A Wish List for Gamers

PlayStation 3

One selling point for Sony's game console is that the system also lets users play movies in the high definition Blu-ray format.

· LittleBigPlanet -- Players control a whimsical character who hops and climbs his way through a series of obstacle courses in a mostly two-dimensional world. But the really interesting part about this game is how it lets players build and upload their own levels. Some folks are buying the PlayStation 3 just to check out this title this season. (Rated E. $60.)

Xbox 360

Microsoft's console has some nifty features and some hot games not available elsewhere. A recent revamp of the system's software interface means that Netflix subscribers can use the system to stream a selection of video content instantly.

· Fable II -- As players explore a mythical kingdom called Albion, they have a lot of freedom to choose whether their characters are good guys or bad guys as they go on quests, take jobs, start a family. While the list of possibilities in this game is long, the control scheme is simple enough to not frustrate the casual player. This title looks a little cheerier than the other titles on the blockbuster list, but don't let that fool you. There are adult themes aplenty. (Rated M. $60-$70.)

· Gears of War 2 -- Most action games encourage a run-and-gun approach, but this game emphasizes that players find a place to duck behind as they take on the role of a warrior named Marcus Fenix. The settings in this game are beautiful, though a video game where the trademark weapon is a machine gun melded to a chainsaw probably shouldn't be described as subtle. (Rated M. $60-$80.)

Computer games

Macs have sometimes been left out of the fun when it comes to new releases, but both of these popular releases are designed to run on both Windows and Mac systems.

· Spore -- The guy who created The Sims was at the helm of this Pixar-looking game, which lets users take control of a species from the cellular level all the way up to the era when they develop space-travel technology, venture forth and travel into the universe. This game has been knocked by some users for its copy control scheme, designed to limit the number of computers on which it can be installed. ($50-$80.)

· World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King -- If someone on your gift list wants this title, they will have already told you. With 11 million subscribers, the online sword-and-sorcery title World of Warcraft is a phenomenon unto itself. This add-on to the popular game opens up new quests and realms to the WoW fan. (Rated T. $40-$100, Internet connection and $15 monthly subscription fee required.)