Despite a recent string of down months in U.S. video game sales at retail this year, a new report from research firm Gartner paints a very rosy picture for the global video game industry. When adding in revenues from burgeoning online, mobile and digital gaming sectors, Gartner estimates that worldwide spending on the gaming ecosystem will exceed $74 billion in 2011, up 10.4 percent from the $67 billion spent last year. By 2015, spending is expected to reach $112 billion.

At E3, Konami had a large number of upcoming games on display, and among them was No More Heroes: Heroes Paradise. Heroes' Paradise is a PS3 port of the original Wii version, featuring updated HD graphics and Playstation Move support. No More Heroes is definitely a franchise aimed at the “core gamer” demographic, and the Playstation 3 is more widely accepted by that demographic than the Wii. Porting the game over sounds like a smart move.

 With L.A. Noire being the first video game ever to be featured at the Tribeca Film Festival this year, a lot of people were wondering if this is the time that video games could finally be accepted as art. Video games have come a long way since the days of the Atari 2800 with the gameplay, graphics, and storytelling much like how the film industry evolved from short films to being longer in length and having sound. Because of this, we have seen much more complex storylines and visual styles that have enhanced our experience. Though it may seem like the logical progression to become art, I actually believe it would be counterintuitive.

Videogames have been inspired by books, movies, television shows and celebrities. I-play has released a new game based upon the true-life romance of game designer Cara Ely’s grandparents, Bill and Helen.  The seventh installment in the wildly successful Dream Day series is now available for PC download.  From the war in the Pacific to Paris in the 1950’s, players will follow the journey of Ely’s grandparents as they plan the ultimate 70th anniversary party.