This year, Sega moved out of their own closet and got a real booth. It was a good sign. The last interesting thing in a Sega booth I can remember was a new Altered Beast game a few years back which, of course, never came out. But quality comes and goes like the tides and somehow I thought this year would be different...

Not off to a good start. Phantasy Star Universe, last seen at a claimed 10% complete, had not improved at all. I questioned a near by rep about the aim of the game and was told that one of PSO's weaknesses was the single player game. They "resolved" that that deficiency by providing 40 hours of hitting the X button, solo. What I think Sega has failed to grasp is that the weakness of PSO is that it was nothing like the great PS games before it.

Notice, if you will, the bared bellybutton of the main, male character. Perhaps I'm really _not_ in the demographic for this title...

Good ol' Sonic again. Something is wrong with this poster. Instead of including Amy, or some other such species of pink, fuzzy rodentia, there is someone who looks like she just stepped out of any random Square or perhaps Capcom game. Is this the sequel where they finally reveal that Sonic is, in fact, a very sexy guy, cursed to look like a little blue alien?

Now things are looking up. Chrome Hounds was bursting with mech-stomping goodness.

Jackpot. Full Auto 2 was ridiculous, in the coolest way. This game is everything Twisted Metal always should have been. I tore around aggressively in my blue SUV, firing rockets at buses and fuel trucks, laying mines for my enemies, and crashing and smashing in ways that put Burnout to shame. This was my best time at the show. And on a PS3, imagine that.