Second Skin – Random Musings

So I guess it’s common knowledge around here that I enjoy playing MMOs. I realize I’m the minority, but whatever… I love ‘em. Apparently a lot of other people do as well, because millions of people play these games all over the world. So many people, in fact, that some filmmakers set out to make a documentary about MMORPG’s and the people that play them. The movie is called Second Skin and I had an opportunity to sit down and watch a pre-release screening on the internet.
The movie follows the lives and play habits of a handful of people: the couple that met in an online game, the guy who went to gamer-rehab, and the guys who share a house where they play World of Warcraft 24/7. Right off the bat, I’ll say that I was disappointed with the people chosen to represent MMO players. I realize that in the interest of making a movie with some drama it’s essential to highlight the unstable type of player, but I really feel like the majority of people who play these games are able to do it in healthy doses. It’s like making a documentary about alcohol that focuses primarily on alcoholics… the impression you walk away with is going to be a negative one.
This isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy the movie, I actually found it to be pretty compelling to watch. I’ve certainly met my share of these caricatures in the games over the past 5-6 years and the filmmakers did a nice job telling their stories. I could definitely relate to some of the guys on there, though I’ve never been as extreme as they are in the movie.






