What do you want for Christmas?

[One, Two, Middlesboogie]

Yeah, I know, it's only October (well, it's actually September as I type this, but it'll be October by the time most people read this), but I normally start my Xmas shopping round about now, before the mad rush starts, and to get it over and done with.

Things which I want but (very obviously) won't get:

• Two WipEout ships (a sleek Assegai for the city, and a hard-ass Tigron for the country)
• A paintball gun
• A Glukkon (1st choice Brewmaster, 2nd choice Phleg, 3rd choice Dripik)
• Plastic surgery that will give me wings, claws, night vision, a prehensile tail, fangs and longer arms so I can run on all fours

Things which I want and have a slim (but existent) chance of getting:

• DJ decks
• An XBox
• A new bike
• A portable Mp3 player (there's one I've got my eye on, but I can't remember what it's called)
• WipEout 3 Special Edition (not because it's expensive; it's just v. hard to track down)
• Tickets to see J M Jarre in concert

Things which I want and have a high chance of getting:

• A Game Boy Advance
• HMV vouchers (I don't know if they have HMV outside Britain... it's a chain store that sells things to do with music and console games. It's easier asking my parents for vouchers than it is telling them which particular CDs or games I want)
• Some more Zip disks

Things which I always get whether I want them or not:

• Socks
• Funny T-Shirts that say things like 'No More Ms Nice Woman!'
• Nail varnish
• Modelling clay
• Sketchbooks
• Fibre-tip pens
• Amusing novelty biros
• Colouring pencils
• Chocolate
• Book tokens
• A £10 cheque or two (Grrr! I want cash, not cheques! If people send me cheques, I can't get the money until I'm 18 as I only have a Post Office account; not a bank account)
• Perfume
• Bath bombs
• A 'grow-your-own-(insert name of silly-sounding plant)' kit
• Origami textbooks
• Stuff for doing cross-stitch with (that reminds me; I haven't done any cross-stitch in ages!)
• At least four revolting naff things that most sane people would only consider picking up with eight pairs of gloves on

[Gluk Schmuck]

Originally posted by One, Two, Middlesboogie:
A £10 cheque or two (Grrr! I want cash, not cheques! If people send me cheques, I can't get the money until I'm 18 as I only have a Post Office account; not a bank account)

you can't get money from cheques??? i can...do you need a bank account?

Since you're offering, i'll have:

• An Xbox (or enough money for one)
• All the Wip3out games (for PS1 & Xbox) (if i haven't already got them)
• a few DVDs (when i get my Xbox)
• Money
• Money
• Money
• A trip to OWI
• loads of other games for PS1 & Xbox
• PSX PAL AE!!!
• New processor
• New motherboard
• New TV
• Dolby Digital 5.1 (or higher)
• loads of A*s for my GCSEs (i suppose i could wait till June)
• Subscription to Edge and New Scientist

[One, Two, Middlesboogie]

Whereabouts in the UK do you lve, Gluk Schmuck? If you live anywhere near Kingston, try GAME in the Bentall's centre. They nearly always have a copy in stock.

In Teddington (near Kingston) there's an independent shop called Mad Andy's, which sells both new and secondhand games at excellent prices. They have AE for PSX for only 8 quid.

[LuxoJr]

They have AE for PSX for only 8 quid.

I love that word.

[Wil]

He he, even quid has a nickname: squida.

I think this year Christmas has started earlier than ever. Already, here at least, shops have started filling with Christmas-bonanza quantity of toys, and the TV is full of toy adverts. The best Christmases ever are those where you know it's coming, but there's no adverts or excitment until the actual day. I love those.

Did you know we can expect to spend a quarter of our lives anticipating Christmas?

As for my Christmas wishlist, there's not really much on it. Obviously Xbox and Munch's Oddysee are on there, but other than that:

• Loopy Landscapes, the add-on pack to RollerCoaster Tycoon
• Catz 4 (and possibly Oddballz, I haven't decided)
• Some kind of website-maker software program (any suggestions?)
• Some kind of computer program that allows you to, say, select instruments, write a tune for them, then play the music (any suggestions?)
• That's about it.
• Oh no: Mike Oldfield albums - Hergest Ridge, Ommadawn and The Orchestral Tubular Bells in that order

[One, Two, Middlesboogie]

Originally posted by Max the Mug:

Some kind of computer program that allows you to, say, select instruments, write a tune for them, then play the music (any suggestions?)

There's something like that for the PS2; MTV Music Generator 2. It's excellent! If you want something for a PC, try downloading the Acid Player (http://www.acidplanet.com/), but it's really only good for dance music.
There's also a CD ROM called Magix Music Maker, which is supposed to be good; but I haven't tried it, so I don't know.

MTV Music Generator 2 may have a PC version; I don't know. Its precursor (Music 2000 in the UK, MTV Music Generator in the States) is available on both PSX and PC.

I agree with you about the Xmas adverts. There are too many, too early, and they reek of cash-in.

[Gluk Schmuck]

Originally posted by One, Two, Middlesboogie:
In Teddington (near Kingston) there's an independent shop called Mad Andy's, which sells both new and secondhand games at excellent prices. They have AE for PSX for only 8 quid.

That was a complete stab-in-the-dark...i live in Bradford...last time i checked, no game store i've visited has it and no online store has it...
i'll have to go there if i ever go anywhere near there...

[DarkHoodness]

What do i want for christmas? CASH!
I mean, I'd be better if I got some cash because then I could buy anything I want with it instead of getting some stupid presant that I can't find a use for.

What would I buy with that cash? Probably a few computer games.
- DH

[Oddworld Master]

hey ill bet i got the smallest list of ya all
a play station 2
beanie babies
and abe's oddysee

[Danny]

oh god, i'm not that demanding when it comes to material possessions. i mean, i want them, but i'm never sure what i want until i get it...

but i'll give this a go...

• Some albums, maybe?
• Some Books?
• ummm... Money?
• yeees... that's right, money...
• Money... [i'm getting good at this, aren't i?]
• what? you want me to stop asking for money? okay then...
• i want to be able to go and visit some of my friends who have gone off to university over the last month... [damn damn damn, that wasn't a material possession! ah, well, i suppose non-material things can be wished for as well...]
• World Peace
• ah, hell with it, i'll get what i'm given!

[abe22]

YES I have to agree with you on MONEY I love money other stuff would be

playstation games
link cable for playstation
computer stuff
MONEY MONEY MONEY

[FuzzyFuzzle]

I want a bunch of Xbox games, some books, money, a prosthetic disco eye ball (best stocking stuffer I know), maybe an Xbox controller (depending on if I already bought all 4, and a monkey who can play Xbox games and counterfeit money. (it wasn't me officer, it was the monkey!)

[Wil]

Forget Christmas, it's me birthday in 6 days time. Yea-har!

Oh well. Thanks for the advice, Middlesboogie, I'll have to check your suggestions out.

[Black Dragon]

Christmas, already? Well...let's see...I want money, Adobe Photoshop, money, a new bassoon, money...did I mention money? Hehe, seriously though, I tell everyone to get me money so that I can buy what I want. Unfortunately, my grandmother has this thing where she refuses to give me money and has to buy me a present...usually something I really don't want. *Groans*

[Capri Ream]

-An Xbox with Munch's Oddysee (DUH!!)
-A CD drive for my laptop.
-Dance Dance Revolution
-A Playstation 2 with Final Fantasy X
-CLOTHES!!!!!!!!!!
-MAKEUP!!!!!!!
-MKONEY, MONEY, AND MORE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Greedy litlle monster, ain't I?

[Joe the Intern]

ahhhh yes christmas. that time of year when you get crappy clothes, socks, shoes, more shoes, yet more shoes, and rarely a video game. well this year im hoping for

• xbox games! a ps2 so i can get some cool new games. (yes a cliche)MOOLAH! visit to OWI (thatll never happen ) and... lets see... a pony!
  j/k

[Teal]

Meh, I never know what I want for Christmas. I know it sounds corny, but I prefer sitting in anticipation for people to open what I've got for them, especially if it's something I only thought of after thinking a long while about and they'll never guess what it is...

Music is usually a good bet, though... Or art things. *shrugs* I don't care what I get at Christmas/birthdays, so long as no-one forgets me.

[Wil]

Yes, Teal, you're right. I'd forgotten the excitment of buying other people presents, wrapping them secretly, then realising you forgot to put them under the tree. Good ol' Xmas, eh?

I still don't like the commercialisation of it. You don't see massive corporations advertising Easter Eggs on TV, do you? Well, I don't anyway. Or pancake mixes for Shrove Teusday. It's ridiculous.

[Danny]

to be honest, i think the best thing is when you see other people opening the presents you got them [assuming they like them, of course...] - christmas shopping is hell, but it's worth it...