Hanheld game consoles are some of the hottest gifts of the year. The Nintendo DS has long been a crowd pleaser and in the past year, Sony's PSP has started to really turn out some impressive sales numbers as well. If you were lucky enough to get one of these fantastic little gadgets for a holiday gift, or you just have some gift cards burning a hole in your pocket, you may want to turn an eye to the accessories sections of your favorite electronics stores and flesh out that portable gaming experience. Let's begin!

 

PSP SD Card Reader

 

It's no secret that the PSP still relies heavily on Sony's proprietary Memory Stick format.  This may be either a good or a bad thing and depending on your point of view but one thing is for certain, SD cards are certainly more prevalent and some would argue allow for greater ease of use, now that nearly every piece of electronic hardware supports them.  Still, if there's anything the accessory makers of the world have taught us over the years, it's that they will attempt to make every piece of hardware read every kind of format known to man. In keeping with this tradition, several accessory makers have released various pieces of plug in gadgetry for the PSP that allow it to read the SD format in all its glory, but the sexiest version we've managed to track down would have to be from DragonPlus (don't feel bad if you've never heard of them, we were surprised as well). The DragonPlus model not only frees up your PSP's USB ports, but it also fits snuggly on the back of the system itself, without blemishing the sleek, black lines of the handheld. Unlike the other items on our list, this one seems to be rather hard to track down, with only a few online retailers listing it where it typically sells for $30.

PSP Charger Grip

 

Since the PSP launched, many gamers' main concern was the fact that the system just wasn't all that comfortable to hold. For those of us with big, adult-sized hands, this problem is a very real issue that can turn an enjoyable session of Patapon into a cramp-inducing painfest. Lucky for us, there's also a solution — enter NYKO's PSP Charger Grip. The plug-in handles allow for some superb control, allowing your thumbs some room to breathe and preventing any major PSP-related injuries. Not only that, but it also includes a built-in backup battery that can more than double the life of a single charge session. NYKO's PSP Charger Grip is available for $30, directly from the company's website.

PSP battery wall charger

 

Now, for those of you who feel like forgoing the above suggestion and would rather let your hands cramp up into little claws, there's still the issue of battery life for your little multimedia machine. We didn't forget about you, and we've included Sony's own external battery charge station for that very reason. Made for those of you who like to keep an extra battery around just in case, the dock is perfect for making sure you always have a backup plan in case that LocoRoco session ends up running a little longer than you had planned. The dock is available at many retailers, as well as online, and while prices do vary a bit, you shouldn't expect to pay more than $20 with a little searching.

DS Guitar Grip

 

It's becoming more of a trend these days to have a music game introduce some awesome peripherals for a system. Such is the case with Guitar Hero: On Tour for the Nintendo DS. Taking cues from its console brethren, Guitar Hero for the DS brings 4/5ths of the experience along for the ride with the surprisingly well-crafted guitar grip. The grip, which plugs into the GBA (GameBoy Advance) port of the DS, allows the player to hit the cord keys while strumming the guitar pick stylus over the touchpad, melting audience’s faces all over the world... or at least on the subway ride to work. With the promise of more and more Guitar Hero titles for every system known to man, it shouldn't be long before we have a whole library of tracks to rock out with on this nifty little gadget. The guitar grip is available in the Guitar Hero: On Tour bundle for $50 direct from Red Octane's website, or wherever games are sold.

ComfortStylus

 

Anyone who has ever spent any serious time with the Nintendo DS knows that using the stylus and touchscreen to control the action, while incredibly innovative, is also sometimes incredibly uncomfortable. The main problem is that the tiny plastic stylus that Nintendo provides just doesn't seem to be made for marathon play sessions. If only there were a way to wrap the stylus around your pointer of choice and relax the rest of you precious fingers... oh wait, there is, and it goes by the name ComfortStylus. Made by a tiny third-party company, the ComfortStylus really came out of nowhere to put a smile on the faces of DS gamers. The stylus features a super-durable metal core wrapped in soft rubber which allows the user to wrap it around a single finger and let the rest... well, rest. The ComfortStylus is available at many retail stores, as well as online, and goes for the bargain price of just $10.

 

Some kind of case

 

Much like the iPod, the DS has become almost a status symbol among the tech crowd. Showing off the fact that while you're a successful professional, you can still kick back for a few rounds of Cooking Mama, the DS is just another gadget to toss in your man-purse (or regular purse, depending). And, like the iPod, it is also extremely susceptible to wear and tear on its sexy, glossy surface. It should go without saying that a scuff on your precious DS is a no-no, so this is where your own personal tastes come in. You should have no problem hunting down a multitude of options ranging in price from a couple bucks to up to $20, it's all up to you how much your DS care matters. Just don't let us catch you with a dented corner, or else!

It's still the holidays, so try not to neglect the 'little' people (read: game systems) in your life — they need love too. And if that list didn't convince you to set down the leftovers, get off the couch, and head to your local gaming outlet, we really don't know what will. Maybe a fire? If we lit the couch on fire, would you move? No? Well, we tried...

 

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