Are You Ready ?

In less than a week, the flood gates will open and games will pour forth one right after the other. Some will play Gears of War 3 until the early morning hours while others will use an entire day off work to run through the lush landscapes of Skyrim. No matter what game is you favorite, here are a few tips to make sure you're ready.

If you don't have rechargeable batteries, you're about to go broke. There are numerous third party distributors that make replacement battery packs for the PS3. They are usually fairly inexpensive and could save you the cost and anguish of having to replace your favorite controller. Xbox also has the rechargeable battery packs or "play and charge" packs that keep your controller juiced. And don't forget all those AAA batteries that your high-end headset sucks down. Rechargeable AAA and AA batteries are inexpensive and can last for years. A charger and full set of both battery types will set you back about $30 on Amazon. Pretty cheap for always being ready to play and saving the environment from excess waste.

Seriously.  Amazon.  $30.

Get yourself a strategy guide. Some of the games are hella tough. I am not at all above looking up a strategy online. But when a game is brand new, the walkthroughs aren't always available yet and the forums are really just getting started. Plus, some publishers have gone the extra mile to make their strategy guides look like collector pieces. We proudly include Fallout strategy guides on our bookshelves right between Harry Potter and Odysseus.

For the love of all things holy, don't forget the snacks ! Seriously, when you are about to stand in line for an hour or more to get you video game at midnight, bring a giant box of Goldfish or some Capri Suns. Those late night sessions at home are perfect for munching chips and knocking back an energy drink. Whatever you chose, your hands and controllers are bound to get gross and spills happen. Have paper towels, a regular towel, or even hand wipes around to keep your controller from getting nasty throughout the night. And do your shopping for all these items a day or two before your planned all-nighter. Stockpiled goodies means less interruptions during game time. 

I don't have to tell you what these are.  If you game, you know.  The food of the gods.

Lastly, make sure you warn your loved ones.  When you stop calling your family or emailing back your friends, they will wonder what happened.  I know that when I'm playing, I rarely answer the phone.  So those all-day sessions on a Saturday or Sunday mean I am basically unreachable unless the person trying to find me happens to have Xbox LIVE (which they should).  And as much as you love your new game, don't call in sick to work.  You will have some serious explaining to do when videos of amazing trick shots from MW3 start showing up online when you were supposedly dying in bed.  Games are awesome, but so is paying bills on time.