4 reasons why 2009 is suddenly awesome.

Around this time of year, things are a bit slow when it comes to video games. No real huge releases and all the good stuff is usually saved for June or later. Well folks, take those expectations and shoot them in the face with a gun that shoots chainsaws. Just in the last couple of days, a few announcements have made the most jaded gamer jump for fucking joy again. Let's go through them right here, right now. Hold on to your hats...

1. Modern Warfare 2 has snowmobiles.

Let's face it: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was fantastic. The team behind that game have finally revealed footage of their sequel. Modern Warfare 2 has dropped the Call Of Duty title in favour of branching out on their own. Whatever, it doesn't matter as long the game holds up.

Before you say "What the shit was that?" I'll explain. Yeah, it's basically a quick teaser for the trailer. Which is released on May 24th. During the NBA Basketball Finals. Yeah, pretty weird huh? But when we're talking about Modern Warfare 2, I'm willing to jump through a few strange hoops. Did you see the snowmobiles? SNOWMOBILES! LIKE DIE HARD 2 RIGHT?

2. Dragon Age: Origins has suddenly become incredibly interesting.

Hey, you know Bioware? The guys who made Knights Of The Old Republic and Mass Effect? Pretty good resume huh? Well, before they drop Mass Effect 2 on us, they've been working on a medieval RPG in the meantime called Dragon Age: Origins. Until now, it's been "Okay, that exists", but after this trailer, it's more like "Give Bioware some sort of award." Be warned, this trailer is a little...different.

3. Streetfighter IV is rather cheap this Thursday.

Released in February, the original gangsta of fighting games returned to rave reviews. Only problem is, every shop charged an arm and a leg for the thing. EB Games naturally whipped out the $120 price tag much to my disdain and I believed my chance to bust out a sweet HADOUKEN! would have to wait. But it seems Big W will come to the rescue. Starting on the 14th May, they're having a sale and selling a bunch of stuff on the cheap. Including SFIV for $88. Now, you may not think that's a very cheap price but...think about it. Thought about it? Good. Pretty cheap ain't it?

$88 for all this good stuff. Sold yet?

4. And oh yeah, they're officially making Thief 4.

Didn't see that coming did you? Eidos have officially announced that they are indeed working on the fourth installment of their legendary stealth-based adventure game. From the official press release:

"We're in the early development stages for Thief 4, but this is an incredibly ambitious and exciting project for Eidos," said Stephane D'Astous, General Manager at Eidos-Montreal. "While it's too early for us to offer any specific game details, right now we are focused on recruiting the very best talent to join the core team at the studio and help us make what we believe will be one of the most exciting games on the market."

Sounds good to me. Since I haven't played a Thief game since the second one, the time is ripe for Garrett The Pickpocket to return and show us how it's done. Come and reclaim your sneaking throne, Garrett. And by God, you better bring water arrows. There has been an INSANE amount of stealth based games flooding the market since the Thief series was successful and quite a few of them have been sub-standard.

SNORE.

Excited yet? In January, this year was looking to be a little lackluster compared to the legendary release schedule of 2008. But as the year progresses (and remember, we're nearly halfway through it already), the more amazing things get. Seriously, if none of the items above get your eyebrows raising, then you must not have a soul or something.

Pictured: You.