GameSpot (www.gamespot.com), a leading gaming information site, today launched its Annual Holiday Gift Guide (http://www.gamespot.com/features/giftguide2004/), a complete round-up of the year's best games, organized by hot features, platform, genre, and Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating. This year's guide includes a new tool called "Ask GameSpot," which provides personalized game recommendations, as well as the return of the popular "GameSpot GiftFinder," which provides recommendations based on personality type.
"With more than 660 new games scheduled to come out this holiday season, shoppers -- especially parents -- need help finding fun and appropriate games for the people on their gift list," said Greg Kasavin, executive editor of GameSpot. "This year, GameSpot is helping them pinpoint the perfect gift -- whether they are buying for a young child, someone who is new to gaming, a hard-core gamer, or themselves."
"Ask GameSpot" makes it easy to find the perfect game for people who are already gaming fans. Shoppers simply type in the name of their loved one's favorite video game, and Ask GameSpot automatically creates a list of great gift ideas that are similar in genre and rating. For example: if a user typed in "Halo 2," "Ask GameSpot" would recommend such popular video games as "Unreal Tournament 2004" for the PC and "The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay" for the Xbox -- both excellent games in the vein of the popular Halo 2.
The GameSpot GiftFinder, which was introduced last year to rave reviews from GameSpot users, lets shoppers find the best games based on the recipients' personality type. They simply select from one of the eight personality categories, which include "The Connoisseur," who only wants the best of the best; "The Brainiac," who enjoys thought-provoking games; "Hard-Boiled," for aficionados of intense action gaming; and "The Armchair Jock," the ultimate sports game fan. Once a personality is chosen, the GameSpot GiftFinder searches from among the site's most highly rated games to come up with the best recommendations.
With Microsoft's Xbox hitting its stride, Sony offering a revamped PlayStation 2, Nintendo introducing the all new DS portable game system, and PC video cards more powerful and pricey than ever, GameSpot has created a special hardware gift guide to help consumers make the right choice for their gaming needs. This section offers recommendations which span categories including consoles, desktop PCs, video cards, and even game playing cell phones.
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GameSpot (www.gamespot.com) is a leading online source for gaming information. The GameSpot family includes GameFAQs, Game Rankings, Wireless Gaming Review, GameSpot DLX, and GameSpot Trax, its real-time market intelligence tool. GameSpot's Websites offer free access to tens of thousands of PC and video game reviews from expert editors, previews of the hottest upcoming games, game downloads, video streams, guides, breaking news, and hints. GameSpot also has one of the most active online gaming communities which is a free, innovative social network service that makes it fun and easy for gamers to meet and interact with others that share their specific gaming interests.
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