GWENT: The Witcher Card Game | Midwinter

GWENT, the digital trading card game based on the Witcher series, is also receiving a large holiday update. Much like the previous Fortnite update, it is more that the GWENT update also happens to be a holiday update than the fact that it is specifically a holiday update.

While it is technically based on the in-universe holiday of Midwinter, the over 100 new cards as well as a plethora of smaller tweaks for the user experience and a host of balancing changes for various cards shows its hand; this is a major update.

Here's a list of some of the many changes:

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• Over 100 new cards, many with new, never before seen abilities
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• A daily quest system, because what persistent experience would be complete without one of these?
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• A new deck builder/ card replacement screen
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• Better visuals and card animations
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• Increased milling values for a lot of cards (specifics found here) for the 3 days following the release of the patch, which means it should run from December 19 to December 21.
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• And many more small additions. 
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That's all (for now), folks! There's plenty of other games in the woodworks that we're keeping an eye on whose devs have not announced clear plans, so be sure to check back often to see if any of your favorite titles are having holiday celebrations worth returning for. 

Fortnite- Survive the Holidays

Both Fornite's traditional format and its seemingly more popular Battle Royale mode, are receiving some obligatory holiday updates as well. There are significantly less substantial updates for the Battle Royale mode, so let's get them out of the way first. 

Battle Royale Mode

Battle Royale is seeing some new, albeit temporary, additions, like the snowball grenade launcher and the battle bus. There will also be emotes added in for your emotional expression enjoyment.

Save the World Mode

There are honestly a ton of various additions, small and large, to the Save the World Mode, so if you want to see them all, then check out the link. Otherwise, some of the highlights are below.

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• There is a whole new event centered around the Holiday Survival update. working your way through said event promises to reward you with a ton of goodies. 
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• Mini-bosses have been significantly upgraded. There are new variants of the Husk, Husky and Smasher. And you can also find them in a wider variety of modes. Along with their increased difficulty, there are new and improved rewards for successfully defeating them.
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• Survive the Storm now has 3-day and 7-day variants. There's also a new winter-themed map. You can also expect mini-bosses to drop on days 3 and 7.
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• 4 new holiday-themed heroes: \n
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  • Sarah Claus: Alchemist.
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  • Blitzen BASE Kyle: Warden
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  • Snow Stalker Jonesy: Demolisher
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  • Fragment Flurry Jess: Reclaimer
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• New Weapons\n
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  • Including 3 Wintery Weapons:\n
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    • Ralphie's Revenge: a low damage, high crit multiplier sniper rifle
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    • Frostbite: water sniper rifle that gets headshot streak bonuses
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    • Snowball Launcher: Snowballs ensare enemies in their tracks.
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  • And a new set of "vacuum tube" weapons that use energy cells to deal nature damage, ie electrical damage with stunning effects, including:\n
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    • Sniper Rifle, Auto Pistol, Revolver, Assault Rifle, Shotgun, Ball Lightning Launcher
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    • Axe, Sword, and Spear
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• You can also now upgrade your heroes' rarity.
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World of Warcraft- Feast of Winter Veil

Yes, dear folks. It's time to talk about the infamous MMORPG World of Warcraft and their Winter Veil characters that are legally distinct from traditional Christmas characters by being combinations of said characters, like Greatfather Winter, who is definitely not Grandfather Time and Santa combined. Or the Abominable Greench, who is definitely not a combination of Bigfoot and Dr.Seuss' Cat from How the Cat Stole Christmas!

Quests

For this holiday season, WoW has a handful of various quests to help keep you busy in addition to the other stuff you might have going on in-game. 

Winter Veil Bosses

Throughout Azeroth, there will be bosses that are also in the holiday spirit. Beating these bosses with their special hats will give you access to their hats forever. That's right folks, you can have these chintzy holiday hats forever!

Greatfather Winter Needs Cookies and Milk

Greatfather Winter has been very busy and due to the amount of busy he has been, he needs a lot of milk and cookies. And he's recruiting you-- from Ironforge or Orgrimmar-- to go and get them for him.

Smookywood's Pastures and the Case of the Missing Shipment

A shipment has gone missing, suspected of being stolen. All we have to go on currently are rumors of Abominable Greench sightings.

Metzen Kidnapped

Metzen to reindeer has been kidnapped. The jinglepocket goblins in Ironforge and Orgrimmar have been contacted by the kidnappers, so seeking them out first should be your #1 priority.

Entertainment

There are also several special holiday treats added for your entertainment:

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• The Smokywood Pastures goblins have created Wintervolt machines that can change your character's colors for up to 30 minutes. What color you'll receive is anyone's guess. It's not a glitch, it's a feature.
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• Innkeepers have surely all gotten in the holiday spirit. Maybe kissing under the mistletoe will cause something special to happen...
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• Where you find Santa Greatfather Winter you too are also sure to find his legendary snowmen compatriots. 
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• Early on December 25th, coincidentally the same day as Christmas in our world, the Smokywood Pasture goblins will be busy rewarding all the adventurer's with presents underneath trees throughout the land. But you best hurry, no one's names are written on them. First come, first serve.
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And More!

In addition to all of the above quests and various interesting rewards. There will be pets, toys, consumables, recipes, and achievements. For a full list of everything you can expect, check here. 

Header obtained from Nachomolina.

Paladins

Unlike many of the games on this list, Paladins' holiday content is relatively meager. But it's the holiday season and developers seem to feel obligated to make holiday content for their persistent world games. So let's see what we've got.

Evie's Merry Mayhem Sale

First, each day from December 19 to December 26 will have a different chest on sale. Sadly, the devs are keeping the "chest of the day" a secret until the day it's actually available and the page where its supposed to be updated hasn't been done in a timely manner. With that being said, I'd suggest just checking out the in-game store.

Paladin Holiday Calendar

Paladins is also having a so-called "Holiday Calendar". Each day on their official Twitter account they will post a new link to a new trivia question. Answering the trivia question properly will enter you into a raffle to be one of a handful of people that can earn that particular day's reward.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Blazing

You might be saying to yourself,"Wait, I didn't know they celebrated Christmas in leaf village." Well, quit asking questions, because there are cute child versions of Sasuke and Itachi and you don't want them to get taken awake just because of your needless questions, do you? 

Login Bonuses

Over the course of the event, which ends on December 30th, there will be login bonuses of ninja pearls, ramen, and scrolls.

Summoning Banner

The aforementioned child Sasuke and Itachi dressed in Christmas costumes will be available in their own summoning event until December 25.

Impact Mission

There will also be a new Impact mission called "Impact! The Moon Goddess” featuring Kaguya Otsutsuki. Based on the epic battle from the anime, this event will run until January 11. After clearing all of the associated stages, you will be able to get “Kaguya Otsutsuki/ Founding Goddess★5”.

The “Blazing Festival Haru&Rai” will also be running until December 29 and will feature “Sakura Haruno/Sheer Diligence” and “Kakashi Hatake/Entrusted with Hope” both of whom are potentially useful units in the aforementioned Impact Mission.

Training Grounds: NEW PvP Mode

A new PvP mode, called Training Grounds, will be added to the game, which will allow you to play against your friends.

50 Free Ninja Pearls

Lastly, if you want some free ninja pearls, then you can like the associated Facebook post and rake in all of the pearls once, or if, it hits 20k.

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp- Holiday Event

Animal Crossing is a series that is all about lowkey interactions. You live your life, make friends, build up a house. It's somewhat mundane by the bombastic, power fantasy standards that most games adhere to. And it's for this reason that Animal Crossing's somewhat simple holiday events are befitting.

Holiday Furniture

First, there will be holiday furniture that you can craft for your humble abode. This furniture can only be made during the event, which runs until December 26th, and requires the use of candy canes. Candy canes can be obtained by fulfilling the requests of your Animal Campers, or by playing shovelstrike. Don't worry about the end date, however, as long as you start crafting your furniture prior to the 26, then you will be fine.

You can craft:

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• Festive bow tree
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• Three ball snowman
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• Jingle fence
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• And more!
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Santa Wardrobe

You can also unlock different pieces of a Santa outfit wardrobe by completing timed goals. The first piece, a Santa hat, will be unlocked merely by logging into the game during the event. The other pieces you must unlock:

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• Santa Coat
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• Santa Skirt
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• Santa Pants
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• Santa Boots
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Fire Emblem Heroes - Winter's Envoy

To celebrate the holiday season, Fire Emblem Heroes is bringing a new, holiday-themed banner that features a quartet of characters from Fire Emblem Awakening: Lissa, Chrom, Male Robin, and Tharja. All of whom are armored characters in Holiday theme garb.

The banner brings along with it the usual daily orb login bonus that lasts for 10 days until the banner ends on January 1st. There is also a trio of paralogue missions that are available on all 3 difficulties with each rewarding an orb. Lastly, there will be special missions available for each of the lunatic versions of the paralogue missions, with each rewarding an orb. All in all, via missions and login bonuses there are a total of 25 orbs up for grabs. 

Destiny 2's- The Dawning

Running from December 19th to January 9th, Destiny 2's event starts and ends later than many of its peers. In this yearly winter-themed holiday festival that heralds in the new year, there will be a number of different in-game items you can obtain to help put you in the holiday spirit.

Snowballs of War

In the Tower and the Farm, there will be snowballs scattered around which you can tag your friends with. In Strikes, these same snowballs can be used to stun enemies and deal damage.

It's Mayhem in The Crucible

The popular Crucible mode, first introduced in Destiny 1's The Taken King expansion, is seeing a return. This mode has abilities recharging much faster and makes kills and other actions worth more points. It's unclear whether or not Mayhem will be sticking around after the holiday event is over.

Holiday Shopping

Each of the 3 weeks of the event, Tess will have new Dawning themed items. Over the course of the event, all of the exotic Dawning themed items-- ships, ghost, sparrow, emote-- and every Dawning-themed legendary armor piece will be available at her store.

Other Goodies As Well

There will be milestones you can accomplish during the Dawning for both strikes and the Crucible's Mayhem mode.

There will also be new consumables that give boosts to everyone else you are playing with.

You can also pick up a Dawning gift schematic from the Bazaar. Crafting and gifting said schematic can give you a number of potential gifts in return. You can repeat this daily. 

League of Legends Snowdown

Runs from December 13 to January 1. 

Champion Skins

There are going to be 3 new champion skins: Ambitious Elf Jinx, Santa Draven, and Snow Fawn Poppy. Each one will set you back 1350 RP.

Naughty or Nice Missions

There are also Naughty or Nice mission variants that will be available during the Snowdown Showdown event. These missions will also have exclusive rewards such as emotes, limited-time poro skins. The website also teases "and more", but never specifies what that might be. Once you complete the “Be Naughty” or “Be Nice” mission, the other path and its rewards disappear. You’ll earn the Dravenbread emote for completing the Naughty missions and Braumbread emote for the Nice ones. Only matchmade games count for missions.

Gifting

During the event, you will also be able to gift your friends a Santa Baron 2017 icon for 1,000 blue essence. While you cannot buy this icon for yourself, you can self-mystery gift champions or skins to yourself.

Snowdown Capsules

Elder Scrolls Online's New Life Festival

As of December 14th, Elder Scrolls Online will be celebrating its in-universe holiday: the New Life Festival. Much like our world's New Year's festivals, the New Life Festival celebrates the end of one year and the beginning of another. This event will run until January 2.

Joining The Festivities

According to ESO's official website,"In order to join the festivities, acquire the free New Life Festival Scroll from the Crown Store. Use the scroll to find the New Life Herald Breda in a tent just south of Windhelm, Eastmarch. She will give you the initial quest, “The New Life Festival", which will unlock a series of nine uniquely festive daily quests."

Bonus XP

Each of the 9 unique quests represents the festivities of one of the nine races. Completing one of these quests for the first time will unlock Breda's Bottomless Mead Mug, which will confer a 100% XP boost for 2 hours; this boost can stack with other boosts. In addition to the mug, you will also receive a New Life Festival Gift Box.

New Life Festival Gift Box Goodies

While these usually give assorted random items, like crafting materials, consumable mementos, and Wolfsbane Incense (the Skinchanger style item), this time they will also have a small chance to impart rare items:

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• Skinchanger Motif chapters
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• New Life recipes
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• New Life collectibles:\n
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  • Sword-Swallower's Blade memento
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  • Juggler's Knives memento
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  • Fire-Breather's Torches memento
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  • Mud Ball Pouch memento
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  • Nordic Bather's Towel costume
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  • Colovian Filigreed Hood hat
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  • Colovian Fur Hood hat
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• A wide variety of lights, lamps, and lanterns for your home to celebrate the Signal Fire Sprint
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• Roguish Draughts of Stealth and Escape to celebrate the Trial of Five-Clawed Guile
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Holiday Furnishings

Lastly, there will be some new home customizations you can purchase to get it into fit shape for the holiday mood, both of which can be purchased from Heralda Garscroft, the Holiday Achievement Furnisher.

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• The New Life Bonfire – Costs 10,000 gold; available once you complete the “Snow Bare Plunge" achievement
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• The New Life Celebrant's Standard – Costs 2,500 gold; Available once you complete the “New Life Celebrant" achievement
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If you're curious to know some extra specifics, like the few places that bonus XP does not apply, then feel free to check out the official blog post, here.

Rocket League Frosty Fest CHristmas and Holiday Event

Rocket League's Frosty Fest will start December 11 and run through January 2. This event will work similarly to the Halloween event in that it will have its own currency -- and this time, it will be Snowflakes.

Snowflakes will be earned by playing matches and can be used to buy event items, decryptors, and the new Frosty Fest event crate (as of this writing, no details were offered on specific rewards).

Note: the stand-alone items you can buy are not the same items that will be available in the crate. The Frosty Fest event crate will be available as an occasional drop after matches, purchasable using snowflakes, or available using real-world money.

Call of Duty: WWII -- Winter Siege Holiday Event

While previous Holiday events took place in Infinite Warfare, the new title has been released and as such, all the Winter related content will be taking place in Call of Duty: World War II. This event will run from December 8 to January 2.

The Winter Siege Holiday event will feature:

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• Double XP Playlists
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• A new map: Winter Carentan (free for the duration of the event)
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• A new game mode: Gun Game
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• One free Winter Supply Drop each week that contains winter gear. 
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There will also be five free new weapons that you can unlock by completing special orders (presumably missions or goals) during the siege. Each weapon has its own variants and collection rewards. The trailer details three guns: the Gewher 43, the Sten, and the GPMG. It also seems to imply that there will be 2 new melee weapons: a pickaxe and a knife that has brass knuckles on the handle. 

Splatoon 2 Christmas and Holiday Updates

For the holidays, Splatoon 2 is having another Splatfest, which pits two ideas against one another and forces you to vote for them by playing for them. 

In one corner, we have ugly holiday sweaters weighing in at way too many because they've become an ironic trend that's intriguing yet only mildly entertaining for like one day a year -- so it's really not worth it.

In the other corner, we have ugly holiday socks. The underdog that most people don't even remember exist until that one cousin who is way too comfortable at your house takes off his shoes and takes the phrase, "Make yourself at home" a little too seriously.

In addition to the Splatfest, there was a recent update at the end of November that added new maps, gear, and quality of life features like swapping gear between matches. Later in December there will also be a new game mode added, which has not yet been detailed. 

Interestingly, in Japan, this competition is winter outerwear vs winter innerwear. And in Europe, it is films vs books. While it makes sense that ugly holiday sweaters and socks are Amero-centric, at least Japan is still centered around the winter season. But films vs books?

SMITE Christmas and Holiday Chest

From what we can tell, SMITE doesn't seem to be throwing any large event this year. However, they do have the Holiday Chest returning. 

Perhaps what makes SMITE's Holiday Chest stand out amongst other similar chests offered for other similar titles is that the devs are donating $1 to the Child's Play charity for every chest purchased. 

The Holiday chest costs 400 gems (roughly $8) and has 15 different items available. 12 skins -- 10 returning and 2 new -- along with a snowman ward, a winter loading frame, and a snowman avatar. The two new skins are Ice Mage Agni and Snow Day Scylla, pictured above. 

Overwatch Christmas and Holiday Event: Return to Winter Wonderland

Overwatch, Blizzard's preeminent character-based shooter, celebrates most holidays and this year is no different with the Return to Winter Wonderland celebration.

Skins

Hanzo, Junkrat, and Roadhog are confirmed to be receiving skins, but there will also be other legendary skins. However, at this time, the developer is playing coy and wants to "leave surprises for you when you log into the game". 

Seasonal Maps

King's Row, Hanamora, The Black Forest arena map. Mei's Global Snowball Offensive is still available in Antartica and now in Black Forest as well. 

New Novelty Game Mode: Mei's Yeti Hunt

Asymmetrical "boss" fight. One team has five Mei's and the other team has one Winston starring as the Yeti. Takes place in Nepal Village.

At the start of this map, the Mei's are hunting down Winston. Winston, however, is searching for powerups, which put him into a primal rage mode once he has obtained enough of them. If Winston manages to get into primal rage mode, then the hunted becomes the hunter and the five Mei's are then tasked with escaping the map. 

It's that time of year, ya' know, the time of year where everyone keeps starting their holiday articles with "It's that time of year". Yeah, that time. It's during this time that Christmas washes over everything and paints it a green and red veneer. Half the radio stations are playing Christmas music. Half the TV channels are showing Christmas movies. It's insurmountable size only continues to grow, not to be outdone by ol' Saint Nick's waistline.

And now, the video game industry has succumbed, too. Not just to the Black Friday gift giving craze, but also to the arbitrarily dress-up-your-favorite-characters-in-Christmas-clothes craze. It's wonderful, it's terrible, it's all encompassing. But most of all, it's profitable overwhelming, just like everything else about the season. That's why we're here with a compendium of all the holiday-oriented video game events going on this season. Let's jump into the list.

Well, there you have it. Hopefully, you found yourself a few new holidays to celebrate in 2017. If not, you've still got the same old holidays everyone's been celebrating for centuries. Hey, to each his own, right? 

What are your plans for Winter-een-mas? Do you prefer to call Pi Celebration Day "Carl Sagan Day"? How did your last Festivus go? Discuss in the comments below.

Festivus (December 23)

It wouldn't be a true list of nerdy holidays if Festivus wasn't on here.

Festivus, as popularized by the hit T.V. show Seinfeld, is a holiday for people who have had too much of the holiday season. Don't worry if you think it will take too much time to celebrate Festivus; Festivus is all about streamlining the holidays.

So instead of buying and decorating a tree, you get an aluminum pole with a high "strength-to-weight" ratio from your local hardware store. Instead of buying presents, you air your grievances with the rest of your family and challenge one another to feats of strength, whether it be reading something without glasses, lifting something heavy, or wrestling one another for superiority.

And, if you celebrate it just right, you may find yourself with a Festivus miracle on your hands. What that is, I couldn't tell you, but you'll know it when you see it.

If you don't want to take it that seriously, you could always get a few friends together, roast one another, and enjoy a nice little holiday of non-commercialization, all while sitting around an aluminum pole.

Golden Ratio Day (June 18)

You may be wondering, "What is the Golden Ratio?" Well, for a brief summary, Wikipedia defines the Golden Ratio as a ratio that occurs between two quantities if the sum of those two quantities is larger than the two quantities themselves.

You also may be wondering why, out of all days, did people choose June 18 to celebrate the Golden Ratio? Well, the Golden Ratio is represented by an irrational number that starts with 1.618, so someone rounded down and got 0.618 as the first few numbers.

Now that's an amazing holiday, right?

Well, what you may not know is that the Golden Ratio is used to great effect in many kinds of art (like movies) to create a more appealing and natural image. So, if you want an excuse to watch movies like Full Metal Jacket or There Will Be Blood, Golden Ratio Day would be a good time.

Star Wars Day (May 4)

Before 2011, May the Fourth was just a regular day, passed by like any other non-holiday. However, in 2011, George Lucas decided to make amends for the Prequel Trilogy, announcing that they were non-canon, and that the Original, unaltered trilogy would come to Blu-Ray and Digital Services across the World!

Uh, what?

Just kidding. Star Wars Day has, since its inception, been both a cultural phenomenon and marketing ploy for Disney, giving them an opportune time (every year) to announce information for any upcoming Star Wars projects. But don't let that corporate agenda disparage you; if you love Star Wars, celebrate.

Wear that Star Wars T-shirt or hoodie. Watch the originals on VHS (or burn the Prequels/Special Edition in a fire with your friends). Put on that stormtrooper armor you've been making for the last year and a half. Chances are, you'll find plenty of people doing a lot of the same.

Pi Day (March 14 & November 9)

This one is for all the mathematicians in the crowd. Pi day, celebrated on 3/14 in honor of the first three numbers of Pi, is a day to celebrate the world's strangest mathematical constant. Rattle off as many numbers of Pi that you can, wear Pi-themed T-shirts or accessories. Doesn't matter. Just get some Pi!

Fun fact: Pi Day is actually a holiday that comes twice a year! The second Pi Day, known as Pi Celebration Day, is held on the 314th day of the year. So, if you miss it the first go around, there's another chance come November every year!

Winter-een-mas (January 25 to 31)

Winter-een-mas, a week-long celebration of video games and video gamers, is soon to be upon us. Created by CTRL-ALT-DELETE writer Tim Buckley, Winter-een-mas is no longer just an excuse to play video games for a week. Instead, it is now recognized as a week to celebrate both the culture and the games we all love and enjoy.

Want to play a game for the whole week? Perfect! Want to gift a game you love to a friend or loved one? Even Better! As long as you spread the cheer of video games far and wide, you'll be a part of Winter-een-mas.

Halloween, Christmas and New Years only come once a year, leaving very few holidays in between. Yes, there are some national holidays like Thanksgiving or the Fourth of July that some countries celebrate, but there really isn't anything outside of the big three for the world at large to celebrate.

Well, the nerds of the world have decided to fill in the gap. So if you're looking for holidays to celebrate, here are five to mark on your calendar.

Back when MMOs were first becoming a whole thing, I remember that there were two times of year thought of as guild killers -- the end of the school year and the holidays. The end of the school year could often spell doom for a guild simply because people were going from campus internet access to their homes, which often had lesser or nonexistent online access. However, at this point access is so ubiquitous that the odds of Kevin suddenly being unable to raid for three months due to the end of the semester is practically nil.

But Kevin still might go home for the holidays, take a few days off... and then just not come back. Ever. Or if he does show up again, it'll be after several months have passed and half of the guild has already moved on to other things.

Holidays, in short, can be guild killers. People have a lot of other things to do through the season, which is understandable, but between getting new games, having other obligations, and just general exhaustion, it's all too easy to find someone going from a regular member to being not there at all. The good news is that it is entirely possible to survive the holiday season; you just have to start by accepting that the holiday season will not simply be business as usual.

Plan around your members

Depending on your guild size, it is either impossible or at least unlikely that you can plan around everyone in your guild. But you can pick out key members. If you have five members who always show up for progression in World of Warcraft and a dozen members who rotate in and out, you can certainly make plans based around those five members.

Find out what those members are doing over the holidays, what their plans are, when they expect to be away from the game for a prolonged period (if at all), and what they hope to be doing over the holiday season. If you're one of those members, don't just wait around; make your plans clear. Coordinate with the rest of your guild. Make sure everyone is in the same place so that once people start going on holiday vacations or getting on planes to visit distant relatives, no one is suddenly baffled and wondering why the guild roster is so empty.

This also means that you'll have a pretty good idea of what members aren't going to be around for progression or other usual guild activities. Which is something that's good to expect, because the reality is that people will not be around for these things. Thus...

Expect a hiatus from certain activities

Pushing heavy progression over the holidays is dumb. It's not going to happen. You can have the best intentions in the world, but if your normal raid night is Sunday this year, odds are most of your members are going to be in something of a food-and-eggnog coma and thus will not be able to bring their A-game. They also will not be bringing their B-game. Expect the game they bring to start around the middle of the alphabet, in other words.

Weekly schedules sort of demand suspension during the holiday season. Even in the event that people are doing everything possible to still be present and playing, they are just plain going to have less rest. Your best tank might be bringing his laptop halfway across the country so he can still be there for raid night, but the reality is that he's halfway across the country and will probably not be really in the right place for serious stuff.

The bright side is that this is the perfect time to do things that are not, necessarily, progression. I'm not suggesting for a minute that your guild should somehow close down during the holiday season; instead, what I'm saying is that smart planning revolves around knowing that some of your members will not be available. Thus, instead of planning intensive activities that require a whole lot of people to be on point, you can plan smaller fun activities that just bring people together.

If you're normally all about progression, dedicate the holiday times to running old stuff as a group or doing silly theme runs. For more social guilds, focus less around structured activities and more around loose events. And above all else...

Theme your activities around the holidays

I'm a part of a guild right now that's running a Secret Santa event in-game. It's a fairly low-key thing with a low cost to enter, so it's not meant to be a major activity... but it is meant to give the people who have time to pop in and play briefly a sense of community and fondness. It's another layer of holiday integration, and it makes sure that players feel like the guild is still running events without relying on all of us being able to give our best in difficult content.

There are a number of ways you can have holiday-themed events in the game beyond that; most MMOs have some sort of holiday event running during the season, and many of those are easier to tackle as a group. You can also schedule snowball fights, low-level holiday runs, or something similar (I once ran a guild that did a "Clears for the Seasons" event where we'd carry less geared and skilled players through content that they would otherwise be unable to get through). The point is that if you're already breaking from your "normal" schedule, and you are, you might as well break a little further out of the cycle, yes?

Sometimes, you'll have lighter fare in mind that doesn't really fit in with the time of year, and that's fine too. But when you can tie it in, it helps people who can only log in briefly or around the fringes still feel like they're part of the festivities. And it also keeps the people who can't log in feeling like they want to be there and participate. Sure, Sarah really won't be able to play during the holiday season, but she'll come back with a sense of missing players rather than being happy for the break.

This also helps for the players who don't really have a normal holiday environment. Odds are good that at least one of your members doesn't get to just pal around with family members over the holidays; let them at least feel like they're able to be with friends.

Ease back into normalcy

When New Year's Day rolls around, there's often a sense that it's time to just get right back into everything running normally and act like the holidays are over. But it's not enough to just expect a hiatus going into the holidays; you also need to plan for one extending slightly after the holidays end. People are going to be moving a bit more slowly as January takes center stage, and you should probably keep your schedule a bit lighter than normal until the middle of the month.

There are, to be fair, some players who will bristle against this. But the thing that's more likely to kill a guild isn't being too passive, it's making players come back and feel like they came back to chores instead of fun. Pushing the progression group to get right back into the thick of it makes the whole thing feel really stressed. By contrast, letting your players have a bit more time to breathe first means that people can reflect, think about having missed the guild, and slowly take center stage once again as the game's population comes back around.

Or, to make things shorter, the best way to make sure that your guild survives the holidays is by acting like the holidays are happening and they're important rather than trying to pretend that everything is still business as usual. It's so obvious that you'd think it went without saying, but it really doesn't.

The elves have been programming in overtime this holiday season and have decided to give the good guys and gals playing Civilization VI an early gift today with patch updates for the main game, as well as a batch of DLC to make you feel all the merrier this Yuletide. 

Winter Update Features

According to the Civilization VI's Steam page, there have been quite the number of patches, fixes and additions to the game with this latest update. Some of them include:

• New Mechanics
• Gameplay Updates
• Balance Changes
• AI Tuning
• Bug Fixes
• Visuals Fixes
• Multiplayer Fixes
• UI Additions
• Audio Additions

Of course, these sections go a lot more in-depth on the Steam page, but you're not here for the patch notes -- you want to know about the DLCs.

Poland Civilization & Scenario Pack -- $4.99

This latest DLC allows you to rule over Poland as Jadwiga, King (although technically a woman) of Poland who ruled in 1384. She brings with her the unique mounted unit, The Winged Hussars, as well as the Sukiennice, a unique building that boosts trade routes. She also has the ability to swipe land off other nations, similar to culture bombing in Civilization V.

The DLC also boasts a 60-turn scenario to defend Poland, Prague and Vienna from angry folks like the Teutonic Knights and the Ottoman Empire, who are up to their usual sneaky ways.

Vikings Scenario Pack -- $4.99

The Viking Scenario pack adds six new city-states to the game, as well as a 100-turn scenario with plenty of exploration and coastal village raiding. It also includes three iconic landmarks of the old-world in the form of Ireland's Giant's Causeway, Norway's Lysefjord and Eyjafjallajökull, a volcano in Iceland.  

All-in-all this some great DLC for those looking for more content and scenarios to test their mettle, as well as general patches and optimizations for all. 

Which of the DLC are you most looking forward to playing and why? Let's talk about it in the comments below!

Star Wars Comic Dress 

Price: $89.99 

Available at Etsy 

Lastly, treat her to a stunning Star Wars comic dress. This is a beautiful handmade dress that would that would be worth every penny. 

These gifts are sure to make any Star Wars fan jump in joy. There is of course plenty of other Star Wars items out there, but these gifts will do well for a Star Wars fan that doubles as a gamer. Happy Holidays and may the Force be with you.

Star Wars: Armada Board Game

Price: $59.67 with prime

Available at Amazon

Enjoy some good ol' table top action with your Star Wars fan. Star Wars: Armada is a two-player miniature game that simulates epic space battles. There are also expansion pieces available for the game.

Star Wars Science: Jedi Force Levitator

Price: $19.99 with prime

Available at Amazon

Though marketed to children, this toy would be great for any Star Wars fan. Who doesn't want to wield the power of the Force? That's right! This toy gives you the ability to levitate objects with the Force. 

Star Wars Monopoly

Price $24.99 

Available at Amazon

Nothing beats a gold game of Monopoly. Especially when Star Wars is involved. Grab this Star Wars Monopoly update, with some Force Awakens flair, that even has a new circular playing board. 

Glow in the Dark Darth Vader Purse

Price: $45.00

Available on Etsy

Get your Star Wars fan a swaggy glow in the dark Darth Vader purse! It's a great place to stash her lightsaber or blaster. You'll also help support small business while gifting. 

Star Wars: The Old Republic – Knights of the Fallen Empire Starter Pack – Amazon Bundle

Price: $39.99

Available on Amazon

Let your Star Wars fan live their dream of becoming a heroic Jedi, or a ruthless Sith, or even vice versa! The possibilities are endless in Bioware’s MMO Star Wars: the Old Republic. While the game is Free to Play, this bundle offers a lot more such as the Base Game, 2400 Cartel Points (paid in game currency), all the expansions including the new one, Knights of the Fallen Empire, and 3-months of premium subscription access.

Disney Infinity 3.0 Star Wars

Available on all Platforms

Price Starter Kit $59.99 | Figures from $13.99 to $34.99

Available on Amazon | Starter Kit

This gift would be good for any Disney Infinity / Star Wars Fan or younger fans. Amazon also offers an exclusive Star Wars figure bundle pack for $89.20, which includes 6 figures.

Star Wars Funko Pop Vinyl

Price: Ranging from $10.99 to $60+

Available on Amazon

There are a plethora of Star Wars Pop figures available, ranging from the movies of old to the new being released. These little guys are great collectibles for any Pop collector or Star Wars fan. Their price will vary depending on the rarity, availability, and size of the figure.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens tickets

IMAX 3D Price: Adult: $19.40 | Senior: $16.36 | Child: $16.36

 RealD 3D Price: Adult: $14.57 | Senior: $13.63 | Child: $13.63

Regular Price: Adult: $12.27 | Senior: $9.75 | Child: $9.75

Available at Fandango

Looking to give an early Christmas gift? Or even a fun night out on Christmas day? Tickets to the new movie would be a must. You can pre-purchase the now on Fandango for your local movie theater.

Star Wars: Battlefront

Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

Price: $59.99 | Release Date: November 17, 2015

Available on Amazon

The reboot of Star Wars: Battlefront, releasing on Xbox, PlayStation 2, and PC, is only a few days away. The game features epic full scale warfare against the Empire and Rebel Alliance. The game boasts a catalog of heroes you can play as in the battlefield such as: Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, the Emperor Darth Sidious, and Darth Vader; to name a few. Make sure to have this game on your list.

It’s an exciting time for Star Wars fans, we’re seeing a full rebirth of the franchise after Disney acquired it 3-years ago. With the holiday season we’re in the midst a full onslaught of Star Wars merchandising ranging from the new movie, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, to the reborn game, Star Wars: Battlefront. If you’re overwhelmed with choices on what to get your Star Wars fanatic, here’s a list of things any fan would love.

Sponsorship - CJGrips

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• Subscriber Recommendation: 10+
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• Rating: N/A
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• Price: Variable
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• Buy It: CJGrips
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Last but not least, a sponsorship. Yes, you can buy a sponsorship, though you'll have to work with your aspiring YouTuber to buy it. 

There are three primary ways to make money on YouTube:

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• Advertisements
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• Sponsorships
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• Fan Funding
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Advertising won't make a YouTuber any money until they really start drawing in a ton of views. Likewise, fan funding will only occur if someone really, really likes a YouTuber's content. Sponsorships however, will consistently earn a content creator money if they promote them enough. If you pick this gift you'll essentially be buying your loved one a way to make money.

First things first: big sponsors are off the table. Until your aspiring YouTuber starts reeling in the views, big sponsors like Elgato, Monster Energy, and Gfuel will never support them. What you need to aim for is what I call starter sponsors. 

For an example, let's talk CJGrips: one of my starter sponsors. CJGrips sells analog stick grips, among other items, to any and all consumers who'll buy them off of Tictail. Any players that get sponsored receive a savings code between 5-15%. When players bring CJGrips business with their code, they are repaid the amount that the buyers saved.

So how do you help your YouTubing friend get sponsored? Simple, just buy CJGrips! CJGrips is a growing business so the only way for them to expand is through word of mouth. The only way for them to get word of mouth around is to give everyone savings.

Generally, with the purchase of any "mystery box", "gamer box", or other surprise packages (around $10+ value), CJGrips will give purchasers the option to acquire their own code, or in other words, a sponsorship. This is a super quick and easy way to start making a little bit of money on YouTube, and the actual product purchased makes for a great gift. 

Interested in this gift choice? Use the link above to access CJGrips and use the code "btide" for 5% off!

PlayStation 4 Eye Camera

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• Subscriber Recommendation: 1+
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• Rating: 3.4/5 (23 Customer Reviews)
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• Price: $59.99
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• Buy It: GameStop
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Where the Xbox One comes with the Kinect camera, the PlayStation 4, despite its affinity for sharing content, does not include the PlayStation Eye. The PS4 Eye Camera can record a player in real-time while they livestream straight from the PlayStation 4.

Depending on the system (obviously it has to be PS4), and the style of their videos (do they make face-cam flicks?) this may be an essential item on your loved one's wishlist.

Blue Yeti USB Microphone

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• Subscriber Recommendation: 500+
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• Rating: 4.5/5 (274 Customer Reviews)
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• Price: $129.99
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• Buy It: Amazon
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The Blue Yeti is praised in the industry for being so effective, yet so affordable. Available in three colors (black, silver, platinum), this mic plugs directly into a computer's USB port and is compatible with any software.

The Yeti features four different recording modes (Stereo, Cardioid, Omnidirectional, Bidirectional) so any recording scheme can be captured by it. Are you buying for a duo or a team of YouTubers? The mic can pick up multiple voices and sounds from all directions, based on which recording mode you choose. 

The microphone features a headphone jack that allows real-time playback, headset volume controls, mic gain controls, and an instant mute button.

This is a great gift for a YouTuber who creates gameplay/commentaries or podcasts. Even musicians would love to unwrap this little guy! I recommend this microphone for YouTube channels over 500 subscribers. Most laptops (especially the one mentioned on slide 4) have great built-in mics that'll work fine until your loved one really decides that they are into YouTube.

Turtle Beach Ear Force P12

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• Subscriber Recommendation: 0-200
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• Rating: 3.9/5 (9 Customer Reviews)
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• Price: $59.99
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• Buy It: Amazon
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For the shopper on a lower budget, the P12 makes a great starter headset. Made for PS4 (you can easily find the comparative Xbox One headset on Amazon) this headset offers the basics:

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• Wired connection
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• In-line amp with bass boost and volume control.
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• Mic Monitor - Helps prevent shouting by playing back commentary audio in-ear.
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As stated in the previous slide, a cheaper headset only lasts so long before viewers begin to criticize mic quality. Make sure your aspiring YouTuber is within the "subscriber recommendation" bounds before buying this gift.

Turtle Beach Ear Force Elite 800 Gaming Headset

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• Subscriber Recommendation: 200+
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• Rating: 4.5/5 (13 Customer Reviews)
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• Price: $289.99
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• Buy It: Amazon
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A basic gaming headset (preferably Astro or Turtle Beach) is a requirement for almost any gamer anyways, but once a gamer evolves into a YouTuber, it's time to up the ante.

Viewers can stand a little bit of white noise in a YouTuber's commentary when their channel is just starting out, but eventually the audience will start to get frustrated by it.

For live commentaries or streams, players often use their headsets rather than USB microphones (which we'll get into in a minute). The Turtle Beach Ear Force 800 is the number one item on my wishlist this year, and for good reason. Let's take a look at the features:

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• DTS 7.1 Channel Surround Sound.
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• Dynamic Chat Boost - Ensures the commentary is never drowned out by gameplay noise.
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• Active Noise Cancellation
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• In-Ear Mic Monitoring - Hear your own voice while you speak, stopping you from shouting.
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• Wireless Magnetic Charging Stand
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• Total Game and Chat Volume Control
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• Crystal Clear Wireless Bluetooth Pairing
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• Hidden High Quality Microphones
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If you need more proof that this gift would make your loved one's day, show the list of features to any other gamer or media-oriented person you know; they'll be sure to geek out.

Make sure you buy the correct model! When it comes to Turtle Beach, each headset model is for a different system. Generally, you can find a different set, nearly identical for each platform; ex. Elite 800 for PS4, Elite 800X for XB1.

Filmora Video Editor

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• Subscriber Recommendation: 1+
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• Rating: 4.5/5 (558 Customer Reviews)
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• Price: $49.99
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• Buy It: Wondershare
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You can stop crying now. Filmora is a much more affordable video editor that offers the essential editing tools any average-joe YouTuber could need. Cropping, picture-in-picture, volume adjustment, voice recorder, overlays, effects, filters, titles, it's all here. Filmora, previously Wondershare Video Editor (which I use), is available as a free trial, but can be purchased with a lifetime license for $50! 

As long as your aspiring YouTuber doesn't need to get too crazy with added sound effects, pop-ups and other shenanigans in their videos, this is an upstanding video editor and a great starting gift. 

Sony Vegas Pro 13 Editing Software

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• Subscriber Recommendation: 50,000+ (No, I'm not joking.)
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• Rating: 5/5 (1 Customer Review)
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• Price: $599.95 (Still not joking.)
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• Buy It: Sony, Amazon
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If the previous slide made you and your wallet cry, just go ahead and skip this one. This is only recommended for those of you with deep pockets and lots of love for whoever is going to get this gift. Sony Vegas is an editing software for hardcore YouTubers only. It really does cost $600. 

There are plenty of cheaper editing softwares out there (one of which we'll discuss next) that make for much easier gifts. However, for the sake of variation, this is essentially the best editing software on the market. 

HP Envy Laptop (Or Equivalent)

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• Subscriber Recommendation: 0+
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• Rating: 5/5 (1 Customer Review)
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• Price: $1099.99
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• Buy It: Amazon
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For a laptop with all the bells and whistles a YouTuber could possibly need, I would recommend the HP Envy. This laptop (which I'm writing this article on) has 8GB of RAM, 1TB hard drive storage, and a 2.4GHz Intel Core i7 processor. That's computer language for: really good and worth every penny of the expensive price tag.

To run the Elgato software on an HD60 (the item on the previous page) a computer needs a minimum 4GB RAM, and 2.0GHz Intel Core i5 processor, but upgrading the basics allows a YouTuber's computer to really perform. 

The HP Envy is regularly compared to Apple's MacBook Pro in everything from performance, to feel, to cosmetics. Of course, this computer won't cost as much as a Mac once all of the same upgrades are applied to it. 

For this item I won't be giving a cheaper variation, because computer choice really depends on the player. Personally, I believe everyone should own a computer of this quality by today's standards. Obviously this would be a one-and-done sort of gift for most families out there, but it could really change a person's life.

Elgato Game Capture HD60

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• Subscriber Recommendation: 100+
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• Rating: 4.4/5 (77 Customer Reviews)
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• Price: $179.95
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• Buy it: Amazon
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The days of setting up a camcorder in front of a player's television to record videos are gone.

Depending on the player's preferred system, this can be a great gift, or a slightly unnecessary one. For example, PlayStation 4 has a built in livestreaming and sharing ability, making the Elgato Gaming capture card slightly redundant if a YouTuber is just starting out. At around 100 subscribers, this makes for a great gift no matter what. 

Viewers expect clarity in the videos they watch, and the 1080p 60 frame-per-second picture that the Elgato offers is sure to please. If you keep an eye out around Black Friday, these bad boys tend to drop in price and you can pick one up for $20 to $50 off. 

Remember: capture cards are often system-specific. The HD60 works well for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but you'll have to buy the standard HD if your YouTuber is still using PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360.

Additionally, consult the next page before you consider buying this item for your loved one.

Games

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• Subscriber Recommendation: 0+
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• Rating: Varies
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• Price: Varies
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• Buy it: Amazon, EB Games, GameStop, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Kijiji, Steam, GOG
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This one is obvious. Before someone gets started with a gaming channel on YouTube, they'll need to have some background knowledge and relevant games. Depending on the type of gaming channel your loved one plans on having, you'll want to buy different games. Each different style of channel poses different needs for your holiday shopping.

Current Games: This is the more popular side of YouTube gaming. Popular, hip, right-now games are what people want to see on YouTube and will pull more views on a daily basis. To buy for this kind of player you'll need to stay on top of recent video game releases (get up-to-date on your GameSkinny articles, people). Having content out even a day before the competition can mean everything on YouTube.

Games that fit into the "popular" crowd this season are Halo 5: Guardians, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, Assassin's Creed Syndicate, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Fallout 4, Star Wars: Battlefront, Just Cause 3, and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Seige. 

Retro Games: If you are buying for a retro-gaming YouTuber, you'll have extra trouble finding specific games that might make it to their wishlist. Combing through flea markets and sketchy online sites that may or may not steal your credit card information are two of the slim choices of routes to take for this one. Sites like GOG offer lots of older and obscure games. Kijiji or other buy-and-sell sites work great for attaining pre-owned games as well. 

A good attitude, entertaining content, time, patience, and persistence. What do all of these attributes have in common? They're all something you need if you want to be a YouTuber.

Having a gaming YouTube channel requires a lot more than the things I've already mentioned. Being something of an authority on the subject (I'm already on YouTube as BlackTideTV), I've constructed this gift guide so those of you buying for an aspiring content creator will know how to make them smile.

The guide features some pretty expensive equipment, so I've included extra slides with cheaper, starting variants of those items. It will be up to you, the buyer, to decide which level of gear your loved one needs at the moment. 

For example, I'm currently resting at 220 subscribers and I've been able to get this far without Sony Vegas, a high-tech microphone, or a PlayStation Eye Camera. But they're all future purchases on my list.

I've included "subscriber recommendations" at the beginning of every slide, so you can get a general idea of how many subs your YouTuber-in-training should have before you buy specific items.

Without further ado, you may click the Next button to get started!

It's that time again. Halloween is coming, and that means the holiday deals and bundles have arrived as well. Bundles are big this year, and its a rough console war ahead as Xbox One and PS4 have a battle of the bundles this season.

Below are the upcoming PlayStation 4 Bundles that will be available before December. If you're both a PS4 and Xbox One gamer, you can check out the upcoming holiday Xbox One bundles right here.

Star Wars: BattleFront Bundle

• Limited Edition, Customized Star Wars Battlefront PS4 Console, 500GB
  
• Limited Edition, Customized DUALSHOCK Wireless Controller
• Star Wars Battlefront: Deluxe Edition
  
• Star Wars Classics Voucher for 4 games: (Super Star Wars, Star Wars: Racer Revenge, Jedi Starfighter, Star Wars Bounty Hunter)

Limited Edition Destiny: The Taken King Bundle

• Custom PS4 Console, 500GB hard drive
• Custom PS4 DUALSHOCK Wireless Controller
• Destiny: The Taken King Legendary Edition in Amaray
  
• Destiny: The Taken King Digital Collector's Edition Upgrade on Digital Voucher
  

Available: Order it now

Price: $399.99

Call of Duty: Black Ops III Limited Edition Bundle

• Custom PS4 Console, 1TB hard drive
• Custom PS4 DUALSHOCK Wireless Controller
• Call of Duty: Black Ops III video game
  
• NUK3TOWN bonus multiplayer map

Available: Nov 6, 2015 (pre-order now)

Price: $449.99

Limited Edition Gold PS4 Bundle

• Limited Edition Gold PS4 Console
• Limited Edition Gold PS4 DUALSHOCK Wireless Controller
• Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection video game
  
• 1-year voucher for a PlayStation Plus Membership

Available: Win from your local Taco Bell between Sept 24 and Nov 4

Price: Your choice of Taco Bell Big Box meals that contains the code

Military Appreciation Bundle

• PS4 Console, 500GB hard drive
• 2 DUALSHOCK Wireless Controllers (1 Camo, 1 Black)
• Mono Headset
• The Last of Us: Remastered digital game voucher
  
• NBA 2K15 video game
• PlayStation Plus 3-month Membership voucher

Available: Order it now

Price: $399.99

There is no news yet if PlayStation will be releasing other bundles in time for Black Friday, but there will certainly be special deals awaiting customers at that time. 

Be sure to keep an eye on the PlayStation 4 items through GameStop or the PlayStation blog.

For Xbox One Bundles, click here.

Nintendo is giving a great deal for their consumers by dropping the price on their 2DS system from $129.99 to $99. This price will take effect on August 30th, just a bit before the holiday season. 

While it won't have the 3D capabilities, it is half the price of the New Nintendo 3DS XL model, and for a young child it might be the perfect present.Mario Kart 7 Pre-Installed

A great feature that is part of this $99 bundle on the 2DS system is a digital version of Mario Kart 7, which can fit every audience, from children to adults. This price cut also happens around a week after Nintendo launches a new 2DS game, Little Battlers eXperience, which has the theme of robots battling together with over 4,000 customizable parts.

In the end, the only major difference between the 2DS and 3DS is the 3D technology; the 2DS can play everything from the DS and 3DS library. Money can be tight for many families, so saving every penny is good, and Nintendo seems very sympathetic to the times.

Would you buy a 2DS over the 3DS due to the cheaper price?

There is some intense irony at play in the world of console gaming hardware of late and I ought to know, having been a part of the console wars, fan-boyism (before such a term had even been coined) and unbridled brand loyalty that exists in our industry since my cousin decided he would part ways with his Atari 2600 (complete with massive library of games and enough faux wood-grain to make the Family Truckster jealous) so as to finance the then-forthcoming ColecoVision.

My folks, with substantial coaxing from a very young yours truly, were the recipients of said used Atari for the then-hefty sum of $250. While this may sound reasonable in today’s economic clime, when adjusted for inflation, 250-beans in 1981 translates to roughly $675.11 of today’s dollars.

Now here’s where things get really interesting. Just today Target happened to be running a holiday sale on a Wii U bundle that consisted of the 32 GB Nintendo Wii U console with Super Mario 3D World and Nintendo Land packed in. The asking price? $250. Thirty-one years later and a couple hundred dollar bills and a single fifty could still put you on the front lines of the contemporary console battlefield.

Of course the major difference here is that while the monetary amount may not have fluctuated in these many years, the value of the dollar behind it certainly has. In fact to calculate a reversal of the inflation that has taken place since 1981, another way of looking at it would be the $250 that can buy you a Wii U today at Target would have been closer to $92 then. A lot of this is due to the electronics manufacturing process itself, which has gone largely automatized in the three-decades since Atari ruled the world.

We witness this phenomenon in a whole multitude of facets. A 19” color TV then, which would likely have consisted of about 50” of wood surrounding a small porthole of a screen reminiscent of watching the analog world though the view-port of the Nautilus, would have set a consumer back $400 or $1,080.18 today. High definition? Forget about it. That concept wouldn’t be made official here in the US until 1993 and it would still take a solid decade after that before high-def was made widespread enough to grace the average home.

When the VCR came on the scene in 1977, it wore a price-tag of $1,280. That would be roughly $4,600 in today’s inflation-adjusted dollars. A blank tape on which to put a couple hour’s worth of grainy and fuzzy broadcast television shows were priced at $20 apiece ($72 these days). If you happened to be about using this new technology to record family moments or try your hand at amateur film-making, Sony would gladly have sold you one of their then-cutting edge camcorders (yes, there was once a time when not every human being carried a cellular phone/ high-def video camera/ mobile recording studio/ global broadcast antenna in his or her pocket) for $1,800- yes that’s over four-grand today.

I began this piece by claiming there is some irony taking place in the console wars front of late and that comes in the form of the simple fact that this is perhaps the slowest hardware generation I can recall for my gaming pals to adopt yet it is also one of the most affordable. Most affordable when compared to the relics mentioned above? Nope, most affordable even when compared to the hardware launches leading up to this one. This, despite my incessant argument with said friends that prices are so low right now, you’d be crazy NOT to buy in. No need to take my word for it, let’s examine some of the hard facts.

There is some irony taking place in the console wars front of late and that comes in the form of the simple fact that this is perhaps the slowest hardware generation I can recall for my gaming pals to adopt yet it is also one of the most affordable.

When Sony’s Playstation 2 launched domestically back in November of 2000, it retailed for $300 (or $415.42 today); right on par with the cost of a new PS4 right? Well sure, it would have been if supply could have kept up with demand. Because there was a significant shortage of consoles produced and consumer demand through the roof, retailers and private sellers alike began demanding exuberant costs for the systems- and getting what they were asking. It wasn’t uncommon to expect to pay close to $800 to snag one in those first few months following launch. In case you haven’t been following along, that $800 in the year 2000 is more like taking $1,107 out of your wallet now.

The Playstation 3 managed to take things even further with its November of 2006 launch and $499 and $599 retail prices ($592.10 & $710.52 today respectively).

While the Playstation 4 launched at $399 nearly exactly a year ago at the time of this article’s writing, there have been a rash of enticing deals of late designed to lure holiday shoppers away from Microsoft and Nintendo’s charms; among the notables a bundle that packs in The Last of Us Remastered for $379 and another that includes a pair of games (Lego Batman 3 and a free download of Little Big Planet 3) for $399.

Microsoft, not unlike the Nintendo Wii U bundle mentioned above, has been extremely aggressive with their marketing and pricing of the Xbox One this season as well. Just a tad over a year ago today the system launched for $499 (and included the Kinect peripheral out of the box). In effort to steal some of the momentum away from the Playstation 4, that price has since dropped considerably, sans Kinect, culminating in what has, to date, been the most affordable incarnation I have yet to encounter this season: $299 for the system packed with two games (Assassins Creed IV Black Flag & Unity) with a card good for a year of Live.

After a few moments of internal conflict copied and pasted from any one of numerous Peter Jackson scenes involving Elijah Wood, a gold ring and a flaming eyeball, the feeling passed and the Elvish scroll on my flash-burnt credit card returned to normal squared-off numeration.

While I’ve owned the system since launch and planned to use this season of price cuts to try and snag a Playstation 4, this was the deal that nearly caused me to buckle and buy a second Xbox One for purpose of visits with friends. After a few moments of internal conflict copied and pasted from any one of numerous Peter Jackson scenes involving Elijah Wood, a gold ring and a flaming eyeball, the feeling passed and the Elvish scroll on my flash-burnt credit card returned to normal squared-off numeration. Sights firmly set on the PS4 as it were.

And while I have been second guessing my reluctance to pick up either of the Playstation 4 bundles mentioned above (yet), I am noticing supplies for either have consistently diminished in a hurry. I get the distinct feeling that failing to capitalize on these good deals before the holidays will leave me (and any other gamers on the fence) out in the proverbial cold come January as a result of “the snooze, you lose” school of reason.

Which means it was probably a good thing Target had already sold out of the $250 Wii U bundle today by the time I got there. It’s not that I’m totally against adding a second one to my quiver for purpose of playing with friends so much as I’m not sure how well calling it “my precious” would go over with the cashier.

With the Aquaman Challenge Mode still going on, and the Cassandra Cain Batgirl PvP contest just wrapping up, NetherRealm Studios drops an early Christmas gift on their loyal Injustice: Gods Among Us following.

You can pop over right now and download V2.3 of the popular fighting game, both Apple App Store and Android versions.

New Characters

A whole new cast of characters is one their way to Injustice, here's just a hint -

Many other characters from various alternate DC universes appear to be on the horizon as well.

Booster Packs

A special Most Wanted Pack is being offered with high demand characters like Batman Arkham Origins, Killing Joke Joker and Shazam! In future, look for other special limited-time booster sets (Some displayed above).

New Gear 3 Packs are being offered to add to your PvP arsenal of goodies.

Starter Pack (V.2) - Actually a revamped starter pack for new players to jump into the fray with a variety of characters, gear and support cards.

Also special limited-time packs will occasionally be offered. 

Player Appreciation

All month long, every time you log into Injustice, you could receive a little something under the tree. Maybe a giveaway prize, new game content or special events that are planned all month long.

Starting with a new set of wheels for Christmas!

So strap on your utility belt.

It's the time of year where you're making a list, checking it twice, and getting down to gift-giving town! It's a time for cheer, getting together with family and old friends, cuddling up by fires, busting out the warm apple cider, and giving presents.

Of course, as with any gift-related holiday or event, there's always one catch:

"Dear god, I hope this is the right gift!"

Well, don't stress out! We are here with a plethora of gift ideas for just about every type of gamer, nerd, and geeky type we could think of. With our crack team of writers providing expert Gamer Gift Guides, you'll be able to find the just right gift (or at least be inspired trying)!

Gamer Gift Guides

Gift Guides by Price Range:

• Gifts under $5
• 10 Best Presents Under $20
• Under $50 Gifts For Picky Geeks and Gamers

Gift Guides by Platform:

• For the PC Gamer
• Indie Games on Steam
• For the Handheld Gamer
• For Nintendo Fans
• For the PS4 Owner
• For the Xbox One Owner

Gift Guides by Fandom:

• For the League of Legends Player
• For Pokemon Fans

Other:

• Last Minute Gifts for Gamers
• Hero-Related Gifts For the Superhero in Your Life!
• For the Family
• Stocking Stuffers Any Gamer Would Love

And don't forget our guide on How to Run a Gift Swap!

Still looking for more gift ideas? Check out last year's gift guides!

• Games & Gear to Get Ya Movin'
• Gifts for the Girly Gamer
• Gifts for the Tabletop Gamer with Everything
• Handmade Gifts for Your Favorite Gamer
• 19 Gripping Books for Gamers
• 10 Family Friendly Games for the Holidays
• 17 Sweeping Game Soundtracks
• 8 Tabletop Accessories Under $25
• 13 Great Pixel Games for iOS
• Deck Your Desk with Gear Aplenty
• Top 10 Tabletop Games Under $25 

Life Size Champion Weapons

Rating: No Reviews

Price: $350.00

Buy it on: Storenvy by GS Props

We all know that gamer obsessed with weapons. He/she probably has a Legend of Zelda shield mounted on the wall, alongside various swords and weapons from his/her favorite video games. Why not add to that obsession with a unique weapon from this impressive store?

Plush Rammus Slippers

Rating: No Reviews

Price: $19.99

Buy it on: Etsy by blitzdeals

As comfortable as they are adorable, these slippers are sure to induce squealing and jumping by any League of Legends-obsessed gamer. Don't worry, they do come in different skins. 

Jinx Painted Converse Shoes

Rating: No Reviews

Price: $61.37

Buy it on: Etsy by SpykeDesign

A bit of an investment, this gift idea is for someone who isn't looking to buy presents on a budget. While I will admit that these custom-painted shoes are definitely worth the price, pick these out for any gamer who's ready to make a statement with their style. 

Teemo Cookie Cutters

Rating: 5/5 (30 Customer Reviews)

Price: $9.99

Buy it on: Etsy by StarCookies

Spice up any party by baking some Teemo-shaped cookies! While it may cause uncontrollable rage, and possibly some destroyed edibles, the majority of guests can appreciate these adorable, little treats. 

Piltover's Finest Caitlyn Trap Pillow Case

Rating: 5/5 (11 Customer Reviews)

Price: $10.99

Buy it on: Etsy by binaryk

If you'd like to own the raddest pillow case in all the land, this gift idea is for you. Perfect for any gamer's couch, this throw pillow case will have you sick of cupcake jokes in no time. 

LoL Pro Team Merchandise

Rating: No Reviews

Price: $22.40

Buy it on: RedBubble by atreyufranklin

Separate from the actual game, another great gift idea is to grab some merchandise from the professional team your giftee's cheering for! Whether it's Team Solo Mid, Counter Logic Gaming, Cloud 9, or a lesser known underdog, help support the eSports scene with one of these T-shirts. 

Wood Carved Champion Quote Coasters

Rating: 5/5 (4 Customer Reviews)

Price: $6.50

Buy it on: Etsy by grafcreations

Who doesn't love coasters? We can never have enough, and they always seem to disappear throughout the course of a few months. These wood coasters are much less likely to break as tile, and they even have champion quotes to personalize each one to your favorites. 

Watercolor Champion Print

Rating: 5/5 (43 Customer Reviews)

Price: $12.95

Buy it on: Etsy by WatercolorPrintShop

These posters caught my eye because of the minimalist, yes undeniably artistic approach WatercolorPrintShop took to the champion's of Summoner's Rift. The space-like background mixed with the color contrasts are incredible, and definitely one of a kind. Impress a friend, or treat yourself, to one of these prints of his/her/your favorite champion. 

Teemo Mushroom Plushies

Rating: 5/5 (9 Customer Reviews)

Price: $39.51

Buy it on: Etsy by Sabivee

Right alongside the Poro plushies, these Teemo mushrooms are just another lovable, fluffy edition to any room or bed. Give your loved one the gift of shrooms this holiday season, and I'm sure they'll either react with either adoration or burn you in a fiery pit of hatred. 

Weapon and Quote Keychain

Rating: 5/5 (221 Customer Reviews)

Price: $20.00

Buy it on: Etsy by TheNerdNiche

Subtle, but still nerdy, these weapon key chains by TheNerdNiche are incredibly well crafted and make a great edition to any bag. The weapons not only come for virtually any champion you can think of (the Nami and Leona are my favorites), but they all come equipped with a quote from each champion. 

Champion Decal

Rating: No Reviews

Price: $7.99

Buy it on: Etsy by WhiteStarDecals

This Gnar decal would be perfect for any League of Legends player's laptop, car, tablet, or anything else creativity would allow. If you visit the store listed above, you'll find more champions than just Gnar to explore. 

Soft Poro Plushies

Rating: 5/5 (2 Customer Reviews)

Price: $20.00

Buy it on: Etsy by grnmarco

A great edition to any room, these Poro plushies are soft, cute, and admittedly adorable. Put them on display or cuddle them to sleep, just make sure you don't feed them. 

Champion Coffee Mugs

Rating: 4.5/5 (22 Customer Reviews)

Price: $14.50

Buy it on: Etsy by sublizona

Pique the coffee and tea drinker's interest with a customized mug with his/her favorite champion's picture and quote! This Etsy store sells many various champions such as Blitzcrank, Quinn, Riven, and more. 

Summoner Spell Magnets

Rating: 5/5 (270 Customer Reviews)

Price: $15.50

Buy it on: Etsy by ThekawaiiOD

Since it's safe to assume most of the population owns a refrigerator, these summoner spell magnets would be an awesome, versatile holiday gift idea for either a male or female. 

Champion Shot Glasses

Rating: 5/5 (279 Customer Reviews)

Price: $24.99

Buy it on: Etsy by PuppyBaoCreations

A series of shot glasses is great for any League of Legends partier! There's even a few LoL drinking games floating around, courtesy of the Reddit community, which is just another reason this present is perfect for the alcohol enthusiast. 

It's that time of year again!

As warm and exciting as the holiday season can be, this time of year couples hand-in-hand with the stress of finding that perfect present your friend, family member, or significant other will love. 

Nestle your uncertainty gently by the fire and leave the gift ideas to us! Here's a guide specifically for those gamers who love to spend his/her time competing valiantly against foes on Summoner's Rift. 

Thanksgiving will be here before you know it and children will be working hard on their Christmas lists for Santa. It also means that you only have about a month and a half remaining for Christmas/holiday shopping. Wal-Mart decided to help you out and revealed that they have one of the best Nintendo Wii U bundles around. If you don't have a Wii U yet, then this is the perfect bundle for you!

The bundle, exclusive to Wal-Mart, has all you need to have some fun this holiday season. For starters you get the Black 32 GB Wii U, which is perfect for how many games you might download from the eShop. It also comes with not one, but two games to play.

They are Mario Kart 8, which many people felt kept the system alive for Smash Bros, and Nintendoland, the Wii U's Wii Sports. Nintendoland tries to teach you the basics of the Wii U Game Pad and Mario Kart 8 has some of the best racing around. The bundle is priced at 300 dollars and around the holidays, people try to get the best deal around and this Wal-Mart bundle is one of the best deals around!

November is upon us and video game companies will be getting things ready for the Thanksgiving and December rush. It looks like Microsoft won't have a problem for this fall/holiday rush and the same can be said for the 2015 holiday window.

2015 looks strong with the likes of Halo 5: Guardians and Rise of the Tomb Raider hitting store shelves. Those are two of the bigger games that people are looking forward to during 2015 but there will be more games coming out that players will want to get their hands on. Beggars can't be choosers and with the launch window of the Xbox One not blowing people away, they have to gain the money back somehow and that's where the games come in.

2015 could be such a boom for Microsoft that games might get bumped just to give players a chance to breathe. It will also give people time to get more money so they can buy more games. There will be so many good games coming in 2015, that just by sheer numbers, some games will have to bumped to the following calendar year. Now, if Rare can get Banjo Kazooie back to the way it was and not that garbage they became, then people will be more receiving of this news.

This news could be just what the Xbox One needs or it could be an issue owners will not be too keen to hear. On one hand, it shows that companies are working hard all year and trying not to step on each others toes.

It also shows that the higher-ups want all the good games to get ample time in a gamers library. On the other hand, gamers might see this as a smack in the face that the companies know that the beginning of a gaming year is weak and games that are ready to be released are bumped/delayed for no other reason than just the rest of the month is weak. People hate when games that are ready to go get delayed for no reason but the same could be said about a weak launch window for a new system. Had the Xbox One launch been better, then system owners might have been a little more understanding with this news of the 2015-16 game library.

In some ways, we gamers are easy to shop for. We have a set list of games, genres, or platforms we play and it's easy to pick the best titles from among those. But beyond actual games, there's a world of great stuff for gamers: books, soundtracks, gear, and more.

Whether you want to surprise and delight your favorite gamer, introduce family and friends to your hobby, deck your halls with swag, or fill up that new tablet or console with hidden gems, following is our gift (guide) to you this holiday season:

• 19 Gripping Books for Gamers - Fill up shelves, Kindles, or tablets with words about games and gaming, from entertaining tales to video game history to game design theory.
• 10 Family Friendly Games for the Holidays - Take control at your family holiday party and spread the game love with these great multiplayer, family friendly titles.
• 17 Sweeping Game Soundtracks - Fill headphones with the best game soundtracks and make everyday life feel as epic as the boss battles in your favorite games.
• Top 10 Tabletop Games Under $25 - Looking to spice up game night? These great games will have your friends tossing the Monopoly board to the back of the closet.
• 8 Tabletop Accessories Under $25 - Your DM may let you live if you present some of these humble offerings at your next holiday-themed dungeon crawl.
• 13 Great Pixel Games for iOS - Just because you have a shiny new iPhone or iPad, that doesn't mean you can't revel in the classic graphic styles of yesteryear.
• Deck Your Desk with Gear Aplenty - Dress up your coworker's desk in gamer style with this sweet swag.
• Handmade Gifts For Your Favorite Gamer - For truly unique gifts, nothing shows you care like an awesome handmade Boba Fett apron.
• Gifts for the Girly Gamer - Here are some great ideas to delight the lady gamer in your life.
• Games and Things To Get Ya Movin' - Get off your butt and have fun with games and gear that encourage healthy living gamer-style.

Get In On the Guides!

Surely you've got your favorite niche, so why not share that passion with the world? Help others get into your favorite games, gear, or whatnot and we'd be happy to feature it in our growing list here.

What makes a good gift guide? Include these things and you're set:

• A theme: Maybe your theme is "I like these things", and that'd be okay. The more coherent your theme, the easier it is for your reader to grasp and go along with you. (Summing up your theme in your intro or first slide helps as well.)
• The name of each item: How can I search for it or ask about it at a store?
• Images or video of each item: What does it look like? What can I do with it?
• A short description: Why'd you include this in your list? What makes it stand out from other things like it?
• Where can I buy it? Because why bother recommending something if you don't share where to get it?

Once your guide is done, link it in the comments and we'll add it to the list!

Anthony Herrera’s Star Wars snowflake designs are the perfect winter decoration. Imagine your house, apartment, or dorm room covered in paper snowflakes. Now imagine that those snowflakes are in the shape of your favorite Star Wars character. Now stop imagining, because that’s going to happen.

On his website, Herrera has images and PDF templates for a variety of Star Wars snowflake designs. These gorgeous designs include Han Solo in carbonite, Rancor, Boba Fett, Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, Stormtroopers, and more. I don’t know about you, but to me, nothing quite says Christmas like an Emperor Palpatine snowflake.

Some of the designs look pretty complicated, but at least you’ve got a template to follow. All you need are scissors, a printer, paper, and (as Herrera suggests) an exacto knife. Herrera also offers a how-to video (shown above) where he walks you through using the templates and creating the perfect Star Wars snowflake. I think I know how I’m going to be decorating my dorm room this year!

Any Zelda fan can tell you that the most important items in a Zelda game are bottles. This hand-painted necklace by TorresDesigns is a replica of one of these bottles, made to look as if it is holding milk from Lon Lon Ranch. At only $14.99, it's definitely an affordable gift for the Zelda fan in your life.

I'll be honest, this Majora's Mask phone case, designed by KARIZENA, is almost making me wish I had an iPhone or a Samsung phone. However, I have a Motorola Droid 4 (which is nearly impossible to find cases for), so I have to pass on this awesome case. The case costs $15.80 and can be ordered for the iPhone 4, iPhone 5, Samsung S3, and Samsung S4.

I bought my 3DS the day after Ocarina of Time 3D was released. That Christmas, however, a Zelda-themed 3DS was put on the market. I really wanted it, but buying another 3DS just seemed silly. So I watched jealously as others bought it. 

I'm sure I'm not the only one who had this dilemma. Well, here's the answer to our problems, guys! This Majora's Mask decal by BetterStickers can be ordered for the 3DS, 3DS XL, or any other device you desire. At only $8, this is a lot more reasonable than buying a second 3DS.

A little on the pricier side at $190, these hand-painted shoes by BitsofRouge are totally worth the cost. This price also includes the cost of the shoes, and the shop owner offers the option of negotiating on price should you send in your own pair of shoes. The design can be altered to suit your personal taste, and it can be painted on any brand and style of shoe you desire.

First things first; you'll need a bag to hold all of your Majora's Mask loot, won't you? Why not this awesome bag from extraboomshop on Etsy? Don't particularly care for this design? No problem. It comes in four other Majora's Mask-themed styles.

With the holidays fast approaching, people are buying gifts left and right, marking loved ones off of a list. Here are some great gift ideas for the Zelda fanatics in your life. Alternatively, if you want this stuff, link this to your friends and family or share it on your social networking site of choice.

Dear Santa,

I'm not one to normally write a letter because I stopped believing in you so many years ago. I've always blamed you for my social disorder and uncheery demeanor around this time of year. It all started from the time I asked for an Atari gaming system in 1984 and you brought me a 10 speed bike claiming I should go out and play more. Well I did Santa, I went out and played, and I found it hard to make friends. I became that geeky weird girl in the neighborhood that wore the thick black rimmed glasses and snorted a lot. The girl who talked about super heros and video games when everyone else was talking about buying their first bra and starting her period. When someone asked me "Did you start your period yet?", do you know what I replied Santa? I replied "Oh yea, I'm already on level 15!" I had no clue what they were talking about unless it included video games and comic books, but I tried hard to fit in and only got laughed at.

In 1985 I asked for a Nintendo (NES) and you brought me a pair of skates. You told me skating would make me an athlete! A star in the Olympics! So I tried skating! I went outside and I rolled on those stupid ugly things for days without success. I ended up with bruises and bumps and a broken arm. The neighborhood laughed at me even more as I had to wear tape between my glasses when they broke during my fall and I had to beat the hell out of Peter Duran for putting that pebble in the path of my figure eight. I wouldn't have had that abuse if you had only brought me an NES!

A few years later in 1989 I asked for a Sega Genesis and you brought me some clothes. Clothes Santa? Really? You said you thought the clothes would give me a push in the right direction with the neighborhood kids, but Jordache Jeans had gone out of style and I endured the pain of being the cool kids tourture bag once again. I got so mad that year I stole Stephanie Braziel's pants out of the girls lockeroom because I liked hers better, but she ended up dating the guy I liked because she ran out of the gym in these frilly pink undies and landed right on top of him. I never get lucky! I should have known style was not one of your fortes, you work with a bunch of elves who wear the same thing everyday for crying out loud!

I gave up on asking you for anything after that, but I think I saw your fat tubby self at my wedding in 91. Yeah it was you. I saw you sitting at the bar with this cheery grin and writing my name down on the naughty list just because I lifted my dress and screamed "Donkey Kong Country!" while pointing between my legs. I was drunk! So what! You still ate all the cookies at the dessert table and the Vodka and Milk went missing.

1995 I wrote a letter to you asking for a Sony Playstation. You never responded. I burned my tree and made a bonfire in your name.

After all that, after all the times you have tried to get me to be a "normal" kid. I still haven't changed. I'm a big girl now with a degree in computer science and a love for playing video games that involve shooting jolly old men.

But I'm hoping we can put the past behind us now. Maybe we started off on the wrong foot? I'm willing to forgive you if you could at least look at how many times you've tried to get me to be everything else BUT myself. I love video games and computers and technology Santa and all those kids you wanted me to be like, well, now they want to be like me and I because of everything you've put me through, and everything you never got me, I've become a Super Nerdy Mom raising my own kids on everything you didn't believe in. No worries though Santa, even though you didn't believe girls should play video games, I somehow, for some reason, still believed in you.

Please bring me my PlayStation 4 this year.

Love,

Kat Mahoney

In the World of Warcraft universe, war is a constant. That means death is a constant. Mothers and fathers die daily in the game. What happens to their kids? Well, you get to take care of them for a week before they get shoved back into the orphanage for another year!

That's right! Everybody's favorite child endangering holiday is happening right now. From April 29th all the way up until May 6th, you'll be able to complete WoW achievements with an orphan orc or human out in order to get the Children's Week meta-achievement that's part of "What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been."

Just like most of the other holidays in the WoW universe, this is based off of a real life holiday as well: Japan's Children's Day. Except in Japan, I doubt they drag orphans everywhere with them.

I've yet to finish the WoW meta-achievement for Children's Week and I am not looking forward to the School of Hard Knocks part. It's supposed to be one of the worst in the lot of holiday events. Nonetheless, I will endeavor in an effort to obtain that sweet violet proto-drake.

During the winter in the northern hemisphere, most of us have become familiar with a certain holiday spirit. This will also bring about the great Feast of Winter Veil in World of Warcraft’s Azeroth. It occurs around Christmas and ends usually on January 2^nd in the real world. In the game, you’ll find lots of stuff to do, not the least of which involves dousing your friends with a bunch of snowflakes. Indeed, Winter Veil brings all the magic and spirit of the holiday season to your fantastical digital existence. You’ll find plenty of revelers, spells that will turn your mount into a reindeer, and even presents.

Indeed, in Ironforge and Orgrimmar, you’ll find huge trees with plenty of presents underneath. There are six different types of gifts, each of which will get you something special to make your winter holiday even more enjoyable. The Ticking Present (which requires that you be at least level 40) gives you either a Mechanical Greench that will protect your for 10 minutes or some preserved holly to make your mount more festive. There are plenty of other interesting little quirks surrounding the Winter Veil festivities; you just kind of have to be there to experience it first-hand.