2003 is finally gone, and 2004 is now upon us. But while the seasons change, GameSpotting remains a constant. And what better way to close the books on a year chock-a-block with satisfying releases, disappointing delays, and shocking announcements--as well as usher in a new year that brims with potential--than to give you some wise words from the GameSpot editors? (Well, OK, excluding another two-week vacation.) This week, we spend some time discussing what we did during the break--surprise, surprise, we played a whole lot of games--along with a myriad of other topics. So move around the feature in whatever way feels most comfortable for you, hit the forums, and discuss your own holiday vacation. Or if you're feeling especially articulate, submit your own GuestSpotting column.

Paperboy, NESes, and eBay Vultures
Bob Colayco/Associate Editor
"I knew what I was going to get her for Valentine's Day--a used NES and a copy of Paperboy. I know. I'm such a romantic."

Paying Tribute to Fire Emblem
Greg Kasavin/Executive Editor
"The designers of Fire Emblem clearly and consciously took some serious risks in designing their game."

Advance to the Past
Sam Parker/Editor, Official Assets
"Turn-based gameplay isn't exactly disappearing from the PC, but Advance Wars 2 makes me think back to some hazy PC-strategy past."

Keep It Simple, Keep It Fun
Tyler Winegarner/Associate Producer, GameSpot Live
"Ultimately, keep it as simple and addictive as possible because the experience never changes--and it never gets old."

Hindsight Is Always 20/20
Ryan MacDonald/Executive Producer, GameSpot Live
"A ton of great games were released throughout the year, but there just wasn't that one really spectacular game that stood out above the rest."

2003: The Year of the RPG?
Ricardo Torres/Previews Editor
"The RPG releases in 2003 were more akin to a flood than the fairly steady flow that we've become accustomed to in recent years."

Zo-Zo-Zo-Zodiac Siiiign
Jeff Gerstmann/Senior Editor
"After two weeks of lying low and generally doing as little as possible, my mind is sort of all over the place these days. I apologize for the jumbled mess that is my brain."

The Truth Is a Few Years Too Late
Jason Ocampo/Associate Editor
"The most galling thing to me is the fact that The X-Files: Resist or Serve is coming out on the Xbox and the PS2 but not the PC."

The Queue
Chris Corciega/GuestSpotter
"This isn't a matter of not wanting or being unable to afford a new console. I simply have too many old games to get through."

Don't Hate the Player
IcebergVegeta79/GuestSpotter
Gamin' ain't easy. You're out there on the streets, just trying to get by one frag at a time, and there's always some senator or parent group throwin' salt in your game. If you've got something to spit, hit our GuestSpotting FAQ, and submit your own column.