Actually, you'll find that very few regulars think think that video games and dvds are the answer to having a good trip. In fact, panchdog actually didn't recommend bringing kids movies, he said he prefers bringing audio books to having a portable dvd player.
Such electronics aren't banned in our family car, but their use is extremely limited. Its hard for a kid to appreciate anything about a roadtrip, if they are just constantly "plugged in" and given the idea that the only thing interesting is what is on a screen.
Here's a great article about having fun family trips, that involve more than watching movies and playing video games.