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It’s December 15th, and that means you still have nine days before your gifts should be wrapped and under that faithful and festooned fir, O Tannenbaum. That’s plenty of time to snag some swag for those remaining on your list (even time to check that list twice!), and I’ve brought in some help today to fill you in on which video games might soothe your gamer giftee’s twitching trigger-finger. Or their need for defensive strategizing, social raiding, or destroying elaborate edifices built by pompously pleased piggies. Whichever applies.
Our first five picks are courtesy of a close friend and old ally of Casa Quixote – Shana Markham! Shana is a designer at Gas Powered Games, where she’s worked on titles like Demigod and Age of Empires Online. I can honestly say that I knew Shana way-back-when, and that she’s the real deal: a hardcore gamer chick from childhood with the chutzpah to break into the business she loves. Let’s see what she recommends:
EPIC FANTASY THAT WILL BECOME YOUR NEW, BETTER LIFE, EXCEPT FOR THAT DAEDRIC THING:
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim by Bethesda Game Studios.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is the continuation of a series that celebrates what makes western role playing games great. Rather than foist a story upon you, Skyrim allows you to discover your own epic fantasy in a rich world in the frozen north. In the end, you will save the world. The question is, what else did you do? PC players will find a strong mod community that is soon to be further bolstered by the release of the Creation Kit, allowing all players to create their own content.
Purchase The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim @ Amazon: On Xbox 360
THAT GAME EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ALREADY. IF NOT, SHAME ON THEM:
Portal 2 by Valve Corporation.
Even though Portal 2 came out in April of this year, there are still people who have not tried this finely-honed experience. New and old players will find a familiar world that begins to reveal itself in its uniquely humorous and dangerous fashion. Everything about this game is polished and tuned to give a challenging, rewarding, and immersive experience. Portal 2 includes a cooperative mode, where two players must work together in a ballet of mind-bending teleportation and physics; however, sometimes it is just as fun to cause some grief.
Purchase Portal 2 @ Amazon: On Xbox 360
FOR THE ONES WHO WANT TO LIVE EVEN LONGER AGO IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY:
Star Wars: The Old Republic by BioWare.
Bioware is known for its Old Republic series, giving players a glimpse into the golden age of Jedi and Sith. The Old Republic is a MMORPG, letting players come together to act out their story. The mechanics are familiar to players of World of Warcraft, with some additional work to create a more friendly experience. The gem of this game is in its storyline, as each class participates in a deep and fully voice-acted story tailored to their class’s role in the conflicts. Even players who traditionally shy away from MMO’s can find comfort here, as the game is very single-player friendly.
GeekDame’s Note: We here at Casa Quixote have been especially looking forward to this game release! In fact, Star Wars: The Old Republic goes live one day before our third wedding anniversary. Guess what we gave each other this year? G’won, the first guess is free!
Purchase Star Wars: The Old Republic @ Amazon: On PC
FOR THAT PERSON YOU ARE ABOUT TO STAGE AN INTERVENTION FOR DUE TO CARDBOARD CRACK:
Click the jump to keep reading, because this article got epic.
Mirrored from geekdame.com. Please comment there.