What the heck is a goji berry?

This will be my third trip to E3, and it promises to be the biggest, most spectacular, and most memorable show in the history of the expo. Of course, people say that every year right before the show. I remember last year during the Sony press conference when we first saw that reel of all those trailers for amazing-looking PlayStation 3 games. I was in the GameSpot booth in the still-mostly-vacant LA convention center along with several dozen of my fellow game enthusiasts and we were all in awe of what we had just seen. Looking back on it a year later, that moment seems a lot less significant than just about everything that will happen in the next few days.

That's the thing about E3. Every year threatens to be the next biggest year in the history of video games just because we don't know what to expect so whatever we see is new, different, and exciting. But as soon as the show ends and we've watched that crazy trailer for the next big game about 25 times, we already start wondering how next year's show will top all of the mind-blowing experiences we've had over the past few days. It's like opening presents on Christmas morning. The excitement of opening the package and revealing the brand new toy you just got is ten times more fun than actually getting to play with the toy later.

Right now were' just a few short days away from the moments that will define E3 2006: the press conferences. It's interesting the way that three short press conferences have come to set the tone for the entire show, and really the entire rest of the year in the video game industry. Does it work that way in other industries? Do movie studios hold press conferences, hire C-list celebrities, and show clips of their upcoming movies in an attempt to exert their position in the film industry? Do petroleum companies hold huge gatherings in packed theaters to reveal their plans to introduce a new higher-octane super premium gasoline? Probably, but I don't know that it's very exciting. I know that just about every industry you can imagine has some sort of convention every year, from roofers to karate instructors to bowling ball manufacturers. And yet E3 is still entirely unique.

Part of the allure of E3 is that it's supposed to be an exclusive event. You just know that there's something going on in that convention center that is just so stunning, so amazing, so far beyond the furthest reaches of the imagination, that riots would erupt and entire cities would burn if such information was openly conveyed to the public. Well, I can tell you that isn't quite true. Sure, there are a ton of games that are playable at E3 that can't be played anywhere else, but even for those of us who are fortunate enough to get in, there simply no way to see and play everything. Think about it, there are more than 600 games on our E3 page right now, and that's a number that will surely grow much larger over the next few days. Even if only half of those games are playable, it would take you more than 24 hours to play every one for just five minutes each. I can tell you that at past shows when a big game is announced I have come by my information the exact same way that anyone else does. I've gone to GameSpot to look at screens, read previews, and watch videos--even when I'm actually sitting on the show floor not a hundred feet from the Sony and Nintendo booths.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the instantaneous nature of communication these days has brought the excitement of E3 to millions of people beyond the overcrowded LA Convention Center. Do yourself a favor and be sure to watch our coverage of the Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo press conferences. Regardless of where your brand loyalties lie, there will be moments that will shock and amaze you. Even if the most you see is a 30-second reel of pre-rendered footage for a remake of some aging game that you never cared about in the first place, the excitement comes from the revelation, like when a magician pulls a blind away to reveal the massive tiger that occupies a previously-empty cage. It's not the tiger that makes your breath catch in your throat for a split second, is it?

But I digress. I have been up all night packing, pondering the week ahead, taking care of last-minute personal business, and picking away at my preshow workload. I guess it's obligatory at this point to let you know what I have done in order to prepare for next week. Well, not much actually. I just started packing last night at about 11, with all the usual travel items. A toothbrush, clean socks, my laptop, digital camera, and plenty of cash because that's just how I like to roll…and because the vendors at the Convention Center inconveniently operate on a cash-only basis.

I do have a secret weapon though…the one and only Steven Seagal's Lightning Bolt energy drink! According to the script on the can, it's, "A natural energy drink packed with vitamins and exotic botanicals." Mmm, sounds like shampoo. Apparently the secret ingredient is goji berry, which I can only assume is a technical term for that little pony tail that Mr. Seagal is so fond of wearing. I only have one can of this revitalizing tonic though, and I'm afraid to drink it. In fact, upon further reflection, I think I'll leave the Lightning Bolt behind and rely on the basics, coffee, water, and Diet Pepsi.

Time to start loading up the car and rolling out. Be sure to check this space for updates later this evening to see our booth-in-progress and complete details of the journey down to LA.