Direct2Dell

E3 is officially over, and now that the dust has cleared a bit I can take a few moments to recap the things I experienced during the final day of the show. If you're a gamer, you've probably been keeping up with all the buzz that happened last week (here's a good rundown of a lot of the top E3 news via Techmeme and or you can check the #E3 buzz on Twitter). The first two days so much was happening at the Alienware booth I didn't really get a chance to put my boots to the floor, but on day three things calmed down enough for me to go exploring and get my hands on some goodies. Here's a rundown of the ones that caught my attention and held it the longest.

• Jumpgate Evolution - I didn't have very far to go to see what I thought was probably the most impressive video game at the show. I played it both on the curved monitor in the Alienware booth and on an M17x, so I know it wasn't just that amazingly ultra-wide display that impressed me. This upcoming PC MMO is set in space, where the player is pit against others or against NPC ships in a battle for supremacy. The graphics are amazing, the game play is rapid-paced, and it is very accessible. A new player can jump in and immediately get some action. The only things I didn't like were that the universe is sharded, and PvP can only occur in specific areas.
• Bayonetta - This game makes me seriously consider getting a Playstation 3. The main character is Bayonetta, a shape-changing witch that wields machine gun pistols, swords, spears, and even her own hair as weapons. The graphics are smooth, crisp, and attractive, and the action is non-stop. I found myself so mesmerized by how beautiful the game looks I could barely pick up a controller to try it.
• God of War III - This game attracted a lot of attention, and once I pushed through the throngs of people it was easy to see why. The game was absolutely breathtaking. If you enjoyed the other two games of the series, be prepared to love this one. This game along with Bayonetta made me seriously crave a PS3.
• Batman: Arkham Asylum - When I first saw this game announced, I must admit I had my doubts. All those doubts melted away when I actually got my hands on it. If you enjoyed the Metal Gear series or the Tenchu series, this game may be right up your alley. From the one chapter I got to play the game seems to be one part stealth, one part puzzle game, one part fighter. Who can't find something endearing about Batman? He has so many neat toys to play with.
• Splinter Cell: Conviction - The fifth installment of the splinter cell series can be best described as absolutely brutal. Although I didn't get to actually play with the game myself, UbiSoft had developer played demonstrations happening every half hour or so. I found myself in front of their stage several times, transfixed by the amazingly crafted carnage they displayed. This game introduces several new game mechanics, and I must admit that slamming an enemy's head through a urinal has a strangely visceral appeal to it. I think they sold me.

I saw so many shiny new toys on display, but these are the ones I found to be most noteworthy. My inner gamer is twitching with anticipation. I am now accepting donations to the "buy the Gaming Griefer lots of new toys" fund.