Christmas buying guide for video games

Smack dab in the middle of a recession, the video gaming industry saw its best year ever in 2008: $22 billion, with $11.7 billion of that spent on software, according to Michael Gallagher, president and CEO of Entertainment Software Association, who calls it a "record year, by far."

Fast-forward to Christmas 2009 and the scramble to get the perfect gifts for people you love.

Fiscal challenges may make buying the right game just a little bit more important than in some years.

How do you pick with so many games out there, since "it's never been easier to publish a game," says Gallagher. It's an open environment with a growing audience that includes entire families playing the games together.

ESA says that 68 percent of U.S. households play computer or video games. Of players, 60 percent are male, but women make up a "significantly greater proportion" of the game-playing population than boys 17 and younger (34 percent to 18). And the average age of the frequent game-buyer is 39.

We've put together some suggestions to help you with your Christmas shopping. And don't overlook the potential for a vast online gaming experience, either, Anyone with a PS3 or Xbox 360 and high-speed Internet who isn't using the rich online offerings is missing out. You can get a $40 annual membership from Amazon.

Happy shopping.

Rated E for Everyone

NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. WII(Wii, by Nintendo). This is one of the few games that all stages and ages of gamers will enjoy. It's solo or cooperative, depending on your whim. You can play it with a few of your pals. And it has the charm and color that has always marked this series. Delightful.

FAMILY GAME NIGHT 1 & 2 (DS, PS2, Wii, Xbox 360, by Electronic Arts). The original "Family Game Night" showed up for Wii players last year and was popular enough that now (finally) you can find it on other systems.

And the sequel is back for the Wii. Between the two titles you can play all kinds of versions of Connect 4, Battleship, Operation, bop it! Jenga, Pictureka! Sorry, Scrabble, Boggle and Yahtzee. Electronic versions are as good or better than the original, and Mr. Potato Head cleans games up every time and never loses the pieces.

MEDIEVAL GAMES (rated E10, Wii, by Vir2L Studios). Well-designed for the Wii controller, it features 30 minigames, is fun for single players or groups, features male and female playable characters, and is easy to pick up and play. This is real family fun.