I don't know, I guess it makes me feel comfortable...

May 14, 2006 9:54 PM

Deviation (embedded video); a Machinima film hits the mainstream festival circuit. (previous forays into Machinima)
posted by jrb223 (16 comments total)

I haven't watched a whole lot of Machinima, but that is definitely the best one I have ever seen. The idea of directing virtual actors through those scenes seems like it would be incredibly tedious. The sound is amazing, and its message is great.
posted by thanatogenous at 10:36 PM on May 14, 2006

Very nice! I didn't know that networked games have moving mouths for player voices. Pretty neat. Well shot, too.
posted by brundlefly at 10:46 PM on May 14, 2006

Amazing.
posted by basicchannel at 11:20 PM on May 14, 2006

I, personally, have seen a lot of michinima, and this definitely rates up there. Short, to the point, and really excellent camera work for the kind of film it is. (Especially liked the long shot with the slow zoom through the grating).

I seriously doubt most of you haven't seen them yet but, check out rooster-teeth, makers of RedVSBlue, for more high quality michinima. They are one of the progenitors of the genre and definitely the funniest.
posted by Parannoyed at 11:50 PM on May 14, 2006

I can't believe I misspelled machinima. Twice.
posted by Parannoyed at 11:55 PM on May 14, 2006

Is it sad that I recognise the room they're in? (Or at least think I do?)

Good stuff. I second Parannoyed's recommendation of rooster-teeth. Red vs Blue is not only the oldest machinima series, it's also funny in its own right. Been meaning to get the DVDs for ages.
posted by slimepuppy at 2:43 AM on May 15, 2006

Shooting a movie without cameras on a set that doesn't exist must be a slow job- but patience payedoff here- I remember seeing a video like this (the term is machinema?) called "Militia 2" which was exactly the same idea.
I think I still have the disk around somewhere...
posted by D J Robertstein at 3:39 AM on May 15, 2006

Very RedvsBlue-esque. Which is a good thing.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:09 AM on May 15, 2006

Then again, it's in the original counterstrike, the engine for which is about 600 years old now, which isn't so good.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:11 AM on May 15, 2006

This is really mediocre IMO, a gimmick film covering territory that is really old hat for the genre. RvB was already mentioned; another good watch is Zinwrath, a World of Warcraft comedy.
posted by mek at 4:39 AM on May 15, 2006

Definitely well done, but doing the "why are we here?" bit again, so not the most original.
posted by beerbajay at 4:54 AM on May 15, 2006

Oh, I get it! They're just characters in a videogame doing the same thing over and over again. Well, that idea has NEVER come up in fiction before. *cough*

The writer's guidelines for The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction specify they will automatically reject storylines that are cliche and overused. And then they list a few. It's all just a videogame -- definitely on the list.

I appreciate the efforts these people made, but, as is often the case, the writing wasn't the greatest.

(Or maybe I'm just a pretentious snob.)
posted by neek at 4:58 AM on May 15, 2006

Who would have thought that it would be based on some sort of military operation? It's like Doomioke.
posted by squirrel at 7:06 AM on May 15, 2006

Cliched, but I liked the execution. Except I think it would have been cooler (though not as concise) if they showed that MacIntyre couldn't leave until he'd killed every enemy; that he had no choice but to follow through.
posted by Eideteker at 8:34 AM on May 15, 2006

eideteker, that or they guys up there tossed down a rain of grenades.

very Red vs. Blue episode-1 thought, though.
posted by Busithoth at 9:52 AM on May 15, 2006

squirrel, yeah, but it's GOOD Doomioke. Let's not forget the little triumphs.
In fact, can we see LOTS more LITTLE triumphs from EVERYWHERE, NOW? That would rock. A little.
posted by gorgor_balabala at 2:55 PM on May 15, 2006