Downloadable Video Games

Any avid PC gamers knows of the wonderful world that is Cloud-based gaming. Traditionally, when you buy a PC game, you’d go to the store (or order online) and come home with a disc and CD-key. Cloud-based game purchases are a bit different. You buy the game online, and instead of a physical copy, the game is associated with a user account and available for download any time you like. It’s all handled electronically, so you could purchase a game, even on Christmas, and download it instantly.

There are a handful of online stores that allow instant downloads for many titles, including www.Newegg.com and www.Amazon.com, but none do it quite as well as Steam. With a Steam account, you can purchase games from the massive Steam library either for yourself or as a gift which you can send to any other Steam users (or e-mail address, though the recipient will need to create a Steam account before activating the gift). What’s better is that Steam is having a giant holiday sale that will be going on through the New Year. Here are a few popular Steam titles:

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – The sequel to the popular game Oblivion, Skyrim is one of the hottest titles this year.

Batman: Arkham City – For those who prefer action packed story-based game play, Arkham City definitely hits the spot.

Modern Warfare 3 – The Call of Duty series is one of the most popular online FPS out there, and Modern Warfare 3 is its latest installment.

Portal 2 – Somewhat of a casual puzzle game, Portal 2 is an FPS that thinks outside of the box. Be prepared for some quick witted humor and addictive game play in both single and multi player modes.

Not shopping for a PC gamer? The Xbox, PS3, and Wii all have online stores, though they are a bit more limited. The Xbox Marketplace has a decent game library, but transferring gifts can be difficult, and you will need a Windows Live account. The PlayStation Network has an equally impressive library, but many of its games cannot be downloaded. The Wii Shopping Channel (accessed on the Wii itself) is actually the most limited of the three. It generally only has indie titles and previous console classics available for download, not that there’s anything wrong with the classics.

Other Downloadables

Games aren’t the only thing you can download. Apple iTunes, Amazon MP3 (complete with the Music Gift Store), and Google Music all have just about every song/album you can imagine, all for sale, and all available instantly.

Shopping for someone who has a tablet or e-reader? Why not get them an E-Book? Amazon has a lofty E-Book store, and Google’s is certainly filling its shelves quickly. And don’t forget iTunes.

Movie purchases, unfortunately, haven’t really moved into the realm of instantly downloadable purchases; however, online rental subscriptions can be purchased in the blink of an eye. Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Blockbuster Total Access offer movies delivered to your mailbox or streaming over the internet.

Gift Cards

Yes, gift cards start getting into the realm of impersonal gifts, but they still work well in a pinch. Not only do many stores, restaurants, and establishments offer gift card purchases online, you can also run down to the local supermarket (most of them anyway) and select from a handful of popular choices, like Best Buy, Starbucks, iTunes, and nearby restaurants.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Deus Ex: Human Revolution came out earlier this year and became an instant hit. Since it’s part of a series that dates back a full 11 years, it definitely appeals to the more matured gamers, but its action packed and well-rounded game play (save for a few awkward boss battles) makes it a great game even for those who never played the original Deus Ex. It’s best played on the PC, but it’s also available on Xbox 360 and PS3, and keep in mind that it is intended for ages 17+.

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Skyrim is a newly released game that will definitely be one of the top sellers this holiday season, and easily one of the highest rated and most anticipated games of the year. It is available on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC, similar to Deus Ex: HR. Also similar to Deus Ex is its ESRB rating of “Mature;” however, it is far less graphic of a game in comparison.

Saints Row: The Third

Saints Row is a gritty third-person shooter about being on the wrong side of the law and caught in the middle of a gang war. Another ESRB “Mature” title, you can expect it to be much like the controversial Grand Theft Auto games. Like most games these days, it’s also available on multiple platforms, though it plays best on the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Batman Arkham City

Arkham City is the first title on our list that does not carry the “Mature” rating. Instead, the ESRB has rated this one “Teen.” The game has received very high acclaim and is well liked by both teenage and adult gamers. Of course, you’ll probably want to have played Batman Arkham Asylum first, as this is a direct sequel. Again, this one is available on several platforms (even the upcoming Wii U sometime in 2012), but it plays best on the consoles.

Battlefield 3

This is one you’ll definitely want to get for the PC. As an online first-person shooter, the PC version offers the best controller options and server support. Even though it’s rated “Mature,” animated war-time violence and some strong language is as bad as the game gets (really more on the level of Arkham City). The Battlefield series has always been a fan favorite in the first-person shooter genre, and Battlefield 3 is no exception.

Don’t be afraid to get adventurous and wander over to our Video Game Section. There are hundreds of very highly rated games to give you great gift ideas, and be sure to keep an eye on our blog for even more great Holiday Helper guides to come.

Amazon.com’s Game Sale

While it’s not exactly a door buster, Amazon.com is having a huge sale on video games, buy one, get another game at 50% off. This includes some of the top rated game titles of the year, like Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (sure to be a best seller this holiday season), Modern Warfare 3, and Rage.

Sharp LC42B45U

While it’s certainly not the best HDTV available (and it is a bit out dated), Best Buy will be selling this 42-inch 1080p LCD TV for a mere $200. This will be one of the items that sells out fast. Remember, doors open at 12am on Friday.

Best Buy Laptops Sales

Another Best Buy door buster, the Samsung RV510 is a pretty capable 15.6-inch laptop with 4GB of RAM and 320GB hard drive. At just $300, it’s certainly a steal. There will also be a 15.6-inch Lenovo Ideapad G575 for $180. It’s a little less powerful, featuring only 2GB of RAM and a smaller 250GB hard drive, but the price is right.

Best Buy Camera Sales

Best Buy will have a handful of digital cameras on sale as well. The most popular will probably be the Canon PowerShot A3300 at $90; however, they EOS Rebel T3i will be marked down slightly, too. Sony’s NEX-5 will be only $500, which is a phenomenal price, though you may want to consider holding off for the NEX-5N instead.

Netgear WNDR3400

If you don’t make it in time for the door busters, the WNDR3400 is an excellent consolation prize, and Best Buy will have it for $60, USB wireless adapter included.

Target

Target is doing something a little interesting this year. Instead of cutthroat deals, Target’s sale prices are a little higher than you’d expect, however, many of its sale items include Target gift cards. For instance, they will be offering a Keurig K-Cup coffee brewer (a very popular item this year) at its usual $80, but it will include a $30 Target gift card. Other gift card combos include the iPod Nano and Beats by Dr. DreSolo Headphones.

Times Are Changing

If you’re not the type to camp out in the cold just for a chance at a killer deal, you’ll likely be happy to hear that many stores are changing the way they do their Black Friday sales. They still have their door buster specials, but the sales seem to get less impressive each year. Instead, many stores are opting to run their sales longer, but with less discounts. This means you can find a lot of Black Friday priced items often a week before Black Friday.

And don’t forget about Cyber Monday, the internet’s equivalent of Black Friday. Cyber Monday starts on the Monday immediately following Black Friday, but keep an eye out before then. Just like the brick and mortar stores, online stores sometimes like to start early.