—ATLAS PARK, December 23, 2005

“It’s just insane,” said Dr. Warren Gifford of the Chiron Medical Center. “We’ve had more frostbite cases over the past week than we’ve had during the past fifty winters. People have to learn to leave these boxes alone!”

Dr. Gifford is not alone in his concern. Beginning on Monday, mysterious gift-wrapped boxes began appearing throughout all zones of Paragon City after an equally mysterious broadcast by someone calling himself the Gamester taunted citizens and heroes using an unauthorized radio broadcast to “Come find out what fate has in store for you.”

Pink Shock and Ms. Liberty show one of their weapons effective against the snowmen

Blue Steel of the Paragon City Police Department immediately issued a statement urging citizens, “Please do not touch these boxes. Many have proved very dangerous, even to longtime heroes working in Paragon City.” Ms. Liberty later confirmed Blue Steel’s statement by verifying that several heroes were indeed in the city's hospitals because of icy attacks by strange animated snowmen that spring forth from some of the boxes.

One of Paragon City’s heroes, Pink Shock, told the Free Press, “As a hero, I thought I would be more prepared than anyone to take on these snow beasts. They turned my electrical bolts against me, though, and next thing I knew, I was covered in freezing slush and couldn’t move. Being a hero, I’ve faced death many times before, but this was one of the most scary feelings I’ve ever had.”

Now, the full brunt of citizens opening these boxes is starting to be felt by the hospitals and medical centers in Paragon City. Preliminary reports show that over 300 citizens have been admitted for frost-related injuries this week alone, and these numbers are expected to climb as Gamester’s so-called “Holiday Festival of Fun” continues into its second week.

That has not deterred many citizens from also opening the boxes. One intrepid citizen who spoke to the Free Press on condition of anonymity, said, “I have a buddy who opened one that showed up outside his house, and it cured him of the flu that he caught a few days before. One minute, he had fever, a runny nose, and was coughing. The next, he was playing football with his kids in the playground. I found one outside of where I work, and when I opened it, I saw a red glow inside and I was a lot stronger for a few hours after. For a while there, I thought I was a new superhero! It was one of the most awesome Christmas presents I’ve ever gotten”

For every one of these reports, however, there are a dozen reports of people having to be transported to their local hospitals.

Jim Callahan, Proprietor of the Dirty Duck

Jim Callahan, proprietor of The Dirty Duck Bar and Grille in Atlas Park, commented that in spite of the Gamester claiming that his game is “the grandest game ever played,” it has put a real damper on the holiday spirit at his establishment. “The Dirty Duck used to always have a Secret Santa night for its employees and some of the regulars,” Mr. Callahan said. “But folks are scared to do that stuff now. They’re afraid that the surprise just might put them in the medial center.”

In a press conference earlier today, Statesman said, “The best holiday gift I wish for the people of Paragon City is a safe and happy time for the next few weeks. Please, let our city’s heroes do their jobs in dealing with this menace and report any gifts laying around outside that you don’t recognize to us or to the police.”

For heroes that have made a significant contribution to fighting this icy danger, City Representative Brighid Moreira has awarded several special medals. “It’s a small reward considering the danger that these heroes face, but it’s the least we can do to recognize their efforts in helping to protect our citizens,” Representative Moreira said at one of the medal presentations late yesterday afternoon.

A source within Hero Corps has confimed that the organization has been contracted for an undisclosed amount of money by an anonymous wealthy donor who was attacked by the snowmen.  Their mission is to track down and “deal with” the Gamester, who was reported to have broadcast his message from somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Rhode Island. When asked for an official statement, Henry Wong of Hero Corps told the Free Press that they were not ready to comment on any customers or leads at this time.

Meanwhile, the true identity and motives of this twisted individual remains a secret, and citizens are encouraged during this holiday season to never open any gifts unless the giver is known.