MMO film Second Skin gets trailer

by Justin McElroy { Jan 29th 2008 at 4:30PM }

We're getting mixed signals from this new trailer from the upcoming film about MMOs, Second Skin. On the one hand, it seems like an exaltation of the incredible phenomenon of virtual communities, but we're also getting the vibe that we may be asked to feel sympathy for MMO addicts, something we're not inclined to do. If the film manages to walk that line successfully though, it may just be required viewing.

The team behind it has its fingers crossed for a SXSW showing, which could lead to theatrical or cable distribution, so hopefully we'll be able to judge it in full soon. You can learn more about the film, as well as see a higher-quality version of the trailer, on the official site.

Tags: mmorpg, second-life, second-skin, secondskin, world-of-warcraft, wow

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Doom3killer @ Jan 29th 2008 4:46PM

sounds interseting

Lone Starr @ Jan 29th 2008 4:55PM

So it starts out by saying that we're becoming isolated then goes on to talk about the "community" of MMOs.

Which is it?

puffin @ Jan 29th 2008 5:50PM

Becoming increasingly isolated in real life has led the growth of "communities" in MMOs. See how it works... cause and effect.

Lone Starr @ Jan 29th 2008 10:09PM

Isolation irl =! isolation

People choose to be social in different (unconventional) communities. Calling it isolation is short-sighted.

AoE @ Jan 30th 2008 9:33PM

Sure it does Lone Star; a form of isolation at least. I mean obviously when one chooses to cut themselves off from real-life interaction they're not shutting out the world entirely; but they are most certainly isolating themselves from real life. The world is unpredictable, and in it we are who we are. Online though? People are able to craft very specific personas, show off only their best traits, be whomever they want to be. They're also able to precisely control the amount of contact they have with others, as well as who they come into contact with. Quite frankly, the persona they create may not be isolated; but the person behind it frequently still is... like watching the world through a pane of glass. Does that make any sense? I'm afraid I didn't explain things clearly...

FOX @ Jan 29th 2008 5:01PM

looks like an ok docudrama

Orangecoke @ Jan 29th 2008 5:11PM

Looks pretty interesting.

WiNG @ Jan 29th 2008 5:50PM

Here's what I learned:

1. Only white people play MMOs

That is all.

UltimateQ @ Jan 29th 2008 6:13PM

hahahahah

StrangeBum @ Jan 29th 2008 6:18PM

Haha.

With dead end jobs at that too. Maybe that's saying something else about the state of our society, hmm?

AoE @ Jan 30th 2008 9:35PM

and Dave Chapelle:

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/06/29/news_6128319.html

Aberu @ Jan 31st 2008 9:55AM

Actually Dave Chappele plays Warcraft 3 the Frozen Throne. He said in a standup that it was funny how everyone drank up this rumor that he plays WoW. Then he said "Now Warcraft 3 The Frozen Throne, that is the shit!"

whiny bitch @ Jan 29th 2008 6:38PM

I hope it perfectly reinforces my existing world view!

yojimb0 @ Jan 29th 2008 9:19PM

dude i'd be down to watch that... looks well made

gbogdan7 @ Jan 29th 2008 10:28PM

Wow, that first guy they show is the teacher of my T260 The Video game Industry class at IU. His name is Edward Castranova. I knew he was really into virtual worlds and had lectures all over the place but I never thought I would see him on something like this.

ThornedVenom @ Jan 30th 2008 12:11AM

I really want to watch that.

Throughout my teenage years until college, I was completely sucked into various MMOs (the majority was just beta-testing). I grew up with them. I had learned to vaguely understand what a virtual community consists of, and what makes such games so addicting.

Why we continue playing not because it's a form of "digital crack" where you'd have to get your high, but because it corresponds to a home, a comfortable area where you could just be yourself, without wanting to worry about any problems which remind us of real life.

I'm currently a Game Art student (freshman only, for the moment) but I think that this movie could afford me some better insight from several points of view, and to try to understand what makes such games so appealing.

TrojanGuy @ Jan 30th 2008 12:59AM

Looks like it could be really interesting.

Consolcwby @ Jan 30th 2008 3:16AM

The things I learned from the trailer:
1) MMO players are sad misfits of science gone mad.
2) MMO players have dead end jobs.
3) MMO players fall in love.
4) MMO players are sad misfits of science gone mad.

All things being equal, MMO players will have it good, being normal productive and cool. 80 years from now, when we are all having sex with robots and allow all our responsibilities to be handled by government beaurocratic robots. My proof? See http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780061562129/Love_and_Sex_with_Robots/index.aspx for more info on our future. Be sure to watch it with something you love. =D

Microswirl @ Jan 30th 2008 4:02AM

But if we're having sex with the very same bureaucratic robots who are handling our responsibilities, isn't that a conflict of interest? Oh never mind, sign me up for robot sex! Ethics be damned!

shlinky @ Jan 30th 2008 9:59AM

The film is showing all aspects, both positive and negative. Their subjects range from the guys who log 40+ hours a week to the more casual gamers. Personally (one of the subjects here), I clock about 25 hours a week...almost entirely after 9pm once my kids are in bed and I'm done for the night with other obligations.

I don't consider this excessive and find it to be a cheap form of entertainment for someone, like myself, who is a little financialy strapped due to RL responsibilities (children, mortgage, etc, etc...)

Victor, Peter and Juan Carlos are doing everything they can to avoid the rampant sensationalism that usually accompanies a project like this. Rather than passing judgment, we should be getting behind this and other fair and level headed portrayals of our sub section of the American Culture...The Gamer.

maverick_saturn_626 @ Jan 30th 2008 10:20AM

People....get off you consoles and PCs, go outside and make real friends, lol

But I've gotta admit, this is interesting, and the whole aspect of living another life you know you can't live is somewhat true for some people.

Why bother with real life when all you see is constant war, rejection from girls or guys, getting fired, boring repetitive jobs, frustrating parents, people killing each other, cheating on each other.

Life is really pretty dull at times....