film posts

The documentary film Second Skin, Directed by Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza, examines the different aspects of the MMORPG's (Massively Multiplayer Role-Playing Games) phenomenal popularity, the culture that has grown around them and speaks to experts and developers about them. While the documentary has a tendency to fly in different directions in its attempt to cover every facet of gaming, it mainly focuses on three distinct stories. The first centers on a group of friends in Fort Wayne, Indiana who are dedicated World of Warcraft players; the second includes a budding romance between two EverQuest 2 players; and the last involves a man who hits rock bottom with his MMO addiction.

Title: Second Skin
Directed and Edited By: Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza
Rated: Not Rated
Running Time: 94 Minutes
Year: 2008

Speaking at the GameHorizon Conference, Film Producer Todd Eckert lauded the games industry for speeding toward its destination of "greatest artistic medium," but also issued a warning: don't repeat the film industry's many mistakes.

"Games should become the world's dominant medium," Eckert said. "The film industry sees itself as a funnel channelling[sp] pop culture down the throats of the masses. For some reason the game industry still seems completely enamoured with the film industry. And if we're not careful we'll become like they are - little more than a marketing tool."

Eckert went on to say that every person involved in the games industry has been saddled with the responsibility "to make games the greatest artistic medium they can be and we can. I know some of you are here to make money, that's fine, but without the fundamental soul of the game the medium is nothing."