Pure West Films’ Second Skin, a documentary on worlds that do not exist
January 29, 2008 10:24 pmWhy* does this ‘documentary’ by Pure West Films called ‘Second Skin’ on MMORPG’s feels a bit to ‘tabloid‘ like to me? Is it because I refuse to believe what kind of a world I, Vint, life in? Or could it be because the trailer seems not very nuanced on where MMO’s and Virtual Worlds are - according to Vint - about? Why does it make me think of a combination of CNN and Jerry Springer?
*I quote a quote:
I knew I was sick from playing it, I knewI had to stop, 14 to 16 hours a day easily, I’d fall asleep in front of the computer: wake up, keep going, … . I wanted to … just kill myself. (Add dramital music.)
Yet, if able, I’ll take the human to go watch this one anyway. ;)
Pure West Films about Second Skin:
Second Skin takes an intimate, disturbing look at computer gamers whose lives have been transformed by the emerging genre of computer games called Massively Multiplayer Online games (MMOs). World of Warcraft, Second Life, and Everquest allow millions of users to simultaneously interact in virtual spaces.
Second Skin introduces us to the real people who populate these online virtual worlds. Couples who have fallen in love without meeting, disabled players whose lives have been given new purpose, those struggling with addiction, Chinese gold-farming sweatshop workers, wealthy online entrepreneurs and legendary guild leaders- all living in a world that doesn’t quite exist.
It says ‘More info at www.secondskinfilm.com‘, but that domain does not look very alive yet. Now it does, here you go: secondskinfilm.com
Tags: documentary, pure west films, second skin, video, virtual worlds
7 Responses to “Pure West Films’ Second Skin, a documentary on worlds that do not exist”
Everything is good in moderation. Where people fail to moderate, chaos ensues. So that fact is that MMORPGs have “helped” to destroy lives, relationships, cause people to lose their jobs and drop out of school, neglect their hygeine etc etc etc…. Should be interesting to see
Yeah, but I somehow feel like the RL is getting enough of that ‘bad, sensational’ news already (guy murdered over virtual sword, gamer died behind PC, etc). Why not bring some of the positive stories, once in a while? Or is it really just because don’t sell that well?
Awesome! I’ll think about seeing this one if it hits Israel, sounds intersting :-). Though 14-16 hours is too much, I mean, if it’s WoW, put a bot on and go to bed, Second Life, Just smile and wave, smile and wave… And go to bed. ;-)
Hey guys,
As one of the subjects of the film, I can tell you this…they aren’t just focusing on the binge gamers, the addicts and the crazies out there.
They’re focusing on gamers as a whole, both good and bad, light and dark. The makers of the doc are all gamers, some hard core, some very casual, so they have a genuine interest in showing that our little slice of american culture is the same as anyone else.
Oh, it’s on American gaming culture? *quickly looses her Euro-interest in the story*
:D
Nah, well, I give it the benefit of the doubt until I’ve seen it. Just found to be the intro to be a bit unbalanced. But as I said, creating the anticipation to some loser going down, works better then anticipacy for a success story. As it’s nicer to see a person not-you breaking down, then having to see a person not-you having success? *scared of her own society when she thinks of this. I think I go and hide in a virtual one, then* ;)
I don’t know how it is in Belgium, Ms. Vint, but in the usa it’s all about sensationalism.
The whole RL charges for virtual rape story started in Belgium. Need to say more? :d
Care to comment?