Our sidebar poll ended with a rather small number of votes, so I didn't feel like there was enough data to really get a consensus on what our readers want to see for the new column. Still, I did my best to combine my personal opinion and the votes from the poll. As such, I've decided to move This Week in Ani-Gamers (and its corresponding newsletter) to a monthly format. For the very perceptive among you, you might realize that this will necessitate a name change. Yep, the new column will be called "This Month in Ani-Gamers," seeing as it's, you know, monthly.

All future entries will follow the same general format as they always have: an editorial note at the beginning about what's new at Ani-Gamers, followed by links to the articles posted over the course of the month, and a list of upcoming articles.

For anybody interested in signing up to receive "This Month in Ani-Gamers" through our email newsletter, click here.

Last week, I introduced everybody to our newest staff member here at Ani-Gamers: Ink. He has agreed to start a new column called "Otakudemia," featuring his academic critique of anime (and possible manga and games). Yes, I said "academic critique." He will be applying the skills of literary academia to a discussion of Japanese pop culture, providing for a literate view of anime, manga, and games that is rarely seen in our quickly growing otaku fanbase.

Some of our other staff members - myself included - might write a few articles for the column as well, though Ink is its primary writer. The first entry in Otakudemia will be published later tonight, so check back around 9PM to make yourself SMARTR.

Hey guys, Vampt Vo here. Sorry to disappoint you, but Pigeonflu, who is now writing for GamePro magazine, has expressed to me that he will not have enough time to contribute to his "Up for Download" column in the future (although he will still write news articles). As such, the column will be suspended indefinitely. If we can figure out a good way to revive it, we will, but if not it will remain inactive. Thanks for reading during the past few months. I know that Pigeonflu enjoyed writing for you guys.