Holiday Gift Guide 2013 - Joey's List

Arcade Cabinet Collection

If you find yourself rolling in scratch, why not pick up a few arcade cabinets for your loved one. Instead of going with contemporary fighters, seek out classic games that your gift receiver can pump quarters into for hours of fun. Or disable the money requirement, whatever tickles your fancy. Find Frogger, Galaga, Space Invaders or, if you'd like to be really awesome, that great multiple screen X-Men game that sucked up so much of my allowance growing up. These cabinets are awesome collector's items and pretty sweet to fiddle with.

Cash For a Gaming PC

$2,000

I actually slapped this bad boy on my list last year. I'm a year older, and I still think building a quality gaming rig is a fantastic idea. You won't need all $2,000 to do it, either. Hand your PC building capable gamer a check, let them design their rig and then take any excess money to Steam. With $2k, you'll be able to build a crazy nice PC that will last you a good long while. The extra scratch for games will also go super far, meaning you'll not need to worry about money for games and how you'll play them for years to come. This would be a sweet present.

PlayStation 4 and a Game

$460

Really, you could go any way you like here. You could snag an Xbox One or a PlayStation 4. Seeing as this is my gift guide, I'm going with the system that I'm eyeing up the most this holiday. I'm giving the PS4 the nod over the Xbox One because of the $100 difference between them. You can get the PlayStation 4 for $399 at launch, while the Xbox One will run you $499. That extra hundred bucks will let you buy a game and stay under your $500 budget.

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Wii U and Several Games

$299+

Now, if you're looking to save a little more money for games, go with the Wii U. For $299, you can get a Wii U bundled with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD or New Super Mario Bros. U. If you feel like spending a few extra bucks, you can. Pick up The Wonderful 101, Pikmin 3 and, when it drops, Super Mario 3D World. Even if you snag all three games and the system, you'll still be below $500.

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Nintendo 3DS or PS Vita

~$240

Pick your poison, friends. You can get a PS Vita or Nintendo 3DS XL for $199. If you want to save some more money and like Nintendo's option, the 2DS is only $129. Ask your loved one which handheld they prefer, and go for it. The PS Vita and Nintendo 3DS both offer great games, though the 3DS's library is slightly stronger these days. Pick up Pokémon X or Y, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Fire Emblem: Awakening or Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon for the Nintendo 3DS, or go for Tearaway, Gravity Rush or Persona 4 Golden for the PS Vita. A system and one game will keep you below $250.

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Games, Games, Games

$~50

You've got options, folks. While a brand new game might run you $59.99, you can stay under budget if you hunt for games released earlier in 2013. It's been an amazing year, so there are plenty of choices. Here are just a handful  of can't-go-wrong games that have released or will be here by Christmas:

• BioShock Infinite
• Tomb Raider
• The Last of Us
• Super Mario 3D World
• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
• Grand Theft Auto V
• Batman: Arkham Origins
• Animal Crossing: New Leaf
• Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

Like I said, plenty of options. That list doesn't even scratch the surface of great games available this year.

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