7 hot holiday gaming gifts for 2012

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Features, Handhelds, Portable Audio / Video, Video Games

Now that Thanksgiving is over, the holiday shopping season is in full swing. Video games are always a hot item, with kids and adults alike wanting to get in on the action. We've put together eith different video game-related gifts that you pick pick up for your loved ones this holiday season, and we did our best to find something for everybody, starting with the Xbox 360 4GB Kinect holiday bundle. If you know someone who doesn't yet have an Xbox 360, then this is the one to get. They get the Kinect accessory included in the box, along with Disneyland Adventures and Kinect Adventures, two fun games. You can pick this one up for $249.99. Read on for the rest of our list!

Kinect Sesame Street TV is an educational title for the Xbox 360 geared towards young children. In the game kids are invited to experience the world of Sesame Street alongside their favorite characters, such as Big Bird, Grover, Cookie Monster and Elmo, like never before. With Kinect players to share in the experience through visual and physical interactions with characters of Sesame Street, placing them right in the Sesame Street experience.

The Nintendo Wii U Deluxe Set is arguably the hottest holiday gaming item for the 2012 shopping season. Nintendo's new console focuses on the unique GamePad, a controller with a display built right in. You get the Wii U console, a GamePad, sensor bar, AC adapters, HDMI cable, play stand, charging stand, and console stand for $349.99. Act quick, because this one will be hard to get.

343 Industries has taken over the Halo franchise, and begins a brand new trilogy with Halo 4 for the Xbox 360. Take the reigns as Master Chief and get ready to confront your destiny. There's also a new Spartan Ops multiplayer mode, a first for the series. You can pick up Halo 4 for $59.99.

Apple's iPod touch is marketed as being the "funnest iPod ever", but the introduction of the fifth generation model put it over the top. You've got the new 4-inch Retina display, FaceTime HD video chat, 5 megapixel rear camera with 1080p video recording, and built-in gyroscope all packed into the thinnest iPod touch ever--and now it's available in a bunch of colors - silver, pink, green, blue, black red, and yellow. Of course, you need great software running on hardware like this, and the App Store fits the bill with over 700,000 apps available. Prices start at $299 for the new 5th generation model.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II broke all previous video game records when it was released a couple of weeks ago--if you know someone who loves playing first-person shooters, then this is the one to get. This is the sequel to 2010's fantastic Black Os title, and the sequel places you in a Cold War that's set in the not-too-distant future. A fantastic single player campaign is complemented by top-notch multiplayer. This one is available on multiple console platforms for $59.99.

WWE '13 is the best wrestling video game since No Mercy was released on the Nintendo 64 almost a decade ago. Speaking of which, the game focuses a lot of its gameplay on the Attitude Era, which catapulted the WWE into the mainstream back in the late 90s and early 2000s. You get all of your favorite superstars of today, alongside the legends of yesteryear. WWE Champion CM Punk graces the cover of this year's release, which you can pick up for $59.99.

This post is sponsored by Best Buy. What will your gift do?