And Now For Something Completely Different

A Sampler of In-Game Holiday Events, Detailed in Festive Verse

by Becky Chambers | 12:28 pm, December 24th, 2012

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T’is the night before Christmas

and through many a house

all the gamers are playing

with controller or mouse.

Quite soon we will pause

to wrap gifts and share hugs,

to pour too much eggnog

in red and green mugs.

But wait, says this writer!

Don’t log out right just yet!

There’s some holiday cheer

that we mustn’t forget!

For our digital worlds

love this time of year, too.

There’s presents and parties!

Free swag, just for you!

Deck the halls with your guildies!

Your clanmates! Your crew!

Take part in some make-believe!

There’s so much to do!

To start, let’s remember

to be kind and good

by helping out Child’s Play

as all gamers should.

There’s still time to raise funds

before the year’s end

for less fortunate children

who could sure use a friend.

Browse the list of events

to watch marathon vids

of folks gaming hard

in the name of sick kids.

As WoW players know well,

now’s the time to make merry.

Winter Veil has arrived!

Come, elves tall! Come, dwarves hairy!

Buy snowballs! Buy booze!

Do some seasonal quests!

Get presents in Ironforge!

(Or Orgrimmar, I guess.)

TF2's got some crates,

both Naughty and Nice,

filled with loot that'll make

your opponents look twice.

There's tons of new stuff

to make others go "splat!"

Plus chances are good

that you'll find a warm hat.

Guild Wars players! Keep watch!

Turn your gaze way up high!

For Toymaker Tixx

now travels the sky!

His airship brings gifts

to all worldly locales.

There’s a new instance, too,

for you and four pals.

League of Legends looks cheery!

The Rift’s full of snow!

And there’s four special skins

for some heroes you know.

One skin had a pole dance,

which made some roll their eyes.

But Riot removed it,

which I think was wise.

Hey, builders in Minecraft!

Christmas Day you will see

all your storage gift-wrapped!

(Though just on PC.)

Xbox folks can pick up

extra skins in a pack.

Trees, snowmen, and Santas!

Festive blocks you can stack!

On Thursday last week,

why, then — joy of joys!

Gabe Newell brought gifts

to all good girls and boys!

The Steam Holiday Sale!

Yes, at last, it is here!

The bright shiny deals that

we wait for all year!

With discounts on titles

you couldn’t afford

and bundles of franchises

too long ignored!

Indie quirk! Classic stuff!

Games for which you’ve been yearning!

Uh, excuse me a moment,

seems my credit card’s burning.

Now my deadline is met.

I can rest my poor head

and go LAN Torchlight II

with my family instead.

Yes, a good many things

are left out here, I know.

Write your faves into stanzas,

then share them below.

No matter your platform,

I wish you the same:

Happy holidays to all,

and to all, a good game.

(Portal Christmas Card by Wolf-Shadow77.)

T’is the night before Christmas
and through many a house
all the gamers are playing
with controller or mouse.

Quite soon we will pause
to wrap gifts and share hugs,
to pour too much eggnog
in red and green mugs.

But wait, says your writer!
Don’t log out right just yet!
There’s some holiday cheer
that we mustn’t forget!

For our digital worlds
love this time of year, too.
There’s presents and parties!
Free swag, just for you!

Deck the halls with your guildies!
Your clanmates! Your crew!
Take part in some make-believe!
There’s so much to do!

[View All on One Page]

Becky Chambers is a freelance writer, and is probably making gingerbread with her mom right now. She blogs over at Other Scribbles and can always be found on Twitter.

Are you following The Mary Sue on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, & Google +?

TAGS: Christmas | League of Legends | Minecraft | Team Fortress 2 | World of Warcraft

Travis Fischer

Very nice! Happy Holidays!

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