True to form, Microsoft opened E3 up today with a blockbuster press conference complete with celebrity appearances and lots of shiny new game trailers. Members of the Beatles were on hand to usher in the new Rock Band crafted in their image. Famed skateboarder Tony Hawk also showed up to announce his new game (and the awesome new skateboard peripheral designed for it). After a star-studded opening, the trailers began to roll.

We got a bunch of cool info about Final Fantasy XIII, and our first look of how the game runs on the 360. It looks like characters will have 4 “Time Gauges” that they will need the monitor. The higher each of the gauges is, the more damage you'll do. In the gameplay video we saw a Summoning, and now we know that summoned creatures stand beside their summoner and fight like extra characters.

We also got a look at Shadow Complex, a brand new title from Epic Games inspired by the Metroid and Castlevania series. MTV.com describes it as “2D Uncharted”. It looks like a next-gen sidescroller, filled with weapons upgrades, giant robot bosses, and plenty of hidden items. The campaign will be 10 hours long, and we can expect to see this game released later this Summer.

Left4Dead 2 was also in attendance, and we can expect to see this sequel to the bestselling zombie game hit on November 17th. It will be set in Louisiana, and players will finally get to cut down the undead hordes with chainsaws. We'll also get four new survivors to play as, or devour.

Trailers for Splinter Cell: Conviction, Joy Ride (an avatar-based free racing game), Crackdown 2, and Modern Warfare 2 were also shown. We should see more information on all of these games, as well as a lot of sweet new gameplay videos as E3 rolls on.
At the end Microsoft previewed the rumored motion controller for the Xbox. It is called Project Natal.