Navigating the market for gamers this Christmas

Video games are becoming like books, with something for everyone.

That's how it happens that a cooking tutorial, a racing game and a return to a much, much earlier time all made it onto our list of prominent games on the market heading into the Christmas buying season.

According to the Entertainment Software Association, 67 percent of households played video games in 2001. While the percentage of players who are male surpasses that of females (60 percent to 40 percent), the percentage of adult women who play is far above that of boys 17 and younger (33 percent vs. 20 percent). So chances are pretty good you know someone who would very much like a new video game this season.

Great games are great games, old and new. You could always visit a used-game store and mine some old gems that your particular group or gamer missed.

But we're focusing on the fairly new to brand new for the current generation of consoles (Nintendo DS, PC, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360), though the list is far from exhaustive with so much from which to choose in a multibillion-dollar industry.

We sent our elves out to test a few, and here are our findings, presented in no particular order:

Xbox 360 add-on device: Kinect — If you have lots of space in your gaming area, and you like dance games, this might be the greatest gaming device ever. This device uses cameras to make your body the game's controller. $150

PlayStation3 add-on device: Move — Roughly the equivalent but an improved version of the Wii's control system, consumers must buy this its parts. While not revolutionary, it is solid and, like everything else in this realm, the quality will eventually depend on the quality of games. A two-player experience will set you back close to $150

America's Test Kitchen: Let's Get Cooking (DS, rated E for everyone) — This isn't a game really but a cookbook that talks instructions, offers tutorials and accepts voice commands so you don't get raw flour or chicken on your DS. It even assigns tasks if you have helpers in the kitchen. A bewildering gift for Mom, until she uses it. $19.99

Harry Potter Lego: Years 1-4 (DS, PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox-360, rated E 10+) — Critics liked but didn't love this game that brings the charm of the highly successful Lego series of games (Star Wars, Batman, Indiana Jones) to Hogwarts. It is the best of the Lego series so far (no small feat) and is massive with great replay value. The DS version (cheaper) is not as good as its console cousins. $49.99