Videogames setting $ales records

Don't know someone who games?

You're in a serious minority.

Total videogame hardware sales were up in June to $398.6 million, according to the NPD Group, which tracks game statistics. That was better than 34 percent from the same period a year ago. Portable gaming hardware dipped six percent from 2006 to -- and let's all feel sorry for them together -- $130.6 million in sales in June.

All told, in 2007, the video game industry has had $2.3 billion in hardware sales – well ahead of the $1.37 billion sold last year.

I think the mainstream media is still behind the times when it comes to gaming. Men are playing. Women, in larger numbers of playing. The coveted 25-to-54 audience is playing. Hollywood gets it. Seems about every fifth movie these days is made from a game or has a game tie-in.

And as I look to the future, I think gaming is only going to get bigger.