Well - here we are again at another Christmas with the Internode Games Network. I'd like to take this opportunity on behalf of all the admins and staff to thank all of you for making this such a great place, and for choosing to spend your gaming time with us. We've had our ups and downs, but overall, it's been a pretty good year.


As is our tradition here, I like to find out from everybody in the office the answer to one simple question. This year, I decided to go a little further, and find out from all sorts of other people as well: What would you like in your Christmas stocking?

Firstly - those layabouts at the Internode Games Network:

A fairly tired UgLyPuNk would like "demos to come out during the day and more sleep", and wants the Internode Games Network to grow "even faster than it did last year!"

Ignant asks for "a PS3 and insanely big High Def TV. I don't ask much :)"

...looks like he's in cahoots with Acaila, whose list includes "A nice big LCD TV and a 360 Elite".

Emp on the other hand is a Nintendo fan, asking for "Metroid Prime 3 or a DS lite (black) or even just the Wiizapper + Link's Crossbow Training. Anything else I think I'm already getting :P"

Slaine pipes up: "Chienne. Reowr. OK, or maybe Batesy, that would be kinda hot...... /me rubs nipples"

While hiding from Slaine, Chienne would love a copy of Mass Effect ("It doesn't count if you've bought it for yourself already, right?"), or else she's hoping that some "time management skills are hiding away in there among the fluff".

New newsbot Matt K would love "a new PC", but since that won't happen I'll settle for a new, and preferably fancy keyboard.

TheMeadow has similar tastes, and is "Looking for a PC upgrade so I can actually see a triple nuke strike in WiC."

Speaking of World in Conflict, local Community Manager holo`'s stocking should include "Coal, because I'm a humbug. ...or a Nikon D300 with a f/1.8 50mm lens + a decent 70-300mm lens."


Metroid Prime 3, Mass Effect, and World in Conflict, all under Christmas trees this year.
We then chatted to the kids behind the scenes at ABCTV's Good Game:

Junglist is a simple man with simple tastes, asking for "Money :D (...but if that's too boring an answer, you can go with DMC4, and whaddya know, it just got in!)"

Bajo, on the other hand, is after the unattainable: "Duke Nukem Forever. Or at least a press release from Santa explaining the delay, and showing a new still of gameplay or a trailer that gives nothing away."

Lux has a lengthy list of requests: "A copy of the indie game Everyday Shooter, it has the most beautiful acoustic guitar soundtrack and is probably the most relaxing shooter you will ever play, some handmade lazer cut perspex Jewellery by RubiRocket who make the most rad retro video games inspired pieces and the dutch game De Blob for the Wii which is set in Utrecht - my father's home town, it would be cool for us to play this game together on Christmas Day!"

Sentinel from Team Immunity adds his two cents:
Realistically or Unrealistically? I'd love to have a brand spanking new G92 Revision 8800GTS or if Santa and his Elves have been extremely busy an 8800 Ultra :D Unrealistically a Porsche GT3!

Kerryn, who we met through her PR work for eGames "would love to find a good book and a nice bottle of red in my Christmas stocking this year... I've given up hoping for someone tall, dark and handsome..."

While on the topic of PR, Martin, who does the job for a bunch of places including eGames and Auran answers: After a year of nothin much on my Ps3 and Wii, I am hoping for a new Quad Core PC with triple SLI and a blown X-Fi Sound Card. Too many bloody good games on PC to be stuck on console this Xmas!


Duke Nukem Forever probably still won't be here by next Christmas, while Everyday Shooter and De Blob are much closer to reality.
Phil, better known as Vortal, online producer for Fury would like "to be able to win more at FURY! It is a nightmare when your customers are better than you are at your own game, but don't worry, I have the devs working on a /vortalwins command for the new year and all will be good ;)"

Tom, from Tantalus Interactive replies: "I'm doing okay on the hardware front at present so it's really all about games... Christmas games are always interesting because you know you're going to have a solid block of time to kick back and play 'em. I'd be happy this year if the stocking contained Drakes Fortune on PS3 and Super Mario Galaxy on Wii. And I hope everyone else's stockings are stuffed with our latest two titles... MX vs ATV and Cars: Mater National."
...and as the President of the GDAA, adjusts his answer to include "lots of Australian-developed games ;)"

Eddy, from Smooth Few Films, who make The Leet World machinima is easily pleased: "If I could have one thing in my stocking, it would be Call of Duty 4!"

Geoff who plays Kyle from Pure Pwnage veers away from gaming for the moment - preferring "the new Joni Mitchell album in my stocking this year."

Even though it won't quite fill stockings, the crew at Telltale Games would like lots of people to visit Sam and Max Christmas, and maybe buy some last-minute presents from their gift store!

John, who's involved with creating free game Alien Arena replies: "In my stocking, I would love a ray gun :)"


Ty the Tasmanian Tiger, from Australian developers Krome, Kyle from Pure Pwnage, and an evil Santa from Sam & Max: Season Two
Paul from THQ echoes many people's sentiments, asking simply for "Time to play more games".

David, from Xbox's PR company agrees and elaborates: "I'd like to receive enough time to play through the gigantic pile of games I've not had the time to play this year - Call of Duty 4, Assassin's Creed, Tomb Raider Anniversary, STALKER, Portal, Shivering Isles... I'm looking at you. Wistfully."

Berni from Mindscape would like to receive a Nintendo Wii in my Christmas stocking "so I can have Wii nights with my friends."

Andrew, from statisticians GfK, who provide us with our game sales charts each week would like Singstar Bollywood. He's been warned to be careful what he wishes for, or he just might get it.

Vispi from Sega's local offices explains that "I've been on Santa's 'naughty' list for a few years now. I think it's time he cuts me a break."

Andres, who works in PR for Sony adds his thoughts: "I'd have to say that I'm hoping to have Assassin's Creed in my stocking. Or, at the very least, the money for it!! That would do me nicely."

Marcus, from Verse Studios is quite detailed:
"I don't know if Santa invests in fledgling game development studios, but we are willing to cut a nice deal with the big man in red. We have an equity proposition that, though moderate risk, has the potential for significant return on investment over a five to seven year period. So, Santa, if you are interested, please leave a sack full of money in my stocking this year, and sign the paperwork beside the obligatory tray of cookies and milk."

...he then adds: "I would also like a pony."

Grace, from NetDevil is much easier to please, desiring "A ticket back to Singapore from Colorado. So that I can indulge myself with endless shopping, eating and partying."


Verse Tactics from Verse Studios, Jumpgate Evolution from NetDevil and Project V.I.L.E. from Australia's VILE Studios
And finally, Ashley, Creative Director for VILE Studios, currently hard at work on Project V.I.L.E. wrote a letter:
"Oh I have been a really good boy! Such a good boy.. (smirk) What I really want for Xmas is for good-old EA Games to buy us out and make our games cheap and dirty! You know, take away the best parts of a game and pump out new releases of it every year. That would be such a Merry Christmas!"

(...on that note, it's worth me mentioning that any charitable donations towards any of these very worthy causes will be gratefully accepted, via the usual channels...)

Seriously though - thank you. May Father Christmas have brought you everything you wished for, and may you spend your holidays happily immersed in video games.

Merry Christmas to all - and to all, a good night!