On this first podcast of the new year, Jinny, Ross, Ryan and I contemplate the existence of top of the year lists. Are they actually useful, or are they just masturbatory? We also talk about what we're looking forward to in 2009, and some new technologies we've adopted in 08 in order to make our lives better. There is also a lengthy discussion about headphones. You've been warned.

On this first podcast of the new year, Jinny, Ross, Ryan and I contemplate the existence of top of the year lists. Are they actually useful, or are they just masturbatory? We also talk about what we're looking forward to in 2009, and some new technologies we've adopted in 08 in order to make our lives better. There is also a lengthy discussion about headphones. You've been warned.

This week's episode we spend some time cleaning out the mailbag and talking about what games we played over the break. It was a lot of games and this bears discussion. *Is* Left 4 Dead the best game evar? *Is* the new Prince of Persia too easy? *Is* Fable 2 just an early beta and the real game's going to be released Christmas 2009? It's like you're sitting here with me, Ross, Qais and Jinny with a cup of hot cocoa, warming your toes by the fire. Maybe your cup of cocoa has been spiked with Bailey's or peppermint Schnapps's and you're getting shitfaced. Shitfaced with The Weekly Geek. Happy New Year.

Despite how much we whine on the show about the glut of game sequels and the overabundance of shovelware, this year was definitely the best year for video games in recent memory. We saw giant sequel-mills who typically churn out crud actually make decent new IPs, co-op and online multiplayer really hit its stride, music games lived up to their promises as expandable platforms with DLC. Handhelds and downloadable titles kept in step with bigger boxed releases, and indie gaming finally got the attention it deserved. So what does everyone from The Weekly Geek feel was the best of the best? I asked everyone on staff to select five of their favorite releases from 2008 and while a few titles persist, some choices surprise. This week's podcast is all about our individual top five lists, and be sure to check out all The Weekly Geek writers lists as well after the jump.

User-generated racism, existential crises and Xbox Live shenanigans await you in this installment of The Weekly Geek. Qais, Ross, Jinny and I participate in a discussion most interesting regarding topics you may be interested in. In addition to the aforementioned items, we also discuss Time magazine's top 10 games of 2008, the new Mirror's Edge DLC, how Left 4 Dead is not Halo, and how Banjo-Kazooie makes me sad. Also we announce a contest and open the mailbag! Enjoy it, please.

Back from break with lots of gaming under our collective belts, this week's show features me, Jinny, Ross and Ryan talking about the latest Street Fighter 2 iteration, whether or not the new Prince of Persia is going to sell any copies being released so late in the season, Left 4 Dead being completely awesome (well, almost completely), Nintendo game counselors, Chrono Trigger... it's just the usual assortment of random tangents and geeky discussion you've come to know and tolerate. Plus, there's mailbag. So that's a bonus.

I apologize in advance for any aneurysms you may have from the mispronunciation of words in this week's podcast, but hopefully Jinny, Qais, Ross and John Forster will be entertaining enough to outweigh any vocab vitriol. This week we discuss what games are more worth your money than others, and we dabble in the philosophy behind their very existence, and the greater good of gaming as a whole. Mirror's Edge is also discussed, and we try to pronounce big words. We make fun of a poor child who collapsed from exhaustion after playing World of Warcraft, and then we drool a bit over Left 4 Dead. The mailbag is also splayed open for your sick pleasure. Enjoy!

On this week's podcast Jinny and Ross join me to discuss the Sci-Fi channel's new video game reality show, Square Enix's new Japanese iPhone game, The Beatles' music game announcement, a computer program that is pure evil, Mushroom Men's fantastic music, the open-ended glory of Fallout 3 and Little Big Planet's ups and downs. This is all washed down with a frothy mug of mailbag.

Things get a wee bit political this week as Jinny, Ross, Ryan and I discuss last week's events through the geek lens. We discuss Obama's wired presidency and the brilliance of Change.gov, the release of Gears of War 2 and the games' resemblence to a The Legend of Zelda and the true meaning of game industry secrets. We then discuss Wii Music from an educator's perspective, Dance Dance Revolution The Musical, a Watchmen video game and we dip into the mailbag.

Chris, Jinny and Ross are back this week to help you weather the storm of... whatever storm you're weathering. Be it a respite from work or a break from the ridiculous amount of new games being hurled at us this season, let the soothing sounds of The Weekly Geek act like an insert metaphor here. Topics this week include the new Xbox Experience, Fable II and whether or not its flaws affect the overall game, the new Star Wars MMO announcement, what happens when you turn off notifications on your 360 and you think you stop getting achievements (omg), the "missing gamer" demographic aaaaaaaand then we piss off Fallout fans. Not on purpose! Then - a special food section where Jinny and Chris talk about how they tried out for a reality show and tripped on some Miracle Fruit. Also your mailbag questions are answered. It's a lot of stuff! A random assortment of topics pertinent to your interests as a geek. Enjoy.