Last December, Cryptic Studios packed up and moved in with Atari and Infogrames, in effect turning over all of their proprietary IP, tools, technology and even WIPs to their new parent company. Inside sources are now alive and abuzz that part of the turned over WIPs would be an MMO version of Neverwinter Nights.

Aww, and I was so gearing up to see some Ghostbusters PSP action in E3! With a sudden turn of events (and to think it's so last minute, with only three weeks left before the actual event), Atari has announced that they're pulling out from this year's gaming event - and no, it's not really because of Swine Flu concerns.

Surprisingly it was almost a clean sweep. The majority of QJ writers agreed on this one, a single publishers name kept coming up around the water cooler. Can you guess which publisher stole our hearts this year?

Of course, there are always the dissenters. Booo! Hissss!

What are the lowly denizens of QJ looking forward to in 2009? We highlight the games coming next year (hopefully) that get us all hot under the collar.

Do you agree? Think we're raving loonies? Got suggestions of your own? Sally forth good readers, and let us know what you think.

Cryptic Studios, independent developer for games like Star Trek Online and Champions Online, will soon be officially acquired by Atari's parent company, Infogrames Entertainment, this according to a press release sent out today.

The end of physical media is nigh! That's according to Phil Harrison, at least. See, he's "pretty confident [kids] will never buy a physical media product" in the future - that's counting CDs, DVDs, games in boxes... Man, could you imagine talking to your future kid? "Err, daddy what's a dee-vee-dee? Daddy, is it a title of an emo song?"

The music industry has spoken out about the five British developers and publishers going after illegal file-sharers in the UK. What of the other players in the gaming industry? We have yet to hear any official word on the matter from other developers or publishers, but Peter Moore - in his personal capacity - has talked about it, and he'd have to agree... with the music industry.

British game developers have launched an all-out war against illegal file-sharers. They're not about to take piracy in the industry sitting down. But the music industry, another victim of the pirates, aren't backing them up on this cause. It's an apparent disagreement in approach and disposition.

This week welcomes the much-loved and much-awaited Metal Gear Solid 4 from Konami. No longer should we worry about broken street dates, because today it all becomes official. But Solid Snake is not the only superhero around as there's also Goku and the gang of Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit, as well as the big, green machine, The Incredible Hulk. If you'd rather work on the sidelines, then Don King Present: Prizefigther is here as well to show you the ropes of managing in the boxing profession, as well as Total Extreme Wrestling 2008. More games await after the jump!

Now and again, companies will introduce members a game's development team during a little Q & A session. In fact, Cryptic Studios has recently done that with Champions Online lead programmer Charlie Grisafi. 

Mr. Grisafi has a lot to tell you about the work he's been doing for the game. More details and explanations abound in the full article after the jump.