Curse

Inde · Aug 12, 2009, 04:42 PM // 16:42

http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/second_skin/

Post comments here.

Roy_ · Aug 12, 2009, 05:18 PM // 17:18

That is wild... I'm only about 10 min in, but the people who met eachother online was surprising to me. Apparently WoW, Everquest ect, are the equivalent of eharmony and those other sites...

I also beg to disagree with the female vs male number of players...simply because in most the guilds I've been in the majority of players were female...

Edit 1:
7 sick days a year, so when BC came out they took 4 days off to lvl...ok ya, thats unhealthy...

daraaksii · Aug 12, 2009, 06:05 PM // 18:05

:O Interesting, gonna watch it this night.

Thanks for posting this, Inde.

JR · Aug 12, 2009, 07:01 PM // 19:01

Sadly, my greatest reservation about Second Skin turned out to be true - It clung to very stereotypical cases, studying the kind of people already associated with the MMORPG genre: Overweight addicts who are hurting their family and social life by not being able to manage the habit.

The MMO gamer in me really struggles to relate to that. I’ve been in numerous guilds and interact daily with many other players, few of which fit that stereotype. On average I’d say most are 18-25, doing well in education or employment, and managing their game life vs. their real life very well. It feels like a bit of a cheap shot, aimed at making the documentary appeal to people who are only familiar with the clichés.

I don’t want to come down too hard on that point, because Second Skin is still very well produced and very interesting. For all that the subjects are stereotypical, they are also each in situations which made their actions and attitudes fascinating to observe.

I would call Second Skin a fair and gripping representation of a very slim demographic, which in turn is an unfair representation of the whole. It would have been nice to see a contrast case to clarify that; a young, healthy MMORPG gamer who is doing well academically and socially.

I’d give it a 6/10 (arbitrary scoring system, go!), but the smattering of interesting interviews with experts and games industry noteables helps patch up some of the flaws. There’s also a few emotional moments that are fairly hard hitting, even to a stone hearted git like myself. A solid 8/10, well worth a watch.

Eskimoz · Aug 12, 2009, 08:27 PM // 20:27

I'm sure they thought about sticking with normal MMO players but then the "movie" would just be about some guys playing the Vidya.

and that wouldn't be very entertaining at all....

Inde · Aug 12, 2009, 08:41 PM // 20:41

I'd give it about a 3. It's the same tired news and information that is portrayed in the media. Gaming is addicting. Gaming ruins lives. We're all hiding out in messy basements eating ourselves into an early grave because we have little to no social lives.

Who they decided to interview and follow was questionable as well. From a lady who has a hatred of gamers and yet tries to help them with no idea how, is dangerous and unethical. The relationships they featured were interesting and the people portrayed there were actually normal, every day, but they chose instead to focus on the lowest rung of the ladder.

With the millions of those who play MMO's the majority are just normal everyday people. Even the hardcore have more to their lives then who this documentary tried to make them out to be. What should have been a really interesting look into the lives of those who are handicapped, where this can give them a normal interaction, was a 3 minute clip.

Yes there are some addicted, there are those who have ruined their lives. It's a tired argument but it stands that other hobbies, work, commitments, responsibilities have done the same. The video was produced for some sensationalism and over exaggerating the issues. In reality, gamers are just as boring and normal as the rest.

Painbringer · Aug 12, 2009, 09:10 PM // 21:10

I have to laugh about the couple having twins. They are in for a change a big change to free time

the babies will be the ones running raids

Very interesting and especially the gold farming (they must have filmed a high class one) my imagined setup of one would be more sweat shop style

Guardian of the Light · Aug 12, 2009, 09:24 PM // 21:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inde

. In reality, gamers are just as boring and normal as the rest.

That's the problem. You can't make a full documentary out of "normal" cases.

I found it was actually quite balanced, sure it focused a lot on extreme cases but I doubt you could make the documentary any more interesting if you focused on any normal people and it pretty much covered every interesting case for MMOs. The experts brought in were also top notch.

The key thing I liked in the film is it seems to give you no particular opinion, it presents facts and cases and lets you decide for yourself.

English Warrior · Aug 13, 2009, 12:37 AM // 00:37

Well im only 15 but gaming has made me the person i am today, ive learned alot from gaming, but i do have to say people who are giving opinions like the evil lady in that video, they havnt gamed, they havnt had the experiences of it and they dont understand usually your not addicted to the game your addicted to yur friends in the community, i would have quit this game if i didnt have so many good friends, ive been on WoW too have friends there, they have taught me alot and im close as or even more to them than real life friends, also because i divide my time between RL and GW/WoW i enjoy RL more when im in it after a good day of WoW and vice versa.

Simath · Aug 13, 2009, 01:35 AM // 01:35

It's a pity they didn't approve my comment. They fear the cockasaurus.

Eskimoz · Aug 13, 2009, 01:55 AM // 01:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simath

It's a pity they didn't approve my comment. They fear the cockasaurus.

Cockasaurus?