And the build up for E3 2009 continues. The good news is that the pre-E3 dry spell hasn't quite started yet, but we're in the final stretch here, folks. Everybody and their mother -- or grandmother, in the case of Old Grandma Hardcore -- is getting ready for June's big event. That still a week away, though. Now as for this week, we once again saw rumors, denials, confirmations and teases about what we'll be seeing not just at the upcoming annual game expo but for the rest of the year as well. Read on for all the big news that flashed across the QJ front pages the past seven days.

Whos' Number 1 for Famitsu for 2008? All was revealed at the Famitsu Awards, and the Monster Hunters still proved to be the favorite as Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G takes the top spot as Game of the Year.

Usually, the trend has been to experience a noticeable dip in the amount of news coming out the week before the GDC. However, this year's pre-event week proved to be a rather different one from those I've experienced in the past. Unexpectedly, but fortunately, there were a great deal of updates. It was a busy one, alright, and thank God you stuck with us throughout the week, making it such a blast!

Kojima's so good at what he does that he only needs one lifetime to get his second lifetime achievement award. Word has just gone out that living legend Hideo Kojima will be given this high distinction at the 2009 Game Developers Choice Awards.

Living legend of video gaming Hideo Kojima has agreed to deliver a keynote address at the 2009 Game Developers Conference. Hopefully he'll be able to inspire a new generation of video game devs to keep pushing video game development, the way he always did.

Dammit I have to stop sounding like fanboy when I talk about Kojima.

Hideo Kojima's genius is so huge that he's not only working on one, but two video games at the same time. Word is, one of these games will be made in a "style similar to the way his team has worked in the past." My money's on a new Zone of the Enders game.

Hideo Kojima recently visited the offices of Call of Duty studio, Infinity Ward. This caused a bit of ruckus in the rumor mill, with people taking this as a sign that Kojima's next game really is a first-person shooter. Robert Bowling from Infinity Ward, however, has something to say about that. Details after the link.

The MTV Game Awards 2008 has wrapped up and you wouldn't guess which one got the Game of the Year award. Come on, guess. Grand Theft Auto 4? Natch. This year they also gave their first ever Lifetime Achievement Game Award to Hideo Kojima. Well and truly deserved.

Vid of Jade Raymond handing the award to Kojima after the link.

Hmm. I see CliffyB is making bold statements yet again. Bold as they come, it's always interesting to see how a game developer assesses the current playing field that he is working in. So what's Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski commenting on now? In an interview, he remarked that some of the more influential game developers out there aren't always given the honor or appreciation that they so deserve.

Hideo Kojima, Koji Igarashi, and a handful of playable demos and new game announcements have all been announced as part of the Konami experience at Leipzig. More in the full article.