Another thought-initialising piece from Gamasutra - "Beyond Machinima" delves into the impact of games on cinema and the other way around. In terms of using game-related tech to test and develop ideas for movies, and in terms of how we as viewers and players are affected by both media in terms of our expectations for each experience.
It tangents of into the perfect home environment (including oxygen systems...) and how driving games influence car chases and our need for speed. Same as how the Matrix lifted expectations for visual effects, and LOTR for epic storytelling and sweeping battles - games influence our cultural frame of reference. And collaborative environments like the NWN community fostering the need for fan / user participation to make something more than "just" a finished product.
And for a more lighthearted piece of entertainment, the new Aardman film - Flushed Away, has some goodies and info up at the site
...and the sun shines on the brightly colored trees in their fall habit...
