Best Non-commercial software updates/add-ons/mod of 2009
I believe it was the non-commercial mods for IL2 1946 made by the community...
HSFX
SAS
AAA

They made the game more, and it's amazing 10 years later with better graphics since the first release..

As non-commercial software, European Air War (EAW), has quietly made dozens of changes in 2009.

Online flying:
--- Up to 16 players at once in the air competing.
--- One of the smoothest and fastest online engines, with little "lag".
--- New players can join a "mayhem" game in progress using GameRanger:
http://www.gameranger.com/

Other EAW changes:
--- Uses more types of joysticks and controls.

--- Land at home base to re-arm and re-fuel, even under fire. (You don't have to be killed before you 'respawn' with a refueled and re-armed aircraft).

--- Aircraft carrier flights and at-sea attacks, thanks to "South Pacific Air War" (SPAW), a new game scenario released with a new 1.28C exe.

--- "Targets of Opportunity" attacks by passing close to enemy airfields. Enemy pilots will scramble to meet your challenge and can be caught on the ground. Or catch you.

--- Massive air formations and "furball" dogfight battles. Long an EAW trademark; now more intense.

--- Large-size sorties with your teammates possible. Up to 64 aircraft allowed in a squad at the moment.

--- Individual "skins" (paint) and I.D. numbers so historical air battles can be re-created.

--- Improvements in AI (Artificial Intelligence). Now escorts will defend bombers more succesfully (or enemy defenders will attack them and evade more intelligently)

--- An "auto fight" setting to use AI for your own aircraft and watch it function in air tactics.

--- Time speedup of 40X or more, ALT-N "jumps" to battle scenes for the easily bored.

--- Modders can add battle damage or moveable controls.

--- A "Big Fix" for old display card problems is in the works--expected early next year.

The new 1.28C "exe" is available at Tally-Ho in the European Air War Forum, or here:

http://www.users.on.net/pam_biddell/128CInstall.exe

Readme file:
http://www.users.on.net/pam_biddell/EAW1.28C_Readme.htm

Uhh.... Not exactly a sim (as are not several other choices)--- but where the heck if FALLOUT 3?

Not to mention "The Void" by Ice-Pick Lodge"

argh.... those who want to vote for it in the Best Game category can add a post here.

But neither GTA4 or Fallout 3 was released on 2009, both came in 2008. Just an observation.

When do we get to see poll results ?

Best 2009 sim for me was iRacing. I know that it was originally released in 2008, but as an ever-expanding sim it received some significant updates in 2009 (both functionality and content) that put it on top, IMHO.

My "other" for console game is for Battlestations: Pacific. Not sure why it wasn't listed, since it's in the GOTY poll.

Should't we have a popup for the name of the 'Other'. It would also be good to be able to rank first, second and third for favourites, as I like most on the lists?

And is Black Shark not considered to be 2009 release? I put Other, but I would have put RoF if BS was excluded.