For gamers the internet is an intravenous supply of awesome. It keeps the heartbeat of our hobby thumping away in rude health when we're not caught up in the physical indulgence of playing games. And 2008 has been especially prodigious for the ever creative webs.

So now, as we slump to the end of another year with all the enthusiasm and stamina of a pack of chain-smoking laboratory dogs, it seems an appropriate time to take a retrospective backways shufti at 12 months of the best, most outstanding internet goodness, including the best NSFW, best photoshoppery, best pwnage, best machinima, best virals and best WTF!? highlights.

Pro-gamers have hissy fits at Intel Extreme Masters tournament
We have to admit that pro-gaming leaves us a little chilly. As a spectator sport it's pretty much the height of suckage. However, we love the fact that its taken the very spectatable sport of nerd raging to a whole new level of voyeuristic entertainment.

There's nothing quite so perversely amusing as watching an olympian geek totally and utterly shoot their cool and break spectacularly under the pressure while competing in the professional arena. The two clips below were both taken from this year's Intel Extreme Masters. More evidence of runaway anger like this and we'll be signing up for season tickets.

Ash and Pikachu's Halloween turns into a nightmare
Yes, Ash and Pikachu are dated. Get over it. This is funny. So laugh it up.

Where does Mario go when he dies?
Great. Now we have a guilty conscience.

More comics:
• When you have the star
• Mario 300
• Xbox Live is DOWN!?
• The Mega Man 9 effect