A sad panda, aka: me.

Update: I’ve made a new domain for Brave New Hooks. Keep on following my work at BraveNewHooks.com!

Oh God, another True/Slant’er out the door? Yes, it’s true.

As of Thursday, I join the ranks of former True/Slant contributors.

It’s with some amount of sadness (thus the panda) that I make the announcement, though I’ve known about our pending split since June. The nature of my content is just not a very good fit at Forbes, and that much was pretty apparent from the moment the announcement was made.

In my 10 months as a True/Slant contributor, I’ve seen some really special things happen. I got to be on the leading edge of an upstart that broke 1.5 million readers a month in its first 12. I was even lucky enough to have one of my big stories called out by our ever-patient front page editor Michael Roston, who said my reporting on Barry Cooper’s wild tale was some of the most important work they’ve published.

Getting a popular story on True/Slant is like being constantly and completely flattered, especially to see my by-line up there with journalists like Matt Taibbi, Michael Hastings and Allison Kilkenny. My friends can attest, there was a celebration every time I cracked True/Slant’s top five most popular contributors.

Ah, well. Every good thing ends.

Before I go, an announcement: I am currently producing a manuscript about Barry Cooper.

I’ve never before made such a public claim of pending work, let alone something as lengthy as a book, but there’s a level of certainty to this project that’s rather unusual. Hollywood producer Brett Ratner has purchased film rights to Barry’s life story. Those rights were sold by a producer at SpikeTV, who I’ve since interviewed in my research on Cooper. While I have yet to speak with Ratner’s people, I’m sure they’ll be interested to see what I produce. While already weighing a number of options for publication, I’m still open to conferring with any interested literary agent.

So, yes, True/Slant and I are breaking up, but I am by no means going away. After two years of hard work as their contractor, RawStory.com has offered a salaried job and will be taking me on staff beginning August 1. We’ve got some big things in store for our readers, but I cannot say more for fear of death or censure. Basically: stay tuned.

Thanks to everyone at True/Slant and all of my readers, without whom none of this would have happened.

And always remember, individuals really can make a difference.

Though marijuana legalization is largely a liberal and progressive cause célèbre, it may be fair to say that the state’s elected Democrats aren’t exactly cuckoo for these coco-puffs.

Prominent California Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein has declared her opposition to Prop. 19, signing a ballot argument against legalization put forward by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Sen. Barbara Boxer and Democrat gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown were quick to adopt Feinstein’s position, and the state’s Democratic party, while apparently torn on the issue, officially elected to stay neutral fearing their support could damage state-wide candidates.

In spite of Democratic opposition, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), a drug policy reform group made up of former cops, judges and federal agents, seems to stand perhaps the best chance of swaying the state’s drug policy establishment. They’ve put forward a ballot argument in favor of Prop. 19, and three of their most prominent members from California law enforcement have signed it.

In an exclusive interview, the former police chief of San Jose and the former deputy police chief of Los Angeles County — both members of LEAP — took to task those favoring continued prohibition, insisting that both Sen. Feinstein and MADD level an “emotional, unreasoned” argument for keeping pot illegal.

Sen. Feinstein’s press office was contacted multiple times in seeking a response to these officers. Both times a returned call or e-mail was promised, but none were received after several days.

“I know Dianne Feinestein quite well from when she was mayor of San Francisco,” said former San Jose Chief of Police Joseph McNamara. “I’m kind of stunned by her stance on this. It’s contrary to everything she talked about as a politician in San Francisco.”

By contrast, post-Feinestein San Francisco was host this year to the first-ever International Cannabis and Hemp Expo, and the Hemp Industry Association is planning to hold its 17th annual meeting there in November. Last month also saw San Francisco hosting the first ever Medical Cannabis Cup: a competition among growers, to see who produces the best pot.

It’s pretty clear that the city, by and large, has taken a position of favoring Prop. 19.

“[Feinestein's] position [as San Francisco's mayor] certainly wasn’t this law and order nonsense on stamping out marijuana,” McNamara said.

In a ballot argument against legalization (PDF link), Feinstein and MADD argue that Prop. 19 could cost California school districts $9.4 billion in federal funding, as they would no longer be able to meet federal drug-free standards. They also fret that colleges and universities in California will lose out on federal grants, which is a very real threat that LEAP did not address.

The main thrust of their argument is that due to the ballot initiative’s wording, officers or other public officials would not be able to take preemptive action against stoned drivers: they’d have to wait for accidents to happen. Much of the argument focuses on school bus drivers, and how they could be permitted to ingest marijuana and transport children, leaving the hands of authority bound until someone got hurt.

“Their argument is specious and I don’t think it’s based on any emperical evidence,” contended Steven Downing, the former Los Angeles County deputy police chief. “It’s kinda like, we make things up in order to pass laws. Well, come up with the facts.”

He and McNamara insist there is no evidence to support the assumption that officers or public officials could not enforce laws against driving while intoxicated. They argue that Prop. 19 has nothing to do with laws requiring sobriety while driving, and that it’s impossible to say, as MADD does, that legalization would turn California’s highways into a nightmare.

Similarly, though a recent study by the Rand Corporation predicted that usage is likely to go up because prices could plummet if cannabis is legalized, they too admit that estimating the number of stoned drivers is impossible.

“I think one of the strongest points to make is that there were no studies when these drugs were outlawed,” Downing said. “It was religious fervor and prejudice. Fear. We all know that’s how it all got started. That’s how alcohol prohibition got stated. It’s the same today for marijuana, which is kept illegal by emotional, unreasoned arguments.”

“Smoking may even decrease,” McNamara said. “Looking at the reaserch, 85% of high school students surveyed say it’s more difficult to get beer than marijuana. The reason for that is that beer is regulated. You need proof of identity and age to purchase it. That argument, that use will explode, is wrong. It may be exactly the opposite. It will be more difficult for people under-age to get cannabis.”

He adds that “marijuana is already in the mix,” as far as the sobriety of drivers is concerned. The former police chief, now a fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, calls Feinstein and MADD’s argument on stoned drivers “speculation that doesn’t make any sense.”

Supporting McNamara’s position is the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, which reported in May that after a double-blind study of 85 drivers tested before and after smoking marijuana, “no differences [in motor control and response time] were found”.

“The laws today prohibit driving under the influence of drugs,” he said. “If they do that, they’re violating the law and can be punished under the present laws. By freeing law enforcement from making so many [marijuana] arrests, this would give them more resources to use against dangerous activities like driving under the influence.”

Downing’s argument was similar, and one of surprise at the lack of support from MADD. He said that fewer marijuana prisoners would mean more drunk drivers serving out their full sentence, thanks to reduced overcrowding in California’s jails.

“When you look at all of it, I think Prop. 19 offers an opportunity for rationality in an area that’s been so emotional,” McNamara said.

Prop. 19 will appear on California’s state-wide ballot this November. Should it pass, individual counties and municipalities would be able to opt in or out of the legalized system; those which opt in would be given additional tax and enforcement options, and residents would be allowed to transport up to one ounce and grow plants in a five-foot-by-five-foot area.

Even if the voters carry Prop. 19, it may not mean anything as it still conflicts with federal law. The Obama administration’s policy has been to not interfere with state-supported medical marijuana initiatives, but the president has said he is opposed to legalization. Whether or not the administration will take a hands-off approach to legalization in California is still an unanswered question.

A recent CBS poll found that while 42 percent of the state’s voters oppose legalization, 56 percent are in favor. Aligned with the majority is the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which endorsed legalization because of prohibition’s inordinate impact on minority communities. The California Young Democrats also endorsed Prop. 19, along with former United States Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders. The 200,000-member-strong United Food and Commercial Workers union, of the Western States Council, backs it as well.

LEAP’s full ballot argument in favor of Prop. 19 is available on their blog.

While I was following Barry Cooper on his way to be arrested, I accidentally took a photo of him on the wrong lens setting. For the record, I used an Olympus FE-230 set on ‘indoor’ (for lower light environments) instead of ’sport’ (for quick movement and adequate lighting).

The brief image preview in the viewfinder made me curse, thinking I’d wasted some precious memory card space. I readjusted and kept shooting just before putting it into video mode and capturing some footage for YouTube.

It wasn’t until I returned home and adjusted several of the levels that a striking portrait of my subject emerged from a washed out, blurry mess.

I did not touch up this photo other than, as I said, adjusting brightness/contrast and color levels so the environment stood out a bit more. As it turns out, that also made Barry’s tattoos visible, which also made his fingers in front of his face visible. The full thing together looks to me like he’s meditating, clenching a glowing fist in front of his face and radiating white.

I’ve been told that cameras do not lie, but they can be manipulated. Guess I’ll just put this one out there as possibly a little of both. I still insist it’s a spontaneous journalistic effort, accidental or not.

Click for the full image …

Marijuana activist Barry Cooper turned himself in to authorities Friday morning … and he did it with an expected showman’s flare.

I was notified of his plans last night, but didn’t think he’d actually go this far.

We met at 9 a.m. inside the Starbucks on Congress Ave. in downtown Austin. The first thing I noticed was Barry’s unusual garb. On his forehead, a two word message: “JURY NULLIFICATION”; across his chest in marker ink, a rallying cry: “CONSTITUTIONAL OBEDIENCE”.

After a few minutes of summary and preparation, Cooper, his wife, a cameraman with the local Copwatch chapter and assorted members of the press began making their way down the street toward the state capitol building.

Barry lit a cigarette and took his time to smoke it.

Barry Cooper, preparing for his arrest. Photo by Stephen C. Webster

Walking onto the capitol lawn, I noticed an unusual media presence. That’s when we learned the grounds had been shut down since much earlier in the morning due to a bomb threat.

As it would happen, that threat ensured a media circus for Cooper’s arrest. With cameras already in-hand, television reporters swarmed around Barry.

I’m going to say that Cooper’s arrest and the alert were not correlated, but I don’t know that for sure. Barry, Candi and their attorney denied any prior knowledge of the situation and appeared surprised when told about the threat. I believe it was purely fortuitous coincidence, and I don’t think they would do something so foolish like call in a bomb threat to maximize media exposure. They’re in enough trouble already and have kids to worry about.

In spite of the heightened alert, Barry and the media walked right up to the capitol building. Police reopened grounds about 30 minutes later, stating that no suspicious devices were found.

Standing not 20 feet from state troopers, Cooper took a deep breath, pulled out his notes and began to speak.

“I’m here today to turn myself in because I have a warrant for my arrest from the Texas Rangers for a sting that KopBusters did in Odessa, Texas, that successfully released Yolanda Madden from an eight year federal prison sentence. I was explaining to everybody on the walk up here that it feels bad that I only gotta go to jail for one day. I have this kinda support: my lawyer here, and my wife. But Raymond Madden had to walk his daughter this same way to do eight years in prison. My good friend Marc Emery in Canada, two months ago just had to turn his self in for selling marijuana seeds. He turned himself over to the United States government and he’s doing five years in prison.

“It feels horrible to go to jail, and it’s still difficult for me to understand how and why we keep torturing our citizens in the U.S. for non-violent crimes. They say in the Middle East that if you steal something they cut your hand off, and we call that cruel and unusual. We can walk into our prisons right now and line our non-violent prisoners up, that are doing five years, ten years, 99 years, life, for just possessing a substance — and ask them: What would you rather do, continue serving your sentence or we cut your hand off? They will line up at the chopping block and gladly give their hand to get out of those torturous prisons for something that should not be against the law.”

Barry Cooper on his way to be arrested. Photo by Stephen C. Webster

Cooper said his main reason for pulling the media stunt was to raise awareness of jury nullification, a generations-old, rarely used legal tactic available to citizens on a jury who have no sympathy for the government’s argument. Even if the defendant is guilty of the crime with which they are accused, a jury may yet nullify that law as it applies to that individual if they consider it to be immoral.

A recent example of nullification would be the acquittal of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, who clearly violated laws meant to prevent assisted suicide but was let off by a jury who found the laws to be repugnant and not correctly applied.

Barry continued:

“Americans need to use a very powerful weapon: We’re calling on America to start using what’s called jury nullification [...] when members of a jury vote not guilty, even though the accused clearly broke the law. Juries do this when they believe the law itself is morally wrong or is being unfairly applied. So if you get on a jury and even though you know that person is guilty, if you don’t agree with that law and it bothers your conscience, you can vote not guilty and release that citizen. As a jury member, you have more authority than the judge. That’s the final process in our judicial system, is a jury trial, because it gives the vote back to the citizen.

“Although jury nullification is still legal and still constitutional, most judges and public school teachers lie to the people and tell them they don’t have this right. The jury is made up of we the people. The jury is the only true check on government power. [...] It is the most important right we have as a citizen. [...] Citizens of America, get into juries. On all non-violent drug crimes, vote not guilty and release your citizens.”

He concluded with a signature sign-off: “Peace, love and Never Get Busted.”

Barry then approached officers standing in front of the capitol and informed them of a warrant for his arrest. A few moments later, they ushered him away in handcuffs.

Candi Cooper stands aside as her husband is arrested. Photo by Stephen C. Webster

“I’m sorry and sad that humans still treat people like this,” Cooper said. “It doesn’t make any sense.”

Barry’s wife Candi was arrested earlier in the week outside the family’s home in south Austin after the Texas Rangers tricked her to come outside by claiming her vehicle had been damaged and insurance information would have to be exchanged. The charge stemmed from a sting they pulled on the Odessa Police Department in Dec. 2008, in which they baited officers to raid a phony marijuana grow operation.

Police charged Barry and Candi with Making a False Report to a Peace Officer, a Class B misdemeanor. It is the same charge leveled separately by Williamson County, which raided their former home just north of Austin after Cooper claimed to have caught an officer in Liberty Hill stealing what he’d been tricked to think was drug money.

Barry in cuffs, but still smiling. Photo by Stephen C. Webster

Shortly after arriving home, I got a call from an unknown number. It was Barry, who decided to use his free phone call to contact me. Speaking from the Travis County jail, Cooper said …

I’m booked into jail. They said I should see a magistrate in a couple hours to set the bond. Odessa could hold me here for 10 days, but they told Candi that as well and that didn’t happen. They’re treating me very good in here. This place is very depressing and all the prisoners I see are depressed. I’m just talking to them and letting them know it’ll be okay. Everybody has treated me very polite and very nice. Tell Candi I love her and that everything is going to be fine.

Here’s a video of the arrest, shot and edited by yours truly …

The whole weird affair was also broadcast live via UStream, which archived the improperly formatted clip.

Update, 6:40 p.m.

Candi just confirmed that Barry has posted bond, which was set at $1,000. Oddly enough, Candi’s bond was set at $2,00 for the same alleged offense, with her arrest coming even before her husband’s.

It was possible that authorities could have kept Cooper for up to 10 days, but his attorneys believed that would not happen, according to Candi.

An earlier version of this update speculated that Cooper could have spent the night in Travis County, but that does not appear likely any longer.

I’d further like to add, upon further recollection and examination, Barry seemed kinda stoned in that video, but he’s told me repeatedly that he refuses to smoke marijuana after what happened with the Williamson County raid. I understand Barry’s appearance was also part of the overall “statement” he was making (Candi’s word), but I didn’t really even think to ask why exactly he didn’t go into this morning’s theatrics with a suit on.

I think I’ll ask about both these items when he gets out, which could be any time now.

Update, 10:45 p.m.

I’ve just spoken with Barry. He is free at this hour and headed somewhere for Margaritas.

When I confronted him about his appearance and asked if he had ingested any narcotics before his arrest, Cooper insisted the weary expression evident in the YouTube clip above was that of exhaustion and not intoxication.

“I’d been up for almost a couple days, man; didn’t really sleep a whole lot after the Rangers arrested Candi,” he said. “That was purely exhaustion, I do not smoke marijuana anymore, not after what Williamson County did to us.”

He added that his appearance — dreadlocks, t-shirt, jeans and tattoos displayed, was in fact intentional, and that his wife had the “suit talk” with him “a million times.”

“I just wanted to show that I’m pretty much like anyone else: an American citizen who is not violent and enjoys being free.”

Barry Cooper is “at large” once again.

Photo credit: WILLIAM DESHAZER / Dallas Morning News

A West Texas CBS affiliate dedicated a segment last night to Candi Cooper’s arrest by the Texas Rangers. It was actually quite comprehensive and good, and none of what’s to follow in my ruminations should be considered a slight to their work.

Still, the reporter’s final words made me choke with laughter and surprise: “Barry Cooper, himself, is still at large.”

Still at large. For a Class B misdemeanor? We’re talking about a citation-level offense, not Al Capone. These people are not felons and they are not violent, but Barry is “still at large”? I love that this comes from a CBS affiliate. Yes, this is in fact accurate, but it also illustrates the Benny Hill-like nature of this weird tale.

While I appreciate the political sensitivities at stake for our resident power structure, it’s offensive to think that a minor infraction like False Report to a Peace Officer deserves attention by the Texas Rangers. I’m certain the Odessa police are more than capable of handing their own affairs.

The Rangers occupy a position of greater lore in this state, and stooping to this level … is below them. Worse yet, by their mere presence they make Cooper notable again. They’re helping to turn a minor thorn in their side into an anti-prohibition rock star, just like I suspect Barry has planned all along.

Here’s what Michael May over at the Texas Observer had to say …

Barry also posted a video on youtube that shows a conversation he had with a Ranger who threatened to “whup his ass.” The video shows Barry’s charm with law enforcement . . . he’s clearly taunting the Ranger, calling him “son” and “boy” and swearing at him several times. It’s not surprising that the Rangers want to put him in his place, but our police should be above petty vendettas — and it’s hard to see how putting elite officers on the trial of a misdemeanor offense is anything but a petty vendetta. In short, they’ve done nothing but prove Barry’s contention that law enforcement priorities in this state are skewed at best, and corrupt at their worst.

And furthermore, ‘Cheers!’ to him for transplanting my ‘drug war insurgent‘ meme into the Observer’s headline.

Yes, Barry Cooper “is still at large,” though I’m told he’ll be turning himself in sometime rather soon.

Regaining his freedom via bail bond will cost $200: a paltry sum compared to the value of the ironclad image our most elite law enforcement unit decided to tarnish this week. A swift, snarling reaction should have been expected from Williamson County, which raided the family’s home on a Class B misdemeanor, but every Texan holds the Rangers in higher regard than this.

Barry and Candi are weaving a modern day Bonny and Clyde story, and we all get to watch. Thanks to Williamson County and the Texas Rangers, this man could well soon be the goddamned Erin Brockovich of pot.

Until there’s more to tell, enjoy this video from CBS 7 in West Texas.

The wife of Texas drug cop turned anti-prohibition crusader Barry Cooper has been arrested, according to a phone call I just received.

Cooper claimed that a woman knocked on their door and told his wife Candi that she’d ran into their vehicle and wanted to exchange insurance information. However, when she stepped outside officers were allegedly waiting in the wings with handcuffs.

“This is so fucked up dude, the Texas Rangers are outside my home right now trying to figure out what to do,” Barry claimed in a frantic phone call. “My lawyer is pissed. I’m not going outside. They have an arrest warrant for she and I, but they don’t have a search warrant so they’re not kicking in my door just yet.”

Authorities have yet to confirm the arrest. Children are present in the residence and could be heard in the background of the call. The Coopers vehicle was indeed damaged, according to one of the children overheard in the background audio.

(Update: the vehicle had some preexisting damage, so police were in no way responsible for that. They apparently used the claim as a ploy to draw the Coopers out of their home. The younger voice heard on the call was apparently Barry’s oldest daughter.)

Cooper claimed these latest dealings with law enforcement are related to his first ‘KopBusters’ operation in Odessa, Texas, where he set up a fake marijuana grow house fitted with cameras and Christmas trees. The sting was the first of a series for Cooper, who saw his now-abandoned reality show project as a way to make an example of dishonest officers.

While he was not arrested at that time, the Texas Rangers had been conducting a further investigation. In that case, officers were tipped off to the alleged grow operation by an anonymous letter left for a local pastor, who turned it over to police.

Making a false report to a police officer is a Class B misdemeanor.

Watch this space for further updates.

Update, 3:10 p.m.

Barry has released a video featuring a confrontational conversation he allegedly had with an unidentified Texas Ranger in March 2009. The video was published to YouTube over a year ago, but was just now released to the public.

The edits in the last 30 seconds of video were apparently made to emphasize the man telling Cooper he’d come to Austin and “whoop your ass.” It is below.

I’m with Cooper now. He’s sent his kids to stay with friends and plans to vanish for a couple days until his attorney can arrange for an amicable resolution to his arrest warrant. At this moment he’s pacing back and forth in his living room, cursing and smoking, calling as many people as possible to spread the word.

I can confirm that his wife is in Travis County jail.

Cooper showed me a video clip of the Texas Rangers standing outside his apartment in south Austin as he tried to communicate through a window. On the video, an officer wearing a wide-brimmed cowboy hat, a light blue shirt and pressed slacks informed Cooper that the arrest is indeed related to making a false report to a peace officer in Odessa, Texas.

Because of this, Odessa has up to 10 days to extradite Candi: a scary truth for Barry, who sounds on the verge of tears at the moment.

“Oh my God if they keep her for 10 days or more, I don’t know what I’ll do,” he said, tugging on a cigarette. “This is unbelievable. It’s possible that they could come back with a warrant for resisting arrest. I’ve never seen a cop kick in a door for that alone, but we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Update, 4:18 a.m.

After a long night of high-tension phone calls, loosely made plans and a madcap scramble to get a vehicle not associated with Barry into downtown Austin to pick up his wife, Candi Cooper is free as of roughly 3 a.m.

I was along for the whole strange trip.

The record should show that Candi’s arrest was attributed to the charge of making a false report to a peace officer during her husband’s political activism in Odessa, Texas nearly 19 months ago.

Also for the record: I’ve been told by multiple people involved in the Odessa sting that Candi was not the author of an anonymous letter left for a local pastor, who ultimately advised police of the alleged marijuana grow operation by way of turning over the missive.

It was a due to a Class B misdemeanor that the state’s most elite police force, the Texas Rangers, became involved in this weird, politically charged case.

Their presence at the Coopers’ yesterday convinced me beyond all reasonable doubt that Texas law enforcement really has it out for these people.

The Rangers are not some backwater cop shop. They could have called the Coopers’ attorney and demanded they turn themselves in. They could have pulled Barry over at any time. They could have been direct about the matter and achieved compliance, straightaway … Instead, officers chose to have a female knock on the family’s door and falsely claim their vehicle had been damaged, luring Candi outside whereupon an arrest was quickly made.

“That’s exactly how we used to do it when I was a cop,” Cooper told me. “I’ve actually done that to people myself.”

Could this be karmic justice served Texas-style? Or is Candi’s arrest the business end of a political vendetta against her husband?

Seeing what I’ve seen, both this week and in the 17 months since I began sporadically writing about Cooper … I’m going with both.

An arrest warrant for Barry is still outstanding, but he’s professed an intent to turn himself in. Stay tuned.

This is by far the most stunning coverage of the Gulf oil crisis I’ve seen yet.

Her name is Kindra Arnesen, a fisherman’s wife from Venice, Louisiana. She was the source of a riveting CNN piece on June 3 and a May 13 blog by the National Resources Defense Council.

If you missed both of those, stop whatever you are doing — right now — and give this woman 15 minutes of your time.

As if all that is not bad enough … Guess what else is brewing in the Gulf.

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Best Wii-Exclusive Game: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

This was the first game Nintendo touched on at their media briefing. In spite of a somewhat glitchy live demonstration (chalked up to wireless interference from the audience, naturally), the game was available to play on the show floor. Every concept presented by designer Shigeru Miyamoto came across smoothly in the actual game, which puts the player in direct, 1:1 control of Link’s sword.

Watch:

The graphics are very colorful and seem to have a hint of cell-shading to them, meaning many fans will see the art style as something of a cross between Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. There seemed to be some watercolor-like effects in the background distortion as well, leading me to wonder if the unique rendering has something to do with the nature of Link’s new world.

While many of the gameplay mechanics are familiar to fans of the Zelda franchise, it still feels fresh and original. Nintendo definitely had the best game lineup of the show, but this one stood just above the rest.

(Runners up: Sonic Colors, Kirby: Epic Yarn, Metroid: Other M.)

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Best PlayStation 3-Exclusive Game: Twisted Metal

Talk about some old-school jones: this game had me spinning my wheels back to the PSOne-era. It truly stood out at Sony’s booth and instantly brought back memories of countless hours spent on the other David Jaffe-created Twisted Metal games. Sony was smart to let him do his own thing once again, especially after the titanic success of the God of War series.

Plus, the multiplayer is a true sight to behold, which you may do so below.

(Runners up: Motorstorm Apocalypse, Gran Turismo 5, Little Big Planet 2.)

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Best Xbox 360-Exclusive Game: None of the above

Microsoft put WAY too much focus on family-friend Kinect games that look like poor Wii ripoffs, while leaving core gamers out in the cold. Sure, they had Halo Reach and Gears of War 3, but neither really wowed me. I’m certain both will be quality gaming experiences, but they’re franchise properties; a known quantity. I wanted something new, but even with a massive console add-on device Microsoft failed to bring home the goods.

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Best Multiplatform Games:  Marvel VS Capcom 3, Dead Rising 2, Rock Band 3

Child of Eden, the spiritual sequel to Rez, is easily my game of the show and headed to PS3 and 360 very soon – but there’s three other multiplatform games that deserve similarly high praise.

Marvel VS Capcom 3 (Capcom, coming to Xbox 360, PS3) looks to be a chaotic masterpiece of a fighter. After an hour waiting in line, a friend and I — both of us being quite proficient in MVC 2 — tore into each other for five solid minutes and came away very impressed. The graphics are gorgeous and it will have a cast of gaming and comic heroes unlike anything players have ever seen before. That’s cool.

Trailer:

Dead Rising 2 (Capcom, coming to Xbox 360, PS3, PC) takes players on a violent and deeply satirical ride through a zombie-infested shopping mall.  Thousands of the undead haunt seemingly each hallway and corridor, but wading through them isn’t made needlessly difficult. The game lets players use almost any item lying around to slaughter zombies and even allows for weapon combinations via a tool bench and roll of duct tape. Two chainsaws taped to the ends of a canoe paddle? Yes, please.

Trailer:

Rock Band 3 (Harmonix, coming to Xbox 360, PS3, Wii) will feature all new instruments that actually replicate the experience of playing the real thing … By which, it will literally teach gamers how to play the guitar, bass, drums and keyboard. The game will also feature 83 new tracks, though Rock Band already features thousands of amazing artists via downloadable content. Even people who hate this sort of game would be tempted to invest if they’re interested in learning to play an instrument. Bravo, Harmonix.

Trailer:

(Runners up: Vanquish, Mortal Kombat, Sonic the Hedgehog 4.)

Best New Hardware: Nintendo 3DS

On the show’s final day, the Nintendo 3DS had a line estimated to be some five hours long, stretching out into the convention center parking lot. In my years of covering and reading about E3, I’ve never heard of such a thing.

The 3D effect one gets from the new DS screen is brilliant. Looked at straight on, it’s as if the device contains a separate little world that hovers in front of you. Seen from an angle the effect is lost and the image becomes fuzzy, but when it’s right, it’s really right.

8 and 16-bit games are likely to be ported over, as the booth featured some of the older Nintendo classics in pseudo-3D. Nintendo 64 games will also benefit dramatically from the new platform and Nintendo was showing off demos for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Star Fox 64, both in eye-popping 3D.

But it’s not just the old school that got gamers abuzz: some of the tech demos featured graphic fidelity near the level of Xbox 360 games, and Nintendo is reviving Kid Icarus to showcase the 3DS.

The system has a slider on the side that lets players adjust the 3D effect — and, at their press conference, Nintendo said the console would sport a “wealth” of 3D content at launch. These two facts could very well mean that many existing DS games will work with the new system, but that remains to be seen. Still, allowing a 3D effect toggle might give players the power to simply flick it on and see what happens, unless the system’s firmware simply locks that function when playing older games. With shutter glasses on a properly-equipped 3D gaming PC, similar toggles allow for a range of compatibility with older games not specifically designed for the effect. This could also be the case on 3DS, but Nintendo was clearly hedging their bets on making any announcement.

Toss in a 3D camera and content partnerships for 3D Hollywood movies and you’ve got the most compelling handheld gaming gadget ever. Nintendo is going to own pockets all over the world very soon.

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Worst New Hardware: PlayStation Move

This was a real toss-up between Move and Kinect. Believe it or not, I actually think Move has a better shot at success if Sony can hit a mass-market price with a bundle package. Still, getting two players fully compatible with most Move games is a high point of entry, with consumers looking at a very hefty investment by way of buying every piece separately. For instance, to play The Fight, a full $200 plus tax must be sunk into the controllers alone. Then there’s the Web cam … And the game …

Still, this promo video from Sony is neat to look at:

It’s basically a new console that sits on top of an old console. Unless Sony gets this thing bundled and cheaper, with games that are not blatant Wii ripoffs, I’m calling it another Sega CD or 64 Disk Drive. Consumers do not have a difficult choice when asking themselves who offers a better, cheaper, more enjoyable motion gaming experience. Sony’s Move fails to inspire me and until it does, I’m not buying it.

(A final, immature barb at Move: a female colleague quipped that it looks like a freaky vibrator with a glowing ball on the end. Now every time I look at it, that comment pops into mind. *shudder*)

Runner Up: Xbox 360 Kinect

The new Xbox device has cool tech behind it and should be able to produce some interesting gaming experiences on down the road … But it also makes people who play with it look like complete idiots. Microsoft’s booth was full of people jumping and waiving spasmodically, with video of their actions projected above the crowd. Whoever made this decision wasn’t very smart. They may as well have launched their own EyeToy, ’cause it’s basically just a Web cam that makes people look stupid.

Last year’s E3, “Project Natal” ignited the imaginations of gamers everywhere with the Milo demo by Lionhead. This year, after presenting the thing with a bizarre arena show full of glowing space bibs and acrobats running on the ceiling, Microsoft offered a not-so-subtle apology to the press with thousands of ethics-free, gratis consoles.

Then, a nasty rumor surfaced: that Kinect doesn’t work very well for gamers who are sitting down. Microsoft says that’s not the case, but did thump on the whole “optimized for standing” bit a lot during the show. Added, every Kinect game I saw required players to be on their feet. Many looked like quite a workout, and the stench of sweaty geek body odor was certainly detectable in the Xbox booth.

If sitting glitches this thing out — and I already hear the voice controls can be manipulated by multiple people during one session — that may just be one fatal flaw too many.

But at least their first TV spot is kind of neat, even though it gives viewers absolutely no reason to buy the product:

Still, if Microsoft’s strongest appeal to core gamers is, ‘Hey, get up and jump around for some Wii ripoffs,’ or, ‘pretend your finger is a gun’ (something Sony outright mocked) … I don’t see it faring well until a truly killer app hits.

I believe that game will be Child of Eden, which is the only reason I did not pick Kinect for worst hardware. Still, it remains to be seen.

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Best Major Franchise Reboot: Mortal Kombat

The new Mortal Kombat features four player action and all the violence players have come to expect from the series. This time, it’s a true sequel to Mortal Kombat II, the game most ‘Kobmatants’ like best. From checking out the trailers and watching it demonstrated, this looks to be a bloody good time. This could soon be one of the most popular party games in America. (Midway, coming to Xbox 360, PS3.)

Trailer:

(Runners up: Twisted Metal, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Goldeneye.)

Worst Major Franchise Reboot: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

I wanted this game to be so much more than a God of War ripoff. From my 10 minutes of demo time, it doesn’t appear to clear that bar. I hope their surprisingly lame demo is a fluke because the Castlevania reboot has tremendous potential … But the folks at Konami need to do something a little different than their friends at Sony, or I may not be plunking down full retail price. (Konami, coming to Xbox 360, PS3.)

Trailer:

(Runners up: Xbox, PlayStation for their emphasis on how they’ve become more expensive copies of the Wii.)

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Game of the Show: Child of Eden

Just … Watch:

That’s the spiritual sequel to Rez, revered by many gamers as being at the pinnacle of the interactive arts. I maintain, Child of Eden — which supports Kinect and is slated for Xbox 360 and PS3 — cannot come out soon enough.

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That’s all for this list. Check back in the coming days for a more unconventional take on my E3 experience, complete with photos, video and a lot of weirdness. Cheers.

During the final day of E3 2010, my request to demo Child of Eden was shot down by an UbiSoft PR rep. Thankfully, I ran into one of the game’s producers, James Mielke, as I was leaving the convention center.

Click to visit UbiSoft's Child of Eden site.

A friend and I related our disappointment with the Kinect software lineup and asked why Microsoft didn’t place more emphasis on Eden. His response was unusually direct.

“Yeah, Microsoft fucked up big time,” he said, sporting a knowing grin. “They had a chance to feature it for Kinect but decided to focus on family-friendly games like what’s on Wii. They weren’t expecting everyone to react so negatively. After we showed off our game at UbiSoft, the Microsoft people came to our booth like, ‘Oh, oh wow.’”

He mimed curiosity by pursing his lips and drumming fingers across his chin, then rolled his eyes.

I complained to him that all of Kinect’s other software is uninspiring, but noted that Eden alone would make it worth my money.

Mielke nodded. “Lots of people were saying that — except, you don’t even need Kinect to play it.”

As an aside, he also said that Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto usually spends just a moment or two looking at each game and rarely shares his thoughts. After demoing Eden, Miyamoto and Q?’s founder, former Sega veteran Tetsuya Mizuguchi, spoke with each other for a few moments. According to Mielke, the legendary creator of Zelda and Mario called Eden “game of the show.”

The former journalist and part-time DJ added: “[Eden] will be out before next year’s E3, probably like Spring 2011. It sounds like a long time but, for me, looking at it from the inside, that’s not long at all.”

While it may not be a long time in development terms, Eden is one game that simply cannot come out soon enough. In spite of Mielke’s rather frank criticism, Microsoft would be wise to begin coddling the geniuses at Q? from now until this game ships.

Xbox 360’s proprietors would be fools to continue ignoring the sales potential behind Eden. A high-dollar Kinect/Eden marketing campaign and any amount of bribery necessary to secure a game/hardware retail bundle seems to be the most logical solution.

Update amended from a prior version.

I was perhaps a bit too quick to pronounce The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword my “Game of the Show” for E3 2010. A little title called “Child of Eden” offered in playable form today behind closed doors at UbiSoft has set the world of gaming aflutter.

Here’s why:

In the midst of E3’s mad rush, this game’s existence somehow escaped me until hours ago, when I read a blog by one of the game’s producers, former EGM and 1UP journalist James Mielke, describing why he’d quit writing to join developer Q? in fleshing out a mystery project.

According to Mielke’s Facebook page, legendary Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto — creator of Zelda, Mario and, arguably, the modern gaming industry as a whole — sat down for a Kinect-infused Eden demo and came away calling it “game of the show.”

Eden is a first-person experience, to put it lightly. It uses the Xbox 360’s camera-based controller to transform the player’s palms into targeting cursors. While I have not yet played Eden, I’ve seen it on demo.

This was enough to convince me: it will blow people’s minds.

In my book, this game is the ONLY good thing so far about the Kinect, which otherwise appears to be a huge embarrassment for Microsoft thanks to a lineup of shoddy Wii ripoffs promoted by some seriously bizarre PR stunts.

Eden’s palm-based gameplay, on the other hand, can only be done with a Kinect … And Hot Damn, does it look cool.

Here’s a live demonstration:

This game is the spiritual sequel to Rez, an otherwise obscure, artsy game made for the Sega Dreamcast and ported to PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360. Its creator, Tetsuya Mizuguchi, was the driving force behind eclectic music and puzzle titles like Space Channel 5, Meteos and Lumines. His interactive portfolio is unique among acclaimed designers, making Mizuguchi games increasingly valuable beyond their initial printings.

(Disclosure: Rez is my favorite game, like, ever; I’m pretty biased towards its sequel.)

Eden looks to be Mizucuchi’s masterpiece. He said the game’s story would be simply that of a girl becoming human.

It is a product that will hold much water with gamers. I would buy a Kinect just for Eden, even though it is playable with a traditional controller and headed for PlayStation 3.

If I can get a hands-on demo, I’ll have much more to say. Still, simply for what it is and the people behind it, this game has already eclipsed every other title I’ve seen at E3 2010.

Merely looking at Q?’s next phenomenon left me completely slack-jawed and feeling like a teenager. Now I’m just praying they’ll let me play it.

If that happens, I’ll have to restrain myself from the keyboard for a few hours while the sensory input digests, lest I engage in what objective observers might call “gushing.”