Industry and multi-console news:

• FiringSquad looks back on the ten biggest stories of 2006.
• Yet another MoH title, Medal of Honor Vanguard, has been announced for the PS2 and Wii.
• One of the writers from Ain't It Cool News who got beaten up by Uwe Boll recounts his experience.
• Next Generation counts down the best games of the year in Japan.
• Popular Flash game Line Rider is coming to consoles. If you haven't played it, you can do so here. I don't know that a "toy" you doodle with for five minutes makes a great console purchase.

PC news:

• Valve and IGA have signed a deal to provide in-game ads for Counterstrike.
• The ESA has officially announced Doug Lowenstein's departure.
• Joystiq examines how Games for Windows Vista will change PC gaming.

Nintendo news:

• Nikkei Business recently had a feature showing some early Wii prototype controllers. No, nobody else knows what's going on with that giant star thing either.
• The Wii Forecast Channel launched today, and the Opera browser comes on Friday.
• Nintendo Power has given the first details on Mario Party 8.
• CVG cites "reliable sources" saying that Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3, and Zelda DS have all been delayed until Christmas 2007.
• A piece of Nintendo history even I was unaware of: Super Mario Bros. Special, an obscure port (though using all new levels) of SMB, made by Hudson Soft for the Japanese PC-8001 computer. The article contains an emulator and ROM so you can try it yourself.

Sony news:

• Time puts the PS3 on a list of Five Things That Went from Buzz to Bust. "You know you're in trouble when you get beat by something called a Wii."
• Sony's Phil Harrison says you'll be seeing "user-created experiences" on the PS3 next year. Of course, they said that their online program would really kick off in the next year when the PS2 launched, too.
• The New York Times has an article on Guitar Hero's success, with comments from Barenaked Ladies guitarist Ed Robertson.
• Virtua Fighter 5 will be hitting PS3s in North America on February 20.
• Downloadable title FlOw has been delayed until January.
• A recent Sony Internet survey asked people what would "enhance" the PSP the most, and included such options as a hard drive and GPS. It also asked "Would you buy a new PSP if it included a HD or video out?" Adding more crap is surely the answer to the PSP's woes.
• MotorStorm was apparently rushed for its Japanese release, with IGN calling it "the most featureless racer I've ever played." In a true testament to IGN's hype ability, they say they're sure this will all be fixed for the American release and call the game "the most technically impressive game I've ever played."

Microsoft news:

• The Ho Ho Ho Pack has been released for Saints Row, enabling you to play the game dressed as Santa.
• Here's a studio version -- well, more like a living room version -- of Corporeal playing the Halo theme. You may recall there was a video of them playing it live a few months back.