Even though it started raining today, we’re still very much in the “calm before the storm” at GDC. Things here don’t really get cranking until tomorrow when all the main exhibits open and all the killer parties kick off, but I managed to see plenty of cool stuff today, anyway.

The highlight was a sit-down with D3 Publisher, the details of which can’t be fully disclosed unless I want to end up embroiled in a lawsuit. (No, thanks.)

Regarding one of the titles on display, I think I’m only allowed to say this: “I saw an exciting new title from a D3 franchise you know and love!” I know that sounds like utter PR-approved B.S. And, yeah, in a way, it kinda is. But, in another way, it’s not at all: I mean every nebulous word. It should be a great game.

I think I can also say that “Dark Sector,” which was playable, looks poised to deliver on its promising previews. The game looks gorgeous, and the gameplay innovates enough to keep it from being “just another shooter,” but not so much that experienced gamers won’t be able to pick up and feel comfortable playing almost right away. Oh, and once you get used to it, the Glaive weapon is everything you’d hoped after reading the early first-look reports.

That one comes out in about a month, and we’ll definitely have a review up ASAP.

Right now, I’m chilling in the PlayStation Bloggers Lounge at the uber-posh W Hotel, trying to rest up and dry off.

From here, I’m moving on to see some new stuff from Emotiv, which made a bit of a splash at last year’s GDC with a “neural interface device” (i.e., brain controlled video games!). They’re apparently still trying to push the boundaries of communication between human and machine, so it should be interesting to see if they’ve come up with anything more than a novelty item.

After that, I’m headed off to a couple of parties, one being hosted by Sony Online Entertainment (it has a “Women in Games” theme) and the other by EA Dice (developers of the “Battlefield” franchise), which will supposedly have some new titles available for test drive.

Oh, BTW, the guys next to me in the lounge are playing “Echochrome” (available for PSP and downloadable for PS3 via the PlayStation Store sometime next month) and it looks absolutely awesome. From what I’ve seen looking up at the screen between paragraphs, it’s an unbelievably simple puzzle game with a really unique twist. So I’m gonna stop writing now and go check it out first-hand. More later.