I've heard often from people outside of geekdom that when we geeks get together we seem like we're speaking a different language. This is especially true amongst video gamers, because over the years we've found ways to shorten definitions of our games so communication is quick and direct.

When future archaeologists look back on the games of the 21st century, they're likely to be confused by the convoluted myths we've created. Who is this Zelda, and why must Link find her? How do magic mushrooms make Mario powerful? Why is Pac-Man on the run from his ghosts?

Star slime fest is back! Justin Timberlake hosts this year's Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards 20th Anniversary celebration, airing live March 31, from UCLA's Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles. Kids will be able to vote in advance in a total of 16 categories. Surprise awards also will be announced during the show.

There has never been anything like it. Independent U.S. sales figures released by the NPD Group today confirmed a red-hot launch for the new Wii system by Nintendo, and the crowning of the portable Nintendo DS as the best-selling video game device of any type for both the holidays and all of 2006.

2006 was a great year for video games. While years that see new home consoles are successes, this year in particular proved that video games are becoming mainstream faster than you may realize. While a lot of it has to do with the Wii, a system vying for the position of “console anyone can play,” the fact that a huge entertainment company like Sony is showcasing their new format of media on PlayStation 3 says something. Now that officially every mainstream game has been released in 2006, here are the 20 best games of the year:

In a result that will surely send fanboys into a rage, action-RPG The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion beat out favorite Gears of War for Game of the Year at Spike TV Video Game Awards 2006. You can watch the star-studded event on Spike TV this Wednesday, December 13, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. List of nominees below, winners in bold:

The idea of a new football game in July was too much to bear, as gamers flocked to buy NCAA Football 07 from EA Sports. It takes the first, second, and fifth spot on July's charts on PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, and Xbox, respectively. Nintendo DS continues to show its handheld dominance, taking three spots on the chart while holding the PSP to none. Full list below!

The only thing more fun than new Nintendo DS Lite hardware colors is trying to keep up with the breakneck sales of the software to play on the popular little portable! On Sept. 13, two new colors -- Onyx and Coral Pink -- join Polar White, which is enjoying its own incredible sales peak and getting noticed everywhere.

Nintendo delivers on its promise to bring video gaming to the masses. In less than two years since its Nov. 21, 2004 launch, Nintendo has sold more than 21 million Nintendo DS systems worldwide. By comparison, Apple shipped one million of its ever- popular iPod music players in its first 19 months. The rate of Nintendo DS units being sold equates to 23 systems per minute -- that's nearly one every two seconds -- non-stop since launch.