Tomorrow when you unwrap another package of socks and jocks from your well-meaning mother, never fear. Your Christmas festivities are about to get better, regardless of what was under the tree, courtesy of Savage 2: A Tortured Soul. Escape from the family gathering at around 3:30pm (Adelaide time) on Christmas Day and head over to savage2.s2games.com to sign up for either a beta or paid account.

...why? Because for 24 hours only (3:30pm Christmas Day - 3:30pm Boxing Day), every demo or paid account for the game will receive full beta access to the game, right up until its release on January 16, 2008.

Savage 2: A Tortured Soul is a fast paced strategy shooter that takes team based game play to another level. Each match is a war for dominance where two teams of 5 to 32 players attempt to destroy each other. It will take more than guns to finish the job. Assume your position as a fighter, armed with swords, guns, and magic; or take the field as a support character that builds, heals, and resurrects fallen comrades. Feel like bringing out the big stick? Become a siege unit like the Behemoth (a huge animal biped descendant of elephants that takes down buildings using an uprooted tree) or the battering ram to destroy enemy buildings. Always thought you were a natural born leader? Take control as the leader of the action, the commander, who builds, researches, expands, and tactically strategizes your team's efforts.

Take note of that date, January 16th, on that day you'll also be able to try before you buy, with a multiplayer Savage 2 demo being released at the same time as the full game. That way, before shelling out US$29.99 for the full version, you can check it all out free of charge. While I assume the demo will be popping up all over the place, the full game will only be available via digital distribution from savage2.s2games.com.

If you've already got an account on their website, simply log in on Christmas day and click the Activate Beta link under your Account Admin. Easy!