Media Alchemists Perfect Convergence Games

By Nick Mokey Published May 8, 2008

As Grand Theft Auto IV‘s record-setting sales recently proved, games are a major force to be reckoned with when it comes to entertainment. As games have moved into the mainstream, dollars have followed, and the face of entertainment is shifting to accommodate. This week’s episode of Players Only, Digital Trends’ online video gaming series, focuses on what happens when games and other mediums like films and comic books collide: convergence.

Although video games based on films have had a bad reputation since the very birth of the industry, Digital Trends’ Scott Steinberg explains why that trend is changing as designers improve the way they mix cinema and interactivity. The episode also covers the behind-the-scenes making of convergence games, and where the future lies.

Recommended Videos

New episodes of Players Only, Digital Trends’ ongoing video game industry series, are released every Thursday, running up until June 6. The final series will comprise 10 episodes, spanning topics from the artistic merit of video games to the latest industry trends, like casual gaming.

Editor in Chief

As Digital Trends’ Editor in Chief, Nick Mokey oversees an editorial team covering every gadget under the sun, along with…

Gaming

20 years later, the Nintendo DS remains one of gaming’s best devices

Nintendo DS on a pink background.

It's a special day. Today, November 21, 2024, marks the 20th anniversary of the Nintendo DS' launch in North America.

It’s hard for me to believe it’s been that long, because Nintendo's dual-screen handheld device defined my childhood more than any other device. While I started my gaming journey on the original Xbox and Game Boy Advance, the Nintendo DS is what truly made me fall in love with video games. It was an innovative piece of technology that drew my attention in ways none of my other childhood toys could. These were formative gaming experiences that I’ll always remember.

Computing

The 10 best gaming monitors of 2024: tested and reviewed

Alienware ultrawide OLED on a desk.

Editor’s note: Gaming monitors are always hot sellers on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. We're expecting some really great discounts on some of the top models, including high-end OLED gaming monitors, super-fast refresh rate screens, and more budget-oriented fare. There are tons of fantastic monitor deals available now, and they're bound to get even better on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Make sure to check out our other Black Friday deals or Cyber Monday deals for even more bargains on TV, headphones, and more.

A good monitor is essential for gaming due to its significant impact on the overall experience. There are a ton of options if you are on the hunt for one of the best gaming monitors, but for us, Alienware's 34 QD-OLED still takes the cake in 2024. It's not the display for everyone, though, and after reviewing dozens of the top gaming monitors, we've settled on a list of displays that offer great gaming performance for any budget or purpose.

Gaming

Xbox is finally letting you cloud stream games you own, with some limits

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty's new character. She's in a security uniform leaning against a railing with a fiery cityscape in the background.

Years after Xbox promised that users could stream games they own through the cloud, the company is finally launching that functionality, albeit with some restrictions.

Starting Wednesday, Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to use Xbox Cloud Gaming to stream games they already own, even if they're not in the Game Pass catalog. However, they can only stream from a list of 50 supported games right now. You can view the full list on Xbox's website, but it's a good mix of titles, ranging from AAA releases like Cyberpunk 2077, Star Wars Outlaws, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 to recent indies like Animal Well, Fear the Spotlight, and Dredge. This applies to any version of the game you own, like if you have Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition.