Tear your eyeballs away from the frenzy of World of Warcraft's just-launched Cataclysm expansion – these videos are well worth it. (Besides, you need a break!)

Video Blips:

• Members of The Witcher 2's development team discuss the details of the game's alluring graphics engine. Being a die-hard PC gamer holds some more merit now, at least.

Continue after the break for the thundering drums of Shogun 2: Total War's soundtrack, Visceral Games' new philosophy on horror in Dead Space 2, and a benevolent spirit in Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective.

• Shogun 2: Total War employs an entire ensemble of Japanese taiko drums for its beautiful soundtrack. These musicians know that the conch shell is instrumental for well-structured music. Or maybe it's just fun to blow air through.

• Art Director Ian Milham explains the sophisticated moments of fear and the increased action of Dead Space 2. I suppose it's somewhat important to wonder how these monsters got twisted into such grotesque shapes while you scream your head off.

• Help the specter of dead snoop Sissel to recover some pills for a charmingly garish middle-aged man in Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective. I sure hope this serves some other noble purpose besides arbitrarily throwing pills at someone.