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01.31.12
THQ Exits Kids Market and Focuses on Core Games

In its early days, THQ was best known as a kids game maker working with brands from Nickelodeon and Disney based on Hollywood TV shows and movies. But the Hollywood licensing business has dried up with the higher costs of development and the advances of smartphones and tablets (where those licenses still thrive). THQ isn’t exiting the games business, as had been rumored a few weeks ago. Instead, the game company is exiting the kids games business in favor of successful franchises like Saints Row.

01.13.12
CES 2012: Vegas Technology Show Enters the Record Books as the Biggest in 44 Year History

LAS VEGAS -- The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has officially put the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2012) into the record books as the largest in the show's 44 year history, with 1.861 million net square feet of exhibit space. The previous record was 1.857 million net square feet of space at the 2008 International CES. Owned and produced by CEA, CES 2012, the world's largest tradeshow for consumer technology, runs January 10 through January 13 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

01.11.12
CES 2012: Global Spending on Consumer Electronics will Rise to $202 Billion this Year

LAS VEGAS -- Major product launches from more than 3,100 exhibitors and keynotes from the leaders of Qualcomm, Mercedes and Intel launched the 2012 International CES on Tuesday. Owned and produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), CES 2012, the world's largest tradeshow for consumer technology, runs through Friday, January 13 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gaming was also prevalent with Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft all showing content. NVIDIA continues to push portable gaming and tablet pricing with Tegra as seen in the video below.

01.11.12
CES 2012: Record Number of Exhibitors Offer Vegas Attendees Glimpse of the Future

LAS VEGAS – The Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2012) opened its doors to press, analysts and buyers featuring a record number of exhibitors, more than 3,100 companies on a show floor that will exceed 1.85 million net square feet of exhibit space. Pre-show media events with innovative product launches kicked off the 2012 CES, with cutting-edge products including ultrabooks, voice and gesture-based technologies, smartphones and OLED TVs. Owned and produced by the Consumer Electronics Association, the 2012 International CES, the world's largest tradeshow for consumer technology, opens today and runs through Friday, January 13 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

01.10.12
CES 2012: Vegas Show Second Largest in History of Consumer Electronics

LAS VEGAS -- With more than 100 products introduced at the CES Unveiled and press day opening today, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) announces that the 2012 International CES will be the association’s second largest show in history. For a sneak peek at the show floor before it opens, check out the video below.

11.03.11
Entertainment Software Association Raises $900,000 and Gives Back to Developers

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) Foundation’s 14th annual “Nite to Unite – for Kids” gala raised $900,000 to support the Foundation’s work on behalf of America’s youth. The proceeds from the annual dinner, auction and charity casino night will enable the ESA Foundation, the video game industry’s philanthropic arm, to improve the lives of children through grants to a wide variety of organizations, as well as a college scholarship program.

09.21.11
James Cameron Brings AVATAR to Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide is joining forces with visionary filmmaker James Cameron and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the world of AVATAR to life at Disney parks. Through an exclusive agreement, Disney will partner with Cameron and producing partner Jon Landau to create themed lands that will give theme park guests the opportunity to explore the mysterious universe of AVATAR first hand. Disney plans to build the first AVATAR themed land at Walt Disney World, within the Animal Kingdom park. With its emphasis on living in harmony with nature, Animal Kingdom is a natural fit for the AVATAR stories, which share the same philosophy. Construction is expected to begin by 2013.

09.19.11
ESA Adds Game Makers Nival and 38 Studios to the Mix

Nival and 38 Studios have joined the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the trade association for U.S. computer and video game publishers. These additions bring the ESA’s total membership to 33 companies. Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of the ESA, talks about the ESA’s biggest event, E3, in this exclusive video interview.

09.14.11
inXile Entertainment Founder Brian Fargo Goes Back to the Future with Choplifter HD

inXile Entertainment is bringing a classic 1980’s video game back to life with a complete overhaul that goes beyond the gorgeous high definition graphics. Propelled by Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 3 technology, Choplifter HD promises to bring the spirit of the original game to PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, and PC this fall. Players will join the international helicopter rescue team C.H.O.P.R. (Coordinated Helicopter Operations, Preservation and Rescue) and fly through 20 different missions ranging from captured military prisoner extraction to saving survivors of viral outbreaks. Brian Fargo, president and CEO of inXile Entertainment, talks about the new game in this exclusive interview.  

09.09.11
Original Crysis Finally Coming To XBLA, PSN Next Month

When Crysis 2 came out earlier this year for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, it actually sold quite well for EA and Crytek, and proved that the series could perform on the right kind of level for console gamers.  It left a few people wondering, though, whether the original Crysis would ever get a shot at a release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.  Well, it's finally coming, as the companies announced through Gametrailers.tv that the game would be coming out next month as a digital download for both systems.

07.21.11
Comic-Con 2011: Conan the Barbarian Gets New Chillingo Mobile Games

Paradox Entertainment, producer of the upcoming Conan the Barbarian movie starring Jason Momoa, has signed a deal with Electronic Arts-owned Chillingo to bring video games based on the barbarian to Apple iOS devices like iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. The first game will launch this summer in tandem with the movie. In addition, new game content based on the movie is coming to Funcom’s free-to-play Age of Conan: Unchained PC massively multiplayer online (MMO) game.

06.27.11
Supreme Court Rules Video Games Granted First Amendment Protection

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) welcomed the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling that underscored constitutional protections for video games, developers, and video game industry artists. At issue was a 2005 California statute restricting the sale and rental of computer and video games. The ESA, the lead party in the case Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association/Entertainment Software Association, argued that the statute presented unconstitutional limitations on expression, and the U.S. Supreme Court agreed, holding the California law unconstitutional under the First Amendment.

06.18.11
ESA President and CEO Michael Gallagher Discusses the State of the Game Industry

LOS ANGELES – Michael Gallagher keeps a very busy schedule in Washington, D.C. as the president and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). The lawyer is constantly working on behalf of the U.S. video game industry, talking to government officials and playing a key role in the Supreme Court case that Arnold Schwarzenegger originally brought to the courts. With another successful E3 trade show in Los Angeles, Gallagher talks about the state of the industry and the role E3 plays in the global game industry in this exclusive video interview below.

06.12.11
E3 2011 Reactions: Vita Is a Great Piece of Hardware But May Lose to the iPhone
With Microsoft kicking off E3 in disappointing fashion, it was up to Sony to try to get things back on a happier track with a press conference that would feature better games and other content. Sony had a lot on its plate at E3. They suffered a network outage that lasted over a month due to it being hacked, leaving many PS3 owners upset. Plus, they had a new piece of hardware to show off. Things started to go their way as the Playstation Network was back in full force before E3. Did Sony capitalize on its momentum and blow us away with a great press conference?
06.08.11
E3 2011: Sony Goes Retro with Jane's Addiction Concert

LOS ANGELES -- Sony Computer Entertainment went old school with its post E3 press conference party. Even Sony President and CEO said it was like bringing back the old E3. Rock band Jane's Addiction took the stage at after Sony showcased its 3D, PlayStation Move and PS Vita games in front of a huge stadium audience. Before the excess of E3 was shaved down a few years ago, Sony was notorious for throwing huge bashes. You can see some of the concert below in this exclusive 3D video.

06.07.11
E3 2011: Sony Makes Big Push For 3D Gaming and Details the PS Vita at Press Conference
For about the last month and a half, Sony has been all over the news and in many blogs posts due to the PSN outage. It was a troubling time for the company, but they managed to overcome the obstacle in the end and get things back to the way that they should be. Now, Sony will be featured in the news with the announcement of the PS Vita at their E3 press conference. Along with the new hardware, Sony also detailed plans for a new 3D TV lineup set to come out this fall.
02.15.11
Mobile World Congress 2011: First Look at LG Optimus 3D Tablet G-Slate
BARCELONA, Spain -- LG Electronics had one of the hottest gadgets on the floor of the annual Mobile World Congress. The LG Optimus 3D is the first smartphone coming to the U.S. that will utilize the same type of autostereoscopic 3D technology that gamers will see with the launch of Nintendo 3DS on March 27th. The new 3D phone will come packed with three glasses free 3D games from Gameloft, including Asphalt 6, Let’s Golf 2 and NOVA 2. Check out this exclusive video interview from LG’s stand inside the Barcelona convention center below.
01.09.11
CES 2011: NVIDIA Tegra, Tablets, 3D, and 4G Stand Out at Annual Convention
More than 2,700 technology companies across global industries dazzled attendees at the 2011 International CES, with the ground-breaking event energizing the technology world. The 2011 CES set several new records, including 30,000 international attendees and 22 top CEOs participating in keynotes. Owned and produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the 2011 CES, the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, concluded today in Las Vegas.
01.08.11
CES 2011: New Technology Spreads to Automobiles as Gadgets Go Mainstream
A keynote address from Ford CEO Alan Mulally, the Innovation Power Panel with leaders from Cisco, GE and Xerox, along with the first-ever Entertainment Matters keynote panel were the day two highlights of the 2011 International CES. Owned and produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the 2011 CES, the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow, runs through Sunday in Las Vegas.
01.07.11
CES 2011: Video Games and Technology Intertwine at Annual Showcase
LAS VEGAS -- The 2011 International CESunveiled the next generation of consumer technology innovation from 2,700 global technology companies. Owned and produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), CES 2011, the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, attracted over 140,000 people from around the globe.
12.17.10
Funcom’s Age of Conan MMO Game Engine Goes Hollywood
Paradox Entertainment is has begun the production of the first episode of “Age of Conan: Hyboria!,” a comedy web series set in the legendary Conan universe. The web series will utilize the characters, locations and graphics engine from Funcom’s popular massively multiplayer online PC game “Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures.” This marks the first time Funcom’s video game engine is being used outside of the interactive realm.
10.27.10
The Entertainment Software Association Raises $1 Million at 13th Annual Nite to Unite
The ESA Foundation's 13th annual gala, "Nite to Unite – For Kids," raised $1 million for grants and scholarships that benefit America's youth. The sold-out event, which included a black-tie optional dinner, an auction and charity casino entertainment, supports the work of the ESA Foundation, the computer and video game industry's philanthropic arm.
09.03.10
Disney President and CEO Bob Iger Discusses World of Cars Online and TRON
BURBANK – Bob Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, drove over to the Disney/Pixar World of Cars Online launch event at the Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank. Iger took some time to test drive the newest online videogame from Disney Online Studios. He then took a pit stop to discuss the new game, as well as the larger role videogames now play within Disney, in this exclusive video interview.  
08.15.10
New Report Shows Videogame Industry Adds Billions to U.S. Economy

The computer and video game industry added nearly $5 billion to the U.S. economy in 2009, according to a new study released today by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). The study, Video Games in the 21st Century: The 2010 Report, also found that the entertainment software industry's real annual growth rate from 2005 to 2009 exceeded 10 percent, more than seven times the growth rate of the U.S. economy as a whole.

06.17.10
E3 2010 Closes with 45,600 Attendees, Returns to Los Angeles June 5-7, 2011

LOS ANGELES -- Before the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics to become World Champions, the world’s attention was focused on videogames. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) closed the 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 Expo) and announced that the 2011 E3 Expo will take place from June 7-9, 2011 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The 2010 E3 Expo featured approximately 300 exhibitors and 45,600 attendees from 90 countries. That's up 10% over 2009's attendance.