Last night I was able to catch a great movie called Second Skin (bad title), about the culture behind the gamers who inhabit the virtual online worlds of World or Warcraft, Everquest and Second Life. Over 50 million people around the world live in these online worlds, and Second Skin takes a look at a few of the characters in this space, running the gambit from a couple who met online in WOW and will be meeting for the first time ever in the real world, to a young man who’s addiction to WOW drove him to move into a boarding house as part of a 12-step online gamers self help group called Online Gamers Anonymous.
Most of the people who play these online games are addicted, attracted by the idea of an open playing field where everyone starts with zero, and physical attributes are customizable. Most of the players form groups and fight together in Guilds, some of which have their own extensive application processes complete with personality profiles.
Second Skin is a fantastic look into the lives of people that live in two dimensions, but at what cost or gain? And then there is the idea of time investment being converted in virtual assets that now have a physical value attached. Over a hundred thousand gold farmers operate out of China, creating an un-level playing field where gold and advanced levels can be bought instead of earned.
But Second Skin is not an anti-gaming, it treats the unique and quirky cast of video game geeks with respect, probably too much at times. Most of my friends are obsessive video gamers, maybe not of the mmorpg variety, but still, I recognize a lot of them in the characters featured in this film. Second Skin could have been Trekkies for hardcore online video gamers, but at times holds back on this type of humor. I feel like the filmmakers, chose to protect some of these characters rather than give full access to the quirks connected with hardcore gamers.
Some relationships are tested by the game, and others formed. One married couple plays online every night for 6 hours in the same room, but on separate computers. Together but apart, but again together virtually. Another couple of friends engage in a week long race to level 70 when a new WOW expansion pack is released.
You don’t have to be a video game player to enjoy Second Skin, and you might even enjoy the film more if you you aren’t.
/Film Rating: 7.5 out of 10
March 8th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Looking forward to this one… I’ve never been into mmorpg’s… I just cant understand the Pay to play concept, (I’m not gonna pay a monthly fee to play a game… )
I did invest a few years of my life into the quake franchise… Quake3 specifically…. Made some good friends in the game that became good friends in real life too.
I do however have a LOT of friends who play WOW. I even know a couple who play met online..and the guy actually proposed in WOW and they’re getting married in real life.
So this flick should be a good laugh.
Is there a trailer for it yet>?
March 8th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
found the trailer :
http://pwdocs.com/secondskin/?id=trailer&content=large
March 8th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
“Running the GAMUT” (not the XMan)
sounds like an interesting documentary. With this and KING OF KONG, seems like gmaer community is getting a bit of exposure.
March 9th, 2008 at 10:39 am
yeah I’d watch that
March 9th, 2008 at 11:57 am
I played Warcraft for a bit and really enjoyed it, but I don’t understand the total immersion and disregarding real life for your level 70 druid. Fun? Yes. That fun? No.
And, as far as paying to play, you could always just buy a Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, Monster Manual and some dice and never have to pay again. Just my advice.
March 9th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
One more thing…great flickr pics, Redandjonny.
March 9th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
heheh …thanks man. Its a little hobby of ours :)
March 9th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
And a fine hobby it is. I sent the link out to my office today.