Now obviously, you're not going to get the exact same reaction from another pair of fresh-faced youngsters opening up their first major home console (not unless they're hamming it up, anyway). But perhaps you could have a non sequitur video that's only tangentially related to the holidays. Or video games for that matter.

Here's a few for your consideration.

First, the Japanese Zelda rap commercial. It's directly game-related, entertaining and doesn't even mention the holidays so persons who abstain from Christmas or what have you don't feel left out.

Second, President Obama and his talk with kids about Christmas and The Sims. Very much on-topic, if a bit hard to hear and there's a lot less screaming.

Finally, how about Easter Bunny hates You? Sure, it's not related to video games and it's the wrong holiday — but it's way more entertaining to watch than two kids flipping out over the Nintendo 64.

Got your own holiday YouTube recommendations? Hit me up in the comments — I'll be at my sister-in-law's house, pretending to not be Jewish. Happy Holidays everyone!

In a snippet of of the interview reprinted on Edge Online, Aonuma says that the realistic look and feel of Twilight Princess presented challenges for the designers to incorporate ideas that fit with the "sheer grand scale" of the game. "I am afraid that definitely no, we were not able to do all the things that perhaps with hindsight we had the capabilities to do. With that as the starting point, we are now developing the Wii version of Legend Of Zelda."

Aonuma goes on to say:

"In the case of Spirit Tracks it was relatively easier, because regardless of the actual proportions between the player character and the other objects, we can simply concentrate upon the many game ideas we want to realise. But in the case of trying to depict a relatively photorealistic three-dimensional world, we have to be very careful to adapt the ideas so that they seem to perfectly fit with that world. I must admit that's actually one of my very greatest regrets as regards the Twilight Princess."

Sounds like a pretty good interview. I look forward to seeing the whole thing in print when Edge 211 hits the shelves.

Aonuma's Regrets For Twilight Princess [Edge Online]

I feel kind of silly now, having bought the whole thing on DVD some years back. At the time I thought it would be a wonderful edition to my collection and that I'd get all the nostalgia mileage out of it that I did out of Jem and the Holograms on DVD.

Apparently, memory had blocked a few things out. Now, the DVD case just sits there covered in dust along with all the other DVDs in my collection I never watch anymore because they cause physical pain.

Thanks for the tip, Dan!

P.S. I didn't notice this as a kid, but what is up with Zelda's pants? It's like primordial camel toe.

P.P.S. My favorite Zelda cartoon episode is actually the crossover episode they did with Captain N. Now there's a box set I need to get.

Aonuma tells the UK's Official Nintendo Magazine that the Zelda team has been trying "something new in terms of the structure" of the next entry in The Legend of Zelda, which Shigeru Miyamoto teased at this year's E3 in the form of new concept art.

The next Zelda game after The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks appears to be aimed at mixing up the now-familiar 3D formula. Aonuma tells ONM that he agrees with Miyamoto that "if we are following the same structure again and again, we might not be able to give long time Zelda fans a fresh surprise."

The still unnamed Zelda title will take advantage of the Wii MotionPlus peripheral and, more than likely, will offer a new role for Link's trusty Master Sword, as hinted at by the Wii game's concept art.

Zelda Wii: Expect Surprises At E3 2010 [ONM UK]

Brentalfloss applies his unique vocal stylings to Link and his original quest to rescue Princess Zelda and save the day, donning an odd beard and taking on the role of that guy in the cave. You know, "It's a secret to everyone" guy? This time around he's a bit more over-the-top than usual, but the man is trying to sell an album and a t-shirt, and generally trying to turn these videos into some kind of livable income. A little desperation is understandable in that situation. I prefer his presence in the Duck Tales video to this one, as it was a soaring song, flying high - like a dream.

My personal favorite is still his Final Fantasy Victory music with Lyrics, but I have Final Fantasy tattoos that I can make dance along, so there's a bit of the novelty factor at work.

Holy Hyrule this thing defies words. Haywan of PaperCraft Museum is responsible for this. Looks like it even has a detachable shield and sword (and scabbard?) - and heck, that makes the plans worth a try by themselves. (It could be the creator photographed himself playing with them before affixing them to the model.)

There are more pics in the gallery, even more at the link. Check them out, they're chock full of awesome.

Life-Sized Link by Haywan [PaperCraft Museum via GoNintendo]

Sadly, I don't see any Links that could pass for Daniel Day-Lewis — but there's one that kind of looks like Jeff Bridges before he went to seed. And there are more than a few portraits that bring new meaning to the term "androgynous."

But the one that takes the cake, for me anyway, is this one:

What's your favorite?

30+ Various Styles of The Legend of Zelda Artworks [The Design Inspiration]

My Little Legend of Zelda. These are fan sculptures, and out4bear is currently selling the Gears toys for US$125 a pop.

My Little Pony Custom ART Commission apoxie sculpt ooak [Ebay via Hawty McBloggy]

It's May of 1987, the year after Nintendo started selling the Nintendo Entertainment System in America. Super Mario Brothers has been a success and the industry, which in 2009, can have more than a million consoles sell in the U.S. in a slow month.

Here's how things were going in 1987 according to Nintendo's statement of its financial results for the past year:

Minoru Arakawa, president of Nintendo of America Inc. of Redmond, Wash. ''The industry is healthy; we estimate that 4.5 million home video game units will be sold in the U.S. in 1987, as compared to 1.4 million units in 1986 — a 300 percent increase.''

Part of what was going to boost Nintendo was going to be this new Zelda thing:

''Among the game pak introductions will be 'The Legend of Zelda,' a game that we anticipate will be another 'Super Mario Bros.' in terms of its popularity. We will be supporting 'Zelda' with advertising and promotional spending of $4 million, and supporting fourth quarter 1987 sales with an advertising and promotional budget of $20 million. The continued high quality of our product, coupled with our marketing strength, will help maintain our competitive edge as the leader in the new generation video game category,'' he continued.

A game as popular as Super Mario Bros.? What could have seemed like PR bluster in the moment pretty much worked out.

And now back to our regular 2009 Kotaku posts... until next week.

[PIC]

The demo lets players walk around a dungeon and attack baddies from The Legend of Zelda all from a first person p.o.v. and in 3D.

FPS Zelda [Phenex via Infendo]

Google apparently has an... enthusiastic Legend of Zelda fan on staff, as Google Blogoscoped points out, highlighting eight of who knows how many appearances of the Nintendo trademark in various specialized corporate logos. Commenters on the blog dug up four more. What's the secret?

They just employ a talented Zelda fan. And when I say "fan," I mean cosplaying Link-caliber fan. All signs point to Google web illustrator and web designer Susie Sahim, whose many doodles feature a Triforce signature.

While Sahim has been deferring requests for comment to her Google overlords, we'd think her obvious interests are reflected in her work. And that if anyone found this Google-Triforce crossover mysterious, that mystery should be considered solved.

Or is it?!!

(Yes, it really is.)

The Great Google Doodle Triforce Conspiracy [Google Blogoscoped - thanks, Ulysses!]

Levine had just graduated from college and moved to San Francisco. The lady friend was a few years younger than him, and at the end of the summer, she had to go back to university.

"In our last day together in San Fran, I for some reason picked up The Legend of Zelda," recalls Levine. "As she stood by waiting for some romantic gesture to happen on our last day living together, she was instead treated to watching me obsessively plow through Hyrule for around 15 hours. By the time the cab showed up to take her to the airport, I realized if I had any hope of keeping her as my girlfriend, it was time to shut off the NES."

Needless to say, Levine adds, the next summer was not spent together. Good thing he had Link to keep him company!

Gaming Made Me: Ken Levine [Rock, Paper, Shotgun] [Pic]

Since the last console Zelda, Twilight Princess, was originally developed for the GameCube and ultimately released on the Wii. The upcoming Zelda would be developed for the console from the ground-up.

Guess that means we'd be getting a brand new Zelda experience? Well...

"I don't think it's going to be that radically different," Shigeru Miyamoto told Nintendo Power.

Ah, crud.

Fingers crossed Miyamoto is simply being humble and lower expectations so Zelda hype doesn't spin out of control. Then again, maybe he's just being honest.

Read-a-Long with Nintendo Power #244 (August 2009) [Aeropause via VG247]

Other highlights include some hands-on with the PSP Go and the first real look at Final Fantasy XIV. Also, Mike McWhertor thinks the Golden Sun DS trailer is worth a watch or two and if you've got the popcorn, why not?

Check 'em out:

Ubisoft Ready To Get You In Shape With Its Wii Camera
What Does The E3 No More Heroes 2 Trailer Have?
PSP Go Hands-On Video
Shigeru Miyamoto Spills Beans On "Kind Code"... Almost
The Golden Sun DS Trailer Feels Underappreciated
Miyamoto Addresses Zelda's E3 Absence
Last Guardian Trailer Now Totally Fixed
Final Fantasy XIV Debut Trailer
Four Minutes Of Modern Warfare 2 Gameplay Footage: BAM
Uncharted 2 New Trailer: Payback's A Bitch
Demon's Souls Coming To North America

While the folks at Nintendo may not approve of Princess Peach, pictured, and Metroid's Samus Aran getting on-stage nude codes, clearly the throngs of nerds in attendance did. The LA Weekly was in attendance for this twice-in-a-lifetime baring all, photographically capturing the event at which lady Link got down to little more than a Hyrulian shield.

Other characters dressed up as, then down as, include Street Fighter's Chun-Li and Bloodrayne's Rayne. Hey, not everyone can be Peach.

Obviously, this is not at all safe for work, as it heavily features pasties. If this sort of thing sounds like something you'd like to see in person, a repeat performance will be held on June 3rd at the Bordello bar in LA. Just in time for E3!

Video Game Girls Burlesque @ Bordello [LA Weekly]

This isn't a "These Are The Best Games Of All-Time" list, nor a rattling off of the 100 most influential. It's Edge's attempt to pin down what it considers "a snapshot of the titles that define modern videogaming as it stands in March‭ ‬2009." That means some of your favorite 8-bit titles might be missing in action.

But it also makes for a very agreeable list of modern day classics and 16-bit titles that stand the test of time.

We'll spoil it for you: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time sits at #1. In fact, Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda and Mario series make multiple appearances, as do oft-overlooked games like Jet Set Radio Future, Frequency, Viewtiful Joe and R-Type Final. (Never did finish that last one on the list, sadly.)

Sure, you may find some oversights (Diablo II? Still eminently playable, Edge dudes.) and some curiosities (Ninja Gaiden.... II?) but you may also find some holes in your gaming experience collection that need filling in.

The 100 Best Games To Play Today [Edge]