Halo 3's graphics are only marginally better than the last-gen stuff. And since the game is probably in full BETA now, that mean 70-80% of the graphics are pretty much locked down so I really don't know what Bungie can do in the next 6 months to "WoW" up the graphics. The MP is fun but it feels a bit stale compared to current MP offerings including the amazing customability offered with the Clancy titles and the pure grit of Gears of War. At present, all the pastel colors and floral maps gives this title a bit of cheese but I really want to eat my words. Please Bungie, let me eat my words.

But it's not the end of the world! As a gamer that picked up Atari 2600 and NES with the infamous ROB, our industry is a living changing beast. What "news" did I follow to purchase the latest NES games? NONE, the box art and 2 screenshots on the back of the box was my only "scoop". Years later EGM and CES finally made it on the scene and I finally had a decent glimpse on future products. Then a little thing called the Internet reared its head, about the same time E3 was forming and that was the next evolution. And now we live in the time of broadbrand wireless connections, mobile news, blogs, fansites, countless gamer sites - E3 is not really as important as it used to be. Honestly, I think the next major step will be taking advantage of features like XBox Live and PC demos and allow people to download "E3" type demos months before the game is ready for release, on top of that, your friendly PR press coverage etc. Our industry has always been one about change and its almost always a good thing. Don't let the end of some crazy show bring you down, it's not like the movie industry needed one major show to keep afloat, and look where they're at (and don't count SHOwest, Sundance, or any of those mini-film conventions) My most enjoyable E3 moment? Running into Robert Horry mere days before he hit the greatest 3-pointer in Lakers history, pwning the Kings and winning their 2nd championship! The biggest losers? Kentia HALL! And what is Kentia Hall? The place where the indies had a chance to show off their wares. And what title could have possibly benefited from E3 and Kentia Hall? TWO WORDS: GUITAR HERO. But also gamer's Rokr Chairs, the beginning of NCSoft, MadCatz, indies with DDR pads, and a few other notable companies I can't think of.