Geeky Gift Giving: From Game of Thrones to Star Wars

If you’re ever struggling to come up with suitable gift ideas for a certain chap you may know, it can be very telling to learn a bit about his favourite TV shows, comics, books, games, and films. There’s nothing better than seeing someone geek out over a franchise they love, and even better you’ll be showing that you know a bit about the lucky recipient in question.

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Of course, coming up with gift ideas for men is all subjective, but recently I’ve seen how obsessive my friends and even my family can get over whether Jon Snow will survive the latest ambush on Game of Thrones, or whether Heisenberg will survive the nefarious drug lords out to get him. The conclusion I’ve reached is that people are simply obsessed with the crazy lives of others, evidenced beyond fantasy media and in soul sapping shows such as Keeping up with the Kardashians.

In any case, here’s some top gift ideas for men that are personal, very referential, and probably speak directly to their tastes (however strange they may be).

Replicas

There’s plenty of iconic weapons, gadgets, trinkets and such in our most popular media that translate well as replicas. A friend of mine has an amazing replica Luke Skywalker’s lightsabre that he keeps in a glass box and never touches. I learned this the hard way after picking it up and swinging it around.

Other ideas include the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones, which is not only referential but also practical as an extra seat around the home, the downside however is that you’ll probably have to get it custom made. Easier choices include Batman’s grappling gun, Iron Man’s MKII suit, and Solid Snake’s bandana, which is not only geeky but also fashionable!

If in doubt, pick something that compliments your lucky recipients sense of style, because the chance are that if they’re a big enough fan, they’ll probably be wearing it to work, the pub, the gym, and wherever else they want to show off.

Soundtracks

Just like the plethora of replicas available, the music from many popular pieces of cultural entertainment is iconic in itself. What would Star Wars be without the imperial march? Or the opening of the original Star Trek without the famous theme music? As such, there’s plenty of officially licenced music related merchandise available, such as CD’s with all the most famous music of a franchise. There’s also always digital versions available for all the cool kids.

I’m personally more inclined to video game soundtracks, as they can be just as evocate and iconic but also contain a hell of a lot more music and content, considering that video games are intended to be enjoyed over a period of many hours.

My personal favourite of the many licenses soundtracks available is ‘ Songs in the Key of Springfield’, which includes the best selection of the many catchy musical cues with have been in The Simpsons over the years. In today’s streaming age, it’s very satisfying to hold physical music in your hands and it doesn’t happen often enough, so this another nice angle of getting someone a soundtrack based gift, as they usually also come with insightful inlay booklets and extras which are sure to make diehard fans very excited.

Studio Tours, Conventions, Theme Parks

If a franchise sustains itself for long enough, it’s inevitable that some kind of physical attraction will open, as these are usually the holy grail of fan experiences. Sometimes, the best gift for a pop culture obsessive is to place them in the middle of the fray, alongside hundreds of other fans, and watch as their excitement completely takes over (in a good way).

Notable examples of big franchises taking things to the real world includes The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a studio tour which gives Hogwarts fans a chance to interact with fil, props, sets, Harry Potter themed rides and recreations of famous settings such as Diagon Alley. It’s one thing to buy someone a trinket, but to actually transport them into the world of their favourite franchise is on another level.

Also keep an eye out for conventions that spring up in various places. For big fan franchises, especially Star Wars , conventions are a common occurrence and they give fans a chance to get together and celebrate their shared love. Book some tickets, but don’t forget to get your one too, as a convention experience is something everyone should try at least once.