Christmas Shopping List

Deck the halls with boughs of holly ... and a pile of PC goodies!

So it's nearly time for Santa to make his annual visit, but does he know what to bring you? Stuck for ideas for the jolly fat chap? Here are my recommendations for a happy Christmas Day:

Games

Half Life 2:Episode 2 represents PC gaming at its best. Whether you buy it on it's own or as part of the Orange Box (with Team Fortress 2, Portal and the other HL2 games), you're in for a treat! Great gameplay, compelling storyline, quality throughout.

Test Drive Unlimited gives you the opportunity to drive various exotic cars and motorbikes around the beautiful island of Oahu. TDU Unlimited is the first true MMO driving game and allows yuo to challenege other players as you see them on the road.

Lego Star Wars II:The Original Trilogy isn't just a game for the kids - don't be fooled by those cartoon graphics. It's a must for all fans of the original Star Wars films, with some great humour injected into the Lego recreations of those classic film scenes.

Call Of Duty 4:Modern Warfare takes the series from the familiar surroundings of World War II and moves to the current day, in a theatre of war that echoes current global conflicts.

Hardware

The Microsoft Sidewinder is a gaming mouse I've really warmed to. When I first saw it I thought it was a really ugly looking thing but after a quick go with it I think I prefer it to both the Logitech G9 and Razer Lachesis, particularly as it's a bit cheaper. You might not want to spend this much money on a gaming mouse, but maybe Santa will.

The Logitech G15 is another expensive purchase, but definitely worth considering if your keyboard is in need of replacement. A quality gaming keyboard packed with great features. If you can find one get yourself the refreshed Version II, but if you want to save a bit of money you can still find the original G15 for a knocked down price.