Know someone who is a tad geeky? We’re here to help you find the perfect gift, so here is our Holiday Gift Guide for all things very geeky. And we’ve ordered things from the least expensive to the most – so whatever budget you have set yourself, we have you covered.
Game Masters Book
This year, Melbourne’s Australian Centre for the Moving Image had an exhibition about video games. Did you know, there was also a book released as part of it? Containing profiles of designers and developers that were exhibited, plus a showcase of their best work; it also contains several essays about the gaming industry as a whole.
You can get the physical copy at the ACMI store, or order it through their website, for AU$15. There is also an eBook edition, only available through Apple’s iBookstore, which contains video interviews with the developers and designers for only $9.99.
Marvel Glass Tumbler Set
It is another unlikely item in our list, but if you (or you happen to know someone) are a Marvel Comics fan, then this one is for you. Basically, these are a set of four 16oz glasses that have the faces Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, Wolverine and The Amazing Spiderman; all in the Bronze Age style of graphics.
It is only around US$32 (of course, don’t forget to add shipping and handling), and with the Australian dollar being high as it is now, why not get it from America? You can buy the set of four glasses from PerpetualKid.
Firefly: A Celebration (Anniversary Edition)
If you know a Firefly fan, then you should have probably know that this year is its ten-year anniversary. And to celebrate that, Titan Books has released this companion book that features interviews, photos and even full scripts of every single episode of the series (there were only 14 episodes in the series).
You can purchase this from Amazon for around US$55.
Portal 2 Miniature Replica Portal Gun
Ever wanted your hands on a Portal gun? A full-scale replica was on sale beforehand, but that was only in limited supply. However, you can still own one with this miniature replica. And like the full-scale replica, it is fully functional (without that portal-creating bit) with sounds, LED lights and a extendable claw. And if you want to show it off as a collector’s item, there is also a display stand included.
It requires only 3 AA batteries, and costs US$59.99 through ThinkGeek.
Karotz
If you have heard of Nabaztag, then this may look familiar. This is the successor to Nebaztag, called Karotz. Basically, this is a Wi-Fi enabled device (shaped like a rabbit) that reads out your emails and tweets, the news or even the weather; plays music stored on a USB drive or internet radio; alerts you if you have a notification; and can be used as to keep an eye on your home.
The big thing is that it is extendable. There are plenty of apps, and you can even code some yourselves. It supports voice recognition and has a RFID chip to read ‘mini-Karotz’ that launches an app. You can even control the device through an app on your smartphone or tablet.
The Karotz costs US$129.99, plus US$50 shipping if you want to send it in Australia. It also comes with two mini-Karotz.
RVBX: Ten Years of Red vs. Blue Boxset
Ten years ago, a machinima series called Red vs Blue started. Centered around two teams fighting in a civil war, it quickly became popular not only amongst fans of the Halo franchise (in which the series is produced from) but the overall gaming community. Now, reaching ten years, the box set includes all ten season of Red vs Blue, plus its miniseries; and additional content like behind-the-scenes and interviews.
You can purchase the DVD version (US$139.95) or the Blu-Ray version (US$179.95) from the Rooster Teeth store.
Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0
Who wouldn’t want to build their own robot? Lego Mindstorms is their brand for their robotics kit, and in a nutshell, you basically develop your own robot with the included software. However, thanks to the community around it, you can do so much more – even strip out the included firmware and add your own to support a programming language, or even build more complex robots thanks to additional extras (which you have to purchase).
The base kit – the one above – does cost AU$450 (well, according to Big W). However, if you go to Amazon, it is far cheaper even when you factor in delivery costs.
Parrot AR.Drone 2.0
We previously covered the AR.Drone, and here’s its successor. The AR.Drone 2.0 is a quadicopter that is remotely controlled by your iOS or Android device, and the main idea is that you can simply fly it around for fun and play augmented reality games through the tablet or smartphone. Each game comes in its own app, in addition to the ‘free flying’ app – all for free.
In addition, there are two cameras – one at the front, and another at the bottom. Both are used to stream live video to your device to know where you are flying, but also can be used to record video in HD and take photos.
The AR.Drone 2.0 costs AU$349.95.
Kuratas
This, my friend, is a 13-foot mech. And yes, it is made in Japan. It is also very expensive – US$1.35 million for the base model. The Kuratas has 30 hydraulic joints so it can freely move its arms, legs and torso; fire rockets (only water bottles at the moment) and fireworks; and has a 6000 round-per-minute BB gattling gun. Pretty much, were slightly close to a robotic takeover of the world.
You can purchase it – if you have the money – at its official website.