The end of the year brings forth another exciting one.

Well, I’m pumped that the year 2011 is already brimming with promise, and looks set to be a pretty fanta-bulous (sic) one.

I’m already looking forward to the new Magic: the Gathering expansion, Mirrodin Besieged (www.wizards.com/magic). Here’s to hoping that it will redeem the Mirrodin block, which seemed to get off on a less than stellar start with last year’s Scars of Mirrodin.

The newly renamed Commander format for Magic will also make its first mass market product debut, come the middle of the year. Preconstructed 99-card decks are a dream come true, especially for time-challenged deckbuilders like me (http://bit.ly/e7MHxz).

I’m starting to try out Legend of the Five Rings, just in time for the new expansion, Dead of Winter. It’s slated for a global (and local) release sometime this month: well, can’t wait honestly – and I’m sure all you L5R fans can’t wait for it either. Feast on the previews in the meantime, here (http://www.l5r.com/the-dead-of-winter-previews/).

There’s also Fantasy Flight Games’ new Lord of the Rings Living Card Game (LCG) which I’m quite keen on checking out too. An LCG is lighter on the wallet, as it’s sold in non-random and fixed assortments. No packs, just whole sets for you to buy off the shelf! Well, keep abreast on the latest previews at www.fantasyflightgames.com.

On the local front, there’s the usual plethora of tournaments and events that will keep us casual and the more competitive gamers coming back for more swag, and what not.

If things go well, we could even be looking at some mighty fine large-scale local game-related events.

I’m not revealing too much at the moment: stay tuned on this section and find out!

Here’s to hoping you all will have much to look forward to in 2011!