Giving Thanks: Top ten things this gamer’s thankful for in 2008

Halloween just passed us by without a hitch, handed out treats to the goblins and fairies and the occasional witch. But soon Thanksgiving day will be here. So while my other stories are forming and interviews are completed I wondered what I could possibly be thank for this year aside from the usual family, friends and fine wines and elegant turkey dinners.

So what do I have to be thankful for this year? Well here goes, and remember this is just my opinion and do feel free to add what you’re thankful for in the comments below as we celebrate them together.

1. That Uwe Boll has NOT made a movie about my current favorite video game.
2. That my friend (and founder of Gamers Outreach Foundation) Zachary Wigal has finally lived his dream.
3. That women like myself are finally enjoying our games online as equals. Not objects of affection or healers for jughead barbarians, hunters and warriors.
4. That Gaia Online finally opened their new MMO zOMG! Now if there are any healers who happen to be in the Zen Garden. I’m the cute little ninja crumpled in the corner of the garden covered with garden gnomes and killer flamingos. … HELP!
5. The cost of video game consoles are finally dropping this holiday season. Hey. It may not have dropped much, but even a few dollars can save a lot more when it comes to budgeting your purchases after the bills have all been paid.
6. Improvements to game play, graphics and qualities of existing consoles through update patches.
7. Holiday shopping at my favorite game store and finally being able to experience online gaming through my PS3. Oh yeah. It’s so on when I find the punk from Germany who kept tossing me into the fire pits on LittleBigPlanet.
8. Gaming tournaments with family members on Thanksgiving day for immunity points. The highest score spends a chore-free day gaming while the other cleans up after dinner. (If my brothers Martin and James are reading this, don’t forget to wash the dishes before cramming them into the dishwasher. Thanks for the caked-up mess last year.)
9. All the people I’ve had the opportunity to interview for awesome stories to share with you, the Gamertell readers.
10. All the Gamertell readers, staff and editors. And, no, I’m not saying this for brownie points or a free game for Christmas. I mean this from the bottom of my heart.

Happy Thanksgiving Day, Gamertell!