With Christmas getting closer (only 6 days now), it's time to look at what else people here at GF! are wanting for Christmas. Part I held some surprises “ Halo 2 only third on the list? “ as well as the heads up on games some of us hadn't even heard of. After reading Part I, posted three days ago, be sure to read Part II right here.

There's no time better in the gaming industry than Christmas, partly because there's always an excess of quality holiday titles hitting the shelves, but also partly because it's the one time of year when someone else might join in the feeding of our gaming habits. It's a time of possibility; a time when not only is it possible to maybe get free games, but if classics like Miracle on 34th Street are to be believed, also, maybe, things like houses and stuff. So when we here at GF! asked a number of our crew what they really wanted for Christmas, we didn't let them be limited by anything like reality. Be sure to read Part I of our GamesFirst! Christmas Wishlist, where we reveal the true depth of our gaming addictions (a few of the responses may lead to psychiatric evaluations, and probably at least one committal? it happens every year). Only 9 days and counting!

There are stereotypes in the gaming industry. There's the concept of the nerdy guy that never goes outside, that never plays sports, that weighs too much, and has a pale, colorless complexion. But most of the time, these stereotypes are inaccurate. For starters, you could take the above example and, at least nearly every other time, read it girl? where the guy? is now. And the rest of it? That's just right out. Battling stereotypes is one of the obstacles our industry has to overcome. Are columns like GameSpy's new GirlSpy a way to do that? Aaron doesn't think so. Do you agree with him? Be sure to read and find out.

There's nothing like the first solid snowfall of December to bring back memories of the good ˜ol yesteryears. A lot has changed since the days of the Super NES and classic 2D games. With the recent release of the first next generation handheld, the DS, what you might have found under your Christmas tree in the 1990s is looking worse and worse even when compared to today's portable systems, not counting the home consoles. Is that good? Click here to let Chris tell you what there is to miss about the days of yore.

People really win here at GF! Case in point: Catherine Cole will be, in a matter of hours, whiling away her time rounding up her homies in Los Santos and putting the smackdown on suckas from the beach to the mountains. And no whining because you didn't win. Enter our Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines contest for some PC lovin'.

This is a sub-section of Part III of "Me Lean Like Persian Prince, You Buff Like Conan", a multi-part series on the KiloWatt gaming controller. The KiloWatt is an exercise machine designed to work as a gaming controller for the Xbox, PS1, PS2, GameCube, or PC.

We're gearing up to launch the first edition of the GamesFirst! Newsletter here at GF! But before we do that, let its primary editor, Aaron, give you a go on why you should sign up. You don't want to miss out, do you? It's time to read about why you should be a part of our Newsletter in crowd?. And it's not just because Aaron would like you better.

On the eve of the GF! 4.0 relaunch, Shawn takes some time out to catch everyone up on the continuing saga of our favorite little indy webzine. This editorial links to articles that discuss GF! history and details the new features of new new GF!

There's nothing like a new launch, and the launch of GF 4.0 is no exception. There are new things in the offering. Start off the day with a glance back into the times long, long ago, and get a good warm feeling in your heart for the times to come. So grab a controller and pick a spot on the couch; we've got a little co-op going on here.

Aaron gets some hands-on time with the kiloWatt gaming controller down at E3, and reports a whole bunch of new information in this article; part II of his "Me Lean Like Persian Prince, You Buff Like Conan" series.

It's always hard figuring out who gets to go to E3 each year on our writing team. There are so many elements to consider: endurance, skills, hygiene. Take a look at this not-quite-serious report on getting together our crack team of reporters this year. It's something to chuckle about as the real previews start coming in. Read it here.

The handheld gaming market was a big deal this E3. With the PSP, DS, and QD all taking us outside and making us social, playing games over all sorts of mediums, from Bluetooth to Wi-fi, it's hard to tell who's going to come out on top. Who's going to have the better system? Well, read here for Aaron's first thoughts on what system you're going to want in your pocket come next year.

There was guilt. Did she have to die? Another question; did he have to kill her? Steffan DelPiano takes a step into the moral dilemma of his character, and questions if the character is really who he wants to be. Be sure to read his thoughts in this article and gaming commentary.

True story: I was in an arcade in Hong Kong a couple of weeks ago and everyone was lining up in front the latest light-gun game sensation - Hong Kong Super Kill Cop, or something like that. I threw down my tokens and drew, only to find some high tech gadgetry was tracking my body movement.. You want your character to duck behind that desk, you better duck.. or lean, or dodge. It was like lasertag only cooler because it had all the joy of a videogame. By the time I got capped by a crime lord I was breathing heavy, sweating profusely and my muscles were cramped from over exertion. It was one of the most intense 30 seconds I've ever spent with a videogame. Apparently I'm not the only gamer in need of a little exercise. Aaron Stanton takes on the issue in his latest article. Exercise your index finger right here for the good stuff.