Ah yes, it’s that time again. The change in season brings with it the annual San Franciscan tradition of overstuffed turkeys and roast duck, Union Square parking madness, freedom from school and a much lighter bank account. But no need to fret! AsianWeek is here to help you choose the best gifts for those gamers and techies in your life. All of our gift choices have been tested and quality assured, and come in at a price under $150, leaving room in your account to pick up some fruitcake and Godiva chocolate for the loved ones you don’t know what to give.
GAMES
AW Game Staff’s First Choice:
1. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Why do you think we have 31 items and not a round number like 30 or 40? Because the AsianWeek game staff unanimously voted Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time as our number 1 game on our wish lists (well, except for sports-head Steve)! Easily one of the best games of the year, Ubisoft’s epic adventure plunges you into a world of massive castles and the trap evading antics of the titular Prince of Persia. Marvel at the nimble acrobatics of the Prince, fight hordes of demons with agile moves that would put the Matrix cast to shame and best of all, a new game mechanic for the year: Time is yours to control with the push of a button. Freeze time, slow your enemies to a crawl, and for the perfectionist in us all, rewind your actions to correct your many mishaps. A mus! play for the Holiday Season. Platforms: Xbox, GameCube and PlayStation 2 Developer: Ubisoft Publisher: Ubisoft Price: $49.99
ZACH MESTON
2. Midway Arcade Treasures
A budget-priced collection of more than 20 classic games from the Golden Age of Arcades in the early 1980s, when we wore neon-colored pants and 12 pounds of hairspray and we liked it. Show respect to the old school, dawg! (May I call you “dawg”?)
Platforms: Xbox, GameCube, PlayStation 2
Developer: Digital Eclipse
Publisher: Midway
Price: $19.99
3. Eye Toy
This motion-tracking USB digital camera turns you into the “star” of a dozen very goofy mini-games that you play by flailing around like a spastic baboon, thus providing endless amusement for a family room full of spectators. You can also record brief, and undoubtedly perverted, video clips to a PS2 Memory Card.
Platform: PlayStation 2
Developer: Sony Europe
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Price: $49.99
4. Xbox Music Mixer
This multitalented program lets you transfer MP3s and JPEGs from your PC to your Xbox, organize your tunage with a powerful soundtrack manager, trip out with a psychedelic music player, and sing karaoke with an included microphone and fancy-schmancy vocal-stripping technology. It’s everything your Xbox should already be able to do!
Platform: Xbox
Developer: Microsoft
Publisher: Microsoft
Price: $39.99
5. Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
While this game isn’t quite exciting enough to justify the use of dual exclamation points, it’s definitely the best kart-racing game in a decade, and the best GameCube title of the season. Owners of the GameCube’s hard-to-find broadband adapter can engage in an eight-player/two-TV orgy of karting chaos.
Platform: GameCube
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Price: $49.99
KAISER HWANG
2. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Knights of the Old Republic is a third-person role-playing game set thousands of years before Episode I. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be any light saber battles or epic space skirmishes — there are plenty. The game also offers an incredible amount of value through its spectacular branching gameplay; over the course of the game, players will have to make moral decisions that will ultimately effect how the story line plays out. With almost 100 hours of gameplay and a script that rivals the last two Star Wars movies, Knights should keep you enthralled until its inevitable sequel.
Platform: Xbox, PC
Developer: BioWare
Publisher: LucasArts
Price: $49.99
3. Wireless-G Adaptor
Everyone hates wires so why not get rid of them? Microsoft’s Wireless-G Adaptor for the Xbox lets you do just that. With support for both 802.11b and 802.11g wireless networks, you can finally throw that troublesome Ethernet cable out the door.
Platform: Xbox
Manufacturer: Microsoft
Price: $139.99
4. Wario Ware
One of the quirkiest titles of the year, Wario Ware is essentially a compilation of about 200 mini-games. The catch is that you only have a few seconds to complete each one. It may sound a bit iffy on paper, but play it once and we promise you’ll be hooked.
Platform: Game Boy Advance
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Price: $34.99
5. Game Boy Player
Even though Game Boy games are made for portability, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t play them on your television. The Game Boy Player lets you play any existing Game Boy title without having to worry about batteries, lights or even the small controls. We love it.
Platform: GameCube
Manufacturer: Nintendo
Price: $49.99
ANDREW SEDGWICK
2. Sony Network Adaptor
Not online yet? Then get ready to have your gunfights, car races and sports matches with the hordes of eager gamers waiting to match wits with you. Even supports your current ISP, as well.
Platform: PlayStation 2
Manufacturer: Sony
Price: $49.99
3. Cy Girls
Intense run-and-gun action, a slice of stealth ninjitsu on the side, with a touch of anime styling to give it that extra flair. A title easy to overlook, but worth playing.
Platform: PlayStation 2
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Price: $39.99
4. Deus Ex 2: Invisible War
Deus Ex was an atmospheric, futuristic, intensely customizable game experience. Half RPG, half shooter, part two promises more of the same, but much deeper and graphically improved. Open-ended gameplay at its best.
Platform: Xbox, PC
Publisher: Eidos Interactive
Developer: Ion Storm
Price: $49.99
5. DragonBall Z: Budokai 2
Like DragonBall? Like fighting? Let the fireballs, fusions and fisticuffs ensue. Environments explode, characters merge and everyone flies.This cel-shaded fighter should provide some over the top satisfaction for Christmas for everyone.
Platform: PlayStation 2
Publisher: Atari
Developer: Dimps
Price: $49.99
JENNIE SUE
2. Amped 2
What better way to gear up for your next snowboarding expedition than with mental preparation? So realistic, you can feel the wind blowing in your face (try picking up the Air Flo EX controller with this, and you’ll really feel the wind)!
Platform: Xbox
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Microsoft
Price: $49.99
3. Beyond Good & Evil
Jade is a photojournalist on a mission to expose the truth and conspiracy hidden by planet Hyllis’ government. Along with her swine friend Pey’J, she traverses the planet taking photos of government secrets and documenting wildlife throughout the planet. She also deals a fair share of ass-kicking throughout. Amazing graphics and mini-games scattered throughout, this is a great pick for the season. Besides, we think she’s Asian Pacific American, too, but Ubisoft won’t confirm …
Platform: PlayStation 2
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft
Price: $49.99?
4. Air Flo EX controllers
Get your mitts on something cooler and drier. While tackling your opponent in the best match ever, don’t let that controller slip out causing extreme lameness in a well-fought game. The Air Flo EX controllers have a built-in fan that cools your hands, preventing any form of sweat and leakage … that sounds lovely.
Platform: PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube
Manufacturer: Nyko
Price: Xbox: $29.99, PS2: $24.99
STEVE DRUMWRIGHT
1. NHL 2004
Maybe it is because it is hockey season or maybe it is because hockey translates so well to the world of video games, but I can’t take this title out of my PlayStation 2. Having been an avid player of this title, this edition takes a step up with Dynasty mode, where you become the general manager of a team, make trade decisions, sign a free agent and make sure your owners are happy with the bottom line. As for gameplay, the fast pace of the real NHL becomes even faster in the video game. My biggest complaint is that passing has become very difficult.
Platform: PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC, GameCube
Developer: EA Sports
Publisher: EA Sports
Price: $49.99
2. ESPN College Basketball 2K4
ESPN has finally taken headline status (over publisher Sega) with video games in the past few months and College Basketball 2K4 is more in-depth than previous hoops titles. From the Legacy mode — where you can recruit blue-chippers or guys who will stay four years, set your favorite school’s schedule and hire assistant coaches — to figuring out which gimmick defense you want to use, this brand has taken a nice step up.
Platform: PlayStation 2, Xbox
Developer: Visual Concepts
Publisher: Sega
Price: $49.99
3. ESPN NBA Basketball 2K4
OK, so you may notice a bit of a bias here. I am an ESPN junkie — but when an organization does quality work (most of the time), you tend to tune others out. While the college game has its drawing card, the pro game dazzles with individuality. Where else can someone under 6-foot tall pretend they are 7-foot-5 Yao Ming? NBA 2K4 came out after the college version, so gameplay has been improved.
Platform: PlayStation 2, Xbox
Developer: Visual Concepts
Publisher: Sega
Price: $39.99
4. Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain
It is only fitting that I choose this game this week as I took in my first World Wrestling Entertainment event, Smackdown!’s visit to HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Who wouldn’t want to be Brock Lesnar giving Big Show an F-5? Wrestling games come out more often than quarterly reports, but Here Comes the Pain presents pretty much any type of match you can think of — even the famed Torrie Wilson bra-and-panties match!
Platform: PlayStation 2
Developer: Yuke’s
Publisher: THQ
Price: $49.99
5. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004
If Eldrick endorses it, it must be good (just ask Phil Mickelson about Tiger’s clubs). The best part of this game is creating your own player to compete against Woods and the other pros. Unlike reality golf, you can save a bad shot by applying spin in mid-air. There are also some nifty side games.
Platform: PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube
Developer: EA Sports
Publisher: EA Sports
Price: $45.94
TECHNOLOGY
HARRY KWAN
1. Jens of Sweden MP-110
128Mb MP3 Flash Memory Player
Little thicker than a flash drive, this beautiful MP3 player is the ultimate in cross-functional devices. Plug into the USB port and it shows up as a temporary drive without any software required. Drag and drop MP3s right in and load up to 30 songs or any data for storage. Battery? We don’t need no stinkin’ battery! MP-110 charges straight from the USB port for 14 hours of play! Plug in the earphone-integrated neck lanyard and grin to inspiring sound quality. While the minimalist controls are confusing at first, they access a wide range of functions including voice memo, equalizers, file manager, FM radio and even FM audio recording!
2. Saitek Cyborg Evo
PC Flight Control Stick
The best looking PC control stick on the market belies its price tag with enough features to stay ahead of any game and enough adjustability to satisfy the ergonomics of any hand. www.saitekusa.com, $39.95
3. I-River SlimX 550
CD/MP3 Player
Play WAV, MP3, or WMA audio files from standard CD’s in the industry’s smallest and sleekest player. With an impressive 32 minutes of anti-skip play, it’s built to play hard too. www.iriver.com, $147
4. Sony CliÈ PEG-SJ22
PDA, Palm OS
Compact, stylish, functional, Sony quality. What else can you ask for in a gift? How about the best price for a PDA with a high-quality color screen? www.sony.com, $149
5. Timex Ironman Bodylink
Heart Rate Monitor/Sport Watch
The ultimate training tool for tackling the New Year’s resolution. Bodylink is the heart rate monitor and sport watch package that forms the foundation for a three-sensor system recording performance, speed and distance. www.timex.com, $125
ALEXANDER S. GRUNDNER
1. PRISMIQ MediaPlayer
If you ever wanted to view your PC’s video, music and photo files on your home entertainment center, then the PRISMIQ MediaPlayer is the device for you. The PRISMIQ MediaPlayer is currently the most popular, highly awarded networked media receiver on the market. Reason being, it can handle a variety of popular digital audio/video formats, it has an easy-to-use user interface to manage your media files, and can be upgraded with new features at no cost over the Internet. www.prismiq.com, $249.95
2. SnapStream Personal Video Station 3
SnapStream has got to be the best personal video recording (PVR) software available. It lets you record and time shift television shows like a TiVo, but also gives you control over which format you want to record in (MPEG-2, WMA, DiVx); as well as, how you want to view your videos: TV, PC, Pocket PC or on another PC connected to the home network. www.snapstream.com, $79.99
3. Rhapsody
Internet Radio Service
Even though Rhapsody is an online music download service ($9.95 per month for streaming/Internet radio and access to the song download/CD burning features), they also offer a great Internet Radio service ($4.95 per month) that not only lets you listen to unique, genre-based Internet Radio stations, but gives you full access to stream its entire collection. www.listen.com, $4.95 per month
4. D-Link DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G Wireless Router
For the people who haven’t made the jump to wireless, because they love the speeds they get from Ethernet, the DI-624 is the fastest, most affordable wireless router you can buy. At speeds of up to 108Mbps, comparable to 100Mbps Ethernet, the DI-624 is a speed demon that will stream your digital music, photo and most importantly large, band-width intensive video files wirelessly with no hesitation. www.dlink.com, $95.99
5. D-Link DWL-G650 AirPlus Xtreme G Cardbus Adapter
Of course, if you are going to get the D-Link DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G Wireless Router, you are going to need its accompanying Cardbus Adapter. Side note: all AirPlus Xtreme products are backwards compatible with industry standard 802.11b/g products. www.dlink.com, $49.95