A while ago, I posted a quick story about the best videogame documentaries. Well, if you're quick you can watch the latest attempt at analysing game culture before it gets a DVD or TV release.
The excellent Snagfilms is showing Second Skin, a new doc about massively multiplayer online games for free, until Thursday. Directed by Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza, the feature-length film was premiered at the SXSW festival in March. Here's some more info:
Second Skin takes an intimate look at three sets of computer gamers whose lives have been transformed by online virtual worlds. An emerging genre of computer software called Massively Multiplayer Online games, or MMOs, allows millions of users to interact simultaneously in virtual spaces. Of the 50 million players worldwide, 50 percent consider themselves addicted. From individuals struggling with addiction to couples who have fallen in love without meeting; from disabled players whose lives have been given new purpose to gold farmers, entrepreneurs and widows, Second Skin opens viewers' eyes to a phenomenon that may permanently change the way human beings interact.
It's an interesting look at the allure of games like World of Warcraft and the effect they've had on people's lives.
