Like a few other thousands of people around the Internet I have payed close attention to the E3 briefings going on down in Las Vegas this week and it got me to thinking.

As I watch the live streams of the Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo briefs most of it seemed very familiar to me, due to the fact that most of the “announcements” had been leaked or rumoured for the past few weeks leading up to E3.

In today’s digital age we are hungry for up to the minute information on whatever topics and trends that interest us, but does some of this come at a cost?

Part of the thrill of watching the briefings held annually at E3, CES, and Apple’s events is seeing what new things ideas, projects, and innovations are in our futures. Now a good part of that thrill seems to be gone thanks in part to message board posts, tweets, and inside sources.

Now I know its human nature to want to know every secret right away, but in a way it reminds me of the days leading up to Christmas and seeing the present under the tree with your name on it and wondering what it could be. I think Part of the joy of Christmas morning was going through those secretive bundles one by one and the excitement of uncovering what is inside.

In short I’m starting to feel that knowing what’s going to happen before the event is like opening a gift to yourself. No matter how good it is, it pretty hard to feel that rush of excitement.

Let me know what you think. As always I can be reached at jparie@gmail.com.