Free for All: Shopping for your favorite free-to-play fanatic

Well, November is officially over. You know what that means: The shopping season is upon us. While you might or might not celebrate any one of the numerous holidays that are coming up over the next several weeks, you are probably quite aware of the sales and seasonal happenings in your area. Times have changed, though. It only takes one trip to the local game shop to see how boxed MMOs are not as common as they once were. Digital delivery, faster internet speeds, free-to-play payment models and many more titles to choose from have all encouraged developers to skip the boxes for the most part.

So what is there to get for the free-to-play fanatic in your life? There's plenty, fortunately. It can be quite a trip to navigate the muddy waters of cash-shop goods and virtual money, and the last thing you would want to do is buy something that is not needed or wanted.

Click past the cut and I'll give you some suggestions for gift giving this season! Let's start with the really fun stuff: the cash. There are so many free-to-play games or games that offer optional microtransactions that it can be overwhelming to figure out the type of virtual cash someone might want or need. Don't worry -- there are a lot of generic options as well as game-specific options for virtual goods.

Let's look at gift cards. There are a lot of different titles that offer their own redeemable gift cards. Free Realms, for example, offers Station Cash cards in affordable amounts. It's important to note that Station Cash is redeemable across all SOE titles, so Free Realms-specific cards are only beneficial if they offer some sort of exclusive item along with the card. If you think your gamer friend wants to try other SOE titles, get her general Station Cash cards. Before you grab one, though, be sure to check the SOE site for any sales that might be running. SOE loves to run double Station Cash sales that are great opportunities for stocking up. The cards will often be included in these sales, so keep an eye out.

RuneScape, Lord of the Rings Online, Wizard101 and many others also feature cash cards at different retailers. If you know the game your friend plays and want to stick with buying something for that specific game, there should be a card to cover it. If not, there are generic cash-shop fund cards that cover many different titles. For example, the Ultimate Gamer Card claims to cover 300 different titles with one card. Be aware that this claim is made possible because many publishers offer an all-in-one cash-shop option. Nexon offers the universal cash NX, for example, and GamersFirst offer G1 credits. If you're not sure, just go to the game's official site and check the publisher. If it offers an all-in-one cash option, it should be obvious.

You can also go for a prepaid debit card. These cards offer the flexibility of a normal debit card but can be used for almost anything. While this is the most generic option, it is also the most accessible. Be aware that cards like these will allow your gamer pal to skip the cash shop altogether to buy something boring like socks and underwear.

Despite what I said earlier about game boxes, don't forget that some titles still offer an in-store box that includes all sorts of goodies for your gamer buddy. Game boxes are still more fun to rip open than a single envelope, so keep them in mind. Runes of Magic has a nice box offer, Lord of the Rings Online sells the incredible Mithril Edition that contains cash-shop funds and physical copies of the game, and Clone Wars Adventures sells a box that even has a toy inside! Just check with your local retailers to see if they have a box to offer. Boxes are also a nice way to introduce someone to a new game. They usually offer a great package of starter goods and funds as well as physical items like maps or toys.

Of course, we cannot forget one of the simplest gifts that can be given to the MMO gamer in your life: in-game items. If you are familiar with the game in question, then you might be able to purchase a special cash-shop item that was made for giving. Many games now offer special rings, gifts or other items that can be given to someone. How about a massive stack of arrows for your favorite archer? What about that new pink mount -- surely your friend would like that? Who could say no to that wonderful new housing item? Not your in-game buddy. If you take a moment and think creatively, you can easily find something for your guild leader or favorite tank in the cash-shop. The fact that most MMOs offer an in-game trading system, combined with the ability to write a letter to go with it, makes for a recipe for a pretty cool gift. Some MMOs even offer wrapping paper or other gift-giving paraphernalia.

Lastly, let's assume that your gamer friend or loved one already has the hardware required to play his favorite game. If not, an extra bit of RAM might come in handy. RAM is the short-term memory of your PC, so the more of it you have, the better. It can be a bit confusing as to what type and how much to get for your gamer, so I recommend going to a site like Crucial.com, scanning the system by using a downloadable program, and following the prompts. The scan will tell you how much RAM the system currently has, how much it can use, and what kinds you can buy for the machine. It's convenient, cheap, and one of the most essential hardware upgrades you can do to help with performance.

We free-to-play gamers love shiny new in-game goods. To many of us, they can carry as much emotional weight as do real-life items. I have very fond memories attached to some of my in-game things, and I can remember how much fun it was to give items away. Take your time this holiday season, do some basic research before buying, and keep an eye out for sales -- it might turn out just how you planned!

Each week, Free for All brings you ideas, news, and reviews from the world of free-to-play, indie, and import games -- a world that is often overlooked by gamers. Leave it to Beau Hindman to talk about the games you didn't know you wanted! Have an idea for a subject or a killer new game that no one has heard of? Send it to beau@massively.com!