FORWARDTHINKING
TOP 5 VIDEO GAMES
ESCAPE
THE ULTIMATE
WINTER
What could be better than planning a midwinter getaway to beat the cold-weather doldrums? While a Hawaiian vacation is a great option, why not
think out of the box and consider renting your own private island for an
unforgettable getaway?
Private Islands Online ( www.privateislandsonline.com), which profiles
islands both for sale and for rent, is a good place to start. The islands
featured on the site range from tropical island paradises with sandy
beaches to forested freshwater islands that offer a full complement
of seasons. Rental islands are available for every budget—as little
as US$600 to US$300,000 per week—and exotic options include Fiji,
Belize, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, and Seychelles. Other popular categories
include islands for honeymooning, diving, and camping. For “green”
travelers there are even islands that are completely eco-friendly.
GETTY IMAGES
The 2007 holiday season is almost
here. If anybody on your shopping list is
a gamer, here are some top picks that
are sure to please.
1. Madden 08
Electronic Art’s Madden 08 is the next
generation of sports games. The eye-candy graphics and ultraresponsive-ness allow the player to have complete
control of the game. Running at 60
frames per second, Madden 08 offers
the smoothest game play of any sports
game on the market.
www.easports.com
2. Halo 3
The highly anticipated Halo 3 picks
up right where Halo 2 left off, as the
Master Chief returns to Earth to finish
the fight. New gadgets such as the
bubble shield and the spiked grenade
have gamers giddy with excitement.
www.halo3.com
A GEM OF A
CHOCOLATIER
Chocolate is sure to please even
the pickiest of corporate clients.
But how do you ensure that your
box of treats stands out from the rest?
Three ways: You can select a high quality
of chocolate, package the chocolate uniquely,
or personalize it. With a gift from zChocolat.com
( www.zchocolat.com), you can do all three. The
husband-and-wife team that founded this French com-
pany, Jean-Philippe Khodara and self-described chocolate
addict Valérie Médaouri, certify that all of their chocolates are
handmade in France by four award-winning chocolatiers.
“Corporate gift-giving is one more chance to make a difference and
increase customer loyalty,” says Khodara. The chocolates come in many different
varieties and feature unique flavors such as lavender honey, coriander, and star
anise. zChocolat.com can customize gifts in a number of ways: engrave your cor-
porate logo onto a brass plate mounted on the box, or print your logo on individual
chocolates. Our favorite is the Eternelle (US$174), a half-pound, diamond-shaped
piece of dark Venezuelan chocolate with a hazelnut praline center.
ELIJAH MERCHÁN
3. Skate
Skate around the virtual city of San
Vanelona with some of the world’s
best skaters, and experience the true
feeling of skateboarding. New physics
techniques and animation let you feel
through each trick and have a unique
experience every time you pick up
the controller.
www.ea.com/skate
4. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
This third installment of Guitar Hero will
have you rocking out all over the house
with its new wireless guitar controller.
Guitar legend Slash provides an original
track for the song list and also appears
as a character in the game.
www.activision.com
5. Need for Speed ProStreet
Street racing fans finally have a believable driving simulator that captures
their underground culture. ProStreet
places you head-to-head in a variety
of street racing showdowns throughout
the world to see who can become king
of the street.
www.ea.com/nfs/prostreet
