Most people associate films about gaming with poor adaptations that never match the finesse of the game (Super Mario Brothers The Movie aside of course). But there is also a rich history of films that incorporate the culture of gaming itself, whether it be through references, creating something new, or straight up documentary. And a considerable part of that is down to there being a massive audience who love nothing more than seeing gaming culture overlap into other media. The films that seem to work best are not films based on specific games, but films that incorporate the concept of gaming itself. It's a trend that seems to becoming more prominent with big Hollywood releases such as Pixels and books like Ready Player One (currently being adapted for the big screen) beginning to appear, reaching out to fit this model. It would seem the worlds obsession with video games has never been bigger and what was once seen as a quirky subculture has grown into one of the biggest entertainment industries in the world, rich with its own conventions, mythologies and syntax. It's no wonder then that Hollywood is now giving more attention to the genre that over the years has seen ludicrous sci-fis, childrens fantasies, bizarre horrors and intriguing documentaries. And if they can recapture the heights of the best gaming movies past, they may finally start adding to this list of truly essential titles that all gamers must own...
