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SANTA MONICA, Calif.–Last year, those wishing to attend Microsoft’s E3 briefing had to negotiate a herd of celebrity impersonators and bodyguards, only to then have to cram into a darkened auditorium. This year, the journey to the Redmond, Washington-based computer giant’s game event was much more pleasant. After a brisk walk through picturesque California streets during sunset, visitors arrived at the press briefing’s venue, Santa Monica High School.

Already far more picturesque than most public schools, the space was transformed into a Shinjunku-esque maze of verdant neon. Between the ample trees on the ground, every white light had been swapped out for a bright neon one, giving virtually every surface an eerie but beautiful green glow.

After clearing minimal security, attendees were ushered into an open-air auditorium that would be unthinkable anywhere else but Southern California. But most people in the audience weren’t in town for fun, sun, and surf. They’d come to attend the E3 Media & Business Summit, and to this particular event to see what the first company out of the next-generation gate has up its sleeve.

Microsoft’s press briefing comes at a difficult time for the company. Its Xbox 360 has been taken over in sales by the Nintendo Wii, and, following increasingly widespread reports of hardware failure, the company recently announced an unprecedented extension of the warranty for the Xbox 360.

After a week of taking flak and receiving praise for its move, what would Microsoft have in store tonight? Will it announce a passel of new games like last year? Will it reveal more about the ambitious Live Anywhere service? And what about the whole gaming-on-Zune thing, anyway? If Its Games News is on the scene, blogging the event live with all the latest.

[8:30] Loud techno plays, gaggles of industry types exchange pleasantries.

[8:31] There’s a band set up on the right of the stage–can we expect some Rock Band or Guitar Hero Action tonight?

[8:32] Voice comes over the PA–the show is about to begin. It politely tells every one to shut up and sit down.

[8:32] This place is filling up fast! Lights are coming down! Howls of delight from the crowd.

[8:33] Five Halo fans from Illinois are being brought on stage. Halo music plays as stars are shown on a huge screen. Camera cranes go nuts over the audience.

[8:34] Oh snap! The “fans” are a band–a lady fiddler backed up by a keyboardist bassist, drummer, and guitarist. I didn’t know the Master Chief like prog-folk….

[8:35] Fiddler lady going nuts on stage. It’s a Halo hoe-down! Yeeeehaaaaw!

The view from the top of the auditorium.

[8:35] Lights going ballistic now. Obvious Microsoft plants in the audience “cheering.”

[8:36] Numerous scenes from Halo 3 flash on the large screen as the music and lights come down. Well, that was…artistic.

[8:36] Oh they’re not done! Big finale! Some genuine cheers follow.

And the band played the theme from Halo.

[8:37] Peter Moore takes the stage.

[8:37] Moore: “When they heard, the music of Halo, they heard rock!”

[8:38] Moore: “Welcome to the New E3. It’s a bit different than last year.”

[8:38] “Every demo and game you see here tonight will be out <i>this year</i>.”

[8:39] Harmonix takes the stage.

[8:40] Moore is playing Rock Band with Alex Rigopolous. “Let’s turn it up to 11!”

[8:41] He’s tanking…BADLY. Laughter from the audience. Blond singer trying to be dead serious as crowd cracks up.

Peter Moore on stage… and on screen.

[8:42] They cut Moore’s amp he was so terrible. But they bring it back on. He’s not doing half bad now, and it’s cool he’s a good sport.

[8:42] “Big close!” Great success!

[8:43] Rock Band will have The Who, The Strokes, Nirvana, and more.

[8:44] New trailer debuts for…Viva Pinata Party Animals! New party game that