It's safe to say that E3 went better than I expected. Nintendo put on a good "media briefing," as they called it; the show had adequate (but not too much) flair; and with 11 people attending, there was ample staff mayhem, which had been somewhat missing these last few years.

Nintendo made some awesome announcements — a few no one had really anticipated. New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Super Mario Galaxy 2 had both been predicted, but I didn't think we'd be getting both! The collaboration with Team Ninja on Metroid: Other M is a bold, brilliant, and unexpected move that has me very curious. And of course, Nintendo talked about some asinine technology (the Wii Vitality Sensor), but I had braced for a lengthier discussion.

The show floor was just right. Bigger publishers had adequate space, and it didn't feel like they had their hands tied behind their back like last year, where imposed constraints limited demos like Wario Land: Shake It! to private booths. The floor was noisy, but not like it was back in 2006 and before (or maybe my hearing is going). More NWR staffers at the show also meant more buddies to hang out and explore games with, and a little more breathing room in the schedule.

As for the games on display, my favorites were easily New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Sin & Punishment 2. There were some other fun games on display, but those were the two I continued to go back to throughout the show. On the handheld side, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story was unsurprisingly enjoyable, and I remain tepid about Spirit Tracks' overworld and ordered switch puzzles, which felt too much like Phantom Hourglass for my tastes.

Sony and Microsoft's "controller" announcements were only surprising in how long it took them to jump on the bandwagon. I have no way to judge how well their technologies work, but Miyamoto wasn't spouting hot air when he said Nintendo has seen (and passed on) similar technologies before. Remember Stage Debut?

Many of my best E3 memories are more about hanging with staffers than the show itself. This year was no different. A new chapter in the big book of site mishaps was written at The Pantry, one of Los Angeles' oldest eateries. Something about coleslaw (Editor's Note: No Comment)...and Pictochat plus fatigued E3 attendees never ceases to amaze. While we weren't able to have a big karaoke get-together after the show, the roundtable Radio Free Nintendo podcast recordings sort of filled in that gap. I feel like I know the newer staff members a lot better now.

I'm really proud of the hard work everyone at NWR put into making E3 a success. Sure, there were some technical mishaps, but there always are. Awesome job, everyone! Rock 'N Roll!