Is there someone on that list that you still haven’t bought for?  Tsk tsk.  Don’t worry.  If they’re gamers, you can still get it done without leaving the comfort of your seat.

Digital downloads have become all the rage in gaming over the past few years.  It may sound geeky, but it really just translates to “buying games online.”  There’s no physical media involved (ie no disc, no case, etc..) as the products are all downloaded.  So what does this mean to you, the last minute shopper?  Easy gift giving is just a click away.

Several services out there allow you to purchase items as gifts, which then email the recipient (often with a personalized message from you) about where they can download their item and who it’s from.  We’re going to highlight just a few;

Steam:  For PC gaming, Steam is a one-stop shop with easy gift giving capabilities.  With some games as low as $3.99, there are stocking stuffers and big ticket purchases all over the place.

PopCap Games: The makers of casual classics like Bejeweled, Bookwork Adventures and Peggle, PopCap doesn’t offer gift purchases directly but does allow for the purchasing of virtual gift certificates.  An excellent option if you’re not too sure what they’d like to play.  PC and Mac games available.

WiiWare/Virtual Console:  If you’re a Wii owner, you can easily purchase any Virtual Console or WiiWare games as a gift for anyone on your friends list.  As soon as their console gets the message it’ll be blinking blue to let them know there’s a surprise waiting for them!

Xbox Live Marketplace: Something similar to the WiiWare option is rumored to exist for Xbox 360 owners, but it seems as though either A) it’s no longer offered or B) it’s region specific.  That being said, it never hurts to boot up your 360 and take a peek.  If you do, let us know!

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg.  What digital distribution sources do you use?  Do they offer a “gift” option too?