May 16, 2005 Triple Threat Like an electronic tsunami, E3 hits L.A. this week. Hard-core gamers know the Electronic Entertainment Expo as the Mecca of gaming. If you've heard the buzz but haven't been, you might be wondering about this gamers' paradise. The Buzz: The highlight of this year's event is the console wars. Microsoft, Playstation and Nintendo duke out another round to see which equipment comes out on top: the just announced XBox 360, the not yet announced PlayStation 3, or the Game Cube's heir apparent, Revolution. How to Get in: We can't tell you. Technically, it's industry only. But search your contacts for a friend with an exhibit-only pass. Members of the media can go, but only professionals. Just because you have a blog, don't assume you can work this angle. If you're really hard-core, you probably already have an in. If you're a casual gamer, here's the deal: All those lights and monitors make the gaming floor pretty stuffy. And while you can sample some cool new games, they're mostly incomplete demos so you can't really get your game on. Not to mention the lines. Your better bet is to bookmark the E3 Insider page and watch for the big announcements. What happens at E3 could determine what goes under a lot of Christmas trees this December. Including yours. The Electronic Entertainment Expo runs May 18 - 20 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.