I’m back from E3, with the sounds of Missy Elliot’s performance at the Sony party still thumping in my ears.

As anticipated, the most interesting stuff at the show were the upcoming new handhelds: Sony’s PSP and Nintendo’s DS. I had a chance to get hands-on with the DS. It was fun, and fresh – a new way to game. There are two screens, offering different points of view, and also touch-screen capabilities – a first. The PSP was hands-off, but looks sleek and will surely benefit from Sony’s roster of brands. Stay tuned

Sony also had a new flock of EyeToy games on display. Pretty cool stuff – like a hover-board racing game called AntiGrav that tracks your head and hands. As for the shooter war – I had a chance to play Doom III and Halo 2, and check out new footage of Half-Life 2. Doom III is creepy and claustrophobic, but a bit like a haunted mansion with the monsters on a track. Half-Life 2 has the most “realistic” feel, with impressive outdoor environments, and potentially empathetic characters. Halo 2, however, gets my early vote for shooter of the year. The game is just awesome – better graphics, better action, and a compelling sci-fi plot. It’s the one to beat.