I enjoy the fact that this movie at least has a perspective that’s unbiased. By that I mean they aren’t bashing MMOs, and blah blah, you know what I mean.
Look at the movie where the main actress claims that “They hacked my car!”, which causes it to stop dead in the middle of the road. A clear attack on net neutrality I don’t think could be any less thinly veiled. So yeah, this movie holds promise, fuck that movie about the website where people die when you visit it. The gov’t, or even the companies who own the internet lines would shut it down so goddamn fast…
I hate the idea of that movie so much, and I do not apologize for it.
This will be great. I play WoW a good 17 hours a week, so its interesting to see people who play it a lot more than I do. Its just amazing how heavily some people get into the game. Even myself, as a roleplayer, don’t get into it nearly as much as to call myself “addicted.” I’m sure you feel the same way, Scott, considering you don’t play much more than I do.
This looks awesome. Almost as good as the BBC documentary on Game addiction – which really was like porn to me they showed the german 10,000 person lan, w/beer on tap.
Well.. I would love to say something about this documentary being about things that almost never happen in the real world.. But.. I met my wife on second life…. So.. Ya..
Ever since Starman and Renata were interviewed for this, I’ve been waiting for the release. I hope it will be soon but it’s great that they have a trailer now
I agree, I am looking forward to seeing this documentary.. from the trailer it sure seems like it will be quite balanced as to the different positive and negative aspects of mmo’s.. something that I would be comfortable with to explain the phenomenon to the people in my life who have no clue what an mmo really is. A completely positive outlook on the genre would be just as bad as a completely negative attack..
I think Channel 4 had a better documentary just as Second Life was taking off the ground. Still looks mildly interesting mostly because socially we’re more at ease online than face to face.
Lets put it another way, you go to a club with friends – you hardly talk, music too loud, you meet a girl randomally and either way of how things go you wake up the next day worse for wear. Without actually participating much in social conversation.
It seems most of us are more comfortable in front of our screens where our personality’s be they good or bad come to the fore, whether it’s a confidence boast or we feel superior behind this little screen. Who knows!? i’m not a behavioural analyst.
It isn’t just MMO’s, it’s social networking places (bebo, facebook, myspace etc) that the kind of social networking is reaching whole new levels of social acceptance. Although things can go horribly wrong with this type of social normality:
Quote: It’s just been completed and is in the final round of SXSW (they’re saying it has an extremely good chance of getting in- official announcement Feb 5th) where it might premiere. The filmmakers are in talks with HBO and The Sundance Channel about distribution, and are waiting to talk to theatrical distribution companies at the festival.
Why is it all focused on World of Warcraft? What about other MMOs? What about older MMOs? What about better MMOs? Why just players from World of Warcraft?
@Zero_Out – You must not play many other MMO’s. There was a ton of EQII footage in there, among others. Just about the same percentage difference to actual player populations actually.
As a recovering (not by choice, mind you) WoW addict, all i have to say is… wow. I was nearly driven to tears at the sight of this. Its just so… true. I truly wish i was playing the game now, even though its been going on 7 months now. I do hope that this comes to be a documentary as well, since if we only get the one thats coming out, people are going to stand to believe that one, so we need our own selves put out there to show them what we truly are. Props to any and all involved in the making of this film.
I’ve never even tried WoW. I’ve seen a few dozen YouTube clips, from how to powergame in some cathedral, to dance offs and of course the holy grail – The South Park episode.
Why don’t I play MMOG’s? I played my butt off in Asheron’s Call. 20-40 hours a week as a player, 5-10 hours a week as a Sentinel & Chancellor. Watched my friend and one-time divorce attorney lose his job and his mind for a little while to the game. He’s since recovered, but it was a slow recovery mentally and financially for him.
That could have been me, as I was almost as addicted. I have another friend who plays WoW 20-25 hours a week, and almost lost his marriage.
I played a PW NWN mod about 20 hours a week for almost a year, and it was a strain on reality. Just too hard to stop.
I know that I am too easily addicted.
Regardless of how they spin it, MMOG’s promote isolation as much as or more than they offset it. Who you interact in that world is a total facade. The people are not real. Its like a masquerade ball, but few ever ‘take off the mask,’ revelling in their anonymity. Anonymity is isolation.
Wow that sounded preachy, but that’s why I don’t play. I know plenty of people who do and still go outside and see people. hehe
I enjoy the fact that this movie at least has a perspective that’s unbiased. By that I mean they aren’t bashing MMOs, and blah blah, you know what I mean.
Look at the movie where the main actress claims that “They hacked my car!”, which causes it to stop dead in the middle of the road. A clear attack on net neutrality I don’t think could be any less thinly veiled. So yeah, this movie holds promise, fuck that movie about the website where people die when you visit it. The gov’t, or even the companies who own the internet lines would shut it down so goddamn fast…
I hate the idea of that movie so much, and I do not apologize for it.
This will be great. I play WoW a good 17 hours a week, so its interesting to see people who play it a lot more than I do. Its just amazing how heavily some people get into the game. Even myself, as a roleplayer, don’t get into it nearly as much as to call myself “addicted.” I’m sure you feel the same way, Scott, considering you don’t play much more than I do.
This looks awesome. Almost as good as the BBC documentary on Game addiction – which really was like porn to me they showed the german 10,000 person lan, w/beer on tap.
Well.. I would love to say something about this documentary being about things that almost never happen in the real world.. But.. I met my wife on second life…. So.. Ya..
Ever since Starman and Renata were interviewed for this, I’ve been waiting for the release. I hope it will be soon but it’s great that they have a trailer now
I agree, I am looking forward to seeing this documentary.. from the trailer it sure seems like it will be quite balanced as to the different positive and negative aspects of mmo’s.. something that I would be comfortable with to explain the phenomenon to the people in my life who have no clue what an mmo really is. A completely positive outlook on the genre would be just as bad as a completely negative attack..
I thought this was the one they were interviewed for. I will look forward to watching it.
I just went to the website and saw that one of the groups the interview is from Indiana. It makes it even better to be a Hoosier.
Is this coming out in theaters?
I think Channel 4 had a better documentary just as Second Life was taking off the ground. Still looks mildly interesting mostly because socially we’re more at ease online than face to face.
Lets put it another way, you go to a club with friends – you hardly talk, music too loud, you meet a girl randomally and either way of how things go you wake up the next day worse for wear. Without actually participating much in social conversation.
It seems most of us are more comfortable in front of our screens where our personality’s be they good or bad come to the fore, whether it’s a confidence boast or we feel superior behind this little screen. Who knows!? i’m not a behavioural analyst.
It isn’t just MMO’s, it’s social networking places (bebo, facebook, myspace etc) that the kind of social networking is reaching whole new levels of social acceptance. Although things can go horribly wrong with this type of social normality:
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article3255942.ece
Scott, I hope you pimp this on The Instance. It looks great!
ABOUT THE RELEASE OF THE MOVIE
Quote:
It’s just been completed and is in the final round of SXSW (they’re saying it has an extremely good chance of getting in- official announcement Feb 5th) where it might premiere. The filmmakers are in talks with HBO and The Sundance Channel about distribution, and are waiting to talk to theatrical distribution companies at the festival.
That looks good but I feel like they’re stereotyping players. Have you noticed they’re all fat? Not all gamers are fat
This looks pretty interesting and a fair and even documentary. Thanks for the link Scott.
Yeah I can’t wait for this to come out.
I was just sad they didn’t have Starman and Renata on the trailer.
looks very interesting.
it never ceases to amaze me how significant gaming has become in society in general. it’s bigger than movies these days.
i look forward to seeing this.
I too hope that this will be an unbiased documentary that may some day lessen the gaps between the gaming and non-gaming parts of the world.
Don’t count on it Wolf we are like the Borg
People assimilate in our community casually or not.
Who are these starman and renata people?
i feel noob
Starman and Renata are the hosts of the World of Warcast podcast.
They did a show many months ago where they were interviewed or this doc.
Needs a better name >.<
Can’t wait!
@DenmarkLarry
Thank you
Why is it all focused on World of Warcraft? What about other MMOs? What about older MMOs? What about better MMOs? Why just players from World of Warcraft?
@Zero_Out – You must not play many other MMO’s.
There was a ton of EQII footage in there, among others. Just about the same percentage difference to actual player populations actually. 
@Me
I’m not fat…
hikikomori…
Is Wow the reason you’re a hikikomori?
As a recovering (not by choice, mind you) WoW addict, all i have to say is… wow. I was nearly driven to tears at the sight of this. Its just so… true. I truly wish i was playing the game now, even though its been going on 7 months now. I do hope that this comes to be a documentary as well, since if we only get the one thats coming out, people are going to stand to believe that one, so we need our own selves put out there to show them what we truly are. Props to any and all involved in the making of this film.
Sorry for double post, i meant to say going on seven months since i played the game.
I’ve never even tried WoW. I’ve seen a few dozen YouTube clips, from how to powergame in some cathedral, to dance offs and of course the holy grail – The South Park episode.
Why don’t I play MMOG’s? I played my butt off in Asheron’s Call. 20-40 hours a week as a player, 5-10 hours a week as a Sentinel & Chancellor. Watched my friend and one-time divorce attorney lose his job and his mind for a little while to the game. He’s since recovered, but it was a slow recovery mentally and financially for him.
That could have been me, as I was almost as addicted. I have another friend who plays WoW 20-25 hours a week, and almost lost his marriage.
I played a PW NWN mod about 20 hours a week for almost a year, and it was a strain on reality. Just too hard to stop.
I know that I am too easily addicted.
Regardless of how they spin it, MMOG’s promote isolation as much as or more than they offset it. Who you interact in that world is a total facade. The people are not real. Its like a masquerade ball, but few ever ‘take off the mask,’ revelling in their anonymity. Anonymity is isolation.
Wow that sounded preachy, but that’s why I don’t play. I know plenty of people who do and still go outside and see people. hehe