By Jaye Sonia
Normally, I’d make my Giftmas suggestions in November, giving all of you plenty of time to go out or get online to buy said awesomeness. But this year, like thousands (and I’m being conservative when I use that number) of others, I got caught up in the Playstation 4 and Xbox One excitement. (I also got lost in Los Santos for a while, but that’s another story entirely).
So, what do you buy in such short notice? Here’s a quick list of suggestions:
Art – Wait, what? Did he just say? Yes, I said art. While it may not arrive by the end of the month, getting something special for the people you love should always be unique and thoughtful. So, while buying a new Xbox One or Playstation 4 might satisfy what’s on their list, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to get one of those immediately after the holiday rush and save some cash (which means either more games or more spending money). Why buy art? Well, there’s a thriving market for illustrations and nothing says, “I was thinking about you,” like getting your favorite geek turned into something from their favorite franchise – be it running from The Walking Dead or fighting villains besides their favorite superhero. If you’re interested in checking out artists, go no further than DeviantArt.com. There are hundreds of awesome illustrators that will, for a reasonable price, turn you into a hero! Or course, you can also just check out the print shop there as well.
Books – Obviously, I’m a fan of the written word. It should come as no surprise that when I learned about Q8 Bookstore, I got excited. Since Fajer Ahmed (over at 248AM.com) and bazaar (Oct 2013), already wrote about this, I’m just going to encourage you go check it out. From the pics I saw (I haven’t been yet, sadly), the space looks dangerously (and I say that because I’d spend far too much money there) like a Half-Priced Books (a book reseller chain famous in the U.S.). So, if you’re looking for something thoughtful and local, try this outlet. Hopefully they have a copy of the geek primer Geek Wisdom by N.K. Jemisin on their shelves!
Games – This wouldn’t be a G&G column if I didn’t mention something fun to play, so let me get to it! First up, we have the Monopoly version of The Walking Dead (yes, I just wrote that). Built around the classic Monopoly model, this board game allows you to build walls instead of buy houses. Of course, you may not want to use that ‘get out of jail free’ card if you find yourself in prison. Of course, because I still very much love my old school tabletop, I should remind you that the Pathfinder RPG released a beginner’s box back at the end of 2011 that is still, in my humble opinion, awesome. Of course, if you’re not into playing pretend or prefer card games, the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game is also an option for play! You can find both over at Paizo’s website.
Geeky Gear – Honestly, there’s not enough room on this page for me to list all of the cool things that qualify in my book as “geeky,” but I’ll make the attempt. If you didn’t know, this year is the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, so you can probably guess that all of those cool Whovian gifts – from replica sonic screwdrivers to TARDIS ice buckets – are bound to win. Of course, that’s assuming your favorite geek loves Doctor Who. If you were looking for something that isn’t tied to a specific franchise, I’d recommend the Geek Magnetic Poetry Kit for your friend’s fridge. You might also consider the DCI Pop Quiz Clock or any of the Marvel Comics retro bags and wallets – depending on what your geek happens to love.
Of course, it’s easy to buy things for people. The best gift of all, if you can swing it, is to be close to your favorite geek – which I recommend the most.
Well, that’s it for this season. Next month, I have a super big announcement for all of you! Until then, continue to be awesome geeks and gamers! And enjoy the holidays!
