Years of self-promotion and calculated bluffing culminated in 2006's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), where 60,000-plus watched the gaming industry's heavyweights finally reveal their cards. From hands-on demonstrations with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii to high-tech accessory launches and more than 1,050 product unveilings, the L.A. Convention Center offered a candid glimpse at the media room of tomorrow.

Beginning with this summer's release of Groove Games' Playboy: The Mansion Party Pack, which bundles the critically acclaimed life simulator with long-awaited add-on Private Party, the industry shifts into high gear. Over the next 12 months, you'll witness the rise of Hollywood convergence, the dawn of next-generation gaming and the debut of dozens of eye-opening offerings in every genre. High-def audiovisuals, inter-platform (e.g. cell phone-to-Xbox 360) connectivity and support for cutting-edge disc formats like Blu-Ray are only a start. Virtual worlds so detailed that enemies respond and scenarios evolve differently every time aren't far off.

Start saving those quarters. Here, we offer the scoop on the biggest games and latest trends straight from the annual blowout, including firsthand impressions of where the biz is headed and why you can't afford to miss out on the ride.