I haven't really had a chance to properly sift through my recollections and memories of ten years worth of gaming to come to any final conclusion, but I did jump into review-tracking sites Game Rankings and Meta Critic to see what the aggregators said.

While some of the highest reviewed games seem about right for the years, some are just, well, bizarre. Here look for yourself. I created both of these lists searching for highest review scores for the year using the default settings on both sites.

Game Rankings
2000: Metal Gear Solid for the Game Boy Color
2001: Halo: Combat Evolved for the Xbox
2002: Metroid Prime for the GameCube
2003: Grand Theft Auto Double Pack for the Playstation 2
2004: Half-Life 2 for the PC
2005: Resident Evil 4 for the GameCube
2006: Out of the Park Baseball 2007 for the PC
2007: Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii
2008: Grand Theft Auto IV for the Playstation 3
2009: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves for the Playstation 3

Metacritic
2000: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 for the Playstation
2001: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 for the Playstation 2
2002: Metroid Prime for the GameCube
2003: Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker for the GameCube
2004: Half-Life 2 for the PC
2005: Resident Evil 4 for the GameCube
2006: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for the GameCube
2007: Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii
2008: Grand Theft Auto IV for the Xbox 360
2009: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves for the Playstation 3

Obviously not the best way to choose a winner, and it certainly doesn't take into account, or at least properly way, impact and innovation.

Which games do you think should make the list of top ten of the decade? If you're on Twitter hop on over there and post your own picks using #gamesofthedecade to help trend the topic.

How I long for the days when I could wander into a video game store and be surprised by the release of a new Final Fantasy game. It hasn't happened since number VII came out on the original PlayStation, but I will remember that day for the rest of my life. Sure, I'm now part of the problem, but I prefer to think of it as sharing my pain with a large group of people.

Square Enix isn't helping, either. Instead of just quietly going back to work on the localization and letting us think about other things, they've now got an official Final Fantasy XIII Facebook page and Twitter account, ensuring that fans never forget that the game is still painfully far away.

"Do not miss the first five minutes of the VGAs for our biggest surprise premiere in VGA history!" Keighley Tweeted about four hours ago. Granted, that "history" goes waaaaaay back to 2003. But given Destructoid's talk with Keighley yesterday it sounds like he's talking about some full-bore NDA-signing shit here that no one can even hint at until the show.

So, let's get to guessin'. I've got no idea myself. If it's a bona fide bombshell we are probably not talking about a new IP, and racking my brain, I'm not sure what unannounced, unknown, undated, unrumored sequel is out there that could get people out of their seats. But I'm ready to be surprised.

Geoff Keighley on Twitter [site]

Major Nelson announced that this afternoon Microsoft rolled an update that enables access to those three services by minors, provided they have parental approval. Minors in the U.S. will get access - again, assuming parental approval - on Dec. 15.

The Major reminds: Be sure to set Automatically log in or Remember me when setting up the application for the first time, otherwise you will be prompted for parental permission every time you launch the application

Twitter, Facebook and Last.FM updates for those <18 [Major Nelson]

Who knows why Curry, the first winner of America's Next Top Model, chose to share this, but she did over Twitter last night. Lots of people game in the buff, but not many of them look like her, so I'm stamping news on this one. Oh, shut up, not everything has to be Investor's Business Daily around here.

Is she really playing though? In that pose, she must be using her feet on the mouse and the keyboard.

Love this comment from her Twitpic page: "You are a nerd's wet dream." One of them, anyway, and I'm sure a goodly number don't even involve girls.

me ... naked ... playing World of Warcraft ; ) [Adrianne Curry on Twitpic, via HBG]

According to Microsoft's first week figures, at least 2 million LIVE users logged into Facebook, and a half a million accounts were created in the first 24 hours. The company did not reveal numbers for Twitter via LIVE.

Millions using social media on Xbox Live | Geek Gestalt [CENT via VG247]

Good, because Microsoft and Square Enix are giving away something Final Fantasy XIII related if you're willing to re-Tweet something on their behalf. What is it? Not a fifth DVD containing extra FF XIII content, unfortunately, but something mysterious, something that can only be obtained via Xbox Live.

Adding to this Final Fantasy XIII-Xbox 360-Twitter synergy is next week's dashboard update, which brings Facebook, Twitter and more to Microsoft's console. So you can join in on the co-marketing fun from the comfort of your couch.

Square Enix isn't saying what the secret prize is yet, but word on the street is that it's worth the nominal effort. I'm hoping for an Odin summon in horsey mode that my Xbox Live Avatar can ride upon. Please, Square Enix, don't let me down!

Final Fantasy XIII - Register. Tweet. Win. [Xbox.com]

Speaking to Fast Company, Xbox Live general manager Marc Whitten revealed the launch date for the eagerly anticipated dashboard update, which brings console-tailored versions of Facebook, Twitter, and Last.FM to Xbox 360 users. With the release day announcement, Whitten stresses that these aren't merely PC ports of the popular social networking sites, but entirely new entertainment experiences.

"We look at things like Facebook and Twitter as amazing social experiences, but also entertainment. We didn't want to copy and paste from the PC."

So who's excited? I'm actually looking forward to seeing how many of my Facebook friends get converted into Xbox Live contacts. I'll probably fiddle around with Facebook for a bit, and then turn on Last.FM and leave it running until the end of time.

Facebook and Twitter Come to Xbox Live This Tuesday [Fast Company]

Many have made the comparison of Gearbox's Borderlands to Diablo. Cliffy B certifies it with this unsolicited Tweet: "Borderlands, I adore you. You're Diablo for a generation raised on first person shooters. I want a Claptrap statue."

That can be arranged, Cliff.

Cliff Bleszinski's Twitter [via Hot Blooded Gaming]

"I communicate with our Twitter followers the same way I'd communicate with my office buddies," Bowling told Develop.

So if something happens I just throw it out there and opinions come in and we converse. Also during development, if we are sitting in a design meeting and we are arguing about something, no matter what it is I can just turn to what is now 60,000 people and post the same question.

Do we think will players like this?' well why don't we ask 60,000 of them and get a good representation of what we think they may like. Twitter has been fantastic throughout development, and I would recommend many, many more people adapted that into their design schedule.

It's not a carte-blanche relationship - the feedback Bowling pulls from Twitter must fit with Infinity Ward's design philosophy. "Typically stuff like: ‘we want more gore.' That's against our design philosophy," he says. "We don't make gory games. It's not that we can't, but it's not the experience we go for."

Over the lifespan of this game's development, tons of news has broken through Bowling over Twitter, so it's no surprise that channel has affected the arc of Modern Warfare 2, prerelease. It shows Twitter's not just a pass-through for trivia or hype, as some might dismiss it, but a useful way for both sides to stay in touch.

Infinity Ward Talks Twitter [Develop]

Quick recap: We got sent a screengrab of some files in the Left 4 Dead 2 demo, pointing to "zombiedogs." I wasn't aware this was the prototype name of the Hunter's attack call from the original Left 4 Dead last year. Within about 20 minutes, thanks to your comments, we corrected the post and ultimately the decision was made to take it down, because it didn't in fact report any news or engage a useful debate to earn its traffic. This isn't a hard and fast policy or a precedent by the way, just peeling back the curtains on a decision readers may have noticed.

And for the record, I don't blame the tipster at all. I think he had good intentions and he and I both were just uninformed about the origin of zombiedogs.

But Fake Gabe Newell was on the case at once. "oh why'd we have to include zombie dogs," he Tweeted, He knows I'd been following him, probably hoping I or someone would report the tweet as confirmation of the rumor.

How do I know he's fake? A while back I was tipped off to some humorous tweets Newell was allegedly making, regarding some Taco Bell inspired gastric trouble. I ran this back to both Newell and Doug Lombardi, and the reply was instant: "I don't have a Twitter account," Newell said, and cc'd Valve's info chief on the reply, which led me to believe Twitter would be notified and action taken to either take down Fake Gabe Newell or make him change his handle.

Nope. Fake Gabe struck again Oct. 10 "Left4dead 2 is working me to the bone, I shall one day rest and on that day, I'll finally be able to start work on left4dead 3." At least one gaming blog picked this up and ran with it.

Fake Gabe's got a great writing style. He follows current developments, mentions Valve employees and salts his updates with enough workaday stuff to make his fake rumors somewhat believable to someone not looking too closely at his Twitter feed. Dig deeper through his updates and you don't see much that sounds like it would come from a man in his position though. And while he has 1,700 followers, he's only following 12 people, and 188 tweets. The real Gabe Newell would likely have higher counts in both, showing a network more befitting a public figure in this industry.

So anyway, Fake Gabe Newell, I'll probably regret giving you the publicity. But it's the light that disinfects, no? I'm calling you a big Fake Fakey McFakehead, and I challenge you - I know you are reading this! - to direct message me admitting your masquerade, and tell us what motivated you to carry out such evildoing!

And in a good-natured spirit, to ask that you stop impersonating the Valve chief. It's not a crime, and you've had plenty of fun. But the joke is getting stale.

Over at the official website for the creators of this week's Ratchet & Clank: A Crack In Time (aka the place I go to watch my Ratchet scores slide down the chart), the man running things admitted to only recently signing up for Facebook. And he still isn't ready to Tweet.

Here he is, explaining himself on his company's website:

Recently I've been feeling like a big hypocrite. Since Resistance: Fall of Man I've been extolling the virtues of the community features in our games. And a few weeks ago I mentioned in an interview that I think that community represents a hidden arms race in our industry.

But I have to come clean. I haven't actually been part of the community. I haven't been on Facebook until lately. I don't Tweet. I don't have a MySpace account. And I only post on forums occasionally. What's wrong with me? Haven't I heard that being part of the "community" is freaking awesome? How can I promote community if I'm an outsider?

Some might consider posting on Internet forums plenty of community right there. But Price runs a company that is releasing a game this week that has the word "Community" as one of its main menu options. And, hey, developers, gamers, reporters, PR people are on these networks. Is it essential to be connected in this way? Would there be something archaic about a person professionally involved in gaming shunning social networks, as if it was as essential to keeping up with things as, I don't know, reading a book, using a phone or trying Guitar Hero at least once?

I've seen developers join Twitter and then leave it. I've had gamers ask to be my friend on Facebook or argue with me on an Internet forum. Public relations folks and game creators alike use social networking tools to get the word out and sometimes to make gaffes in whole new ways.

In Price's case, the question is whether the head of a development studio has anything to be sorry for if he's not part of Internet "community." Do you demand the people making the games you play indulge in such things?

Social Media & Me: A Confession [InsomnicaGames.com]

For the rest of you, check your Xboxes, update your dashboards—if you can—then Tweet and Facebook your little heads off. Then, tell us if you're liking the new additions, or if you think that Twitter is the devil and steals your soul 140 characters at a time.

Xbox 360 Update Hands-On: Facebook And Twitter
Microsoft provided Kotaku with an early version of the November Xbox 360 dashboard update. I just tested Twitter and Facebook on my 360. Watch.

Xbox 360 Update Hands-On: The Stuff That Didn't Work, For Me
Instant streaming in 1080p? Microsoft did warn that its new Zune video marketplace might not allow for streaming for people with slower (slow-ish?) connections. This is my low-point in my three-part preview of the 360's new November dashboard.

Xbox 360 Update Hands-on: Last.FM In Action
The final part of our Xbox 360 November dashboard update saves the best for last, without intending the pun. Here's Last.FM in action on my 360, injecting a bit of Zelda and MF Doom into my system.

Both Xbox versions of the social-networking services are available only to paying Xbox Live Gold users.

Apologies for the low volume. Turn it up before you start watching/listening.

The Facebook video is up top. The Twitter video is below:

Check out Part 2 of our Xbox 360 Dashboard update preview, as I try the new Zune video marketplace and the Instant Streaming in 1080p service.

Check out part 3 of this November Xbox 360 Dashboard Update preview, which shows Last.FM on my 360.

"Dedicated servers FTW. What ever secures a better online experience is a given for us," Tweeted DICE's K.M. Troedsson.

KM Troedsson (L_Twin) on Twitter [thanks Cirap]

Since Microsoft expressly said we're not forbidden from discussing this, why not? U.S. Xbox Live users in the closed preview will see a "News and More" tab in the "Inside Xbox" channel, and it will deliver "a regularly-updated stream of content from MSNBC.com, MSN Autos, The New Yorker and Dilbert,

For rhythm and music gamers, the update will also set up dedicated music stores for Lips, Guitar Hero and Rock Band.

But wait, there's more! "Surprise! - Keep an eye out in the weeks after the preview launches...you never know what might pop up," says the email.

But give the Major his due, the Xbox Live community guru Larry "Major Nelson" Hyrb has tweeted that he's going to pick up Uncharted 2. If the context of this story escapes you and you also live under a rock, the game is a PlayStation 3 exclusive. And it speaks to the overall excellence of a game when your No. 1 competitor's public face says he's paying retail for it. Tweeteth the Major:

I'll have to pick up UnCharted 2 this week. It's being very well received. Congrats to @Naughty_Dog on a job well done!

Very nice gesture, but let's not make a compliment of Microsoft into something greater than the credit Naughty Dog and Sony are due. Uncharted 2 is legitimately such a great game that it can be said everyone's buying it.

Xbox's Major Nelson To Buy PS3's Uncharted 2 [Hot Blooded Gaming]

It's the triumphant return of the Xbox Live Preview Program, and everybody is invited! Invited to apply that is, but Major Nelson says they are searching for multiple thousands of participants to test out the latest Xbox Live features, and you're just a brief application away from being considered. You can visit the Xbox Live Update Preview page right now to apply, but make sure you've got your Xbox 360 serial number handy, because they're gonna ask for it. I told you to keep it on a card in your wallet, but did you listen?

Xbox LIVE Preview Program: Zune, Facebook and Twitter [Major Nelson]