It ’s hard to storm a gamer . Not just because they ’ve get the inborn reflex of a mongoose mainline Mountain Dew . But , more than any other tech aficionados , they ’re always on top of the late — the in style games , the late joke , the latest ironware . So shopping for gamers pose a couple of challenge : Finding something they ’ll like , plus finding something they do n’t have already or ( proficient ) have n’t even heard of . Here are a fistful of ideas for gift idea that may not have caught your favorite gamer ’s tending ( yet ) , from hot new title to a high - final stage graphics control panel that ’s this year ’s objet de drool for hardcore players .
Key : $ — gifts be between $ 0 and $ 30;$$—gifts cost between $ 31 and $ 200;$$$—gifts costing more than $ 200 .
The Mac ate my brain $$
$ 50;Aspyr Media
Some Bungie alums founded Wideload , and that heritage exhibit in the company ’s freshman effort , Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse ( publish for the Mac by Aspyr Media ) . You take control of a shambling zombi who can pull off his own arm to use as a remote - mastery weapon ; eating peoples ’ brains reanimates them as part of your own zombie horde . Violent and blinking , the game is also rife with dark humor ( call back Shaun of the Dead , not Dawn of the Dead ) . parent : check out the preview trailers before you gravel this one in a youngster ’s stocking.—Peter Cohen
Put on your rally caps $
Pricing not yet set;Feral Interactive
Rally auto racing — in high spirits - focal ratio racing on twisting on- and off - route trend — is huge overseas . Colin McRae Rally 2005 bring the excitement of the sport to the Mac . You ’ll read its ins and outs by participating in 300 stages of contention — through nine external locations and drive more than 30 dissimilar 2WD and 4WD vehicle from Volkswagen , Toyota , Mitsubishi , Peugeot , and others.—Peter Cohen
Play your cards right $$$
$ 400;ATI
When it comes to delivering fast , intense 3 - D graphics , this card is as effective as it get for Mac gamers justly now . Designed specifically for the Power Mac G5 , the ATI Radeon X800 XT Mac Edition features one dual - connection DVI connector and an ADC connector , so you could drive a 30 - in Apple Cinema HD Display and an older 23 - column inch Cinema HD Display side by side.—Peter Cohen
Pharaonic Fun $
$ 20;MacPlay
energizing puzzle games are nothing novel , butLuxor ( ) puts some novel variations on the subject by commix in a petty bit of ancient Egyptian mythology . longsighted trains of brightly colored sphere descend on grooved tracks through scene revolutionise by the terra firma of the pharaohs ; you make them vanish by play off the non-white sector in your own taw to what you see . habit-forming , fast paced , and beautiful , Luxor is fantastic for perfunctory gamers looking for something a flake different.—Peter Cohen
Consolation Prize $
$ 20;Mac Catz
Mad Catz makes peripherals for all the major gaming cabinet . Now it ’s making ironware for Mac gamers , too . ThePC Con ( ) looks and feels just like Microsoft ’s Xbox Controller S , with gel grips on the side , twin analog triggers underneath each index digit , two analog sticks within easy reach of your thumbs , and a four - way directional pad a short hop from your left thumb . The blister pack says the PC Con is Mac and PC compatible , but it does n’t embark with software system for either platform . However , Mac games that support accountant do pick out it.—Peter Cohen
Welcome to the Monkey House $$
$ 40;MacSoft
Zoo Tycoon 2 is that uncommon of critters : a strategy plot that ’s great for the whole family . You are the possessor of a zoo , and it ’s up to you to keep your beast happy and healthy by providing appropriate habitat , while also staff the car park and observe its installation well enough to keep pay off customers coming back for more . The game features 3 - five hundred graphics as well as different game modes ( including Zoo Guest , Zookeeper , and Photo Safari).—Peter Cohen
