Here at BuzzFocus, we’re always in search of hot new items for the Holiday. Whether you’ve just been potty trained or you’re out their making a living in the real world there’s a gift out there for you. In this Holiday Gift Guide we find gifts for children of all ages, but our focus is on our younger audience. We’re all about TV and Gaming enthusiasts at BuzzFocus, so we tried to tie most of these gifts into their TV, Movie and Gaming counterparts.
This list has a little something for everyone, from Bakugan gamers to Rock Band players to the millions of Lucas followers. Spin Master makes our list several times with a few excellent toys for boys and girls. Even Anime fans, Pixar dreamers and Web Series fanatics will find something on this list. We’ve also got a few Blu-ray movies like Up and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. For Dads and Moms we’ve got gifts for the kid in you, and we haven’t forgotten about the need for gifts of literacy in the Holiday Season. Check it out.
Bakugan! Bakugan! Bakugan!
What is the deal with a little ball that you roll and flips open on a magnetic card? Adults can’t figure out why children love it so much, but that may just be the reason. Bakugan Battle Brawlers continues to be the hottest property in boys action. This is the first trading card game that features transforming action figures (THEY’RE NOT DOLLS MOM!) And, this Holiday season the most awesome Bakugan to date has been introduced - The 7 in 1 Maxus Dragonoid. It combines 6 Bakugan Trap and 1 Dragonoid Bakugan to create the ultimate monster! Package includes 1 Gate Card and 1 Ability Card. This is one gift that will bring a smile faces around the world for the holiday. And, you won’t shoot your eye out like Red Ryder BB gun in A Christmas Story.
Dads, just in case you didn’t get what the 7 in 1 means, these Bakugans merge to form one GIANT BAKUGAN like Devestator from Transformers G1.
You’ve got the Touch! - The Apple Touch!
Who knew that when Stan Bush sang You’ve got the Touch, in The Transformers: The Movie, he would be inspiring Steve Jobs nearly two decades later to create a device by that name. Okay, so maybe that little history lesson is a little far fetched, but the Touch is all too real. Not only is the Touch great for playing movies and TV Shows, but it’s also the gaming system for casual gamers. Statistics show that most casual gamers are woman. So, husbands looking to bring some holiday cheer home may want to consider investing in an Apple Touch.
Apple iPod touch 32 GB (3rd Generation) NEWEST MODEL
I’ll never give up… THAT’S MY NINJA WAY! - Naruto Shippuden
The plucky young ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village is all grown up, and so are your children. Naruto and his friends are back as full fledged Ninjas in Naruto Shippuden. Naruto has fast become the symbol of ninja perseverance. He only wants one thing: to become Hokage, leader of the Hidden Leaf. Unfortunately, Naruto must fight greater threats this season as his childhood friend Sasuke Uchiha is out for blood. In Shippuden, Orochimaru is only a modest danger when compared to the immediate threat of the Akatsuki.
The series begins with the Akatsuki targeting the Village Hidden in the Sand, now led by Gaara. Gaara battles Deidara, an violent ninja who makes exploding animals out of origami. Yikes!
Naruto: Shippuden, Vol. 1
Naruto: Shippuden, Vol. 2
Naruto: Shippuden, Vol. 3
LIV GIRLS - There’s So Much to Being a Liv Girl
Spin Master, the company that brings home the Bakugan fun, is back on the Holiday Gift Guide with a doll series that aims to please. Liv Girls is one of the hottest new items on the holiday shelves, and they didn’t even need a hit Anime series to get there. Meet Alexis, Sophie, Katie, and Daniela - Four BFFs who are real teenage girls with trend-setting styles. What’s even cooler is that these for teenage girls have a website (www.livworld.com) where you can hang out with the girls online and visit their online diaries, virtual closets, photo albums, webisodes and more. Pretty darn awesome, huh?
The cool features include easy to change wigs, 14 points of articulation so you can create lots of great
poses, and real glass-like eyes that that add to their amazing look. If you’ve got a daughter this is the hot item for the holiday. Plus, with an under $20 bucks price tag, you can’t go wrong.
Liv Fashion Doll - Alexis
Liv Fashion Doll - Sophie
Liv Fashion Doll - Daniela
Liv Fashion Doll - Katie
Sony PS3 - Let’s Face it, Blu-ray is In
Okay, before you start screaming “money doesn’t grow on trees,” remember that the PS3 is also a nifty little Blu-ray player. This year the system lost a few pounds and got a sleeker slimmer design. If you’re not buying this for your children, buy it for your husband… we’re sure he won’t argue. On a different note President Obama did initiate “Educate to Innovate” initiative. Sony was one of the first private gaming companies to jump on board to utilize the gaming console as an educational instrument in boosting STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education. So, this may be a perfect time for children to show their parents that consoles can be educational too.
Despite a buggy online system, the PS3 online Network is still free. So, that’s a definite bonus over Xbox life. Also, be sure to check out out our TV and Movie Blu-ray Gift Guides to see what you need to pop into your new HD player.
Kindle Wireless Reading Device
What can be better than the gift of reading? Amazon’s Kindle is still one of the hottest items to own any holiday season. The lightweight-book-reading device can hold up to 1,500 books. The display is so sharp it compels you to read. So whether your shopping for a child, husband, wife, mother, father or sibling - the Kindle is the gift of literacy that just keeps on giving.
Yes, moms and dads need to reed too!
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
This is without a doubt one of top video games released in 2009. If you haven’t picked up Modern Warfare 2 yet, you don’t know what you’re missing. Several gamers are already calling it the best Call of Duty release to date (hmmm?). The gift of Modern Warfare 2 is the gift that will bring hours of holiday fun to console gamers looking to kick back and enjoy the online gaming community. Whether your gamertag is Jack Bauer (24) or Michael Westen (Burn Notice), this game will surely delight.
Let us know your Gamertag when you get on!
Modern Warfare 2 for Xbox 360
Modern Warfare 2 for PS3
Nintendo DSi
Nintendo released their DSi this year, kicking up the cool factor on portable gaming. New games released this year like iCarly feature games that utilize the portable player’s camera.
Once again the Nintendo takes a lesson from Steve Jobs and has released several versions of the DSi, so be sure to find out what color you want before you buy. Otherwise, you’ll joint the post-holiday return merchandise rush.
Air Hogs Laser Zero Gravity
We’re always skeptical of remote control toys. How many times as a kid have you seen fancy commercials with toys that can do almost anything, but ended up breaking only minutes after you started playing with them… or even worse, they never worked at all. We’re happy to say we’ve found one RC racing toy that does just what it claims. The Laser Zero Gravity is a fully functional RC car that drives on the floor, up the walls and even upside-down. Oh, and this is another product from Spin Master, those guys are really leading the wave on toy fare for the holidays.
Dragon Ball Z: Dragon Box One
Finally Dragon Ball Z as it was meant to be released. This is the box as it was originally produced in Japan in rare quantities. The picture and audio quality is unmatched when compared against the previous releases. So, if you’re a purist you’ll want to own this DBZ version, containing the first 42 episodes on 6 discs.
If you haven’t had a chance to check out Dragon Ball Z yet, this is a great time to hop on and see what all the craze is about. KA-ME-HA-ME-HAAAAAAA!
The Game of Things
You’ve probably been wondering, why all the electronics? What happened to good old fashioned board games? Well, Parker Brothers has broken the mold once again on boxed-up-fun. “The Game of Things” claims the title of humor in a box.
When you’re not having a Wii or Rock Band/Guitar Hero party check out this outrageous party game that includes 300 hilarious topic cards that provoke even more hilarious responses.
Up (4 Disc Combo Pack with Digital Copy and DVD) [Blu-ray] (2009)
DISNEY! DISNEY! DISNEY! Pixar is all over our holiday gift guide. And, why not?
“Up” is a great Pixar film, packaged with an interactive trivia experience in “Global Guardian Badge Game?” Does life get better? It’s doubtful. Up was already a great film, highly recommended for anyone of any age, but with the Blu-ray release of Pixar’s latest getting the full Disney treatment, it becomes one of the best home video releases of 2009.
Transformers Movie 2 Leader Optimus Prime
Every generation needs an Optimus Prime toy. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen may have been the worst Michael Bay film to date, but kids just love it. So, you’ll probably get a smile from your son if you pick him up an Optimus Prime toy. He’ll have a ball pretending to be the voice of Peter Cullen and lead his Autobots to victory.
This Optimus may not be made of the die-cast metal G1 fans remember, but it’s probably better that way. For the kids at least.
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (2009)
Sorry, Peter Pan, but Tinker Bell is back in her second solo movie. Hmm, maybe you “should” grow up? Join everyone’s favorite Pixie this holiday in another wondrous adventure brought to you by Disney - the house of mouse.
Bonus Features include: Fairy Bloopers: Fairies Make Mistakes Too, Magical Guide to Pixie Hollow: Explore the magical Guide Ths Time in the Autumn Area of Pixie Hollow, Pixie Preview: Exclusive Animated Vignette featuring Tink and her friends, Deleted scenes with filmmaker intros, Pixie Hollow comes to Florida: Discover how the filmmakers help transform Epcot Center into Pixie Hollow
Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker (The Ice Cream Ball)
Remember the Easy Bake Oven? Well, UCO has created the play and freeze Ice Cream maker that will cool you off on a summer day. If you want to go snow cone for the holiday, this is the way to go. But, what’s even cooler is this device looks like a Pokeball from Pokémon. So, while you’re making Ice Cream, you can also scream, “Pikachu, I choose you!”
The Beatles: Rock Band - The One Music Sim YOU NEED
Every time you pick up a music simulation title, you ask yourself one question, “Are the songs any good.” The title, here, says it all. The Beatles. This music sim release from MTV Games is back to front amazing. Each song is a hit. The animations are a nice blend of new age style with a vintage motif. If there is one music sim title you pick up this holiday season, The Beatles: Rock Band should be your top choice. Trust me, you’ll dig the Beatles 1967 studio period. I know I did. I won’t spoil the experience with my reasons. I’m sure Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble), on Fringe, would instantly get my point and be completely enthralled by the experience.
MTV/Harmonix is releasing several additional albums, like “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” to keep the DLC (downloadable content) flowing like egg nog for the holiday.
LEGO Star Wars Venator-class Republic Attack Cruiser (8039)
One of our favorite shows that has taken off this season is Star Wars: The Clone Wars. As such we couldn’t let this holiday gift guide conclude with out some Star Wars action. No matter what year it is, two names have always maintained a strong ranking during the holiday: Lego and Star Wars. This Lego Star Wars cruiser is the perfect blend of both worlds.
You have to give it to Lucas for always finding away to make it onto everyone’s holiday gift guide. He’s good at that. What can you say?
Bakugan Battle Brawlers
I bet you thought we were done with Bakugan? Not in the least. Activision released this version of Bakugan Battle Brawlers that raised the bar on the kids card game. Several mini games were added to give the game a G-powered boost. If you’ve ever played Bakugan, this definitely looks like it will be a great game to pick up for the holiday season.
There are tons of unlockable items in this game, from customizable swag to Bakugan charge-ups, so it’s sure to provide hours of fun.
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Two-Disc Edition + Digital Copy) [Blu-ray] (2009)
G.I. Joe may have jumped the shark when it came to incorporating Accelerator Suits to give the Joes superhuman powers, but the film had its share of laughs that made it an entertaining, albeit G1 disrespecting, good time.
And, hey, who doesn’t like seeing Snake-Eyes, right? That’s the one ninja who just can’t die, and is totally believable as a modern day immortal. I bet he makes Vampire Bill on “True Blood” jealous.
I saw Gamestop had a Black Friday deal for PS3 with LittleBigPlanet and God of War 1 & 2. It seemed like such a good deal I almost bought it before I remembered I already own a PS3. Ah well. I’m all about the iPod Touch this year. Interesting mix on the list. I’ll get to check out this “Game of Things.”
Call of Duty is the greatest game of the year! I can’t stop playing. If I’m not playing that, I’m playing Dragon Age - 30 hours in and counting!
Downloaded AbbY ROad the other day on RB Beatles and Sgt Peppers. Freakin’ Awesome.
THat Star Wars Cruiser looks awesome. I wish I had a kid so i had an excuse to buy it. then again it’s probably better i don’t because i would take it from him and play with it. My nephew plays Bakugan. I don’t get it. Pokemon and Yugioh are at least more like MAGIC.