Games Christmas 2009 Teen Boys what to Buy
Ho! Ho! Ho! Ah yes, can you hear the fat man in the red jump suit sucking it in and putting packages under the Chrissie tree? Got no clue what to get your rebellious teen game loving boy for December 25th? No worries, here are 5 of the hottest games for platforms in 2009.
1. For the PC buff, which thinks Dungeons and Dragons as so 1990s you can't beat the phenomenon which is World of Warcraft. Also referred to as WoW, it is the biggest on-line role playing game in the world. Developed by Blizzard Entertainment WoW is played by over 11.5 million subscribers each with their own character to play. Individuals spend much of their time on quests which actively form the basis of the game play to develop a player's character. Characters gain skills, talents and professions in an interactive real-time community with other on-line gamers forming guilds and interactive social networks with common goals and interests such as carrying out specific duties to complete a quest. There are also battles, strategic and puzzle based activities and a 'rested bonus' system that encourages players to take a break from gaming by rewarding their character with a rate increase to gain experience points after the player has spent time away from play.
For Christmas there is the Battle Chest ($39.99) and includes both the World of Warcraft base sku and the Burning Crusade expansion pack, official Battle Chest strategy guides: one for Burning Crusade and one for WoW, game manuals, a WoW guest pass (14-day trial) and Blizzard catalogue or for the enthusiast that already has the game there is latest available extension pack, WoW: Wrath of the Lich King ($39.99) and includes the new continent of Northrend with new environments, including Dragonblight, Grizzly Hills, Borean Tundra, and Howling Fjord and new creatures which inhabit the icy continent, such as Nerubian Viziniers, Plague Eruptors, Shoveltusks and Flesh Giants. It is a constantly evolving series with the next expansion pack Cataclysm due for release in 2010.
2. For 17+ teen who love to role play and shoot, you can't go wrong with Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360): Release date November 10, 2009. Developed by Infinity Ward, published by Activision, it is the sequel to the best-selling first-person action game of all time, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare which has sold over 13 million copies and received a cross-platform score of 93.47% by GameRankings.com. The sequel is predicted to reach 7.8 million sales within the first week and the biggest game release of 2009. There are three forms of game play - campaign, special ops and on-line multi-player. The game is a first person shooter based on contemporary military campaigns and artillery simulating current strategic and tactical practices. The campaign mode includes campaigns in Afghanistan, Brazil, Kazakhstan and Russia. In Special Ops there is Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta with 3 levels of difficulty (regular, hardened or veteran) with either single or 2 player gaming to earn stars and unlock weapons, skills and new missions for characters. In the on-line version there is a new 15 different kill streak reward option, equipment and in-game host migration which lets a host leave a game without stopping the play. The game is being released for retail in 3 forms a) As the game alone for $59.99 b) As the Hardened Collector's Edition retailing at $79.99 and includes the game, a premium special edition steel bookcase with custom artwork and the 'Behind the Lines' art book featuring art from the game and c) As the Prestige Edition retailing at $149.99 and includes the game, fully functioning night vision goggles with up to 50 feet visibility in the dark, an individually numbered and engraved collectors stand, the premium special edition steel bookcase with custom artwork and the 'Behind the Lines' art book.
3. Now if your boy is more of a speed freak, who wants a head start on the open road then give Need for Speed: SHIFT ( PS3, PSP, PC, Xbox 360, iPhone OS, mobile download) a go. SHIFT is the 13th game in the Need for Speed series developed by Slightly Mad Studios and published by EA Games with 72 photo-realistic high performance cars including the Bugatti Veyron, Lamorghini Reventn, McLaren F1 and Pagani Zonda F. The game simulates first hand driving which can be adjusted to suit the gamers personal driving style with a new Driver's Profile and car modification abilities. They've even made crashing feel real with their Dynamic Crash Effect system. There are 19 tracks including roads in London and Tokyo as well as famous raceways such as Nordschleife. There are 50 ways to race with players evaluated on driving skill and performance to unlock new stages and to provide authenticity the developers enlisted the help of racing drivers Andrea Bertolini, Vaughn Gittin Jr, Tommy Milner, and Chris Rado for a series of films and to mimic the head movement, G-forces and physics on drivers as they race for the game to produce an active Heads-Up-Display. The game retails at $59.95 for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC and $39.95 for the PSP.
4. For Action, the hottest game in town is Batman: Arkham Asylum for 16+ years (PS3, Xbox 360 and PC). It's an over the shoulder third person perspective developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Eidos, Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment which finds the caped crusader hunting down the Joker and other felons such as The Riddler who have overthrown Arkham Asylum and placed Gotham City under bomb threat. The game uses three primary moves - attack, stun and counter though there are also some cool gadgets including the grapple gun, Batman's special x-ray visor and the Bat-Claw. Play progresses through collecting clues, puzzles, skill testing and combat based play. It holds the record for 'Most Critically Acclaimed Superhero Game Ever' and a Game Ranking of 92.08% across all platforms and retails for $59.99.
5. For soccer fanatics the best game to buy is FIFA Soccer 10 (PS2, PS3, PSP, Xbox 360, PC, Nintendo DS, Wii, iPhone OS, N-Gage and mobile download). Developed by EA Canada and published by EA Sports. The game is packed with features including a Virtual Pro mode that allows gamers to create their own footballer and guide him through Kick-Off, Tournament, Lounge and Manager Career modes. 50 stadiums are included with variable weather and time of day conditions to provide a real life environment to the game. With 41 National teams, 30 leagues and over 500 individual teams there is a club for everyone. With this new version EA have listened to their gamers and soccer lovers to provide the most authentic experience possible both on and off the field. Retail is $59.99 for PS3 and Xbox, $49.99 for Wii, $39.99 for PSP and $29.99 for the DS and PS2 versions.
Of course there are plenty more titles that will be out in the next few months and there are some great games that have been out for a while, this is just a quick reference of some of the most popular titles for teen boys based on reviews, game dynamics and interest level. However, whatever you decide is best for your son, brother, nephew, grandson or boyfriend make sure you know what games they already have. That way at least you have an idea of their taste and what they're most likely going to love, keep and play for the next 12 months. Happy holidays.
