This past week I had the chance to head down to Los Angeles to check out all that E3 had to offer this year. This was my third trip to the big show and I was very curious to see how the new, improved and revitalized E3 would pan-out. Last year many criticized the show for being too small, too boring, and lacking the spunk from years past. Critics called for an overhaul and publishers were not happy at all with the scaled back version of what was arguably the biggest trade show for the videogame industry. Although E3 is not quite back to the 70,000 attendee days; the large scale is back and it is safe to say E3 has, for the most part, returned to its former glory.

I for one was very pleased with the conference this year and many we spoke to, including PR reps, seemed happy with the outcome. For the some 40,000 or so who were in attendance many were able to actually play the games they came out to see. I still recall the days of standing in long line-ups and waiting for nearly an hour just to get the opportunity to play the new Madden. Many still pine for those days but I for one found E3 2009 to be a happy medium. Not too big but not too small. In any event, the show is headed back in the right direction. But enough about the show as I am sure you want to know about the games.

We had a chance to check out nearly everything we wanted to get our hands on and by the end three days we were somewhat overwhelmed by the amount of great games coming out over the next year. Many games impressed us but a few really stood out as being the crème of the crop. Here are my top 3 most anticipated games which were on display at E3 and all due out sometime before or around the holiday season:

1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

It is not uncommon for Call of Duty games on next generation consoles to look fabulous and play well. Modern Warfare 2 is no exception. I had the opportunity to get an exclusive behind closed doors look at one of Modern Warfare 2’s missions at E3 this year and overall I am left with positive impressions.

The first thing I noticed was how the games menus were very similar to the original Modern Warfare. Why mess with a good thing right? It seems this approach was taken as the game looks and feels very similar to the original. That being said, everything appears just a bit more enhanced this time around. For starters, the weapons appear to have a little more detail and look more life-like than before. Apparently the developers simply re-did many of the weapons so they could take full advantage of the hardware. The result is outstanding. Overall I would have to say that the game packs an even greater punch this time around.

The story picks up where Modern Warfare left off, and yes Sergeant "Soap" MacTavish is back. The level I had a chance to check out took place in a snowy region and featured a variety of combat including a snowmobile chase, climbing steep mountain walls with ice picks, and planting smart bombs. Not to mention it had a vast amount of fire fights. Bottomline, Modern Warfare 2 looks great thus far and many should be marking down its November 10, 2009 release date.

2. Splinter Cell Conviction

While at the Ubisoft booth at E3 I had a chance to sit down with one of the games producers who took me through the Splinter Cell Conviction E3 demo. Presentation wise, the game scores top marks. It has a movie-like style which keeps you immersed from the get go. What really caught my attention was the way the games objectives were presented on the side of walls, buildings, stairways and other locations within the map. The result is stunning as it makes if feel more like a movie then game as it does not take you out of the level.

As for the gameplay, our hero Sam Fisher is in a darker place now and has nothing to lose. His only motivation is to find out who murdered his daughter and he will stop at nothing to get his revenge. Although the whole revenge thing seems like a tired old formula the game pulls at your emotions and goes far beyond a simple tale of vengeance. The stealth-like gameplay is back; however there does appear to be much more action this time around. Sam has a number of new tricks at his disposal and some of the new gameplay elements make Conviction a must own game for next-gen console owners. Above all else, the newest game in the Splinter Cell franchise looks like it will draw in some of those gamers who may have been a little intimidated to play some of the franchises previous games. Splinter Cell Conviction is due out before the holiday season.

3. Avatar

While at Ubisoft’s E3 Press Event this year James Cameron, director of the big screen movie Avatar, gave a somewhat lengthy overview of the movie as well as some background of went into the game. He would not give us many specifics about the game itself but what stood out for me the most was the fact the game had been over two years in the making which is unheard of in the movie-based game genre. In any event, Mr. Cameron had me pumped for the movie and now the game which I had not even really given any consideration before E3.

I had a chance to check out an exclusive behind closed doors look at Avatar the game at Ubisoft’s booth. Security was tight as I had to check in my bag, cell phone, wallet and camera. Apparently it was the biggest ticket in town and I was very fortunate enough to get a look. The demo lasted about 15 minutes and was presented entirely in 3D. Yes, it appears the game will be completely in 3D. The result is stunning as it is an impressive looking game. Everything comes to life and literally jumps right out at you. Granted we were watching on a 103 inch Panasonic Plasma TV, however Ubisoft staffers insist size does not matter in this case. Avatar follows the story of an ex-Marine who finds himself in the midst of a battle on an alien infested planet. The planet where the game takes place is a very lush and vibrant environment. Set in a rainforest like atmosphere, Avatar features some of the most original and bizarre creatures I have seen to date. Many of the gameplay elements have been played out before but the 3D effect takes it to a whole new level. Needless to say, Avatar already has the look of a Triple-A title.

Now that I have identified my three favourite games at E3 2009, it is time for me to take a closer look at the big three’s (Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony) Press Conferences. What better way to recap some of the more notable moments from the three than to rank them on who I felt made the biggest impact this year.