The Gift Of Games: Friendship Edition

If you're looking to give a game but want to make it a bit more personal, consider pairing it with a snack or meal. A great shelf-stable option is popcorn kernels; they make all kinds of gourmet options and even "gift kits." If you're not going for a kit that contains all the fixins, add some specialty salt and oil.

To make it even simpler (at the cost of some elegance), you can forgo the jarred popcorn and instead include some ready-to-use Jiffy Pop or microwave popcorn bags. (I'd personally opt for the Jiffy Pop because it's a bit more "exotic," but tastes vary.)

Regardless of what you choose, you can stick everything in an oversized bowl, and voilà! You've turned a straightforward game into a "thinking of you" game-night gift – without a huge increase in budget, depending on the bells and whistles you include.

We can't help with the popcorn, but if your friendly local shop doesn't have the gaming goodness you want to give, consider poking around Warehouse 23 for cool present options.

-- Steven Marsh