It’s that time of year again, a time when game developers, publishers and gaming press come from all corners of the world to get together at the L.A Convention center in Los Angeles, California for one of the largest video gaming conventions on the planet -the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). Once a mecca journalists, developers and fans alike, over the years E3 has transformed into a pale shadow of its former self. Now a trade-only event closed to the public, E3 has endured it share of ridicule for being incredibly bland and boring in comparison to other trade shows like PAX or the tokyo Game Show.

However, this year, E3 is looking to change things, albeit only slightly. While the public is still barred from the event (journalists and media only), E3 is now being held in one centralized spot as opposed to each video game publisher getting their own location on opposite sides of town. Additionally, for better or worst, E3 has lifted the ban on booth models, so attendees get to enjoy scantily clad, attractive men, women and (evidently) midgets dressed up awkwardly as video game characters.

But E3 has never been exclusively about congregating or ogling booth babes -it’s supposed to be about the games. And in that regard, E3 2009 certainly looks like it will not disappoint.

Pretty much every single big name video game publisher and developer will be attending. From Atlus to Bethesda Softworks to Capcom to Ubisoft, the boys and girls of the video game industry will be there showing off the hit titles gamers will be enjoying over the next several months.

Here is a quick run down of all the announcements and some of the preview footage that has been shown in the few days prior to E3.

Announced
Crytek has announced Crysis 2 for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC.
Square-Enix has announced a new Front Mission game (Front Mission Evolved) and an action-RPG Nier.
Sega has announced a new Sonic title, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing.

Previewed
Activision has released the first official trailer for its upcoming Modern Warfare 2 and DJ Hero and Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2.
BioWare is showing off footage for Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age
Capcom is showcasing a new trailer for Lost Planet 2 and a trailer for the company’s now-show title, Dead Rising 2 was also leaked on the internet.
Obsidian Entertainment put up a teaser for its upcoming spy action-RPG Alpha Protocol.
Avalanche and Eidos Interactive released their debut trailer for Just Cause 2.
Electronic Arts and DICE are showing off their latest, multiplayer trailer for Battlefield Bad Company 2.
Lastly, but certainly not least, Gearbox Software has debuted their new, cel-shaded trailer for Borderlands.