That Aussie Game Site has evolved considerably over the past 6 months and is no longer just the shared opinion of two like-minded gamers. For Drew and I, selecting the 2008 Games of the Year was more annoying than listening to the Vernonicas play a word association game and the whole selection process took all of twenty seconds. We both knew exactly what was what and why it was. This time around though, the writing team for That Aussie Game Site is far more diverse so we've decided (for this half-yearly list at least) to give everyone an opportunity to choose their own That Aussie Game of the Half Year.

Let's face it, 2008 was categorically segmented into two halves. The mighty Grand Theft Auto IV dominated the first six months if not for quality, then certainly for lack of competition. But it seemed to be quickly forgotten when it came time for inaugral Games of the Year lists when videogame journalists and bloggers everywhere took the chance to name their favourites for the 2008 period. The number of new games forced onto capacity filled store shelves in the second half of '08 was incredible and unlike anything we've ever seen and 2009 looks to be a repeat. So before we get inundated with enough quality games to make us forget about the quality ones from the beginning of the year, let's take a look at the cream of the crop for the first half of 2009.

Sam Lawrence Gadget & Technology Editor inFAMOUS

Well to some this may be a surprise but my pick for Best of 2009… so far would have to be Terminator Salvat… Ok I really can’t go through with that joke, that game is terrible. My real pick has to be inFamous; a game that I had low expectations for and generally I wasn’t very excited for this game until a month before its release. I bought the game on its release date and from that point on I could not put it down. I very quickly played this game enough to earn the platinum trophy.

The game is an open world superhero game where you play as Cole McGrath, a guy that ends up getting control over electricity after a big explosion. Its powers make you feel like a superhero or villain, depending which choices you make within the game. It never becomes too easy and can defiantly provide a lot of WOW moments. This game has an addicting quality that a lot of games lack. While there might be better games that have been released this year, not one has grabbed me and not let go until completion, twice, like inFamous. For that reason and that reason alone I give it my vote. Bring on inFamous 2!

Tory Richardson Contributor Killzone 2

At first, you might be thinking that a decision like this would be simple. You're given a shorter time frame to make a judgement, therefore limiting the amount that you have to choose from. But what if you haven't played many of this year? Quite a problem, isn't it.

For me, the first half of this calendar has been spent playing games that I have missed, especially those with upcoming sequels. Though this is the case - I have played enough to make a claim for my choice. And that choice is Killzone 2.  This is a game that had me very hyped and it didn't disappoint. Many will argue that they were let down by what they received, but from beginning to end, it well and truly kept my interest. An atmospheric experience, Killzone 2 offered many a reason to finally take the leap and purchase a Playstation 3.

With a community that continues to offer interest, developer support for the game has been continual with regular updates and additional content being released. This can often prove to be the barometer for the lifespan of popular multiplayer titles.

From the jaw-dropping graphics to the excellent multiplayer, don't be surprised to see Killzone 2 amongst the awards come December.

Aaron Mitchell | Reviews Editor The Lost and Damned

Screw it, I'm going to hang my balls right out there (I don't need them any way after spawning three kids), but I have to say no game this year has been quite as good as the first of GTA IV's episodic content The Lost and Damned. Don't even try and argue with me about it, for one thing I don't handle conflict well and I might cry and then you'll feel awkward, for another thing, the game was a whole new skin on the existing muscle and bone of GTA IV. New vehicles and weapons, new physics for vehicle handling, new characters, a whole set of new multiplayer options, The Lost and Damned surprised the hell out of me with its depth; hell the average play time for this 'expansion pack' was longer than a lot of full games released this year. The developers even managed to instill a different mood from Nico Bellic's adventures while essentially having you play in the exact same play ground, even so it felt new and fresh.

It's not that I haven't played any great games this year, any of the three big releases in June alone could have walked away with this award, particularly Red Faction: Guerrilla for surprising the hell out of me with its quality. But The Lost and Damned surprised the hell out of me and provided me with Rockstar's top shelf level story telling. I'm a sucker for good story telling, it's what sets the great games above the good games.

To top it off Rockstar just couldn't help but push the envelope that little bit too far by providing us with our first next generation gaming moment of male full frontal nudity, what mine be only the second incidence of male nudity since the 8 bit horror Custers Revenge. The Lost and the Damned raises the bar (all following puns are intended) purely for its inclusion of the male member and I can't help but tip my hat at the balls it takes to do something like that in these media frenzy sensitive times.

So that's why Lost and the Damned is my pick so far for 2009, The Ballad of Gay Tony has a lot of penis to live up to.

Also I always really wanted to be a biker.

Mick Brown Managing Editor Resident Evil 5

Choosing the best game over a certain time period is dangerous for a journalist. If you're not confident in your decision, don't decide. Choosing a favourite game can cause haters to pigeon hole you and committing your choice to a stone tablet like the internet can be akin to choosing Nirvana as your freakin' favourite band of, like, all time when you're only 15. I am confident in my decision.

While the popularity and novelty of cooperative play is starting to wear off and is being rightfully instated as a staple of any good multiplayer game, it took one of the greatest single player franchises of all time to take the title of best coop game and is my 2009 That Aussie Game of the Half Year.

Resident Evil 5 provided the most intense, exciting and satisfying overall videogame experience that any game has bestowed on me in a long while. An incredible level of polish and finesse combined with action packed and terrifying uses of lighting and level design make Resident Evil 5, for me, the greatest game of the first half of 2009. Though not without its flaws, even an old-school control style, tacked on multiplayer and connections issues were not enough to topple this title off the top of my most played list for 2009. The game is simply that good and is not surprising that my coop partner for my Resident Evil 5 experience agrees...

Derek Cairns Marketing and Publisher Relations Resident Evil 5

As you have read it’s time for the team to choose the game that has bedazzled us, the game that has set itself apart from the flock and ultimately permeated our psyche.

I find myself currently in a guilty space, having dismissed Fallout 3 in favour of games such as Dead Space and Grand Theft Auto IV last year. The reason was I just didn’t dedicate enough time to it this however cannot be said as I look to erase the mistakes of the past with my pick of Resident Evil 5. This game had me obsessed like a love struck school boy and striving for over 1000 achievement points. So I’m confident in saying this is my first half GOTY.

Resident Evil 5 dished up frenetic action, spine chilling set pieces and an astounding level of immersion. Whether playing as Chris or Sheva there was always an exciting gamut of challenges that stood before us. As touched on the controls could be somewhat restrictive at times and the multiplayer felt tacked on, but the positives far outweigh the negatives. Whether it was the polish of the lighting effects, the aural pleasure of the heart pumping sound effects, or the intense  and epic boss battles Resident Evil 5 never failed to disappoint me. Playing with a friend instantly made them a lifelong blood brother as you worked tirelessly together to solve challenges and kick some zombie ass. If you want to lose weight and get that heart rate up forget Wii Fit, just spend a couple of hours having me scream orders at you as we tackle chainsaw wielding Majini. Mick has spent a few hours in counselling so please factor this into your decision before sending that friend request.

My final thoughts are that it is going to take something very impressive to knock this off the podium as Co-Op GOTY let alone GOTY in its own rights.

Look out for our 2009's Most Anticipated Games list coming soon, but until then feel free to discuss your own 2009 game of the half year in the forum.