Looking back, what will 2006 be most remembered for, gameswise? Obviously, there's the Wii, and everything that came with it - Zelda, Rayman, cracked TVs, which is probably a highlight for most people. There's also Battlefield 2142, which let a lot of people down and didn't do much to restore faith in EA/Dice. Then there was a little game about thermonuclear war, which took the world by storm (ha!), surprising even the developers. 2006 also saw E3 change significantly, and countless similar events pop up around the globe to pick up the slack, meaning gamers have no shortage of events.

Speaking of shortages, the PS3 was delayed in Australia, while Wii was launched, and the Xbox 360 plodded along happily, among brightly coloured pinatas and killer locusts.

On a more local level - the Internode Games Network has doubled in size. We now boast an impressive news portal, a comprehensive File Library and get more than 100,000 unique visitors a month (and more than 20,000 downloads a week). Server-side, there are now eight more quad-core machines hosting game servers (with three more on order), in four cities around Australia - giving more than 2,000 peak players a night somewhere to play.

We've written up a few questions and handed them around to various Internode Games Network types, to find out about their highlights, lowlights and memorable events of 2006.

Let's jump straight in, with head admin Sláine being first in the spotlight.

Favourite game of 2006: Bit of a toss-up. I still can't get my head around actually liking Nintendo, so I'm loath to say Rayman Raving Rabbids for the Wii. But I have a feeling it might be my favourite, after just one day. The only other game that has really held my interest is Flatout 2. Nothing better than crashing into things! I normally hate driving games, but I took the time to complete the game and loved every minute of it. Least favourite game of 2006: Again a tossup. I'm really not a big fan of BF2142, the latest mod for BF2. Really was a disappointment. But my biggest disappointment was Rogue Trooper. I had such high expectations, and the game came so close to fulfilling them. Maybe it was playing it on the PS2, but whatever the problem, ole Friday and his mates just let me down too much. Highlight of the year: Dell 2407. I always hated Dell. Was never a fan. But I needed to deal with a new monitor, and that fit my requirements. Within an hour of it sitting on my desk I wanted a second one to replace my second CRT. Its so nice and yummy and such a struggle not to lick it. :P Lowlight of the year: BF2 framerates. Upgrade most of my system, and yet that monster STILL lags the hell out of me on Warlord. I swear, the only way to avoid the lag and frame rate issues is to play it single player, no bots. :( What are you most looking forward to in 2007? G03. We haven't gotten over to WA in the past, but I love it there, so its always been a disappointment. Looking forward to getting over, going to the convention, and then meeting all the players and admins from WA.

Rayman Raving Rabbids

Acaila even managed to tear himself away from WoW for a few minutes to fill his out.

Favourite game of 2006: There have been a number of games this year that managed to draw my attention away from a certain MMO, albeit only until I completed them. The most significant of those would have to be HL2: Episode One. I enjoyed this game so much I actually completed it twice, back to back, with the commentary on the 2nd time through. Least favourite game of 2006: Battlefield 2142. I think I played the demo for about 20 mins before I stopped and uninstalled it. The game screamed "quick n dirty mod of BF2" to me. Highlight of the year: The launch of the Nintendo Wii. Its been a long time since I bought a console on launch day. And I queued up at midnight for this one! Lowlight of the year: The fact that EA is still in business. With a complete lack of innovation and poor software quality their demise is on the cards. Stop rehashing the same thing and trying to sell it! What are you most looking forward to in 2007? Obviously the Burning Crusade expansion for WoW. Super Smash Bros and Mario Planet for the Wii, actually pretty much any Nintendo title for the Wii! Dragon's Quest IX and Final Fantasy for the DS are also on my wish list.

Half-Life 2: Episode One

The attention then turns to head CS/CSS admin and wielder of the almighty ban-stick, Emp:

Favourite game of 2006: Was going to be DoD:S since i've played that the most this year..but since it's last year's release, it would have to be Neverwinter Nights 2. Definately enjoy this game (not that I've played it as much as I'd like), runner up would be Zelda: Twilight Princess on the Wii. Least favourite game of 2006: Least favourite would have to be (was going to be Battlefield 2..but again..last year..damnit >.< as EA screwed the pooch on that one)..so instead falls to its newest brother Battlefield 2142..lameolar. Highlight of the year: Highlight of the year would have to be going to the midnight release of the Wii (first ever midnight release for a console for me) closely followed by a fun arvo at the eGames expo. Lowlight of the year: The number of patches EA release with big lag time between that just keep stuffing up the game that had a lot of potential and then just giving up on it and release a new version on the same engine with sci fi skins. What are you most looking forward to in 2007? What I'm looking forward to in 2007 are the games I really want that are being released over the next 12 months for the Wii (Super Smash Bros Brawl, Mario, Bleach, DBZ - thanks to that damn preview vid.. I must get this game now, SSX Blur (love the SSX games..particularly tricky..hoping this one is just as good if not better)). For the PC I'm looking forward to Team Fortress 2 (and to a lesser degree Portal). I'm also looking forward to the continued expansion of the Node games network over the next year and any possible changes/updates that may occur

Neverwinter Nights 2

That Chienne character managed to pause her tireless news coverage:

Favourite game of 2006: Rayman Raving Rabbids (although I've done myself an injury, ruling out much Wii-ing in the near future), Viva Piñata (when I can kick UgLyPuNk off the 360), Defcon (because I like blowing up cities...). See also Animal Crossing: Wild World, which came out last year. Least favourite game of 2006: I don't know that I really had a least-favourite game. I could jump on the bandwagon here and say something about BF2142, but I've never picked it up so I couldn't say. Instead, I'll claim that I play so few games that the only ones I *do* play, I'm quite fond of. Highlight of the year: Wii! ...UgLyPuNk, Alma, Paxton... eGames (and the people contained therein). Writing lots of lovely news posts for my adoring public - and having you all read them and comment, it's nice to know someone's listening to me babble! Lowlight of the year: UgLyPuNk not thinking about the fact we may need "games" when pre-ordering a Wii. My video card not liking me doing anything graphics-intensive, thus ruling out anything more complex than Spider solitaire (especially while looking over at UgLyPuNk's two 7800GTXs (in SLI)). Having to give up my coveted 'non-gamer' title when someone pointed out that "investing" as much time as I did in shockwave addictions meant I was as bad as the rest of them. What are you most looking forward to in 2007? Seeing the next progression in the "console wars". Going to GO3 in Perth, and the next eGames, and any other such events that pop up (and meeting more lovely people). So many of the games I've been writing about actually coming to fruition. Getting a new video card! ...and, of course, more of the same.

Viva Piñata

Rulke, when not reviewing, is a man of few words:

Favourite game of 2006: Even split - Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion & Call of Juarez Least favourite game of 2006: ummm, no comment! :p Highlight of the year: Changing careers :D Lowlight of the year: Cancer within the family What are you most looking forward to in 2007? Flying cars and a cure for cancer :D

Call of Juarez

What does Ignant think?

Favourite game of 2006: Without question it has to be Defcon. Most fun I've had playing a game in a while and it's so cheap! Rayman on the Wii comes a close second though! Least favourite game of 2006: Too many to list or remember... I've installed so many demos and removed then after a short time. Hmm worst full game I own (and gave away) from this year would have to be BF2142. By the time it came around and with previous dealings with the franchise I just lost all interest. not so much a bad game, but bad things surrounding it. I'm still yet to load the game since the first day of the Beta. Highlight of the year: It has to be the rate at which we've grown and the oustanding support we recieve from the community and our volunteer admins. Without those guys we wouldn't be anywhere near the size that we are now. The fact that we have had to expand into four states shows that we are only getting stronger and we're not about to slow down. Lowlight of the year: Losing E3 as we know it I guess. It will be better for "us" in the industry and those marketing the games coverage wise, but the event was a drawcard for so many avid gamers. Fear not though, there's about 100 events poping up to cover the hole created by this across the world. This includes Australia having already had eGames Expo and GO3 coming up in the new year. What are you most looking forward to in 2007? The GO3 event in Perth next year should be great for the Australian gaming industry as will the "new" E3 for the industry in general. I guess I'm just excited about the changing face of the industry on a global scale. Will be interesting times indeed.

Defcon

...and, finally, our illustrious leader, UgLyPuNk (man of few words):

Favourite game of 2006: Joint Task Force Least favourite game of 2006: Battlefield 2142 Highlight of the year: Chienne, Alma, Paxton, the announcement of Command and Conquer Tiberium Wars, Wii! Lowlight of the year: Maggie, Paxton farts, dodgy CS:S servers (Fixed) What are you most looking forward to in 2007? I could tell u but I would have to kill u.

Joint Task Force

Finally - Merry Christmas from all of us at the Internode Games Network (including Alma and Paxton), may your holidays be festive, safe and happy - and we'll see you next year!