GAMING Hot games this Christmas

Christmas gifts for every gamer


TY Tales
Colin Campbell

The year 2011 was a good one for gamers of all sorts. From modern-day warriors ready for the battlefield to casual, easygoing puzzlers looking to relax, there seemed to be a game for everyone. But coming up to Christmas, gamers are now preparing for some highly anticipated releases. Will there be a game for all to enjoy?
When I think of major Christmas releases, a few specific games come to mind. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3; Battlefield 3; The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim; Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception; and FIFA 12. These games have always been heavy hitters in the profit department, and with Christmas around the corner, they will be the big money makers for stores worldwide.
This collection of games presents a broad variety of genres to choose from, with the first two games, Call of Duty and Battlefield 3, falling into the category of military and warfare. I haven’t had a chance to play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 yet, but I have played Battlefield 3, and I can definitely say it is worth the price you pay for it. From excellent graphics to gameplay, Battlefield 3 is a perfect first-person shooter for all the avid cyber soldiers out there.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which was released on November 11, is a role-playing game (RPG), which sees you playing as the Dovahkiin, or the Dragonborn.
Your character is pitted against all manner of horrible foe in a quest to save the realm of Skyrim. This is the long-awaited release from the Elder Scrolls franchise, and would be expected to sell plenty of copies in time for Christmas.
The Uncharted game series is a favourite with PlayStation 3 users everywhere, and Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is no exception. This time around, Drake and his partner Sullivan are travelling around the world in search of the lost city, the Iram of the Pillars.
The Uncharted series has a good balance of action-packed adventure and testing puzzles. A great game for players of all sorts, and a sure-fire killer in sales.
The final big seller, and a favourite among sports fans everywhere, is FIFA 12. This game does incredibly well every year due to the large number of soccer fans eager to get their hands on it. With improved modern-day graphics, new updated features and the generally enjoyable gameplay, it’s very easy to see why this game is such a success every year. A good buy for sports fans and gaming fans alike.
With such a broad selection of impressive game releases to choose from this Christmas, picking one out for your gamer friends and loved ones will be a cinch, just don’t expect to see them out of the house for a while…

Colin Campbell is a Transition Year student at Rice College, Westport.