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Contra Costa Times Gieson Cacho columnNov 15, 2012 (Contra Costa Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Shopping for gamers can be an intimidating experience. There are so many sequels and options to choose from. To help cut through the clutter, here's a roundup of hardware and titles to keep an eye out for when looking through the shelves. --Wii U: Nintendo is first out of the block with its next generation console. What makes this system special is the Wii U GamePad, a controller with a touch-screen at the center. It may sound intimidating, but it's easy to use and opens up new forms of play. With low supplies and high demand, this is going to be the most sought-after piece of gaming hardware this holiday season. (Starting at $299, www.nintendo.com/wiiu) --PlayStation 3 Pulse Wireless Headset: Sony made strides this year putting out a headset that's perfect for its console. Setup is easy and the device itself gives out gorgeous surround sound that can be customized for certain games. Best of all, you can rock these gaming headphones on the subway and won't feel embarrassed by it. ($149, http://store.sony.com) --Razer Deathstalker Ultimate Elite Gaming Keyboard: For PC gamers, this is one of the fanciest keyboards money can buy. Fans of the Apple keyboard will like the keys' chiclet design, several gamer friendly modes and a touch-screen trackpad that can double as a second screen or add functionality to games such as "Battlefield 3." ($249, http://www.razerzone.com) --"Halo 4:" One of the best games of the year, this shooter will keep Master Chief fans busy for months with a compelling single-player campaign and an updated online mode. Add in the episodic Spartan Ops missions (sold separately) and there's enough action until the eventual "Halo 5." ($59, www.halowaypoint.com/halo4/en-us) --"Mass Effect 3 Trilogy:" When BioWare set out to make a dedicated trilogy where choice matters, few thought they could actually pull it off. But five years later and after hours of work, they accomplished a feat that's just as impressive as Peter Jackon's "The Lord of the Rings." This space opera spans more than 75 hours and includes all the games in the main series. ($59, www.masseffect.com/about/trilogy) ___ (c)2012 the Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.) Visit the Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.) at www.contracostatimes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |