Transcripts

"Gifts and Gadgets"-The Video Game Title Fight

JEFF YASTINE: With the economy in the dumps, many people just aren't feeling so ho-ho-ho when it comes to gift giving. So tonight as Scott Gurvey wraps up his series "Gifts and Gadgets," he looks at smaller ticket items that are sure to please.

SCOTT GURVEY, NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT CORRESPONDENT: With the economy on the skids, stocking stuffers for all ages are the gifts of choice this year. At "Wired" magazine's holiday store manager Noah Norman says buying habits have changed.

NOAH NORMAN, MANAGER, WIRED STORE: I've been seeing a trend in terms of the store headed towards more utilitarian and more consumerist products, kind of more populist products as well. These are more accessible in terms of price range.

GURVEY: Digital cameras have come way down in price. Several models take both still pictures and video. You need to try these out for yourself. To edit pictures and videos, try Adobe Photoshop elements and premier elements. Version seven is the latest release; it has new features to help you share your work with others. At $120, the bundle is a bargain. And check out Photosave DVD from Verbatim, the maker of recordable DVD and CD discs. You put Photosave into your DVD writer and it automatically saves copies of all your photos on the DVD. Even if you cut back on your toys, you probably will spend as much as you can for your kids this year. Toys R Us CEO Jerry Storch says it is important to match the toy to the age of the child.

GERALD STORCH, CHAIRMAN & CEO, TOYS "R" US: For the youngest child, Elmo live is very hot this year. This Elmo has so much computing power, he's so interactive. He has more computing power than the original Apollo space mission. He's incredible. Moving up in age a little bit we have Spike the dinosaur, who's a remote controlled dinosaur, who's somehow managed to be so cute that everyone who walks by the display just has to get Spike the dinosaur.

GURVEY: For older kids the winner is "Bakugan Battle Brawlers," which as best I can tell is a kind of combination of marbles and "Pokemon." It's hard to find. Video game playing systems can still be pricey, but the games themselves are not. Wii fit, a fitness game released last year, is still a top seller. You may have trouble finding this one, too. Electronic Arts has "Boom Blox" for the Wii -- great when you're in the mood for a little mayhem -- and "Boogie Superstar," a talent contest of sorts for would-be American idols. Xbox owners can get something similar called "Lips". It comes with two microphones. And for movie mavens, there is "Scene It," a movie trivia game. Another Xbox game called "You're in the Movies," comes with a camera and lets you make your own Hollywood productions. With the actors talking strike, this may be your big chance. Some of the titles from my childhood are making a comeback as video games. Hasbro's family night includes "Battleship," "Connect Four" and "Sorry." Would you believe, there is a surge in sales of the original board games and why not? They're not too expensive and they don't use electricity. Whatever your budget, I wish you successful shopping and a happy holiday. Scott Gurvey, NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT, New York.