Columnist Muriel Stevens: Station 2 is $300 of fun

Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2000 | 8:37 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' shopping column appears Wednesdays. Her dining column appears Fridays. Reach her at muriel@lasvegassun.com.

Chances are if you ask any kid more than 8 years old what he or she wants as a holiday gift, the answer will most likely be Sony's PlayStation 2. In spite of the high price, $300 for the player, and games (cartridges) that cost as much as $50 each, electronic games are hotter than ever. Play- Station 2 is in such short supply -- no, make that nonexistent in Las Vegas -- that the chances of finding one before the holidays is pretty slim. There's an abundance of cartridges, but Play- Station 2 cartridges cannot be played on PlayStation 1, although PS 2 can play those designed for PS 1.

When I called the big daddy of all toy stores, FAO Schwarz, I was told that none of the chain's stores had it and didn't know if they were getting it. At Toys R Us they said they had received very few and didn't have a clue whether they were getting more. Circuit City "had them for 10 minutes before they sold out," a spokesman said. Everyone I spoke to assured me that there were plenty of cartridges, but what good is a cartridge without the player? Not much.

So what makes this machine so much better than Nintendo and all the other brands? According to a friend who has grandkids who love the PlayStation games, it's the large variety of subjects, especially sports.

Like other holiday crazes (remember Cabbage Patch dolls?) this one will run its course. But for certain not until parents and grandparents have exhausted every possible source (and themselves) without finding one of the more pricey players. If past experience is any indicator, as soon as the madness subsides, prices for the player and the cartridges should become more affordable.

Meanwhile there are myriad toys and games that would please all ages. For older kids, Radio Shack has a terrific selection of remote-controlled cars and monster trucks ($39.99-$99.99). They also have a radio-controlled, build-it-yourself Robotix M.A.X. Mechanized Android Xplorer that follows your commands ($99.99).

Target has toys and games for all ages, including travel-size versions of popular games. Best of all, it has gone electronic, so there's no worrying about lost game pieces with these hand-held versions of Yahtzee, Connect Four, Battleship and more. This week (through Saturday) the price is just $7.88 each. Prices for such regular-size board games as Boggle and Scrabble are $9.77. I'm still playing these challenging games.

Buy a Lego or Duplo building set at the regular price at Kmart and get a second set of equal or less value for half the regular price. There are building sets for tots and older kids. These high quality European building sets become heirlooms passed from generation to generation. They never go out of style; youngsters never tire of creating buildings.

Walgreen is offering a $5 rebate on the Lionel 100th anniversary talking alarm clock. With a name such as Lionel the theme is, of course, trains. The conductor says "Good morning" and "All aboard" and there are authentic railroad sounds as the train goes through a tunnel. The price after the rebate is $24.99.

The Gamekeeper stores in the Fashion Show, Sunset at Galleria and Meadows malls have an outstanding collection of games and gifts for the entire family. So let the games begin.