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5. Playstation Store Video Downloads

Sony confirmed the development of a video store this year, but to have it launch day and date to the E3 announcement with partner content support was a great surprise. The library is stocked well with standard and HD movie and TV programming from Sony, Fox, MGM, Warner Bros., Disney, and Paramount at reasonable prices. And to think, we all thought it was going to just be Spider-Man and Resident Evil trilogies.

4. Wii MotionPlus

Nintendo jumped the gun with a text message announcement to the press about a tiny new peripheral called the Wii MotionPlus. Unfortunately, the device didn’t relay a leap from the current Wii Remote experience. Shock No. 1 – YAY! Shock No. 2 – Is this thing on??

3. PS3 80GB for $399.99

Sony itself said a few days prior to E3 that it would focus on profitability rather than quantities sold. Well, never mind that. The 80GB price cut to $399 was an unexpected twist to the video game price wars. Even stranger is that the company announced it while the 40GB is selling at the same price. Hey Sony, price cut the 40GB to $299 to let the internet shit its pants. We’d like to watch that.

2. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

A new Grand Theft Auto on a Nintendo platform was as shocking as watching two Nintendo execs duel to the death with virtual swords. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars was one of the best kept secrets in the biz and should drum up more core audience attention to the glossy handheld. Expect a wave of national news where DS owners can now commit violent crimes with a stylus.

1. Final Fantasy XIII on Xbox 360

The end all be all of shockers was Square-Enix doing a last-minute fake at the end of the conference to showcase Final Fantasy XIII. The greatly executed coup was a total shock to the press and a major coup for Microsoft for nabbing what not even Nintendo could get back – a numbered sequel in the series. Xbox 360 fans cried, Sony fans cried, Nintendo fans are still crying.