ith Windows Vista shipping at the end of January, PC gaming is about to get shaken up a bit due to Microsoft pushing the Games For Windows initiative. DX10 has the potential to take visuals to a whole new level, and while there won’t be too many games that will take advantage of this new tech, we can’t wait to see what it does to the next generation of PC titles. We’re looking at 2007 as the year to upgrade our rigs to handle what could most likely be one of the best years in PC gaming in some time.

While Valve promised us back in June that gamers would get their second slice of episodic pie by the end of 2006, who were they kidding? We know Valve, and Valve knows delays. But how can we complain when they announced that they'd treat gamers to a triple threat of first-person love with the addition of Team Fortress 2 and Portal?

Finally, Gordon will leave City 17, and we’re guessing we’ll see a move toward where Dr. Mossman transmitted a message. From what we’ve seen with the trailers, we know that the Vortigaunts will play a role in the game, and something tragic has happened to Alyx. While Valve has stated that key members will die, we’re wondering if Alyx will be one of the fallen cast members. Striders and the long-talked-about Strider Buster will also appear, and new enemy types such as the Hunters and giant antlions will make their debut.

But seriously, who cares! We want Team Fortress 2! With almost 10 years of development and a completely overhauled look, we’re absolutely drooling in anticipation for this. Tack on some crazy Portal puzzle action, and we’re completely sold, already. Sure, this whole package will also be released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, but we’re purists and we’ll be playing this baby on the PC.

Warn your family. Warn your friends. Warn your loved ones. The most anticipated MMO expansion is set to be released in just a few short weeks, and once it is you can expect the rest of your life to not matter, and productivity in the Game Informer offices to go right out the window. We’d be afraid of letting Andy know that, considering he’s our boss and all – but he plays too, so we’re golden.

With an increased level cap, flying mounts, two new playable races, jewel crafting, new PvP, and new instances and raids, the World Of Warcraft as we know it will be sucking our lives right into the Dark Portal. Azeroth, here we come!