Holiday Cheer

It is the holiday season for people of various beliefs and walks of life. For me personally that's Christmas, but I do wish everyone a great whatever it is they celebrate. I debated with myself running something today about gifts in terms of favorite holiday games and game related stuff. But I kinda felt it's more in the spirit of how I see the season to actually show some appreciation of the gift of people. People within the industry that have been influential if not just completely entertaining over the past year.

Naturally for me, that's going to start with The Game Reviews, specifically with EIC John Laster and Editorial/Features Director Sinan Kubba. As with any writer with their editors, we've definitely done our share of butting heads on certain topics. Often people don't appreciate being challenged. Even if I don't immediately appreciate it, I do eventually because ultimately it makes you a better critical thinker and therefore sharpen your voice. Their thoughts and opinion, whether I've agreed or not have done as much to shape my own on games in the past year as any.

Speaking of being influential opinion, I also want to shower a little love on Big Red Potion. There's a load of podcasts out there, many more consistent than the one hosted here. But BRP really stands out in taking the gaming conversation places many shows don't necessarily go without some controversy to lead them there. There's a unique thoughtfulness to it and the diversity of ideas brought to the table. So for that, thanks and many props to Sinan and one TGR Previews Director Joe DeLia.

I don't particularly wear many gamer communities on my sleeve as the typical message board community can be very grating. So as if I didn't already have a load of respect and appreciate for Dan Hsu for everything he's done over this entire career, Bitmob only confirms much of why I look up to the man. In the static that becomes many other communities, through Bitmob Hsu along with the rest of the staff have truly fostered a very thoughtful and creative community of gamers. Some have aspirations to be in the press, many others just appreciate the encouraging outlet for a voice. Two of those voices I really appreciate belong to Daniel Feit and Travis McReynolds.

As a regular 1UP.com visitor, this year started off on a shaky and very familiar note. Particularly the buyout and layoffs. Out of the ashes of that have emerged a lot of great things. For one, 1UP in itself is doing just fine and some voices are really starting to emerge and stand out as a result. My favorite would have to be fellow Carolina Panther fan David Ellis whom I have to credit with doing something I wasn't sure was possible in filling Garnett Lee's shoes very well. He's been somewhat "Aw, shucks" about it, but Ellis has carried that torch quite nicely. Also, Tina Sanchez has really grown on me via the Good Grief/The Oddcast emergence. Silly and prone to the occasional gigglefit, her growth has been a very pleasing thing to watch.

That said, those that have left seem to have landed on their feet quite nicely. CO-OP, the spiritial successor to the 1UP Show may easily be me favorite offshoot from former 1UPers at Area5.tv. It remains funny and entertaining, exposes many games I may have never noticed in other coverage. Along with Bitmob, now these guys are teaming up with the relaunch of EGM so hopefully that mean greater things for their future. As well, I'm offering a final shoutout to the guys at Eat Sleep Game. What they've done with Rebel FM has also been a load of fun to watch grow with the freedom of really having their own voice.

There are load of other people, I'd love to highlight but that would take forever and I would undoubtedly leave someone out. Would they notice, probably not, but all the same. Enjoy doing whatever it you're doing to close out 2009. Be safe, be good, and have a good 2010. Episode 2 is coming soon offering more traditional gaming props. Until then, holla back.