I guess word must have gotten around because shortly thereafter, Reggie Fils-Aime showed up. I was at a loss for words at that point; I think I said something like, "Is that...?" (the ellipses which were practically audible). Reggie looked at my kiosks and said, "oh yeah, that does look like Metroid," to which a nearby journalist quipped, "Hey, somebody needs to make a Metroid, it might as well be him!"
Things you don't expect to happen to you, ever: Reggie shook my hand and congratulated me.
Then he was off.
Later, while riding the elevator up to my hotel room, I saw a woman with the same "Best of E3" pin that GameSpot gave out, and while pointing to my own, I said something like, "Hey, we have something in common! What game do you make?" Honestly, I was thinking she was probably another indie, until she replied, "Dragon Age."
It wasn't until when GameSpot's posted the E3 2014 winners list that I found out that I was one of only 15. Not even Destiny - the most expensive game ever made - made that list.
So, was E3 overbearing, overwhelming, and insane? Yes, absolutely.
But am I glad I went?
Hell yeah.