Ahh... Winter. The time of year when the benevolent weather gods allow me to let up on my sports routine and sit around at home, drinking Swiss Miss and Pirate Cookies. I cuddle up in the hobby room, a warm and fluffy blanket enveloping me, and settle down with the year's most important games: The Fall/Winter releases. Just thinking about the first snow gives me feelings of pure comfort and satisfaction...

Oh yeah! I'm doing a list. Here's what I'll be playing during those cold winter nights. TO THE SOCK'S LIST!

1)New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

Why?: Well, around Christmas time, my family and friends do a mass pilgrimage from across the world to my cozy little suburban Vienna house, and what better game to play with all my folks than the same game we played back when me and my friends were still kids, except with more and beautiful levels, new suits, wonderful music, and on my new Phillips TV (early Christmas present). Great fun for everyone, and even Mum enjoys a round or too. But remember; she has Dibs on Luigi (apparently he looks like my Dad).

2) Left 4 Dead 2

Why?:If New Super Mario Bros. is my local multiplayer friends game, than L4D2 will be the game for my friends and family who couldn't make it, this year. Can you think of a better way to re-bond with your high-school/university friends than over voice chat, killing zombies? No? Didn't think so. New friends, more zombies, jollier Christmas.

3) Scribblenauts

Why?: Well, even during the Christmas season I'll have to run errands, and Scribblenauts is the perfect transit game. It may not be as fantastic as being inside, all cuddled up to a game, but a nice pair of headphones, the warm safe haven of the Viennese trams, and a charming game like Scribblenauts are more than enough to keep me jolly, even while gift shopping.

4) Wii Sports Resort

Why?: Sandy beaches, the ocean, sunny skies, and addicting gameplay. If you ask me, It sounds like the perfect escape the miserable weather game. It's perfect for Christmas Eve, when everybody is looking for something to do while waiting for the day to end. Oh, and Dad will serve you in Power Cruising and Swordplay. He is good.

5) Borderlands/ Dragon Age: Origins

Why?: Because sometimes, you just want to play alone. Every Christmas line-up needs a solo (or two person co-op) game, just as a sort of escape from all the guests. Let's face it, most of us play games to escape, and RPGs are made for that.

From a preemptively jolly Wintersocks;

Merry Christmas DTOID.

(Note: This is just a copypasta of my actual blog : Tasting Victory. Tasting Victory was sadly never published, due to a mysterious internetz error. After this blog goes up as the replacement of Tasting Victory, I will go back and delete the glitched blog (that you maybe cant see on my account) It's late, so sorry if this note is incoherent. )

It's one of those Fridays. For once don't have to go on a date, to the movies, work an extra shift or hang out till late at night. Not today. Many afternoons prior to this particular Friday were spent leveling up, bashing through hordes of minions, advancing to a pro level, formatting tactics online, scavenging caves for items, finding enough money buy the best sword, studying that ridiculous combo, and advancing through the darkness and hordes of zombies.

You open up that save file right before the last level, the final match. You psyche yourself up, knowing that this is climax, the pinnacle, the top of your personal mount Everest. This last level will require all the skills you've acquired throughout the game. You take that last handful of popcorn, that last sip of trusty ginger ale. The loading screen ends, the game starts.

"BLAM BLAM! BLAM!" goes your gun as you mow down a line of nazis. You cast your Fire spell to kill the level 90 Magezombie. You hear your sword clash against armour as you destroy hundreds of enemies flying at you. You use all of that brainpower to solve the dungeon puzzle. "BOOOM" goes your grenade, flushing your enemy clansmen out of cover. You advance through this final challenge, slowly making your way to the final boss. Your most hated enemy.

Whether that enemy be your online rival, a good friend in Brawl, the evil dictator, that final hole, Federer, or the man who killed your father. You finally reach him, you breach the final obstacle between you and him. He looks down on you, just like M.Bison treated Chun-li. But this isn't Tuesday. This is Friday, the day of champions!

You challenge him, and the fight commences. Dodging his bullets, countering his attacks, stalling to think which item could possibly effect this monstrosity. You plan your perfect shot onto the green. Quickly you pass to your teammate upfield. You target the capitol ship's sensor array, launch all the missles you have. You block his aggressive barrage of attacks, and try to counter with that ultra combo.

Nothing seems to work, but you wont give up. Not now. Not on a friday. "Keep firing!" "Peak out from cover with a Grenade!" "XXSquareSquareTriangleUpXXDownSquareLeft!" "Cast Firedeath" "Block!" "Slash" "Select Power Slash!" "Use Hydro Cannon, Tortoise!" You yell at the screen.

Finally you reach your goal. You slam dunk. The Clansmember falls, Your rival falls in battle. Albert Wesker dies. You avenge the death of your family. You kill the tyrant. The battle music ends, reminding you once again why you are a Gamer. You are a gamer for these moments, moments that will stay in your memory for as long as you have a memory.

Just like the Hero you just fought with side by side, you to retire. You have brought peace. You bested your rival, or even your friend. Now it's time for some sleep. While you walk towards bed, gradually losing pants, shirt and socks, you think about your great deed. Then you fall onto your bed, get into your bedsheet, and sleep that great sleep that gamers have after a win.

***Saturday Morning***

Usual routine. Strrrrreeecchhh, yawn, get washed up and dressed, eat breakfast, have some coffee. You have big plans today. Party at a friend's house, and you gotta help set up.

But on your way to the door you walk past your living room. There is this...famaliar scent in the air. As you search the room you cast your eyes upon the popcorn of the fortnight.



You know you shouldn't but you just can't resist the temptation of day old popcorn. As the salty puffball reaches your mouth, Frank Sinatra's My Way starts playing in your head. For this isn't any normal popcorn.

No this popcorn... it tastes of Victory.