Parents and teachers might have to rethink their long-held belief that the more a child reads, the better. Ironically, in the just-released Book of Games Volume 2, the authors cite research indicating that video games actually can be better than books, both for your mind and body.

Video Games Live is an immersive concert event featuring music from the biggest video games of all time, now expanded with a wide variety of brand new segments such as Halo 3, BioShock, World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade, StarCraft II, Chrono Cross and a few very special guests and surprises!

Medical News Today has published a research paper based on tests of 2,500 kids by psychology professor J. Ronald Gentile and his son Douglas Gentile, assistant professor of psychology and director of research for video game critic National Institute on Media and the Family. The document claims that frequently playing violent video games produces hostile actions and aggressive behaviors.

A new poll by AOL Games/AP reveals 80% of all children between the ages of 4 and 17 regularly play computer or video games, while 38% of all adults admit to playing computer or video games, with 45% of those actually being female.

Battersea Evolution in London’s Battersea Park played host to the British Academy Video Games Awards. Wii Sports dominated the evening, winning six out of the thirteen categories (Gameplay, Casual, Innovation, Multiplayer, Sports, and Strategy & Simulation), while Crackdown, Okami, and God of War 2 each took two categories.

Video Games Live, produced and created by veteran video game composers Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall, will continue its tour with the announcement of 25 new shows across North America and the United Kingdom.

Effective immediately, Games Media Properties will no longer produce the World Series of Video Games. The remainder of the 2007 season in Los Angeles, London and Sweden is canceled.

On Oct. 7, 2005, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation banning the sale of violent video games to children. The video game industry filed an appeal few days later, and since the law was on hold until Judge Ronald Whyte had a chance to review the facts. According to Gamepolitics the Judge has now thrown out the law as unconstitunional saying, "The evidence does not establish that video games, because of their interactive nature or otherwise, are any more harmful than violent television, movies, internet sites or other speech-related exposures."

Atari announced its intention to move into the horse-themed video game market with the unique support and endorsement of the official license from the Fédération Equestre Internationale – the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).

For the first time, Video Games Live will perform in Washington D.C. at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for two performances by the National Symphony Orchestra. The concerts take place Friday and Saturday, June 29 and 30, at 8 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall designated a National Monument in 1971.

The World Series of Video Games signed a broadcast deal with CBS Sports to air extensive coverage of its 2007 season, bringing professional video game competitions to major U.S. network television for the second year running, and into 111 million television homes in the United States alone.

E for All Expo will be the last and biggest U.S. event for the competitive circuit this season, before it heads to Europe for the final two events. With more than $90,000 in cash prizes, the E for All edition of the WSVG circuit will feature four arenas of competitive game play on multiple titles, including World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade.

IDG World Expo announced that the Video Games Live Concert is set to perform on Friday, October 19, 2007, during E for All Expo, at the new 7000-seat Nokia Theatre - part of downtown's LA Live development across the street from the Convention Center and Staples Center.

IMG Artists is delighted to announce European, Asian and Australian representation of video game concert Video Games Live, produced by renowned composers Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall.

The BBFC today published the results of a research project involving video games players ranging from children as young as seven through to players in their early 40s; parents of young games players; games industry representatives; and games reviewers.

Video Games Live is a concert event featuring music from the biggest video games of all time accompanied by a full orchestra and choir along with completely synchronized state-of-the-art lighting and massive video screens. Nintendo composer Koji Kondo will be making a special appearance at the event and is scheduled to perform one of his favorite melodies from his long and storied career.

Not sure why there was money spent on this as it seems quite obvious, but a Mayo Clinic study, the first to scientifically measure the energy spent playing video games, indicated that activity-oriented video games triples the energy expenditure compared to watching TV or playing traditional video games.

The World Series of Video Games announced it has signed deals with major broadcast, cable and satellite networks CBS, CSTV and VOOM HD Networks’ GAMEPLAY HD to air extensive coverage of its 2006 season, bringing professional video game competitions to major U.S. network television for the first time.

A study, conducted in the UK by education innovator Futurelab, investigating how commercial computer games can be used in the classroom, came to the conclusion that commercial computer games have the potential to support learning in schools, without requiring teachers to be actual gamers.

The World Series of Video Games presented by Intel announces today that the upcoming Major event on the World Series of Video Games circuit will be entitled the "UK Gaming Championship". The event will be held at the London Trocadero in Piccadilly Circus, October 6-8, 2006. Hours of operation are 10-10 Friday and Saturday, and 12-5 on Sunday.

The new Video Games Live concert features music from the most popular video games performed by top orchestras and choirs, combining exclusive video footage and music arrangements, synchronized lighting, solo performers (Steve Vai and Dweezil Zappa), electronic percussionists, and interactive segments to create an explosive one-of-a-kind entertainment experience.

United States District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly ruled yesterday that the state of Illinois must pay the video game industry $510,528.64 in attorney's fees for its unconstitutional effort to enact a law banning the sale of violent video games.

Just when you thought you heard it all, a Canton, Ohio news outlet ran an article on a surprising trend of high pregnancies amongst teenage girls at a local high school, and partly put the blame on video games. "Whose fault is it that more than 13 percent of Timken’s girls are with child? Some would say fault-finding isn’t a fruitful exercise, but in this case, it’s critical. Suspects range from movies, TV and video games to lazy parents and lax discipline."

The Interactive Software Federation of Europe held a panel discussion involving consumers, publishers and developers of video games throughout the European Union. Participants including parents’ representatives heard a panel of independent experts, including psychologists and media specialists, express their views about the impact of videogames on players, especially the younger ones.

Reuters reported that a federal judge has agreed to an appeal made by video game industry groups, thereby prohibiting Louisiana from implementing its new law, which prevents sales of violent games to children under the age of 18. The legislation, which fined violators up to $2,000 and/or one year in prison, was signed into law last week by Governor Kathleen Blanco.