Gaming during the holidays can be difficult. Either away from home or crammed like sardines into your regular abode, it becomes tricky to find the time or space to game like you want to.

My mom had stood in line for a Wii at launch (something she later gave me a lot of crap for). I was super excited like any grown man would be over a Nintendo system. I knew it was going to be under the tree that Christmas, even though my family had cracked it open previously to wrack revenge on me for their cold Novemeber all nighter in front of Best Buy.


It looks nice and all, but the tree is where the TV is supposed to go!

But, my family were spending Christmas with my grandparents in the Midwest. Far from home and in a much colder climate. Also, being able to play a game system in a house with few televisions became a challenge. The TV in my grandparent's room wasn't viable - I couldn't stay up late and play Wii Tennis there. The large TV in the den was good for Christmas morning but with some hazards - my grandmother tripped over the power cord which I stupidly stretched across the floor to an outlet which in turn earned my Wii the nickname "Scar" (brick floors are a bitch on consoles). Also, some people actually prefer football and holiday programs to videogames, weird, I know!

The only television I could muster was a tiny 12 something inch VCR combo. It had seen service for over two decades and while battered, could still produce an image in color - that was all I needed. I propped it on the only viable surface, an old leather couch. I sat opposite on a mound of pillows, wrapped in a blanket. Though this might seem uncomforatable, the sensor bar was three feet away, the TV was eye level, and I was warm; that was enough for Twilight Princess.


This technology saved my life as I played my Wii underground ...

Despite having to run and empty the humidifier so I wouldn't get pneumonia, I was sucked into the world of Hyrule. I completely forgot my meager surroundings as I battled through dungeons and rode around the green pastures on Epona. However, I couldn't swing my Wiimote too wildly to make Link attack - or I'd let the cold air into my warm blanket-cocoon.

Surviving the cries for Wii Sports from my younger cousins (which I gave into, it was the holidays ....), I got my gamimg in over the break. Other years I haven't been so lucky - only being able to really dive into a game well into January. But I got to experience the Wii launch (thought a little late) to my heart's content in that chilly basement. Ah, what cold and warm memories ...

Images from here and here.