It's E3 time once again

The annual pilgrimage to gaming Mecca is upon us once again, and while the everyday gamer might not be allowed entry to the Electronics Entertainment Expo anymore, E3 is still where many of our favorite game developers unveil exciting new games and concepts that keep us chomping at the bit for another year. Through live TV, online streaming or gaming news portals, gamers get to taste the newest flavors of their favorite dishes. 

This year's E3 will be going on for another couple days, but thus far it's definitely piqued a few interests. Like most years, big budget, big name games happily take center stage. Yesterday showcased Modern Warfare 3, Mass Effect 3, a dark Tomb Raider origin story, Halo 4, Assassin's Creed: Revelations, Gears of War 3, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier and Uncharted 3, just to name a few.

Definitely a new direction for Tomb Raider

What really stands out about these games, their individual merits notwithstanding, is their presentation. For games with playable demos, there is always a player on stage to prove that it's really in-game footage, although the player isn't usually the focus. Occasionally, as in the case of Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, additional players will appear from behind a sliding wall, revealing that the game on display is multiplayer. 

When it comes to motion-controlled games, the game itself takes a backseat. The focus is on the players and how their movements affect the screen. Motion control is still in its mainstream infancy, so sometimes these presentations are, well, cheesy. 

I'm looking at you, Kinect Disneyland Adventures

It can be hard to sell something that looks silly to play, especially when the kids demonstrating it yell out obviously scripted dialog, ending with "fist bump!" Of course, Kinect Disneyland Adventures is marketed to kids and families, so a bit of silliness is par for the course. 

Other games like, say, most of Ubisoft's lineup, are more serious. And yet, the presenter doesn't do them justice. Ubisoft's presenter goes by the name "Mr. Caffeine," and he makes you want to rip your hair out and burn it because he's so painfully asinine.  

You have to really like Assassin's Creed to put up with 
this guy for a whole press conference.

In the end, though, you never come away from E3 remembering the flaws. You remember the games. The promise they showed. The possibilities that appeared and the excitement they brought with them. At least, you'll remember them until next summer.