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Well that is how you do a conference! Microsoft just set the bar really high and I’d be amazed if Sony and Nintendo can top that.

Some of my most exciting things:

Halo ODST got a release date (Sept 22) and Bungie revealed the first non-Bungie developed Halo FPS, Halo: Reach. I’m guessing it’ll be somewhat similar to the book Fall of Reach which is a prequel to the first game.

Turn 10 announced Forza 3 is coming in October and proclaimed it to be the best thing since sliced bread. Well not really but there was multiple utterings of it being THE racing game of this console generation. Could they have got a whiff of Sony revealing some GT5 details?

Left 4 Dead 2 is coming in November, almost exactly a year since Left 4 Dead hit shelves. It probably won’t be much of a sequel but more likely just a new story, weapons and settings. And it has Director 2.0 apparently…

Another sequel announced and much anticipated by me was Crackdown 2. The first was one of the first great games on the 360 and I cannot wait for it’s sequel. The first was also the first game to make me feel queasy when falling through the air.

Alan Wake was demoed and looks gorgeous. Isn’t landing till Spring 2010 tho, boo!

Epic announced a new XBLA game (no GoW news Cliffy?) which looks pretty fun.

Square Enix showed off some Xbox 360 Final Fantasy XIII footage and revealed they were targeting a Spring 2010 release.

Metal Gear Solid is coming to Xbox but not MGS 4, it’s an all new game starring…..Raiden. Who I’m pretty sure everyone hates. But whatever Mr Kojima.

You can now be more social with Last.FM, Facebook and Twitter now all accessible on Xbox 360 and customised to be a console addition. So while the Wii and PS3 can brag about having browsers, I’ll be posting updates faster.

Splinter Cell stealthily resurfaced and now looks completely different to the one originally announced, for the better I say. The new game looks like the old games but prettier and more action heavy. It’s releasing in Fall 09 so that’ll be on my rental list for sure.

The NXE is getting an update at some point in the fall that will allow you to watch videos with your friends. It’s unclear whether it’ll just be downloaded content or if you’ll be allowed to use your own videos/movies.

And this wasn’t actually in the briefing but announced after: starting August you’ll be able to download full Xbox 360 games through Xbox Live using real money, not MS Points. Could this be Microsoft testing the waters for rentals?

E3 doesn’t even start till tomorrow but already things are coming out.

The first gameplay footage of Borderlands was released and I <3 the art style. I dunno much about the story or style of gameplay but it looks gorgeous.

Crytek announced Crysis 2 and it’s coming to Xbox 360! I always wanted to play Crysis so hopefully Crysis 2 will fill that void.

Activision revealed the artists rocking out Guitar Hero 5. The game releases the beginning of September so hopefully I’ll get to play a little bit of it before I head home.

Geoff Keighley just tweeted that he’s off to the MS press briefing and that Modern Warfare 2 fans won’t want to miss it. How exciting!

A banner hanging at the conference center seems to confirm that Splinter Cell 5 will resurface.

Sony’s Qore e-magazine thing “accidentally” leaked the PSP Go
, a new edition of the PSP to run alongside the (what will no doubt come to be known as) classic PSP. It looks pretty sexy but I need to know more before I decide to buy one.

First day and already lots of lovely things. E3 really is Christmas for gamers…

E3 starts tomorrow! It’s a gaming expo in LA where the big three games companies (Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo) reveal their plans and game releases for the next year. Basically it’s a pissing contest to make you buy their console. But as a gamer it’s the best time of year because you get to see all the awesome games coming your way.

Today is Microsofts conference and tomorrow Nintendo and Sony step up to the plate. Rumours I’m hoping to be confirmed by MS are:

-The motion camera thing. Hopefully it’ll come with some kind of fitness game too that will be better than Wii Fit.

- Forza 3. Loved 2 and the 360 needs a good exclusive racing game now that the PGR series is gone.

- Alan Wake gets a release date. This game has been in development since the 360 was announced and really needs to either get released or cancelled. Preferably released.

- Metal Gear Solid 4 for 360. I don’t see this happening but it’d be a great snub to PS3 fanboys.

- The next exclusive GTA4 dlc was already revealed as being the Ballad of Gay Tony but I’d like to see some screens and get some info on it.

- New IP from Fable developers Lionhead. Fable rocks so I’d love to see what these guys have to bring.

- Square Enix classics on XBLA. I dunno if this would happen but it’d be another blow to Sony who have typically been the only place to see SQuenix titles.

Demos, demos, demos. I wanna see some Mass Effect 2, Halo: ODST, Max Payne 3, Splinter Cell 5.

I think EA and Ubisoft are also holding their conferences today so it’ll be lovely to see what they have to show.