The video game industry has had a pretty good growth spurt over the past few years. However, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has given word that the growth is expected to slow down this year. Apparently, it has something to do with a decrease in the hardware sales as compared to previous years.

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It's that time of the month, people. For those looking for parties to crash to after the Christmas and New Year's festivities, listen up. We're just giving you guys a gentle reminder of a quiet little event that's taking place this January 8 to 11 next year, at Las Vegas, and we're sure you guys will want to go.

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2007) will be picking where the now-pwned downgraded E3 (Once again, booo! Hisss!) left off.

Now, aside from our previous reports of guest speakers like Bill Gates, Michael Dell, and Gary Shapiro, we got (by way of IGN) updates on more gamer-friendly features the organizers will be showcasing.

First up are the conferences - 175 total - being given by professionals on what's going in gaming from the latest rends and technologies, to unique topics like "Ultimate Gaming" and "Understanding Female Gamers."

And as for the other events:

• The Gaming TechZone: This section will be featuring several booths manned by famous game-related companies like Majesco, Gameloft, PC Gamer, Maximum PC, Game Quest, Wolfking, and QMotions. Expect more as we near the conference day.
• World Series of Video Games All-Star Festival: This Intel-sponsored event will host hands-on play on new goodies that the guys over at Xbox 360 and Fatal1ty Brands will be churning out. Attendees can also look forward to playing off again last year's World Series winners. 

We look forward to seeing just what sort of event this will turn out to be, and hope you guys enjoy the event's 40th anniversary - about as old as some of you dudes.

The Consumer Electronics Association's senior vice president, events and conferences, Karen Chupka: "With the CES Gaming TechZone featuring top gaming companies across the globe, conference sessions and other special gaming events, the 2007 International CES is the global hub for the latest trends emerging on the gaming market."

E3's gone. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is sure of it. The Consumer Electronics Association's not going to do it. We've all felt the power vacuum. But from the ashes of the old rises a new E3: the GamePro Expo.

E3 is dead. Long live the new E3.

So announced the International Data Group (IDG), tech magazine publisher (such as GamePro mag) and trade show producer, to a short list of LA Convention and Visitor's Bureau members this week, reports Gamespot. "IDG has been secured to run the new Game Pro Expo show, what we knew as E3," their announcement memo reads.

IDG plans to hold the GamePro Expo mid-October next year at the Los Angeles Convention Center - you know, the former home of the old E3. They also secured the endorsement of ESA itself to hold this convention. Expect GamePro Expo to be the E3 we knew (and some loved) - maybe even bigger. "Use E3 as a guide [when prepping for Game Pro Expo]," IDG advises. Expect trade shows, consumer sections, and gaming competitions, and all those PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PSP, DS, and MMO games. And booth babes?

So, as the new E3 is catered to the business of gaming, the GamePro Expo (aka what E3 turned out to be before ESA downsized it) will cater to the gaming of gaming. We think.

When it comes to business, we don't know much. Okay, we know zilch except for one thing: you go into business to make money, not lose money. So can someone please explain why Toshiba is losing approximately $200 or more on every HD-A1 HD-DVD player it sells?

That's what the published report from analyst firm iSuppli (not related to iPod or anything with "i" in front of it) said anyway. According to the report the components needed to assemble the HD-A1 came to approximately $674. This is higher than its estimated retail price of $499 set by the company. If you add the testing, cables, remote control and packaging, the cost goes up to more than $700.

Why the losing price? Probably to establish a toehold in the next-generation DVD market over the more expensive Blu-ray (about $999). This is where the pay-off could come. According to the Consumer Electronics Association, in the U.S. alone, estimated DVD player sales totaled about 16 million units in 2005, not counting PC sales and game consoles. iSuppli says:

"It's unusual to find this level of subsidization outside of the video-game console and mobile-phone markets. Presumably, Toshiba anticipates making back any initial HD-A1 losses with subsequent products. There is little question that Toshiba had to use a high-cost design for its first model. But there is a big question as to whether pricing its player so much less than Blu-ray is worth the financial risk."

iSuppli also forecasted that shipments of both HD-DVD and Blu-ray CE devices will rise to 65 million units in 2010, up from 1.6 million units in 2006. And who will win the Next-Gen Format War? The firm predicts both formats will win ground in the marketplace and it will be too close to call.