The Christmas shopping season is fast approaching, and with it comes the usual round of special deals from meant to entice consumers to choose one product over another. For gamers, that means being on the lookout for a host of new and sometimes fashionable console deals as well.
Nintendo got the ball rolling last month when it announced its upcoming Nintendogs DS bundle. The bundle includes a teal or pearl pink Nintendo DS system, an exclusive "Best Friends" version of the hit Nintendogs game, a special edition Nintendogs paw print skin, and a bone-shaped screen wipe, all for an MSRP of US $149.99. Not long after that, Nintendo announced that it was also putting together an exclusive Mario Kart DS bundle. This deal includes a red DS, a copy of the upcoming Mario Kart DS game, a checkered flag wrist strap, and a collection of racing decals with which gamers can further customize the look of their DS system. Again, the package is set to hit US shelves at an MSRP of US $149.99.
Sony, for its part, is looking to build up some momentum overseas with a couple of recent announcements. For European customers, Sony is going to be releasing the new PSP "Giga Pack." The Giga Pack contents are similar to those in the standard PSP Value Pack (PSP system, AC adapter, headphones, battery pack, and slipcase), however the Giga Pack also throws in a USB data cable, a clear plastic hands-free stand, and a 1GB Memory Stick PRO Duo. The new package should hit UK shelves in late November and will retail for GBP 214.99 versus the GBP 179 price of the Value Pack.
Meanwhile, Japanese gamers will be in for yet another stylish console variant, as Sony announced the upcoming release of a new "Satin Silver" slimline PS2, just in time for Christmas. This brings the total number of available colors to three: standard Black, Ceramic White, and now Satin Silver. The package will include a PS2, one matching DualShock 2 controller, A/V cables, AC Adapter, and a Satin Silver vertical stand. So far, Sony has not announced if either the PSP Giga Pack or the Satin Silver PS2 system will ever see the light of day in the US market.
And in case you're wondering what Microsoft has in store for this Christmas, the company so far seems content to release that little project called the Xbox 360, which currently tops many gamers' Christmas lists this year.