California, one of the most budget-strapped states in the US, is reimbursing the Entertainment Software Association $1.3 million for court costs. That’s the high price of losing the battle to ban the sale of violent video games to minors. In July 2011, the United States Supreme Court ruled the controversial law unconstitutional.

Does violence in video games lead to real-life violence? This has been a hotly discussed and controversial topic for many years, to the point that it has reached the Supreme Court. If you happen to live in or near San Francisco, the Commonwealth Club will be hosting a debate on this topic on Thursday March 17, 2011, and all are invited.

GameStop is currently on the receiving end of a class action lawsuit. The lawsuit, which was filed on February 23, 2011 in California, alleges that the retailer unlawfully collected personal identification information from an unknown number of customers without their prior knowledge. The lawsuit was filed by Melissa Arechiga from Alameda County California.

Looks like everything will come up roses for a certain classic yellow video game character. Namco Bandai has announced that Pac-Man will have a float at the 122nd Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. The beloved pellet gobbler will be there to commemorate the 30-year anniversary of Pac-Man, as well as to promote the upcoming Pac-Man Party game.

Up until now videogames have been protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California proposed a law that would make it illegal for retailers to sell or rent violent videogames to persons under 18 years old. The Entertainment Consumers Association feels such a law is unconstitutional and should be struck down. The 9th Circuit Court of California recently agreed that videogames should be protected under the rights of free speech.

Legendary Marvel Comics Creator Stan lee will be the guest of honor for the Los Angeles Rock’n Comic-Con at the Pasadena Convention Center on May 28, 29 and 30, 2010. Rock’n Comic-Con is hosted by FAME LA , Vanguard Productions and Animation Ink, in cooperation with Desert Wind Comics.

Lee will have an autograph signing, where you can take photos with the legend, or get your favorite collectibles signed by him. There will be door prizes, raffles and items specially signed by Marvel, comic book and animation Industry artists, Illustrators, musicians and others during the event.

Los Angeles Lakers’ star and 2009 NBA Finals’ MVP Kobe Bryant is the cover boy for Take-Two’s NBA 2K10. In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, he makes a pretty effective pitchman as well.

Bryant told the LA Times this latest incarnation of digital basketball is so realistic it’s “like practicing without getting hurt.” The superstar comes from a family of gamers as he said his father, uncle, sister and six of his cousins all played the NES classic Double Dribble back in the day. That game had no NBA license and players with virtually no distinctive characteristics. These days, designers can make incredible replicas of our favorite athletes and Bryant’s game representation reflects his unique mannerisms. The virtual Bryant even juts his jaw out during crunch time the same way the real All-Star guard does.

It’s time to once again get ready for the annual event of much gaming goodness known as E3 2009.

Here’s a list of the announced company press conferences and keynote address. We’ll be Live Blogging several of these conferences, so watch the site for constant updates all week. For a taste, check out our 2007 and 2008 coverage.

While gamers and their advocates have long since denounced California’s action as pointless, they gained a powerful ally in the LA Times. In and editorial titled “Violent video games: Who controls the joystick?,” the newspaper has taken the state of California to task for its efforts to legislate an action that should really be left up to parental units.

This is an editorial that any gamer can get behind…

If you thought listening to the disclaimers at the end of a commercial for medicine or reading the warning labels on the side of a cigarette pack is funny, then get a load of this.

I read the report posted on CNet by Don Reisinger which indicates that on January 7, 2009, Joe Baca, a democratic representative of California, introduced the H.R.231: The Video Game Health Labeling Act of 2009 bill to 111th Congress requesting to make it mandatory that video games that have received a rating for violence to display the following warning:

WARNING: Excessive exposure to violent video games and other violent media has been linked to aggressive behavior.

I thought it was funny. At first…