The economy may be in a recession, but the sale of video games has not suffered. Since the early part of 2008, video game products have sold topping $1.7 billion. What does this tell you about the future of the video gaming industry? The video gaming companies continue to release new systems and games and the public continues to buy them.

The beginning system that we were once happy with is a far cry from what new systems are like today. New systems today make the Magnavox odyssey seem like just a figment of people's imagination. One day due to the technology we have today and the technology we will have in the near future, the new game systems like the PS3 and DS will suffer the same fate.

Kids are not the only ones playing video games anymore. Millions of adults and all ages are playing their PS3, Xbox 360, and even the DS games. Back in time, this was just an activity for the younger generation, males in particular. Now with all the interesting graphics seem to bring a lot more interest to them.

Speaking of graphics, the addition of motion sensitive controls is the latest in the works for video systems. The ultimate goal at the present is to remove the limits and focus on virtual reality. This is what many believe is the future of video games.

Instead of merely being a game, it will be a virtual reality experience. Sort of like the holodeck on the Star Trek shows. Interacting with characters and functioning in virtual reality is being explored at the present. You have to admit it would be awesome to have your own holodeck to create scenarios for your enjoyment.

Currently, virtual reality research has shown limitations to the movements you can make while sitting in your living room. This is what the gaming industry is working on right now. Being able to read brain activity is one way to get around this. Don't laugh; there was news in May 2008, that the scientists at Pittsburgh University had a real breakthrough in this area of development.

A monkey was able to have his brain waves converted to movement within a game. A monkey used his brainwaves to control the robot's arm. The arm of the robot was manipulated by brain waves to feed the monkey. With more research, they were able to realize the monkey could control its own arm at the same time it was controlling the robot's arm.

Motion sensitive controls are the precursor to virtual reality games to play at home. A person wearing a headset would control actions using their brain waves. It's not improbable that this will happen in the near future. The rate at which the gaming industry continues to evolve is nothing short of a miracle.

Games will eventually become a lot more realistic. The only issue that is holding back the gaming world from developing such a game is the cost to make the motion sensitive controls. The gaming manufacturers will not create a very expensive gaming system that consumers wouldn't buy because they couldn't or didn't like the price.

All indications today show game players are much more likely to play a game that can mock actions of real life rather than using a controller. The future of video gaming systems remains to be seen, but it will probably surprise many of us.