as a crappy creeper Halloween costume when turned inside out, but get yourself a hat and a beard and maybe you can go as Notch.

　　Black Swann

　　Buy from Amazon for $75.96 Buy from B&H for $84.99

　　Flying RC helicopters isn't nearly as easy as those folks selling them at malls make it look, and the Black Swann is no exception. What differentiates this one from the competition, though, is that it incorporates a video camera. Learn to fly the Black Swann well and you might be able to get some great footage; crash too badly, and the camera can serve as a black box.

　　Mega Bloks' WoW Deathwing's Stormwind Assault Buy from Amazon for $99.99

　　If your WoW-addicted buddies are in a brick-building mood, get them this elaborate Mega Bloks set depicting one of the lore's finest moments. If recreating a scene of a giant dragon powerful enough to end worlds crashing into a castle is considered a fine moment to your friends, of course. It might have been a tragic moment to some, so steer with caution and be sensitive.

　　USB Monitor

　　Buy from Amazon for $99.52 Buy from newegg for $99.99

　　If you've ever tried to check your email, your bank balance, or a game guide while playing on your computer, you know that sometimes one screen just isn't enough. This 16" monitor isn't one that you'll want to play games on, but it's powered by USB, has a stand that supports it in both landscape and portrait orientations, and it's light enough that you can carry it around with your laptop.

　　Prices correct at time of writing

　　$10 - $25

　　$25 - $75

　　$75 - $150

　　$150+

　　Ship to AU?

　　M-3 Predator Replica

　　Buy from BioWare for $400.00 Buy from ThinkGeek for $399.99

　　This weighty replica pistol from Mass Effect 3 is presumably crafted using rare space minerals that sell on Earth for around $80 a kilogram. How else it warrants a $400 price tag is a mystery. Yes, only 600 of them are being made, but for that money you might at least expect it to come with some sort of display stand. Or a holster. You get the gun and a USB charger for its LEDs, that's it.

　　Street Fighter Chess

　　Buy from Capcom for $299.95 More Street Fighter goodies

　　Capcom's Street Fighter series celebrated its 25th anniversary this year and, in a bizarre coincidence, the game of chess has been around for ages as well. It makes perfect sense, then, that the two should come together in this limited edition chess set. Ryu and M. Bison are the kings, Chun-Li and Juri are queens, and other favorites from the SF roster have roles as bishops, knights, and rooks.

　　GAEMS G155

　　Buy from Amazon for $234.49 Buy from frys.com for $229.99

　　Bored of fighting over the family TV when you want to play games? Looking for a solution that can double as an oversized lunchbox in a pinch? This mobile gaming environment has a built-in 15.5" LED 720p display, stereo speakers, and can accommodate an Xbox 360 or slim PlayStation 3. Larger "Vanguard" models with 19" displays and bigger price tags are also available.

　　iPod Touch

　　Buy from Apple for AU$329 Buy from Big W for AU$318

　　Owning a new iPod Touch is a lot like owning an iPhone 5. You can use it to listen to music, to watch movies, to play games, and--assuming you're near a Wi-fi spot--to download all manner of apps. It's not a phone, of course, but that just means there are no contracts, monthly fees, dropped calls or annoying ringtones to worry about. Also, it's available in pink.

　　Astro A50 Headset

　　Buy from Astro Gaming for $299.99 Buy from JB HI-FI for AU$348

　　If you game on multiple systems and have ever described yourself as an audiophile, these wireless headphones from Astro are for you. They're comfortable; they go for hours on a single charge; the mic is good; and the sound quality is excellent. They're also compatible with every system that you're likely to be playing games on, assuming you're not from the future. Or space.

　　Nintendo Wii U

　　Buy from EB Games for AU$348 Buy from JB HI-FI for AU$348

　　In case you missed it, Nintendo launched a new console this holiday season. It looks like a regular Wii, and you can use the same Wii remote controllers with it, but it's a whole new thing. Buying the black rather than the white system is the way to go; not only does it look better, but for just $80 more it comes with a game and significantly more internal memory for downloadable games and such.

　　Prices correct at time of writing

　　$10 - $25

　　$25 - $75

　　$75 - $150

　　$150+

　　Ship to AU?

　　Online stores won't deliver to Australia? Don't panic!

　　Now, we know what you're thinking. There are some pretty cool gift ideas in this guide, right? But while some of the retailers we've linked to in this feature do ship to Australia (check their individual sites for more details), some won't. So how do we get something sent to the land down under? Or are the Aussie gamers doomed to stare wistfully into the interwebs forever, always wishing and never receiving?

　　Never fear! There are still ways to get these items shipped to you even if you're not in the good ol' US of A. It's worth noting that some of these items are available at local retailers, so make sure to check their availability. We've put together this list to help get you started and make sure nobody misses out!

　　Otherwise, if you're willing to pay a little extra, parcel forwarding services are one way to get items from US retailers shipped to your country. Parcel forwarding services allow you to have a virtual mailbox/address in the US that your online ordered goods can be sent to, before being forwarded to you in your home country. It's a neat and easy way to get around online retailers who don't deliver to nations outside of the US, but of course, there are costs involved.

　　We've listed a few mail forwarding services below, so make sure to check out which is the best one for you. It’s worth nothing that some online stores don’t ship to mail forwarding services, so it’s always worth checking before you purchase something.

　　Keep an eye out for what exactly you'll have to pay for, as well as what services they actually offer. Some companies have sign-up fees, some may allow you to combine several packages into one, and some may charge for the cubic weight (how much space it takes up in a plane or truck) versus actual weight. Some will even help you purchase from stores that require a US credit card. You'll obviously have to pay for the shipping fees to your home nation, but make sure to read the fine print to see how much more (if anything) you'll have to pay.

　　Below, in no particular order, are a few companies that offer parcel forwarding services.

　　Bongous.com Opas shipito.com

　　Prices correct at time of writing

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