Special mention has to go to the wonderful Sega Saturn Christmas special of NiGHTS Into Dreams. This was a modified demo of the original NiGHTS game, which was initially a little tricky to get hold of. It was bundled with the console in Japan around Christmas '96 and was either given away with other full price games or on the cover of official Sega magazines. The demo made excellent use of the console's internal clock, and when December 1 rolled around, the scenery took on a winter wonderland theme.
It also changed at other times of the year and was replete with hidden extras, but the real charm is in the magical Christmas fantasy dreamed up by Sega's finest. Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams reappears every year on eBay, so get bidding.
When a Child is Born
Much as I endeavor to avoid the fact, we're all growing up. Inevitably, this makes parents and people of increased responsibility out of many of us, but a cunning gamer can put this side effect of maturity to good use.
Some friends of mine were around the other day with their 4-year-old, and the way she took to my Xbox 360 was a matter of some astonishment to her parents. Indeed, she quickly had us all involved in her game in one way or another, and very soon, my friends were wondering if a console might be a more sustainable and family-oriented Christmas gift than yet more plastic dolls in pink cocktail dresses. This is another way in which we can revive the videogame-oriented Christmas spirit: by passing it along to a new generation.
By getting our kids excited about the prospect of a computer or console being rammed down the chimney on Christmas Eve, we can apply everything we've discussed for rejuvenating the holidays, while also enjoying them vicariously through the new experiences of an uninitiated gamer. It shouldn't be too difficult to get them excited about games, once they see your anticipation building alongside their own. It provides them with a wonderful portal through which they can relive the Christmas experience in years to come (when Slade will undoubtedly be heard at the back end of July), and keep the tradition of seasonal gaming going strong.
Spanner has written articles for several publications, including Retro Gamer. He is a self-proclaimed horror junkie, with a deep appreciation for all things Romero.
