The best part of E3 are the unknowns: the unannounced games, the press conference surprises, the quiet disappointments. A lot of news will happen in the span of next week, and we'll be there to cover it all.

But this year, we're already excited about many of the known quantities. There are dozens of announced titles showing up at E3 that we still haven't had serious time with, from heavy hitters like Fallout 3 and Far Cry 2, to newcomers like Mirror's Edge and Borderlands.

Here are some of the games we expect to check out on the show floor, along with a few specific things we're looking for during the demos and showings.

Fallout 3
PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Q4 2008
Bethesda Game Studios

It's the sequel to one of the best franchises in gaming, and it's being designed by a dependable studio. And while Bethsoft originally planned this post-apocalyptic sequel to be on the smaller side of Oblivion, it has now reportedly ballooned to a comparable scope. We'll only have a short time with the game, but we're making ready with Fallout 2 speed-runs.

What we're looking for: Interesting dialogue was the backbone of the Black Isle's titles, so we're keeping our eyes out for well-written scenarios.

Mirror's Edge
PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Q4 2008
EA DICE

This first-person parkour title from EA has a lot of buzz already. The game's popular trailer was a work of minimalist art. The music was a breath of fresh air. The development team's inspiration, said to be drawn from Joss Whedon's Firefly, is intriguing.

What we're looking for: How well a first-person parkour game controls, how refreshing the story really is, and how often we'll have a gun in our hands.

Aliens: Colonial Marines
PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Q1 2009
Gearbox Software

Any number of ingrained quotations will tell you that a love of Aliens is a common element amongst many gamers. And rather than working in that Aliens flavor via a franchise hybrid--as in Rebellion's excellent Aliens vs. Predator--Gearbox's game will be the first serious title to focus on recreating the feel of that specific movie. Make ready your four-player co-op squads of colonial bad asses.

What we're looking for: Pacing. Is this a fast shoot-em-up or a plodding tactical shooter? Has the tense action of Aliens been reproduced?

Empire: Total War
PC
Q1 2009
Creative Assembly

It's Total War in the Napoleonic age, a Master and Commander take on Creative Assembly's strategy series. Naval combat seems to be wonderfully realized, and the realism has been upped for land-based battles.

What we're looking for: A glimpse of the new campaign AI and management systems, which are said to be largely overhauled and improved since the Roman and Medieval times.

Rock Band 2
Xbox 360/PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Wii
September/Q4
Harmonix

The focus of this one is all on refinement of the Rock Band formula. A large setlist will offer some enticing incentives to upgrade, and full backwards compatibility with Rock Band DLC should make it a painless process. Tough luck for Microsoft shunners, though, as the game is getting an exclusive Xbox 360 release in September. The other versions will follow later in the year.

What we're looking for: A comprehensive setlist detailing the 80+ included songs--hopefully with some major bands that haven't been seen in rhythm games before.

LittleBigPlanet
PlayStation 3
October
Media Molecule

Every trailer released for Media Molecule's innovative title just screams fun. But more than the online platforming, LBP's Youtube-style community features could elevate the game to a classic.

What we're looking for: Hands-on time with those community features, and specifically how they're integrated with the game itself. How extensive are they, and will there be any kind of web presence?

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