By Andrew Liszewski

It’s a little late to be talking about Christmas gift ideas for this year, but it’s never too early to start talking about gift ideas for next. So if you’ll need a present for someone who was a big fan of the NES, and still has a running console hooked up at home, this 8 BIT XMAS 2009 cart from RetroZone is beyond perfect. For starters, the cartridge itself looks like a Christmas decoration thanks to a translucent plastic housing and blinking lights on the inside that glow while the NES is powered up. (It looks better on a top loading NES of course.)

But it doesn’t stop there. The cart also includes the RetroZone Snowball Fight!!! game that allows up to 4 players to compete in a deadly game of compacted snow projectiles, recreated in stunningly realistic 8-bit graphics. The cartridge itself sells for $43, but you can make the gift extra special with a custom splash screen message for the giftee for an extra $5, which is totally worth it in our opinion.

[ 8 BIT XMAS 2009 NES Cart ] VIA [ GameSetWatch ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Tired of all the commercialism that tends to surround the holidays these days? Looking to simplify your celebrations next year? Well instead of putting up mountains of tacky decorations around the house, you can set up this modern take on the traditional nativity scene. Designed by Oliver Fabel, the set consists of wooden blocks with simple labels designating who Joseph, Mary, Jesus and the wise men are. The set does appear to be available for sale on Oliver’s website for about $35, but you’ll probably have to email him directly if you’re interested in ordering one.

[ Oliver Fabel - Modern Minimal Nativity Set ] VIA [ bored and beautiful ]

By Andrew Liszewski

I wouldn’t call it the perfect gift no matter who you’re giving it to, but if there’s someone on your shopping list who can’t get enough of A Christmas Story this time of year, you can now cross their name off. From Aunt Clara’s Creations comes the most authentic recreation of the pink nightmare Ralphie was forced to wear on Christmas morning.

The suits feature adjustable ears, matching pink bunny slippers and come “professionally packed and lovingly wrapped by Aunt Clara herself” so whoever you intend to give it to will realize you really do care. Of course since I’m posting this on December 24th there’s no way you’ll be able to get one in time for Christmas short of the jolly fat man delivering it himself tonight, but for future reference they’re available in small, medium and large sizes ranging in price from $89 to $129.

[ Aunt Clara's Original Pink Bunny Pajamas ] VIA [ swissmiss ]

By Andrew Liszewski

I don’t know about you, but Christmas gatherings with my family can get pretty crowded, and as it is my uncle can barely keep the train under his tree from accidentally getting derailed by someone. So while these animated cable cars are a clever twist on the traditional train under the tree decoration, I don’t think they’d survive for very long in a household with either kids, pets or festive revelers. $49 from Walmart, if they ever get it back in stock.

[ Cable Cars Christmas Tree Decoration ] VIA [ The Green Head ]

By Andrew Liszewski

If last year’s set of Yoda Christmas lights didn’t ‘force’ any holiday cheer on you, I’m sure this R2-D2 version will be more effective. I mean nobody hates R2-D2, so having multiple versions of him strung around your Christmas tree (10 per strand spaced 12 inches apart) is a sure fire way to make the holidays more profitable for Lucasfilm more festive. Supposedly these have been popping up at the likes of Target for some time now, and you can expect to pick up a set for around $15-$25 according to R2D2Central.com.

[ Kurt S. Adler - R2-D2 Light Set ] VIA [ R2D2Central.com ]

By Andrew Liszewski

I’m not really sure why nuts are more popular around the holidays, particularly when they’re still in the shell, but I think it might have something to do with relieving stress or pent-up rage when you smash them open. And while it might not be as satisfying as using a straight-up hammer, this nutcracker from Northern Tool + Equipment ($11.99) looks like it was designed sometime in the middle ages, and pulling the lever to bring an end to an innocent walnut just seems like it would be really satisfying.

[ Northern Industrial Tools Nut Cracker ] VIA [ The Green Head ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Gift cards are kind of a mixed bag, on one hand it ensures you can get exactly what you want as a gift, but on the other hand, it’s not the most exciting thing to unwrap. Thankfully, Target is still doing whatever they can to make gift cards slightly more exciting, and this year they’ve got what is probably the world’s first remote control gift card. It comes with a tiny Christmas mouse inside a miniature red Target shopping cart which can be controlled via the antenna and button-equipped remote, which also happens to be the gift card. Buying it online requires you to put at least $25 on the card, though I’m not sure if the same minimum applies when buying it in-store.

[ Target RC Gift Card ] VIA [ Chip Chick ]