Try to be impartial, and ask yourself, does your child deserve the PlayStation3? How good does a kid have to be to earn a graphics-rendering god while at the same time putting you in the war zone that is Best Buy? Let’s assume you’re not Pollyanna’s parent but still worry that your gift-grubbers might be spending too much time outside with friends. Kill two birds with this selection of stones, and give a well-earned gift while offering up a friendly reminder that, “I love you, but you can always do better.”

This article appears in December 1 • 2006.

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James graduated from Columbia University in 2000 and moved to Austin a year later. Ever since, he has followed the arts and video game scene in ATX, editing and writing stories for the Chronicle along the way. Over his more than 20 years with the paper he has climbed the "corporate" ladder from lowly intern to managing editor.