WHEN SHOPPING FOR GAME BOYS AND GIRLS : THE CREATIVITY FACTOR(Y).

Byline: David Bloom Staff Writer

The Rokenbok System Deluxe Start Action Factory Set is a cross between a radio-controlled car, a train set, a video game and a really big Lego set, and let's just say it now: This is really cool. The various vehicles available scoop or vacuum up balls, deposit them in hoppers that lead to chutes that allow you to start the process all over again. It's insanely involving, a tad expensive at about $200, but endlessly expandable and just may engage the adults in the house, too. One word of advice: The parts are sometimes hard to snap together and take apart, so 6-year-olds and up only, and they'll probably need some adult assistance from time to time. But you'll love it.

Finding your V spot

While everyone else talks convergence, Avatar Technology in the City of Industry is doing it. The company's little white VBox - with prices from $699 to $999 - combines a DVD player, moderately powerful computer, Internet access, home theater sound and MP-3 player. The high-end machine includes a 500-Mhz Intel Celeron brain, 4.1-channel home theater speakers, a wireless keyboard, 5X DVD-ROM drive, 64 megabytes of memory, and a 10-gigabyte hard drive, USB and AGP connectors for peripherals, Ethernet and modem connections for the Internet and home networking, and S-Video, RCA composite and SVGA connectors to see it all on your television or computer monitor. Subtract the standard $400 rebate for three years of Internet service and you've got an amazing deal. Available online and in some electronics stores.

M-I-C (see you in the art studio)

K-E-Y (why? because it's fun)

Disney Magic Artist Studio is a great art and animation program for both Mac and PC that allows children to place animated Disney characters into a wide variety of backdrops and settings. This terrific program is loaded with other wonderful creative features for about $50 and also can be found bundled with one of KB Gear Interactive's nifty little Mac (USB only) and PC digitizing tablets, the Sketch Board Studio.

Ol' buddy, ol' Pal

If you've ever wished for a robot companion that talks, plays interactive games, pitches balls and more, look no further than My Pal 2000. The small robot also has a built-in basketball hoop and flashlight. You'll find it at toy stores for about $40.

Dragon quests

Everyone's favorite pint-sized dragon returns to the PlayStation for another excellent adventure with Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage. Fans of last year's first Spyro game will adore this one, which is appropriate and fun for players of any age. Cost: around $45.

Dream a little Dreamcast for me

Yes, we know Sony and Nintendo have hot new machines coming next year, and cheap old ones right now. But this year, the world's best videogame console comes from Sega. Sega Dreamcast has amazing graphics, smart opponents, built-in Internet access (you'll want the $19 keyboard peripheral) and a boatload of terrific titles. The basic unit costs $199, but get a second controller (prices vary) and a Virtual Memory Unit, a cigarette-pack-sized gadget for about $25 that saves game progress, can play little stand-alone games and even tells you the time.

For the controller freak

Saitek PX2500, a PlayStation controller, is a great addition to your system, with features that include two shock-vibrating motors, a throttle wheel for racing games, sturdy construction, and the ability to use the analog sticks even when in digital mode. Looks good, too. Cost: about $35.

Short takes

NFL 2K has been selling a ton of Dreamcasts for Sega, with its realistic look and great gameplay. And it takes advantage of the Dreamcast's Virtual Memory Unit (about $50) to allow you to secretly choose plays and defenses.

The latest work of genius from Nintendo's secret weapon, Rare Studios, JetForce Gemini (about $50) is an involving science-fiction adventure definitely designed for older gamers, who were long overlooked on this platform.

Good luck finding the Pokemon Special Pikachu Edition, the bundle that includes a specially decorated yellow Game Boy Color  handheld gaming machine and the new Yellow version of the Pokemon game. It comes at a special $109 price, too, which helps explain why it's been harder to find than a Mewtwo card.

Perhaps the tech toy of the year, the Intel Play QX3 Computer Microscope links the power of a Windows-based computer with a futuristic-looking, 200X blue microscope that can be used like a digital camera. The included software lets kids do all kinds of fun stuff, such as pasting friends' faces on bug bodies. It's a reminder that the real world can be far freakier than anything we see in the virtual universe, and for less than $100.

IBM's printer division is working with the Kodak film company to create a wonderfully flexible hybrid device, the Kodak Personal Picture Maker by Lexmark (less than $200). It's part solid 600-dpi ink-jet printer for PC, part stand-alone device for your digital camera. Slots on the printer let you insert cameras' CompactFlash and SmartMedia cards, edit the results and print them out, even hook up a Zip drive to store them.

Pablo Internet Edition digitizing tablet from KB Gear Interactive is sleek and inexpensive at less than $100, with lots of nifty features and a ton of terrific software, including Adobe's Photoshop 5.0 LE. Works with both serial and USB connectors on any PC and all newer Apple Power Macs.

Digital video

Digital video is one of this season's hottest trends. Shoot your stuff on a digital video camera, edit it on a computer, then master it to DVD or the Internet.

Sony and Apple are making the most DV friendly computers, with the high-speed IEEE 1394 connectors for transferring video and great editing software.

Apple's newest iMacs include two with DVD drives, and their G4s are the most powerful desktop computers ever. Both lines combine the delightful Mac operating system, tremendous power and easy iMovie editing software, for as little as $1,299.

For Windows-compatible machines, Sony's Digital Studio line is the way to go. The top-end model comes loaded, with a DVD-ROM drive, a rewritable CD-ROM drive and tons of software, including a limited-edition version of Adobe's Premiere video-editing software for less than $2,000.

Computer software

For children's titles, try Midnight Play, based on a notable Czech illustrator's work; and Trans-Con!, an engrossing simulation of building the transcontinental railroad last century.

For golfers, Links LS 2000 is the choice, while the abiding beauty of the newly gussied-up Myst Masterpiece Edition remains a good choice for many.

For offbeat reference, try National Geographic Maps, all 8 CD-ROMS of it, and Mad, with more than 500 Mad magazines and special issues and lots of wacky extras.

Puzzle fans will adore Pandora's Box, the latest creation of the Russian wizard who made Tetris. And strategy gamers will love Panzer General Assault 3D and Command & Conquer Tiberian Sun.

Consoles

For Sega Dreamcast, start with Sonic Adventure, Soul Calibur and Ready2Rumble, the best of the launch titles. Then add NBA Showtime: the NBA on NBC; Virtua Fighter 3tb; Sega Bass Fishing; and Air Force Delta.

For Sony PlayStation, great new titles include: the free-wheeling Omega Boost; role-playing wonder Final Fantasy VIII; music game Um Jammer Lammy; extreme sports Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and Cool Boarders 4; and wrestling title WCW Mayhem.

For Nintendo N64, younger gamers will beg for Pokemon Snap! Also try Mario Party and Super Smash Brothers for multiplayer fun. Older players will enjoy Quake II and another PC import, the real-time strategy game, Command & Conquer.

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