PC

According to NPD the US has spent about $5.9 billion, with a big fat B, on video games in the first quarter of 2011. The $5.9 billion compared to last years 2010 Q1 figures was actually a 1.5% increase in sales. Of course NPD took in account of gaming accessories, PC games, pre-owned games, online games, social sites, and game rentals. With the vast majority of entertainment being streamlined to consumers needs and wants, video games are in the express lane. Games being available from Redbox, Onlive, and even Gamefly for rentals, and for Steam, Direct 2 Drive, or XLBA and PSN for direct download means that games can be in gamer's hands with a touch of a few buttons.

New games are on the horizon, and with new games comes new system requirements (at least for PC). Battlefield 3 will be one of the big contenders to try to take the spotlight from the Call of Duty series. If it will do so we won't find out till the time comes but many people hope so. As for the Battlefield veterans, they are at the end of their seats waiting for this to game out since this will be the real sequel to Battlefield 2. For the PC gamers hardware is key for games to run smoothly, and how developers wanted the game to run. Well wait no more, and open your wallets up cause the minimum and recommended specs have been released.

It's July 4th weekend and what's better than spending it in front of your couch on some Call of Duty Black Ops? To celebrate our independence, Nuketown 24/7 is back! As if our little nuclear neighborhood wasn't missed. Starting today and ending 7/5 (long weekend remember?!) Black Ops will be the place to be, Xbox 360, Playstation 3, nor PC, whichever console or system you're on just remember... look for the double rainbow and don't be a wiener, they tend to get lit up!

From June 30 to July 10 Steam will be offering a lot of games for cheap. Steam will also have sales on different bundles, and publisher catalogs but that's not the important thing. The important information is that the games that are purchased have achievements that give you tickets. If you collect three tickets you'll be able to trade them in for different gear for certain games, different missions, and even possibly full games! Every ticket you earn also places you in a raffle to win the top ten games in your wishlist. Well what are you waiting for... get playing and enjoy summer!

Today in the United States Supreme Court, the case of Brown vs. The Entertainment Merchants Association was heard. Out of nine Justices seven of the nine deemed that the Constitutionality of a California state law which banned the sales of "violent" video games to minors unconstitutional.

Team Fortress 2 has been around for a long long time now, about four to five years. Throughout the lifespan of TF2 it's seen many updates (for the PC at least, sorry Xbox) and many add-ons such as different hats, weapons, and specialized holiday items as well. If you haven't played TF2 what are you waiting for?