From the Pocket Gamer workhorse's mouth: Joao Diniz Sanches

It's Christmas. That means the staff of Pocket Gamer is drunk, if not on alcohol then on the giddying sensation that comes from receiving numerous expensive presents.

All this frivolity means we're not writing stories today. To enable you to connect with us in a different way - one that doesn't involve the transmission of news, reviews, and features concerning the world of portable gaming - we've decided to go on about ourselves a bit.

Dashing polyglot Joao Diniz Sanches is one of the video gaming industry's most accomplished operatives, having both edited industry bible Edge and written The Video Gaming Manual.

When he's not overseeing the editorial output of Steel Media Joao likes to drive fast cars. His next book, How to Flirt Your Way Out of a Speeding Ticket, will be published in 2011.

Favourite portable gaming platform?

Of the current batch it’s unquestionably the iPad. My iPod touch hasn’t felt the sweaty clutch of a human hand since its bigger brother’s turned up, while the PSP has had its moments but only really gets played as regularly when I’m reviewing a game on it. And my wife has kidnapped my DS Lite (because the children snapped hers in half during a particularly intense game of Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time).

Hmm. I’ve played a lot of Tilt to Live (standard and HD). And Osmos for iPad. On handhelds, Patchwork Heroes and God of War: Ghost of Sparta are highlights. But I’m going to settle on DoDonPachi Resurrection on iPhone (though played on iPad), I think.

...and of all time?

Nostalgia is pushing me to type Todd’s Adventures in Slime World for the Lynx. But the ‘all time’ spot is reserved for Advance Wars on the GBA.

Favourite home console game of the year...

A lot of my finest console experiences this year occurred through games that were released in 2010 (eg Uncharted 2) because I typically only get round to playing a few months after release.

I could say this is due to a massive backlog of games in my possession. Or just admit it’s because I wait for them to be on sale. On the basis of 2010-only releases, however, I’ll opt for Red Dead Redemption.

...and of all time?

Gah. I knew you were going to ask that. The generic answer is Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time. But Shadow of the Colossus comes very close.

Will you be getting a 3DS?

I might, eventually. But I’m not desperate to at this stage – I’ve already got six current formats (plus several retro consoles, not to mention two children) in the house vying for my attention so another one would just make me feel guiltier for not having yet bought a DeLorean.

What are you hoping to get for Christmas?

Three weeks’ holiday, rather than just the one.