We continue the holiday gift giving with the theme of video games. Whereas button-mashing games left you numb, the emphasis of social gaming is in getting off your butt.

The Nintendo Wii has made video game playing truly enjoyable for everyone. Control your character with the Wii-mote motion-controller that responds to gestures and arm movements. Want to play a round of golf? Grab that Wii-mote, keep your arms straight and swing! Create a Mii profile that looks like you and immerse yourself in the action. Your profile is stored in the controller so you can move your Mii to a friend's Wii and continue the adventure. Plug an SD card from your camera into the Wii and start a slideshow. The graphics aren't as fancy as the PS3 or XBox 360, but you won't even notice with all the fun you're having. The Wii is the no-brainer game system from the big three in console-makers. You absolutely need to buy one.

Guitar Hero 2 makes music where GH1 left off. The song selection is vast, but unfortunately, that doesn't mean better. The improvements to GH2 are in game-play. In Training mode you can slow down songs to practice those really difficult riffs or team up in Multiplayer and make sweet, sweet music together.

Want to perform a guilt-free Guitar Hero duet with no strings attached? Buy the Guitar Mania wireless guitar controller. Guitar Mania let's you walk freely into an audience of adoring groupies and back to the fridge without missing a shred. The Freedom V shape shows you're serious and will inspire you to write on your jean jacket all over again.

View a Quicktime Video of the Nintendo Wii segment.
View a Quicktime Video of the Guitar Hero 2 and Guitar Mania segment.



Kevin Hnatiuk