On June 8, 2014 by Jason Rechtman, Angel Salado, and Kevin Gomez

It’s that time of year again. The time when video games completely take over Downtown Los Angeles as part of the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo. This year, the takeover is as big as ever with video game banners draping the LA Convention Center, along with the nearby Nokia Theater playing host to both Tuesday’s Super Smash Bros. Invitational Tournament and Wednesday’s Video Games Live concert. With only two days to go until E3 2014 is officially underway, we traveled downtown to get an early look at the gaming transformation currently taking place. We might not have seen Shigeru Miyamoto or met Reggie Fils-Aime like last year, and we may have needed to employ extra Splinter Cell-style stealth to sneak past increased lobby security, but that didn’t deter us from bringing you the full photo gallery below.

As is the case every year, the majority of on-site advertising is for the other guys: banners promoting third-party titles on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are everywhere. Nintendo traditionally doesn’t spend much on promoting its own games with huge signs, but a few third-party titles bound for Nintendo platforms did get the banner treatment, including Theatryhthm: Final Fantasy Curtain Call inside South Hall’s lobby and the rumored-for-Wii U Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare towering on top of South Hall itself. But even if you’re strictly a Nintendo fan, it’s still fun to soak up an impending E3 by seeing all the huge ads. On the outside of the Convention Center, for example, Assassin’s Creed Unity’s gigantic banner hints at a full-fledged co-op mode (note the four assassins standing side by side), while a series of Batman: Arkham Knight banners inside promote the Batmobile’s just-revealed Pursuit and Battle modes. Perhaps coolest of all, however, is the full-size replica Titanfall titan standing guard across the street.

You can see all of the above and a lot more in the below gallery of 25+ exclusive photos. Be sure to also keep checking Random Nintendo throughout the week for additional E3 2014 coverage, including a bonus podcast episode and on-scene coverage of Nintendo’s multiple Smash Bros. events. Simply put, this is one week you won’t want to miss!