Holiday Gift Guide for the Gamer That Has It All

We all know that type of gamer. The kind with an encyclopedic knowledge of everything cool that releases according to their interests. Obscure re-release of a Megaman figure from the 90s? They got it on pre-order. The collector’s edition of Kingdom Hearts 2.5 Remix? They have two copies – one unboxed, and the other for playing. These people may hold a dear place in our heart, but they’re a goddamn nightmare to shop for. Fret not! This here is a list of unconventional gaming gifts for those you love. Some may be more lucrative then others, but hey – some gamers really do mean the world to us. So stop your trek for the one gift to rule them all, and do some shopping from the heart (and wallet).

Protip: Gamers love giftcards for their platform of choice; Nintendo eShop, Steam Wallet, Microsoft Cash, Sony PSN Cards – none of these are ever a bad thing.

 

Boss Fight Books

An analytical look to one’s childhood

This kickstarter success got me giddy with excitement when I first learned about their creation. Boss Fight Books have published a series of books that take “a creative, critical, historic, and personal look at the titular game in question.” Their words, not mine.

Mostly meant for the nostalgic gamer or longtime gaming enthusiasts, these series of books tackle all sorts of classic games: Chrono Trigger, Earthbound, Galaga, Super Mario Bros. 2, and more! For an idea of what these books hold, imagine a conversation with a young kid who has a college literature-level vernacular, talking your ears off about the game they adored for their entire summer. The kid who only had enough money to buy one game for the entire year and played the hell out of it over and over, pouring over every detail, speculating upon every possible reason why something in the game happens, while warming your heart through some sort of real-life situation that parallels something in the game.

Plain and simple, if you or your loved one adores games. You cannot do wrong with this purchase. An analytical and critical approach to childhood.

The books can be found at Boss Fight Books official website, and are available in paperback and ebook versions.

Physical: $14.95

eBook: $4.95

Final Fantasy – The 3-6 Chambers

Wu-Tang Clan meets Nobuo Uematsu

The award for strangest album mix this year goes to super producer 2mello. This talented producer combined his love for rap and Super Nintendo Japanese Role-Playing games which culminated into the final piece of his SNES remix trilogy.

Final Fantasy – The 3-6 Chambers combines the beloved Final Fantasy VI (III – SNES) soundtrack with Wu-Tang clan’s masterpiece, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). This odd combination highlights the genius of the producer, and truly showcases his work as love for both mediums.

The eastern-mysticism inspired rhymes of the RZA, GZA, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon the Chef, U-God, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, and of course, the Ol’ Dirty Bastard are wonderfully complemented by Nobuo Uematsu’s compositions. Tonally, and lyrically, 2mello manages to weave a narrative throughout the album, detailing the rise and fall of the evil Kefka.

Check out 2mello’s bandcamp for a free download of the entire album. Also on his site, is his Chrono Trigger/Jay-Z mix, and his Castlevania/Nas mix.

 

Distant Worlds Tickets

Bring the gamer in your life to tears

Let me start off by saying this is not a gift for every gamer. But if the gamer in your life won’t shut up about anything related to Final Fantasy, then this is probably a safe bet. The distant worlds concert is an arrangement of music from various entries in the Final Fantasy franchise.

Force that gamer in your life to class it up a bit, dress up, and head out for a night in the town! Watch them revel in their childhood, and quite possibly, watch them be reduced to tears at witnessing the music they love, accompanied by scenes that made them famous in real-time.

The concert migrates all over the world, and ticket prices vary. Check the official site for more details.

 

Trip to Tokyo

A glimpse at the Robot Restaurant

Wait! Don’t close the page! Stick with me here. At an attempt to figure out the most lucrative gaming gift I could think of, I thought back to my trip to Tokyo. Go. The gamer in your life will be forever indebted to you.

If that someone special in your life is a gamer or into anime, or even into traveling, please go to Tokyo. Imagine wandering the warm Tokyo nights, gliding across narrow alleyways underneath gritty neon lights as you pass by six-story arcades, and hole in the wall ramen joints.

For fans of JRPGs or anime, Tokyo, Japan is mecca. Tokyo devotes entire districts to gaming and anime, and even if you’re not a fan, you may very well find yourself  looking into a few to dive into.

Trips to Tokyo sadly, are not cheap. Airfare alone will run you around $1,100 but you can expect discounted rates around mid-to late September, or late March, early April.

For a list of places to check out for the gamer in your life, take a gander here.