I was just checking out the front page of the New York Times’ web site, when I noticed a prominent ad in the right column, just below the financial news … for the World Cyber Games. That event is, of course, an annual multinational fragfest where kids worldwide vie to be the best player of Halo, Unreal Tournament, and others. It’s pretty cool, and the online video of the matches is really stunning. It’s run by Samsung, who advertises it heavily every year.

But … on the main page of newyorktimes.com? That’s a rather remarkable moment in the mainstreaming of games, I’d say.