Episode 26– Seasonal Entertainment

Well, I just dusted off my Christmas Playlist from iTunes. It’s been sitting in a folder since January and now that its after Thanksgiving I feel obligated to bust it out. It’s also the time of year that you can see all sorts of Christmas (or “holiday” if you want to be PC) television shows and movies.

There are all sorts of small traditions that get carried out over these holidays. In my family my mom will no doubt watch It’s A Wonderful Life 5 times between now and Christmas. My younger sister, who still lives at home, will want to play the Chipmunks Christmas Album (on cassette tape) during the entire time that the tree is decorated. And my dad will most certainly sit down and watch It’s Christmas Charlie Brown when its on. These are all things that I can grantee will happen in my parents house. They’re not traditional traditions… like the gigantic Christmas eve dinner… just seasonal media experiences that have found their way into our lives.

Since this is a video game blog I’m sure you’re asking yourself at this point “what does this have to do with gaming?”

Well, I’m going to tell you.

As I hit play on iTunes and started the first track on the list I glanced over at my Xbox. It is right next to my computer. I realized I didn’t own any Christmas Games. I realized I never owned any Christmas games…then I thought about it. Did they ever make any Christmas games? I’m talking the kind of game with staying power. Something that would make me say, “I’m in the Christmas spirit, I wanna play Santa Takes Manhattan.” I can’t even remember a winter season game at all. I could be completely wrong here, but I think this is an untapped market that needs to be sucked dry in the name of the holiday.

I was talking about simple affordable games the other day and I feel this is the perfect kind of game for this. I would spend 4 bucks on something like Santa Takes Manhattan… whatever that is. Maybe it’s a third person strategy game where you’re Santa and you have to steal kids Christmas list under the cover of night. You know, break into apartments and find out what they want. Maybe it’s about how Santa is going to deliver presents to Manhattan. It’s the most guarded city in the country, you have to guide a sled get past the US Army. Awesome. I would spend the money and if it was a decent enough game, I would probably not touch it until next year.

Or maybe they would put out a sequel the next year… Santa Takes Manhattan II: Rise of the Elf King. They could release a new one every year. It would be like sports games; much of the same every year, and only enjoyable during its season. The difference here is we’re talking affordable, since it would only hold our attention for a month. EA should be all over that shit already. I’m surprised they haven’t thought of this. I’m actually kind of disappointed.

Man thinking about the strategy game that’s very splinter cell… I kind of wish it was out. I would totally play it right now. Just picture Santa (or St. Nick if you’re on the bad list) picking locks and trying to break into an apartment 13 stories up. Maybe he bribes the doorman, or tells him he’s going to the Johnson’s party up on 11… then he has to sneak in and hide in the shadows, picking up cookies and candy canes for power-ups…

Damn. I want this game. Someone make this for my 360.

Anyway, all I’m saying is, this is an untapped market people and it is something I am definitely interested in. I can’t imagine I’m the only one.