According to a new report from international research firm Parks Associates, nearly one-fifth of active gamers in the U.S. currently spend money on virtual items in popular online games like Farmville, World of Warcraft and Free Realms. The gaming business is undergoing a major shift away from subscription models as virtual items become a larger part of its economy. Parks Associates forecasts this business will reach almost $6 billion in revenues worldwide by 2015.

Toy Story 3, the biggest animated movie of all time – with over $1 billion at the box office – is now on Blu-ray Disc and DVD. Families won’t want to miss adding the Blu-ray Combo Pack, 2 Disc Blu-ray or the DVD edition of Toy Story 3 to their home movie collections. Fans of all ages who have come to love and cherish these unique characters, can explore them in a whole new way as the Disney/Pixar team provides a more in-depth look into Pixar Animation Studios and the creation of its characters with hours of exclusive bonus features on the Blu-ray Disc version of the film including filmmaker commentary with Director Lee Unkrich and Producer Darla K. Anderson, amusing views of life at Pixar, analysis of favorite scenes, and the Toy Story Trivia Dash game. The filmmakers talk about the movie and the Disney videogames in this exclusive video interview.

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.

The Video Game Voters Network (VGVN) today urged members, game enthusiasts and the industry to stand together in a show support for preserving First Amendment protections for computer and video games. This call to action comes in anticipation of the Supreme Court's consideration of Schwarzenegger v. Entertainment Merchants Association/Entertainment Software Association on November 2.

WWE Superstar Kofi Kingston is excited about the new WWE Smackdown vs. RAW 2011 videogame.  THQ has a slew of new downloadable content in the pipeline for purchase that will enhance the user experience for its upcoming WWE Smackdown vs. RAW 2011 game.  Fan Axxess will enable WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011 owners to obtain select downloadable content released throughout the life of the videogame for a one-time anticipated purchase cost of 800 Microsoft Points on Xbox LIVEor $9.99 on PlayStationNetwork.  The downloadable content will include a number of playable WWE Legends, WWE Superstars and WWE Divas, alternate ring gear, playable arenas, a WWE Superstar Attribute Customizer, instant access to all unlockable content and an in-game badge to recognize the videogame’s biggest supporters.

President Obama has launched the National STEM Video Game Challenge at a White House event as part of the national “Educate to Innovate” campaign. The Challenge aims to motivate interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning by tapping into students’ natural passion for playing and making video games. The first annual competition is being held by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and E-Line Media in partnership with sponsors AMD Foundation, Entertainment Software Association and Microsoft. Founding outreach partners include the American Library Association, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, The International Game Developers Association and BrainPOP.

(Reuters) - Video gamers are used to immersing themselves into virtual worlds so filmmakers turning video games into movies are aiming to keep them as involved, by adding 3D. Sony Pictures' "Resident Evil: Afterlife," which opens September 10, is the first video game movie filmed in stereoscopic 3D.