What's this? A new Portal 2 trailer? Fantastic. What fun that will be. Valve's razor-sharp comedic scripting is always a masterclass cavalcade of satire, slapstick and black-than-Moriarty's-heart humour.

What's that you say? The whole thing's in German? Ah.

Oh well, it's still bloody funny. We can just about work out what's going on, and besides, it has robots getting hurt and everything.

Sweet crap, 2011 is looking good already. It's often easy to lose track over the overall shape of a year's gaming when current big releases and console launches are going off in your face. Now that the 3DS is out and in your happy little hands though, we've taken a step back for a bit of perspective. And we're excited by what we see.

Basically, 2011 is looking like a stormer, and the period during which it's really set to heat up is just about to arrive. Spring and summer have one fat release schedule squeezed between their hot, sweaty months, with some of the most exciting stuff of the year (so far) queued up. So we've listed them with a little poll, so you can throw your excitable game-love at this most thrilling period of the annum. So won't you throw it?

How did we decide the 10 greatest years in videogame history? First step: We made a huge list of the best titles from the past four decades and taped it to the wall. Second step: We fought. Viciously. For days. Literally.

We also considered each year as a whole, looking at how many great games came out, just how great each was, and how they play today. We focused on the US market – only one Japanese import is mentioned – and if a game appeared on multiple systems or spawned sequels, we gave the first, best-known, most influential or highest quality version more weight.

Our final results shocked even us…

You can’t argue with the appeal of cuteness, at least economically. Back in 2005 when the still new DS needed it most, the handheld received a killer-app with Nintendogs. People all over the world fell for the well-realized digital pups, making it instrumental in DS’s huge success. Of course it was also instrumental in the glut of Petz knock-offs DS owners had to sift through at the local game shop. Now Nintendo is putting out the game’s first actual sequel in the form of Nintendogs + Cats, and the results are a little too familiar...

With our iPad 2 finally in hand following a FedEx trip around the globe, we're taking a look at the first four games enhanced for the device: new release Real Racing 2 HD, as well as the updated versions of iOS hits Infinity Blade, Asphalt 6: Adrenaline HD, and Dead Space. But of course, there's another new Angry Birds game out this week, which is both exactly what you'd expect and thankfully different in a couple appreciated ways. Read on and check out these five fresh picks, all of which come recommended to owners of either iPad...

Above: An EVE needle prop that lights up with LED lights and a wonderful Big Daddy plush doll that looks homemade. Both could be yours if you enter our weekly weekend giveaway contest!

Do you see that Big Daddy plush doll and EVE needle up there? Don’t you think they look cool? If you agree, it’s probably because you also think BioShock is cool, which we think makes you cool. In fact, we think you’re so cool that we want to give you the chance to win these excellent BioShock-themed curiosities. Find out how to enter inside….

Not a lot of great trailers this week, but the one’s that were awesome were REALLY AWESOME. Most notably, the Crysis 2’s launch trailer, which is where we stole the song “New York, New York” by B.o.B. Find all of the trailers showcased below in their entirety…

Much like the turning of the earth and the Dynasty Warriors series, the Ridge Racer franchise quietly continues its endless cycle, though we may, at times, forget to notice it. The Ridge Racer series made its name on the strength of its solid arcade racing debut on the PSOne launch all the way back in 1995. The series debut on the 3DS doesn’t offer any revolutions in gameplay, but it makes good use of the new 3D technology and captures the core arcade racing fun the franchise is known for...

Above: Please... embedding the video above could save the life of a fake puppy

In a bold new marketing move, Nintendo’s coaxing gamers into buying Nintendog’s using unflinchingly harsh imagery of in-game animal cruelty! For a one time $40 donation, you can absolve yourself and millions of others of the barbaric acts of canine abuse by rearing a digital puppy of your own. Oh, and Cats!

Out today (Friday) in the UK and launching on Sunday in the US, the long-awaited 3DS can finally be yours! But before you join a midnight launch line at Best Buy, you should really have all the best information first. That’s where GR comes in. We’ve collected all our in-depth 3DS launch coverage in one place, that one place being right here!