Second Skin takes an intimate, disturbing look at three sets of computer gamers whose lives have been transformed by the emerging genre of computer games called Massively Multiplayer Online games (MMOs). World of Warcraft, Second Life, and Everquest allow millions of users to simultaneously interact in virtual spaces. Second Skin introduces us to couples who have fallen in love without ever meeting, disabled players whose lives have been given new purpose, those struggling with addiction, Chinese gold-farming sweatshop workers, wealthy entrepreneurs and legendary guild leaders–all living within a world that doesn’t quite exist. Second Skin focuses on a couple who met in a virtual world, an addict whose life was ruined by MMOs, and a group of MMO gamers who spend most of their lives inside virtual worlds.
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That’s addiction.
If anyone would care to watch it, here’s a counterpoint to the game “addiction” theme running throughout this documentary (and from about the same time period) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNRWvabBRDc
Good documentary. The one thing that bugged me though was the husband of the 8 month old pregnant wife about to give birth to twins going off about when there born he’ll cut back to 3 times a week as he still needs a little bit of me time. Wow, really?? I didn’t see her complain about needing some much needed mommy time. What about your wife you don’t think she wants any time to do something of leisure? You can see that she is clearly not happy just lacks self esteem and probably things him obsessing over WoW is normal. Besides maintaining the home, taking care of two fussy children, plus one more including a grown baby. It’s not all his fault though, she lets him walk all over her. Grow some back bone. Ugh!
while some of the statistics this film uses might be somewhat out of date by now (I’m assuming most of it is from between 2005-2008 somewhere), the documentation of gamers and society’s views on them is perfectly executed.
this documentary depicts graciously both ends of the spectrum of society’s view on gamers. it also manages to give you a touching insight in some of these gamers lives.
it’s just an overall really well made movie. watch this! you won’t be sorry.