Over the last two decades, video game culture has evolved from a distraction for children to a very common hobby for both children and adults. One reason for this is that many people who played video games while growing up in the late 1970s and 1980s have continued playing games into adulthood. Video game companies now create more complex games with more sophisticated plots to keep these adult gamers engaged. Another reason video games have grown in popularity is accessibility; now, anyone can play games on their phones while waiting in line or taking a break at work, and without investing money in an expensive gaming system. As of 2018, around 70% of Americans reported playing video games with the majority saying they usually play those games on their phones. And although the stereotypical gamer is male, studies show that 46% of all gamers in the United States are actually female. Video games’ increasing popularity has actually led to the development of collegiate and professional eSports leagues where players compete in tournaments to win millions of dollars. Intel has even invested in the Intel World Open, an eSports tournament that will be held in Japan as part of the lead up to the 2020 summer Olympics.
Given how popular video games have become, it’s likely that someone on your Christmas list is a gamer. Or maybe you’re a gamer looking to score deals during holiday sales, but you’re not sure what to invest in. TracSoft is here to help with our 2019 Holiday Gaming Guide. We’ve divided gifts into three price categories so you can find something fun and thoughtful regardless of your budget.
Inexpensive Gifts For Gamers
- Gaming Gift Cards – $10 and up
Some people may think gift cards are impersonal, but they are often welcome presents. Young gamers especially love the freedom to spend money the way they want to, and older gamers appreciate saving even a couple of bucks on something they’ve had their eye on. One word of caution – there are many online gaming stores like Steam or Origin, as well as console-specific stores like those from PlayStation and Microsoft. If you’re buying a gift card for a specific store, make sure it’s one your gamer uses. Gaming gift cards are available from many retailers, including GiftCard.com, BestBuy.com, and Walmart.com. - VicTsing Extended Gaming Mouse Pad – $13.99
Have you ever been working and had your mouse run off the edge of your mousepad? If so, that problem can be a thing of the past with VicTsing’s oversized mousepad. Measuring 31.5×15.75, this mousepad will cover much of your desktop, giving gamers plenty of space to maneuver. With a nonslip surface on the back and a waterproof surface on the front, this mousepad will provide a steady, clean surface to work on for years to come. - Stainless Steel Keycaps – $15.99
PC gamers are very familiar with the W, A, S, and D keys on their keyboards since these keys are often used for controlling characters’ movement. But in an intense gaming session, it’s easy for your hands to slip out of position, tripping you up. Fitlink’s stainless steel metal keycaps are the solution. Their smooth, cool feel helps players find those important keys again without looking away from the screen. And because they’re stainless steel, they’ll look great and resist fading no matter how many times they’re pressed. - Bluelounge CableBox – $27.98
Bluelounge’s CableBox is a great gift for anyone who hates cable clutter, gamer or not. Made from durable, flame-retardant plastic, this rectangular box houses all of your computer or gaming system cables. Simply plug the cable into an outlet and your device. Then slide the cable through the slots at either end of the box. Now gather the slack cable, dump it in the box, and say goodbye to the spider web of wires that was your entertainment center. - Controller Charging Dock – $12.00 and up
Most modern gaming systems come with wireless controllers. Although these controllers have decent battery life, they do need to be charged between gaming sessions. A great way to keep gaming chargers ready to go is to store them in a controller charging dock. When controllers are put away on the dock, the dock automatically charges them until they are removed. Besides helping gamers keep track of their controllers, they’re a great way to be ready for spontaneous play.
Mid-Range Gaming Gifts
- Swanwick Blue Light Glasses – $49 and up
From computers to TVs and tablets, screens are hard on human eyes for a number of reasons. One of the biggest problems with screens is the light they emit, which can interfere with our sleep cycles. This is especially bad considering that a large number of people unwind in the evenings by using their phones to scan the news, check social media, or play games. Swanwick glasses are designed to block the blue light from screens, helping our bodies produce the correct amount of melatonin needed for our sleep cycles to remain normal. They come in a number of trendy styles, with models designed for day or night use. - Anker Premium 60W 5-Port Desktop Charger – $49.99
If you’re shopping for a gamer, you’re likely shopping for someone who uses a number of devices throughout the day. All of those devices have to charge somewhere, and that somewhere should be an Anker 5-Port Desktop Charger. Anker is a widely-trusted brand that offers superior safety and charging speed, but the advantage to this particular charger is the number of ports it has. Your gamer will be able to charge all of their devices in one place at the same time while enjoying surge protection that offers peace of mind.
Top Gifts For Gamers
- AMD Ryzen 3600 – $199
If you’re really looking to impress your favorite hard-core PC gamer, look no further than the AMD Ryzen 3600 processor. Currently, this is the most advanced gaming processor available, offering 100+ frames per second for superior graphics and 6 cores with 12 processing threads for the fastest speeds on the market. You can find it as part of a bundle on Amazon, where it comes with the AMD Wraith Stealth cooler, a powerful but quiet fan to prevent overheating. This is one gift that is sure to take their gaming to the next level. - TP-Link AC3150 Wireless Router – $219.99
Today, many console games are played online. Even with a top-of-the-line gaming system, wifi lag can put gamers at a serious disadvantage, which is why the TP-Link AC3150 Wireless Router makes an ideal gift. With superior wifi speeds (up to 3150 Mbps), your gamer can enjoy smooth gameplay and seamless video streaming even with multiple devices connected.
While you’re shopping for your loved ones, don’t forget your business! Why not gift it a new website for the new year? TracSoft offers beautiful, affordable websites that can take your business to the next level. Customized to your company’s needs and optimized for mobile devices, our web design services take the work out of websites. Contact us today to find out more.
