Midway knows how to throw a party. But, hey, if you're one of the few gaming companies that branches out from Chicago, one of the better party cities out there, you might as well go out to impress. The company recently held a press event in the heart of Chicago to show off their forthcoming 2005-2006 line-up, and there were many impressive titles to be seen.

The action started at the Peninsula hotel, a real classy place that goes all out for attention. After all, what other hotel provides live classical music right there in the middle of the bistro? Not many...at least, not in Chicago. Midway had a room reserved and ushered us in, and soon began their showcase of forthcoming games. They showed off a trailer for John Woo's forthcoming game Stranglehold, along with clips from such games as Ed, Edd n' Eddy: The Mis-edventures, Rampage: Total Destruction, Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows, and more.

From there, we loaded up in some old-school trolleys and made our way to the House of Blues, a legendary music hall where many great acts had performed. We had a private room reserved and walked right in to find several playable kiosks on hand, with all sorts of games like L.A. Rush, Midway Arcade Treasures 3, and more. I managed to sit down and play a few that were on hand, getting impressions and even a couple of interviews.

One of the highlights of the evening came around when a 17-year old blind gamer (yes, a blind gamer) challenged Ed Boon to his own creation, Mortal Kombat: Deception. Boon, eager for such an offer, accepted, and soon they started having a series of brawls. The blind kid had beaten Boon for eight straight matches, leaving the series co-creator to utter, "This game sucks!" as the crowd laughed on. Eventually, Boon would have his victory, but the sight at seeing this kid just level him without seeing what's going on on-screen was awesome.

Following the House of Blues party, we hit the Sound Bar, an underground dance club where many people gathered and many drinks were served. It really was a lot of fun.

Overall, Midway's event had a lot to offer, complete with many enticing games. We'll have plenty of previews and hands-on impressions for you soon enough, so keep it here for the best coverage. Meanwhile, Midway, feel free to have us back in Chicago any time!