For those already set up with a preferred game system, consider these essential peripherals to enhance the game experience.






Essential Wii Gear

iPig (Speakal) $139.99

Add some pearly white whimsy and beef up your Wii audio a little bit with the iPig, a self contained, toaster-sized, 25 watt 2.1 stereo sound system (w/built in 4" sub-woofer) that just so happens to look like a little pig -- it's "ears" are actually touch-sensitive volume knobs. Just look at the thing. It's sooooo cute. (www.speakal.com NOTE: enter "itsapigslife" as a coupon code for $35 off)


Essential PlayStation3 Gear

Starpex Guitar Controller (Peak) $179.99

Though jam-along games of fake guitar heroics are all the rage these days, watching anyone over the age of ten slinging a dinky, plastic, guitar-shaped controller around is just embarrassing. Enter the Peak Starpex, a full sized, authentic looking axe made of real wood (with color-coded buttons in lieu of strings, of course). Compatible with PS2 and PS3 and all the various Guitar Rock Hero Band games out there. Still doesn't make you a real musician, but looking the part is half (most?) the battle. (www.go-peak.com)


Essential PC Gear

SteelSeries Professional Gaming Gear (SteelSeries) $89.99 - $129.99

The best cost-conscience bet for the PC gamer on your gift list is a spiffy new game enhancing peripheral. Moreover, unlikely as it sounds, there is such thing as "professional gaming gear" specifically designed for PC pros -- people who make a living playing games (and earning six figures in many cases) -- and aspiring pros alike. SteelSeries is a popular pro gamer brand (and sponsor), with a line of killer hardware. The 5H v2 USB Headphones ($119.99) (shown) feature 7.1 virtual surround sound and retractable boom mic. The SteelSeries 7G keyboard ($129.99) sports 18K gold-plated, keenly responsive mechanical key switches. And/or the Ikari Laser Mouse ($89.99) boasts more high speed, precision laser tracking (40,000 samples per second!) than most users can handle. (www.steelseries.com)


Essential Xbox 360 Gear

CS-700 2.1 Home Theater with up-conversion DVD (Klipsch) $999.99

Though Xbox 360 can output 5.1 surround sound, the average living room is simply not conducive to wiring that way. Instead, considering buffing up your home audio with the stupendous CS-700 2.1 Home Theater from Klipsch. Better known for screaming-high end audio, Klipsch's CS-700 is all that plus an up-converting DVD player, which turns regular DVD movies into emulated high def movies. Jack Xbox 360's component cables into the AUX slots and it'll pump the HD into your TV while 2.1 game audio thrums out loud and proud. Nicer still, the CS-700 installs in minutes with just a pair of crystal quality speakers to stand or mount by the TV, then -- get this -- a wireless subwoofer than just plops down covertly in any old spot -- just plug the woof box into an AC outlet and you're good to go. (www.klipsch.com)

Alternative Essentials

PSP Component AV Cable (Sony) $19.99

Oft forgotten in the new generation of console wars is the PlayStation Portable (PSP), most obviously, because it's a handheld system.







Still, the latest generation PSP, the just-released "PSP-3000," sporting the likes of a more vibrant, higher contrast, anti-glare screen and a batch of other tweaks, is currently bundled with a game (Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters), a movie (National Treasure 2), a free downloadable game (voucher for Echochrome), and a 1GB memory stick for a scant $199. That's a heck of a deal for a sub-$200, slim-profile, self-contained, multi-media, mp3-playin', movie-watchin', Skype-callin', photo-viewin', web-browsin', wi-fi enabled, game system with a big mini-widescreen and removable/expandable memory options for play in the privacy of your palms.

However, PSP also just so happens to jack into an SD or HDTV by way of Sony's PSP Component AV Cable (compatible with slim-line PSP2000 and PSP300 only, not the original fat black PSP) where it will display it wares for all to see from the comfort of your couch. So really, a game/media console alternative for the home, plus a portable entertainment powerhouse all in one. (www.playstation.com)

Charge Stations / Charge Base 2 (Nyko) $34.99 - $39.99

Swapping out batteries on your console controllers can be annoying -- especially if you don't happen to have a fresh set of AAs on hand -- and the standard rechargeable-battery option doesn't always mean you'll have a full charge when you need it; you must swap out batteries or plug in a charger cord while playing.

Nyko offers a solution for each new generation console with Charge Station for Xbox 360 or Wii and the Charge Base 2 for PlayStation 3. In the latter case, a small form-fitting dongle plugs into the USB input on your PS3 controller (or a pair of them) that you can then plop into a charging cradle when not in use to fully charge or simply top up the controller's embedded battery. In the case of Xbox 360 and Wii, Charge Stations come with actual form-fitting batteries and housings that likewise let you plunk a pair of controllers for top-up or full charge so they're ready to go each time. In any case, Nyko's charging solutions also make for a tidy way to store controllers, too. (www.nyko.com)

Custom "Skins" (myTego) $10 and up

If you're stumped because that special someone on your list already owns more gamer gear and gadgets than you can count, skin 'em. That it to say, custom design a cover (or "skin") for their preferred hunk of hardware with myTego.

This site and service allows you to create one-of-a-kind wraps for nearly any device, game consoles, mobile paraphernalia, remotes, controllers, whathaveyous.

Pick from a variety of stock art and color swatches and/or upload your own designs, pictures, or portraits and myTego will turn them into form-fitted, sticky decals and mail them to you within 10 days.

Imagine your smiling mug staring up from their PSP, a favorite rock star on their Guitar Hero controller, a family portrait on their iPod or a "do your homework" sign glaring at them from the face plate of that spiffy new Xbox 360.

And you know they don't have one already, because you haven't made it yet. Get on that. (www.mytego.com)