How To Buy Videogames as Gifts

Buying videogames for other people can be complicated. There are so many different options - it's a bit like asking how to buy a book for a book reader. Nevertheless, it's easy if you follow these steps. Here's what to do.

1. Check what consoles your gamer owns. There are a lot of consoles available today, both handheld and TV-based. Ask your gamer (or their parents or friends) what consoles he or she owns.
2. Ask which games your gamer wants. When it comes to videogames, asking for a list is the best way forward. Games are very heavily branded. Even if you know the genre and console that your gamer prefers, you run the risk of buying from the wrong "franchise". Your average gamer is almost guaranteed to have a few specific titles that they are looking forward to playing. Make sure they tell you which console version they want. Games frequently come in different versions. A title on the Nintendo DS can be substantially different than its Xbox 360 counterpart.
3. Check which games are age-appropriate. Video games have ratings, just like movies. Not all games are appropriate for minors. If you're an adult buying for your own child, it's up to you to make the final decision on whether a game is appropriate. In the US video games are classified by the ESRB. In Europe, there's the PEGI system. You can search for the age ratings of every game and get more details on the rating system from their websites. If you're buying online, the age rating should be presented on the product page. In stores, you'll always find it printed on the game box.
4. Find out which game is considered the best. If you have a list of games with no order of preference, check how highly each game was reviewed. You can look them all up on the Metacritic website. This is a very useful site that aggregates reviews to produce an overall score for each game. The scores are generally a reliable indicator of how good a game really is. Games review sites tend to be generous with their points, so a score below 75 indicates that the game is not very popular among reviewers.
5. Buy the game. You can buy games online from most big sites like Amazon and eBay. There are also specialty video games stores. If you're buying video games for a minor, I suggest going to a specialty store and asking for a clerk to help out. They'll be happy to explain the ratings system and make recommendations from your gamer's wish list.

There you have it -- buying video games in five easy steps. Happy shopping!

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