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Christmas In July

Gift Guide For Gamers

It may be the furthest thing from your mind right now, but really good planners are already starting to get themselves ready for Christmas 2009. So put away your bikini and get ready to stuff some stockings with our holiday gift guide for the gamers in your life – from grade school to grandpa!

For Budget Buyers

If you’re sort of strapped for cash, give the gift of Free Realms (PC) by Sony Online Entertainment. With over 3 million registered users since its launch in April, Free Realms is a free-to-play virtual world that’s fun for gamers of all ages. Give the gamer in your life the Free Realms Trading Card Game or Sony Station Cash Gift Cards so they can access new, exclusive premium content.

Freaky Creatures (PC, MAC, Mobile Platforms) by Abandon Interactive combines the best of online multiplayer gaming, collectible action figures, virtual worlds and social networking. The experience begins with a starter pack that includes two action figures and a flash drive that unlocks the Freaky Creatures universe.

With the GameFly Gift Certificate give your gamer unlimited access to GameFly’s library of more than 6,000 titles for the PS3, PS2, Xbox360, Wii, DS, PSP and older consoles. Members can rent anywhere from one to four games at a time and keep them for as long as they like.

For Sporty Souls

If your gamer likes to play the field, look for Bass Pro Shops: The Strike (Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PC) coming out in September 2009 thanks to Griffin International. The Strike literally puts the fishing rod in players’ hands as they head out to their favorite hot spots. By combining advanced gameplay with an innovative, motion-sensing fishing pole controller, The Strike is quite the catch for gamers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

For golfers that prefer practicing their putting indoors, PANGYA: Fantasy Golf (PlayStation PSP) by TOMY lets players perfect their swing on the nine fantasy fairways of Pangya Island. Combining golf gameplay, endless customization options and a slew of sassy female characters, Fantasy Golf boasts an original storyline and beautiful environments.

For Girly Gamers

Diva Girls: Divas on Ice (Nintendo DS & Wii) by 505 Games is the perfect gift for the girl gamer. Featuring an all-new control system compatible with the Wii Balance Board, the Wii build allows players to compete in a 3-D environment with realistic skating steps in 14 arenas. In the DS build, players can swap outfits and accessories and compete against friends via Wi-Fi.

Fashion Week Junior: Designer (Nintendo DS), also by 505 Games lets players choose from four characters to take the fashion world by storm, earning fame, money and a rep fit for haute couture. The DS stylus controls the game’s 3-D tailoring tools, allowing players to sew, iron and accessorize their way to becoming the ultimate designer.

For Animal Activists

In Discovery Kids: Parrot Pals; Dolphin Discovery; Pony Paradise; Puppy Playtime; Kitten Corner (Nintendo DS) – a series by 505 Games – players raise, pamper and train their favorite animals.

For Fight Fans

IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, PlayStation PSP), available this September, lets players pilot fighters, battle planes or heavy bombers through WWII’s most famous aerial battles, set over stunning, incredibly realistic landscapes – from the patchwork fields of Southern England to the smoking ruins of Stalingrad.

NARUTO Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 (Nintendo Wii), new from TOMY this October, is an exciting new installment to the hit Clash of Ninja fighting game series. This classic 3-D fighting game features new and improved gameplay mechanics, multiple gameplay modes, and for the first time, Wi-Fi multiplayer functionality.

NARUTO Shippuden: Ninja Destiny 2 (Nintendo DS), available in September, follows the storyline of the popular anime series and showcasing the grown up, new look of Naruto and his friends. This 3-D fighting game will test players’ ninja skills through head-to-head matches on their quest to save their friendships.

NARUTO Shippuden: Ninja Council 4 (Nintendo DS) is set two-and-a half years after classic NARUTO series, fans will experience an all-new story, which introduces older characters and unfolds with copious plot twists. Players utilize the touch screen to unleash unique jutsu attacks and take on anyone that gets in the way.