Father's Day Gift Guide
Jun 13, 2008
Looking for a great video game present for your dad? Look no further than our Father's Day Gift Guide.
Here are our recommendations, helpfully categorized by our patent-pending system of Dad Types. Just find your Dad Type, read the suggestions, and voila: the perfect gift.
We guarantee he'll appreciate these more than a tie, golf balls, gel shoe inserts, a bottle of motor oil, a case of Centrum Silver, or any other ho-hum items you may have been considering.
Let's get started.
 SPORTS DAD |
Everyone knows at least one Sports Dad. Sports Dad's mood hangs on the fortunes of his favorite baseball, football, or basketball team, depending on the time of year. Put a smile on his face with one of our suggestions.
Madden 08
Madden needs no introduction. If your Sports Dad doesn't already have the latest version, your Father's Day worries are over. If he does, though, they're just starting. Madden NFL 2008 introduces new control features, graphical upgrades, and, of course, the all-important roster updates.
Game Page ... Screenshots ... Videos ... Cheats
Skate
Just because your dad is a dad doesn't make him a dork. If he sports inked arms, at least one piercing and fondly recalls the old-school days of Powell Peralta, chances are he'll kickflip over EA's fantastic skateboarding game. He might some help with the controls, but soon enough he'll be grinding with glee through the massive, open city of San Vanelona in this authentic, funny and flat-out fun take on his beloved pastime.
Game Page ... Screenshots ... Videos ... Cheats
 MECHANIC DAD |
Usually seen as nothing more than a pair of feet sticking out from under his latest "project," Mechanic Dad trades in his vehicle every six weeks, has a garage so full of tools he has to keep his car outside, and his idea of fun is a complete transmission teardown on a 1959 Chevy.
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue
If Mechanic Dad's got a PS3, there's no good reason he shouldn't be tinkering with this short-form version of Sony's racing masterpiece. Though it's just a prelude to the full game release sometime next year, it's got enough power under the hood to keep him tweaking ratios and adjusting torque for the rest of 2008.
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Forza Motorsport 2
"But wait!" you holler. "That game came out last year!" Correct, and if Mechanic Dad isn't playing it, you should be ashamed. Microsoft's answer to Gran Turismo is still far and away the best simulation racer on the planet. Using the game's deep customization and tuning feature, he can build his dream ride, set it up to his taste, and take it to the test track, all without the need for those troublesome second mortgages.
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 GARDENING DAD |
Is your dad of the green-fingered persuasion? You might be thinking there's no way a video game would make a good Father's Day present. You'd be wrong. Or wrong-ish, at any rate.
Magic Farm
Okay, so it's not exactly the brimming with testosterone. But don't be fooled by Magic Farm's fantastical setting - this is an addictive gardening game in which players must grow and harvest flowers while managing resources and contending with pests. Gardening Dad will dig it. Literally.
 HISTORY DAD |
History Dad is obsessed with the past. He spends his time poring over dry historical textbooks, watching History Channel specials, and arranging toy soldiers into recreations of classic conflicts. Set him up with one of these suggestions and enjoy the peace and quiet as he retreats behind his computer for weeks.
Medieval II: Total War
Take History Dad back to Europe in the turbulent medieval period. He'll have to balance religion, politics and war-making, and in addition to raising forces he'll be able to develop merchants, spies, assassins and priests to spread his influence.
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Civilization 4
Turn-based strategy games are right up History Dad's street, and he'll love the chance to replay classic moments in the history of civilizations. What would have happened if the Ancient Britons had Panzer tanks at their disposal when the Romans came calling? How about if the Zulus had been the first civilization to develop nukes? These questions, and other less frivolous ones, will be History Dad's for the answering.
Game Page ... Screenshots ... Videos ... Cheats
Looking for a great video game present for your dad? Look no further than our Father's Day Gift Guide.
Here are our recommendations, helpfully categorized by our patent-pending system of Dad Types. Just find your Dad Type, read the suggestions, and voila: the perfect gift.
We guarantee he'll appreciate these more than a tie, golf balls, gel shoe inserts, a bottle of motor oil, a case of Centrum Silver, or any other ho-hum items you may have been considering.
 ARMY DAD |
Attention, soldier: It's Father's Day, and you have no idea what to buy for Army Dad. Failure to comply with correct gift procedure will earn you a court-martial. Stand by to be issued with two (2) recommendations. Both are guaranteed to stop Army Dad from threatening to send you away to military school for, oh, at least a week.
Call of Duty 4
Lock and load with the great Call of Duty 4. From its unrivaled graphics and buttery smooth gameplay to its compelling single-player campaign, it's the perfect fit for the well-decorated Dad. And if he's also a bit daring, consider it an excuse to get him playing games online - Call of Duty 4 is a bona fide Xbox Live! smash.
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Rainbow Six Vegas 2
If you can't afford to take dad on a pricey Vegas vacation, bring the sin to him with this smart tactical shooter. Guide a highly-trained squad of through the city of dreams in an effort to track down terrorists, using a variety of cool weapons and handy gadgets to get the point across. With unparalleled customization and a robust suite of multiplayer modes, odds are that Army Dad will love it.
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 GOLF DAD |
Actually giving gifts to Golf Dad could prove difficult, because he's probably already planning to sneak out before dawn on Father's Day to get a swift 18 holes before lunch. Best to tuck it in the top of his golf bag before he leaves.
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08
For Golf Dad, there's really only one choice. The latest version of the smash hit Tiger Woods series is available on just about every platform under the sun, features a slew of courses, a wealth of game modes, and, on the Wii, a control system where you literally swing the controller to make your stroke. Even if he has an earlier version, he'll no doubt appreciate the update.
Game Page ... Screenshots ... Videos ... Cheats
Looking for a great video game present for your dad? Look no further than our Father's Day Gift Guide.
Here are our recommendations, helpfully categorized by our patent-pending system of Dad Types. Just find your Dad Type, read the suggestions, and voila: the perfect gift.
We guarantee he'll appreciate these more than a tie, golf balls, gel shoe inserts, a bottle of motor oil, a case of Centrum Silver, or any other ho-hum items you may have been considering.
 HANDY DAD |
Handy Dad is identified by his engineering skills. No home improvement project is beyond his reach. If you have a Handy Dad, you're the envy of the neighborhood -- thanks to your three-hundred-foot deck, in-ground pool, and house that's twice as large as it was when he bought it. Give him something else to distract him this year.
Boom Blox
Steven Spielberg's explosive Wii game might not seem like a great match for Handy Dad, but peek beneath its cutesy exterior and you'll find a complex physics system sure to make any amateur engineer drool. It's a wonderful gift for father-son/daughter bonding, too: let Dad use the powerful level editor to construct complicated, Rube Goldberg-like contraptions, then take turns smashing it to pieces.
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 ROCK AND ROLL DAD |
Identified by his long hair, hard-partying attitude, and enormous record collection, Rock and 'Roll Dad never quite got over that time when his band broke up. In eleventh grade. Thankfully, you can help him recapture the rock band lifestyle, and here's how.
Rock Band
We know - your dad's taste in music is about as hip as his taste in threads. But whether he's a recovering punk, an aging rocker or a wannabe hipster, MTV's Rock Band's got him covered. Featuring guitars, vocals and a four-piece drum set, this desert island classic will turn Father's Day into a riotous, rock 'n roll party. If you've got multiple systems, go for the 360 or PS3 over the PS2 or soon-to-be-released Wii version so that you can fully enjoy the game's robust downloadable music catalog.
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 STAY-AT-HOME DAD |
Sporting a vacant stare in his eyes and a mop under his arm, Stay-at-Home Dad challenges traditional gender roles with a smile, a song, and a houseful of clean, well-fed kids. Give him something that'll play to his strengths.
Carrie the Caregiver 3
Does Dad have a way with the wee ones? He'll need that kind of patience if he wants to succeed in the latest sequel to this popular time-management game. Carrie has to take care of the kids at a summer camp, keeping the campers safe while helping them learn new activities. Hey, it's a living.