Gifts for the many varieties of gamer in your life

By Devin Coldewey as written on techcrunch.com

For the cerebral gamer

Does your gamer like to use their synapses instead of their reflexes? (Or would you rather they did?)

The Witness is at once one of the simplest and most sophisticated games I’ve played in years — it caused me to doubt my own brilliance constantly, and my own sanity more than once. Not for those easily deterred or frustrated.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided may give you guns and fisticuffs, but you can also navigate its labyrinthine levels (and timely, if sometimes overreaching plot) with stealth and careful planning. It’s not a game to rush through, and the cerebral gamer will appreciate that.

For the competitive gamer

Do you often hear your gamer screaming “Oh my god! Get on the objective!” or “I need a heal!” or other strange utterances?

Battlefield 1 isn’t as different from the other war games as it would like you to think, but it’s still great fun and a nice break from the relentlessly modern multiplayer shooters we’ve had for years. The last time taking a zeppelin down was this much fun was probably Red Baron.

Titanfall 2 improves on the original’s combination of mechanized and on-foot combat in every way, with a tightly crafted single player campaign (a pleasant surprise) and Titanfall’s signature asymmetric multiplayer.

For the Overwatch gamer

Specifically, does your gamer say things like “We don’t need two Widowmakers!” or “Mei is bae”?

Millions play Blizzard’s mega-hit Overwatch, but comparatively few can bring themselves to pay for the “loot boxes” that contain cool skins for their favorite character and other bonus content, and come at an excruciatingly slow pace from in-game progress. You can’t gift boxes directly, but a Battle.net gift card will surely not go unappreciated.

For the intense gamer

Does your gamer like visceral experiences and in-depth combat?

DOOM is a fun and frantic return to form for the series, alternating between very fast-paced action and careful exploration. It doesn’t take itself seriously, instead focusing on the thrill and satisfaction of movement and power.

Shadow Warrior 2 combines slick combat with piles of loot, dozens of weapons, and levels that are different every time you play. It’s rough around the edges and the humor is juvenile to say the least, but the core gameplay is a blast. Fun for co-op, too, so buy a copy for yourself if it sounds fun.

Bonus: The inscrutable, terrifying, and bargain-priced Devil Daggers will take any overconfident intense gamer down a notch. Personal guarantee.

 

For the indie gamer

Does your gamer disdain the biggest releases, opting instead for titles created by a handful of people in Denmark?

Inside is a haunting, beautiful, and incredibly well made puzzler/platformer that tells a powerful story without speaking a single word. Warning: Despite appearances, it can be quite quite brutal!

Owlboy, ten years in the making, is a loving throwback to the days of the wide-ranging retro action-adventures like Super Metroid and Symphony of the Night. Anyone looking for a throwback will be well served by this passion project.

Bonus: If they didn’t already get it, Stardew Valley is a must-have.

For the world-dominating gamer

Does your gamer like to think about ways to take over the planet?

Civilization 6 is the only thing such a gamer needs right now. If they already have it, buy a copy for yourself and play with them. Beware: Civ games are notorious time sinks, so be ready to squander hours at a time.

For the disaffected Minecraft gamer

Does your gamer love to dig and build, but is getting tired of digging and building in the world of Minecraft?

Dragon Quest Builders is a surprisingly successful marriage of the blocky construction gameplay of Minecraft with the usual Dragon Quest adventuring. It hits a note Minecraft clones often fail to, and makes harvesting and building things its own reward.

Terraria and Starbound started as very Minecraft-like games in 2D, but have each evolved into their own unique experiences with loot, bosses, and secrets — though you’ll definitely be doing a lot of digging and building too. They’re both excellent games with active communities, so pick whether you like to go far above or deep below the surface, buy a couple copies, and go exploring.

For the role-playing gamer

Does your gamer appreciate stories that take upwards of 30 hours to complete?

Final Fantaxy XV is — apart from the remake of FFVII — probably the most anticipated title yet in the long-lived JPRG series. Whether it can live up to its years of hype we’ll soon find out, but we’re sure it’s going to be epic and at least pretty awesome, and everyone will want to play it anyway.

Tyranny is in the “Western” style of RPG, but brings freshness to the venerable genre with an unusual story that makes the player’s actions more than trivial. Hard moral decisions ahead, but for people who like playing evil or chaotic characters, this game will be a

Bonus: Persona 5 is… not coming out until April. But people are already going nuts and early reviews of the Japanese version are effusive. It’s going to be amazing. Full disclosure, I’m mainly putting this here so someone in my family will see it and buy it for me.

Happy Father's Day! 10 Tech Gifts for Dad on Father's Day

Below is a list of Top Ten Tech Gifts for Dad on Father's Day posted by HUFFPOST LIVING.

1. HP Spectre x360 Convertible PC -- Dad will have a blast with this notebook-slash-tablet on a cool 360º hinge! He can tent the PC to give presentations, lay it down flat to do push-ups over top of it, or fold it in half like a sandwich to increase the thickness of the tablet. Price tag: $1,429.99.

2. Apple Watch -- Starting at $449 is the Apple Watch Sport, however: it requires an iPhone 5 (or later) and an iOS 8.2 (or later). Dad will delight in the retina display with force touch, heart rate sensor, accelerometer and gyroscope...and more. Have a bigger budget? This Apple Watch Edition in 18-karat gold sells for $22,000!

3. Beats Pill Speakers by Dr. Dre -- For $219.95, dad can rock out to his favourite tunes with these rechargeable speakers by Dr. Dre. He can pair and play with his Bluetooth-enabled device (up to a 30-foot range), enjoy surprisingly big sound, and power additional devices with USB charge out. Portable for the beach, cottage, or dad's workshop -- score!

4. Toronto Blue Jays Season Tickets -- If dad is a big sports enthusiast, purchase 500-level season tickets to the Jays for $810. Want a better view? Prices for 200-level outfield are $1,863 -- with "In the Action Seats" priced at $17,010.

5. Hammacher Schlemmer Plug-in USB Wall Outlet -- For the dad looking for an easy way to charge his smartphone, get him a Plug-in USB wall outlet, cost $39.95 USD. This AC wall outlet includes two built-in USB ports. Price is for a set of two.

6. Brookstone Self-Setting Alarm Clock -- As the owner of two Brookstone alarm clocks which have lasted for years, I'd recommend one for your dad. I love the large-display numerals that are easy to view without eyeglasses, and how it self-sets during daylight savings time. Price tag: $21.99 USD.

7. The Sharper Image Video Camera Drone -- Take dad's love for videography to new heights with this Video Camera Drone with LED lights. Dad will have a hoot downloading aerial footage and photos -- and can even pilot the drone at night! Price tag: $249.99 USD.

8. Spy Museum Store Mini Laser Flex Torch -- If dad enjoys a game of cloak and dagger, this mini laser flex torch is a score for $10 USD. Featuring a laser pointer with an 800-metre range, dad can see the "enemy" around corners. Super-bright 400mcd LED has practical applications too: like automotive engine repairs.

9. Ninja Wallet 18-in-1 Multi-Tool -- This cool 18-in-1 flat multi-tool is a great Father's Day gift for the practical dad. It's only the size of a credit card, and yet it's a bottle opener, screwdriver, cellphone stand, can opener, fruit peeler, box opener and more. Advertised on daily deal sites for $15.

10. MEC Onsite Money Belt -- For dads who travel and like to keep their cash safe, snatch up this MEC belt for $8.75. On the outside, it looks like an ordinary belt, but a discreet zipper opens on the inside panel to keep cash hidden from view.
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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/jenna-em/tech-gifts-fathers-day_b_7615672.html