Sony has no less than three different game systems on the market these days. Perhaps surprisingly, it is the old PlayStation2 that offers the best value. Re-branded as a white Karaoke machine, complete with 2 microphones and a karaoke game bundled in, the old system has new legs as a "social game system" that also happens to play about 1400 other PlayStation2 games. The PlayStation3, meanwhile, recently stripped of it's more superfluous whistles and bells and reduced in price to a tantalizing $399, still lacks enough quality games to make it a viable gift idea for most, though some will love it nonetheless.



BEST BET:

SingStar PlayStation2 Pack
From: Sony
Price: US$149.99 | C$149.99 (yay parity!)

Wherefore: Sony has no less than three different game systems on the market these days, the PlayStation3 (PS3), the PlayStation Portable (PSP), and the erstwhile PlayStation2 (PS2). Perhaps surprisingly, it is the old (7 years and counting) PS2 that offers the best value as the SingStar PlayStation2 Pack at just $149.99. Newly re-branded and now available for the holidays as a white, limited-edition Karaoke machine -- complete with 2 microphones and a SingStar Pop karaoke game bundled in (more SingStar games of differing genres are also newly available), the old system has new legs as a "social game system" that also happens to play about 1,400 other PS2 games.

If you're considering a Wii for low-cost family fun or the odd occasion to entertain guests when they come around, the PS2 is hands-down the better deal.

Though it's controllers are wired (as opposed to tether-free wireless), the PlayStation2 today nonetheless boasts adequate graphical chutzpah, DVD movie playback, and a wealth of games to choose from, including a steady stream of new ones, some 160 of them slated for the holidays and through next year, many of them befitting that aforementioned "social gaming" inclination with the likes of multiplayer trivia and the aforementioned SingStar karaoke.

Who for: If there isn't already a PS2 in the house, get one for someone -- anyone -- and be done with it.

Also Consider… The PlayStation3, meanwhile, even with a new, 40GB model stripped of several whistles and bells (not the least of which is its ability to play old PlayStation2 games) and reduced in price to a tantalizing US$399.99 | C$399.99 -- and currently including a free copy of the sadly disappointing Spider-Man 3 in high-def on Blu-ray --, continues to suffer a comparative dearth of quality games and simply isn't a viable gift idea for most. There's also a "fully loaded," 80GB PlayStation3, currently bundle with the marvelous mud-mucking race game, MotorStorm, at a recently reduced US$499.99 | C$499.99. Buy a PS3 only for the Sony loyalist willing to wait a while longer for a bunch of great games that aren't also available on Xbox 360, and one who will appreciate the PS3's other functions in the meantime, like Blu-ray movie playback and other multimedia mojo.

And… also consider the Daxter PSP Entertainment Pack for gamers on the go who treasure processing power, multimedia moxy, (potentially) deeper game experiences and way more street cred than the stylus activated clam shell competitor. Now slimmer, lighter, and boasting a battery life verging on adequate, bundle in with a free copy of the long-playing, sufficiently engaging, saved-from-bargain-bin-obscurity, action/adventure game, Daxter, a copy of Family Guy - The Freakin Sweet Collection on UMD (mini PSP disc), plus a free 1GB memory stick so you can get to work on using the PSP as the music/media player it's also designed to be, this PSP bundle is a solid buy at US$199.99 | C$199.99.

Supplemental Stuff: Further expanding the PlayStation3's "other" functions, the PlayStation Eye is a sophisticated camera and microphone array used both in games (see Eye of Judgment, for example, which includes the Eye along with a game) as well as for user-based shenanigans like video chat, custom character design, and video capture and editing. If you or your special someone has already blown a wad on a PS3, another US$39.99 | C$39.99 for the Eye is a good peripheral supplement.

 
 

It's true: Quality kids games are hard to find. Sure, there's lots out there, but few that are both good and genuinely kid-friendly. Fortunately, GamersGate online games portal has an entire section dedicated to quality family fare. Go ahead, check it out!