Along with all the rock stars and parties, SXSW will also host the first showing of Second Skin, a new documentary that looks at the obsessive, fascinating world (both virtual and real) of massive multi-player online gamers. The movie follows seven serious gamers as they reveal how their habit has changed every aspect of their lives, from leisure time to relationships to work, and dangerously, their sense of self. Judging from the trailer, the creators of Second Skin have taken a non-patronizing, considered approach to the stigmatized hobby, taking a look at how today’s social and cultural environment play a part in the rise of virtual gaming addiction and vice versa. Watch it below:
[via Valleywag]
Facebook
Twitter
Digg
Reddit
StumbleUpon
Here’s another movie about a pro-gamer.
His name is Athene. I’m still not 100% sure what to make of it. It’s pretty funny and also a bit strange. Watch for yourself >
http://www.wrathofthe1337king.com/
February 8th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Gaming really is another world… it DOES exist in imagination… exactly the debate of our time.
February 9th, 2008 at 5:55 am
Your article is very misleading. There is only one of them that is a “self proclaimed gaming addict”. Speaking as one of the subjects of this documentary, articles such as yours are nothing more than Hype that fuels the video game blame machine.
Retract it, put out a more accurate description.
Signed,
One of the well adjusted normal gamers covered in the documentary.
February 9th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
watched the wrathofthe1337king… raised a lot of questions about reality, worlds, fanatacism, extremism, cult-ur, society, the monetary system… values and a whole lot more. I’m left questioning whether or not Athene, his friends (disciples?), family and community are a small representation of a world being pushed to the limit. Is this art? After all, isn’t the authentic purpose of art to have a society question itself? The scenes with shop keepers being asked about the value of items they’re selling really got me thinking. Thanks for the link.
February 11th, 2008 at 4:05 am