With E3 over with for another year, I thought it was time to take stock.

Well, I have had a great time and really enjoyed trying out lots of new games.

The highlight of the trip was meeting McLovin from Superbad, but really, I have to say, my celebrity quota has been quite poor – maybe they have actually heard of us.

In fact, the only thing I’ve probably caught is pig flu.

Anyway, I thought now was the time to reflect and being the bloke who does most of the lists on this site, I thought I would go through the biggest winners and losers from E3.

On Monday, I am also going to tell you which of the games I tried I would definitely buy, and which I wouldn’t touch with a bargepole.

Then I’ll stop droning on about bloody E3.

WINNERS
1. Booth girls

Who would have thought so many attractive girls were into gaming?

In fact, they are so into it, they spend most of their day at their favourite stand and even dress up for the occasion.

It’s wrong to admit, I know, but I spent most of the first day gawping at the booth girls followed by several moments of self-loathing as I realised just how young they are.

What I found particularly amusing is that while they are happy to lap up the attentions of thousands of sweaty, eager men, a quick look of disdain at any gamer who fancies his chances is never too far away.

So which was the best one? Definitely the EverQuest girl. Sad, isn’t it?

2. Ubisoft

Ubisoft really set the standard, with some very impressive demos for Assassin’s Creed 2, Ruse and Splinter Cell: Conviction, topped off with an early look at Avatar, which is due out in October, a couple of months before James Cameron’s ground-breaking movie.

Even legendary Hollywood producer John Landau was trundled out for every 40-minute showing to put us in the frame.

It certainly looked amazing, my only concern is that without 3D TV, you really are not going to get anything other than a pretty good third-person shooter.

3. Apple
OK, I am sure Apple was hardly holding their collective breaths at Microsoft’s expected announcement that their ‘iPod killer’ ZuneHD would somehow be integrated into the Xbox experience.

But, despite being promised that at E3 “attendees will see first-hand how Zune integrates into Xbox LIVE to create a game-changing entertainment experience”, all we got was the news that Zune Video Marketplace had moved on to Xbox Live.

Where was Zune audio? And where was the deeper Zune integration we were promised?

If Microsoft are going to get anywhere near Apple on this, they need to speed things up. I cannot see myself ditching my iPod in a hurry at this rate.

4. Activision

With DJ Hero, developed by FreeStyleGames and available on Wii, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360 in October, and Modern Warfare 2’s breathtaking demo at Microsoft’s press conference on Monday, Activision were the standout stars of E3.

5. Mario

With four new Mario titles announced for this year – DS Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story, Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Mario vs. Donkey Kong: March of the Minis – it is going to be another great year for the pint-sized plumber.

6. Sony

Sony was almost relegated to the loser camp because of the really boring press conference and their failure to introduce a new, slimmed-down version of the PS3.

But with PS3 exclusives, like the quite brilliant UnCharted 2 and Gran Turismo 5, and the impressive PSP Go, this could well be a good 12 months for Sony.

7. Electronic Arts
I was not that impressed with the previews for Dante’s Inferno, Army of Two: The 40th Day, Brutal Legend or Fight Night: Round 4, but in Mass Effect 2 EA probably had the best game at E3.

8. THQ
The new Homefront and Red Faction games are sure to be huge hits.

9. Microsoft

Microsoft has simply blown Nintendo and Sony away this week. Their press conference was the only one where I did not feel I would have happily gnawed my own hands off just to get out of.

Plus, I am genuinely excited, if not a little creeped out, by ‘Project Natal’ and the latest social media add-ons to Xbox Live.

Their presentation was packed with A-list celebrities, moved along at a fast pace and was genuinely exciting.

The announcement of Metal Gear Solid: Rising coming to the 360 was the icing on the cake.

10. Lego

Lego: Rock band

OK, I’ll admit I am a sucker for Lego. Since I was a kid, I have loved everything Lego – and nothing has changed much since. In fact, I would like to make the whole world Lego, if I had the chance. I could call it Legoland – imagine that?

If Sting turned himself into a Lego character, I might even like him. OK, maybe not. Anyway, this year’s E3 saw new titles such as Lego Rock Band, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones and Batman.

They all looked brilliant and are sure to welcome new generations into Lego. Remember kids: don’t make war, make Lego.

11. E3 organisers
After last year’s bore, organisers should give themselves a collective pat on the back after delivering an event that was packed with exciting events, news and exhibits. It was back to the old days.

LOSERS
1. Our wallets
If Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft are serious about picking up new gamers they are going to have make it affordable. This year’s E3 yielded not one price cut from the big three.

2. Handheld controllers

Microsoft has really set the cat among the pigeons with their ambitious Project Natal – an impressive and complex full-body, hands-free motion-sensitive control system.

It dared to ask the question: do we need controllers at all? And even suggested the traditional games controller has long been the barrier to more people becoming gamers.

Sony, whose own PS3 motion controller does actually have, well, a controller – a buttoned device with a glowing sphere at the top – disagree, insisting gamers like to feel something in their hand (I know I do).

And they certainly have a point – Microsoft’s bold vision provides more questions than answers.
But one thing is for sure: the way we look at games controllers is going to change.

3. Nintendo

The best thing I can say about Nintendo’s E3 performance was that it was not as bad as last year’s. Fantastic announcements, like the new Mario, Metroid, Golden Sun DS and Zelda games, could not save it from finishing a distant third in the battle of the big three at E3.

Now, before Nintendo fans stop start having a go, quoting sales figures etc and such, I am only talking about their performance at E3.

And no matter how many time Nintendo fans whooped during their drab press conference at really insignificant moments, it does not cover up the fact the only thing they had to show off – Wii Motion Plus, a small cube that plugs into the bottom of your Wiimote, allowing the controller extra sensitivity – was announced at last year’s event.

What made it particularly annoying is that the speakers failed to even recognise that fact.

Sure, by the looks of the demo they provided on Wii Sports Resort, it will certainly sell.

But where were the announcements for a bigger and better Wii Balance Board and more Wii MotionPlus games?

4. Sony online
Really disappointing E3 from the Sony online team, whose only notable new game, DC Universe, looks a flop.

5.    The weather
I cannot believe it is sunnier in London than in LA. Apparently, the locals call it ‘June gloom’.

Typical. Mind you, still managed to get sunburnt.

6.    LA cab drivers
I thought London and New York cabbies were rude, but these are a breed apart.

The pick of the bunch was a guy who told me to get out, stop being lazy and walk back to my hotel. Now, he had a point. It was a 15-minute walk. But it was raining and I had been on my feet all day. And, besides, what’s it got to do with him.

So I lost my rag and walked home in the rain anyway.

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Victoria Beckham was the last person I expected at a video games conference.

Before yesterday, I would have thought the chances of it happening were on a par with Susan Boyle doing kids’ TV and Jordan saying anything out loud that doesn’t immediately make me want to hurl myself under a train.

But in she trotted with her small army of publicists and scary-looking bodyguards to have a look around the centre with her kids Brooklyn, Romeo and the other one.

Apparently, we were told, she was there as a guest of Microsoft and came because she wanted her kids to enjoy the show.

I was even told that I may get an interview; some ‘alone time’ with the pencil-thin star.

Excited, I drew up some questions to ask her. Better start with something nice, I thought.

‘So what brings you to E3?’  ‘Are you as excited as I am about the launch of Modern Warfare 2?’ ‘Where’s David? With the nanny?’ and ‘You are looking good’.

Admittedly, the last one is not a question, but at this stage, I had no idea what she would look like, and thought it might earn me some Brownie points, a little more time before her Goebbels-like publicist ushered me out of the room and, if I was lucky, maybe even a rant about how she is sick of the media always commenting on ‘how frail’ she looks.

I even had this great idea of inviting her to take me on in a singing duel on Lips 2, which was just around the corner.

Of course, I knew she would never agree, but was still looking forward to the headline ‘Posh Chickens Out Of Singing Showdown With Hecklerspray’ or ‘Posh Admits Her Singing Voice Sounds Like An Elephant Humping A Fox’.  Admittedly, the last one was a bit of a stretch, but still. Bloody media.

Anyway, I arrived on time, but was quickly told: no interviews. Typical. So I spent the next hour or so following her and her kids around the exhibits hoping to get a couple of words from her.

Well, I got them – get lost. Although she did not say it to me personally, after taking a few too many pictures she murmured a few words to Jack Bauer standing next to her and I was encouraged to move on. I did, fearing some terrible 24 torture situation.

So I moved on, the taste of defeat still clogging up my nose, and was later told that Posh was not the only A-list celebrity at the LA Convention Center, with Mickey Rourke, Justin Timberlake and Steven Spielberg also spotted at the event while I was busy following Posh around.

God, once again, twangs my nose.

But I did not give up, and was soon rewarded with the best celebrity opportunity of them all at an after-show party – a photo opportunity with Christopher Mintz-Plasse (aka McLovin from Superbad).

Check out the photo and feel free to come up with an amusing caption. Looking at the picture, I think my head is twice the size as his. Oh, and notice the sunburn.

As for Posh, well, I have to say, she looked very frail.

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Well, now you can, thanks to a new video game which allows you to sing, strum and drum along to your favourite Beatles tracks – and Octopus’s Garden.

The Beatles: Rock Band was officially launched by Sir Paul McCartney and Starr at the start of E3 in Los Angeles and will be released in September.

They were even joined by Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison, the wives of the dead half of the Fab Four, John Lennon and George Harrison.

Macca said: “It’s a fun idea which broadens the appeal of The Beatles. I like people having the opportunity to get to know the music from the inside out.”

For those of you who have never played Rock Band or Guitar Hero, it is basically a game where you and your mates can pretend you are actually musically gifted by hitting buttons on plastic guitars and drums.

The Beatles: Rockband

Ever modest, Starr announced: “The game is good and we were great.” ‘Were’ being the important word there.

McCartney showed just how much he was involved in the making of the game, by adding: “Whoever would have thought we would have ended up as androids?”

Mind you, having seen the game played on stage, it does look pretty good. Thankfully, Yoko did not feel the need to have a go.

The remaining Beatles’ surprise appearance came at the start of a formidable line-up for the Xbox 360.

Trailers for Left 4 Dead 2, Crackdown 2, Forza 3, Final Fantasy XIII, Splinter Cell: Conviction, Joyride and Halo 3 ODST, among others, all looked pretty impressive, but the star of the show for us was Modern Warfare 2, which is due to be released on October 11 and simply looks brilliant.

Even more exciting was the news that Metal Gear Solid is coming to the Xbox. However, there is no release date for Metal Gear Solid: Rising.

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If your idea of fun is talking to your TV and jumping around your room like an arthritic monkey with an itchy bum then we have some very exciting news.

Microsoft has come up with a way to play console games without controllers.

Compatible with any Xbox 360 system, the ‘Project Natal’ sensor was finally given its first public outing by Microsoft at a celebrity-packed press conference, prior to E3, in which they also unveiled a strategy for making the company’s game console a gateway for movies, television and social networking.

So what does it do? Well, it’s basically a piece of kit that tracks your full body movement in 3-D.

It is also voice-activated and even responds to the slightest shift of emotion in your voice.

You don’t even need to login anymore – you simply walk in front of your TV and it will recognise you automatically. Which is, admittedly, quite creepy.

Microsoft even welcomed Steven Spielberg on stage to help push it – and he is clearly quite a fan.

He believes it will “break down barriers”, insisting, “The vast majority of people are scared to pick up a controller.”

It’s not a phobia I have ever heard of, but still…

He also added: “Microsoft are not re-inventing the wheel, they have just got rid of the wheel completely.”

Which is all very good, but are we really ready for a juggernaut with no wheels?

Obviously, Microsoft is doing a Wii and trying to open up gaming to the masses.

But will it succeed – and is it the future of gaming? Well, it’s obviously hard to judge until you actually have a go.

But from what I saw on stage, it looks pretty impressive. Sure, some of the movements were not captured accurately, particularly when turning around, but it still looked pretty impressive and they still have time to perfect it before its as-yet-unveiled release date.

x-box motion control

However, using the dashboard by swishing your hands back and forth did look a bit Minority Report (no wonder Spielberg is such a fan).

From the few games we saw, it still has a way to go to rival Nintendo, but at least you have to get off your sofa to play it, which is a comfort, as I am sick of my asthmatic mum beating me at Wii Tennis from the comfort of her couch while I run around the room like a blue-arsed fly.

It certainly looks more physically demanding, which I have mixed feelings about, being a lazy git.

I mean, the last thing I want after a hard day at the office is to jump around my living room.

But then, to help lazy people like me out, Xbox have also come up with yet more features to help keep me firmly in my sofa.

In fact, if it was not for Project Natal, you would think Microsoft would be happy to turn me into a boneless mass of flesh, capable of only the smallest of spasmodic movements and reluctant to leave my living room.

Firstly, you soon won’t need to check your laptops to see whatever is happening on Twitter, Last.fm or Facebook - because as from the start of autumn, they will all be available on the Xbox.

Twiter on the XBox

Through Facebook Connect, you can even capture your finest video moments and put them on your Facebook profile, presuming, of course, you have any by this stage – freinds that is.

Microsoft even got American actress Felicia Day to demonstrate it. She admitted walking into lampposts while twittering – so, presumably, the point of using her was to stress even an idiot can use it.

TV and movies have also been thrown into the package. Starting sometime in the autumn, more people from around the world can watch a broader selection of TV shows and movies in 1080HD without having to download them, bringing the experience more in line with what iTunes Store users have long experienced, but at a higher resolution.

The video shop for purchasing and renting digital movies for the Xbox 360 will be rebranded ‘Zune Video’, after the company’s portable media player.

UK and Ireland subscribers can also watch live Premiership football and other Sky programmes through their Xbox thanks to a deal with the broadcasting giant. So you will have more chance to use your awesome piece of cutting-edge technology to watch Shane Richie present Don’t Forget the Lyrics. Joy.

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This week, erstwhile hecklerspray listmaker extraordinaire David Schwartz has flown out to California to cover the E3 expo. Here’s the first instalment of his E3 diary…

Five minutes in LA and I am stalking someone already – Snoop Dogg.

He was in the same passport control queue as us and almost made the several days we spent in it worthwhile. Of course, we tried to have word with him but were soon scared off by his bodyguard, who is officially the biggest person I have ever seen (take note Norris McWhirter).

I think he ate the last journalist who had the temerity to ask Snoop a question and then flossed with his photographer.

Being suitably scared off from asking a question (even though, I’ll be honest, at that point, I was still trying to think of something to say), I tried to get my camera out of my suitcase.

But by the time I managed to get the damned thing to work (which is slightly ironic as I supposed to be looking at all the latest gadgets coming out at E3 and I can’t even take a picture), he was gone.

One of the party I was with did manage to get a shot of him, but with House from Police Academy blocking out the sun next to him, it is not the best photo of him.

I have not given up – yet. But maybe I should.

After all, I am in LA to go to E3 – and I am really not sure Snoop is in town to try out the new Bioshock. I REALLY hope I am wrong. Imagine playing against him at Grand Theft Auto on Xbox Live?

The trip was arranged by Microsoft, who tell us they have some hot news.

For inviting us, we are very grateful, but if they think a trip to LA is going to colour my judgement they have another thing coming.

As always, hecklerspray will say how it is and true to our readers. Although, can I just say, the Xbox is fantastic and from a certain angle and bad lighting (i.e pitch black), its profile looks a bit like Scarlett Johansson’s breasts.

Hopefully, I have to say, the news Microsoft has to tell us is going to be hotter than the weather. It seems typical that, having left a beautifully-sunny London behind, we are greeted by greying skies. The weather forecast does not offer much hope either. Once again God craps in my ear.

More disturbing is the news that Marisa Tomei is apparently a bit stuck-up. In fact, my cabbie, after I started fishing around about celebrity passengers he had had, confided with me that all the taxi drivers in LA hate taking her because she is such a pain.

The one bright spot is that within five minutes of landing details of the new PSP had ‘accidentally’ been leaked.

Qore, Sony’s downloadable PlayStation 3 propaganda video, included a feature on the handheld’s re-design – and even promised entries into the Metal Gear Solid, Jak, and Gran Turismo franchises.

Of course, the fact Sony wanted to steal a march on Microsoft before tonight’s big press conference had nothing to do with it.

But what else is going to happen at this year’s event, which starts later today? Well, here are our predictions:

1 – Microsoft launches new motion controller for the Xbox
If Microsoft is going to keep the Xbox 360 on the market for at least the next three to four years they need to keep subscribers interested. A new motion capture would do just that. They had the ‘Newton’ flying 3D mouse waggle wand in development for over a year now and the recent rumours are about a camera and sensor bar. I will probably make some cack-handed attempt to try out new motion controller – and end up on my backside. Hopefully, they will get some celebrity to try it out.

2 – Microsoft tells us why we should ditch our iPods
The latest iPod killer from Microsoft, Zune HD, will get an airing, with the help of some very hot games. As for convincing us to get rid of our iPods, all I will say is, good luck!

3 – Nintendo hit back
After bombing at least year’s event, Nintendo are going to come out all guns blazing. New Metroid, Legend of Zelda and Mario releases are expected, but is there going to be more?

4 – E3 is a lot more fun than last year’s event
Well, it could not be any worse.

5 – Slimmer and slightly cheaper PS3 is announced
My total guess, it will probably be about £70 cheaper and be available before the start of June.

6 – Microsoft announces new Halo, Alan Wake, Metal Gear Solid 4 and Mass Effect 2 for Xbox 360
Gamers everywhere wet themselves in excitement.

7 – Sony announces Gran Turismo 5 for PS3
Hooray!

8 – Despite the weather, I still end up horribly sunburnt and looking like The Singing Detective

9 – I get terribly drunk and end up sharing a taxi with Marisa Tomei
Read above to understand this terrible joke.

10 – Sony steal Microsoft’s thunder by accidentally launching details about their new PSP
Well, I needed to get one right.

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The guy on the end of the phone is not even pretending to be the Dark Lord of the Sith, he’s simply playing parts of the Star Wars trilogy to him, and he still does not get it. Even the heavy breathing does not give him away.

Where has this guy been? Has he never heard of Star Wars?

Still ranked by many as the ‘funniest thing ever’ and ‘really, really good’ and earning a hell of a lot of money for the people involved in it, Jerry Seinfeld obviously thought he could rest easy.

At least until a movie about a bee came about, which was clearly what he’d been waiting for all his life.

But now it seems the star of the sitcom with the bloke who drops the ‘N’ bomb on stage wants some more money – that has to be the reason, as agreeing to star in adverts for Microsoft isn’t something you do for integrity’s sake.

No, if reports are to be believed, agreeing to star in adverts for Microsoft is something you do for $10 million. The campaign is planned for the Fall (which is still called Autumn over here) and will see Seinfeld starring alongside the big man himself, Bill Gates.

No details have been confirmed beyond that, but we would wager the ads will be along the same vein – or a counter to – the awful, awful, awful Mac vs PC adverts of the other year. You know the ones – ‘oh, I use a computer to be cool, not for actual functionality – I’m a Mac!‘ and the rest of the bullshit they decided to cram down our poor, weak throats.

And lest we forget the British versions of the ads, which ruined the credibility of David Mitchell and Robert Webb.

Though, to be fair, they’ve now decided they’re happy to whore themselves out to any company that wants to sell anything ever, providing their stupid voices in exchange for cold, hard cash that they probably use to fund transport to their next recording studio, where they can then record another shitty advert that no one cares about.

Ahem…

Anyway, the hope is that Seiny-F will be able to slam some kind of ‘credibility’ into the ‘brand’ or some other marketing spiel. Speaking to CBS News, Brian Steinberg, television editor for Ad Age, said:

“Seinfeld does represent sort of a challenge. He’s not Dane Cook. He’s got a more sophisticated everyday take on things. He often comes across as a questioner of conventional wisdom but also can be kind of a crank. It’s a fine line to walk when you’re dealing with a younger person.”

A fine line to walk when dealing with a younger person would involve hitting them with a brick if they wanted to see Dane Cook in anything, ever – surely? Well, maybe not a ‘fine line’ – more ‘the right thing to do’.

Expect to see the credibility-destroying adverts aired towards the end of the year, and expect idiots to then believe that Microsoft are cool. These will be the same people that thought Macs were good, and not actually useless machines invented for particularly idiotic children. As we all know they are.

Plus didn’t Seinfeld have a Mac in his apartment in the show? And, in fact, we’ve just found (thanks to commercial-archive.com) out that Jerry Seinfeld once advertised Macs back in the early 90s. Look.

It’s a favourite word of ours, but still: integrity?