While we may discuss the relative merits of certain games or gameplay trends, the fact that gaming is a business is often overlooked. The Entertainment Software Association has released its Video Games in the 21st Century report for 2010, and it shows that not only is our hobby a big business, it's a growing business.

"The real annual growth rate of the US computer and video game software industry was 10.6 percent for the period 2005-2009 and 16.7 percent for the period 2005-2008," the report states. "During the same periods, real growth for the U.S. economy as a whole was 1.4 percent for 2005-09 and 2.8 percent for 2005-08."

The ESA estimates around 120,000 are employed by the gaming industry, either directly or indirectly. The industry added $4.9 billion to US GDP (gross domestic product), and the ESA also lets us know that the industry is creating actual careers. "In 2009, the average annual compensation per employee (wages, salaries and employer contributions for pensions, insurance and government social insurance) was $89,781," the report explains.

One surprise is the size of the industry in Texas. "The six states with the greatest number of entertainment software industry employees were, in order, California, Texas, Washington, New York, Massachusetts and Illinois."

It's not all great news: game publishing revenue is down almost five percent from 2008 to 2009, but the trends are generally positive. The report's message clear: video games add value to the US economy.