These past few days, I had found myself entertaining a certain curiosity, and so, I did a bit of reading and what I commonly refer to as "research". The first thing that struck me as I began my search through the internet clutter, was that of those who comment on things relating to machinima, it's always the same small group of voices having their say on the subject. And these voices are varied. There is the voice of the one who professes to be the expert, and (my favorite) the voice which comments only when it has something significant to offer, and the voice delivered by someone who basically is clueless but is going to comment nonetheless.
One thing they all have in common is that they really can't come to an agreement on what "machinima" really is and they all want it to be more than it is. But as I read what they had to say on the subject, keeping in mind the origin of my curiosity being Vimeo's decision to no longer host "video game videos" but will continue to host machinima, I began to question the nature of Sims2 videos as they compare to the different definitions of machinima.
I have seen the difference between Sims2 videos that were created simply through the capturing of Sims2 gameplay and those that were created to be "machinima". According to the Academy of Machinima Arts and Sciences, machinima is "filmmaking within a real-time, 3D virtual environment, often using 3D video-game technologies." Then they offer an "expanded definition" ... "it is the convergence of filmmaking, animation and game development."
It seems to me as the definition expands, it is meant to encompass more areas from which to possibly draw revenue? But regardless of how many fingers are trying to grab a piece of the pie, what is clear is that "video game" seems to be a definitive part of the equation.
So, keeping all of the hoopla in mind, I began to see Sims2 videos as something other than machinima. I think the key to understanding this can be found in the term "game play". Those of us who are producing music videos and short films with the Sims2 game engine, are not doing so through the simple technique of capturing footage from game play. In fact, most of the films many of us are making cannot be made if we had to rely on game play. If not for the "hacks" that alter the scripts and animation and content, we couldn't make our films.
Another thing that sets the Sims2 apart from other games is the built-in camera, and even that tool has to be "tweaked" to get the desired effects. So, perhaps my curiosity should extend to the definition of "real time" as it applies to machinima. If, with the Sims2 game engine, everything has to be "set up" and "fixed" and "preconceived" ... is it still considered to be "real time"?
Perhaps if you say to me, "these are the components needed to make machinima ... a PC, a video game, something to capture images from the game, and a program to edit the captured video clips" then I could say by that description Sims2 videos can be considered to be machinima. But if you're going to include in your definition of "machinima" things like "filmmaking within a real-time 3D environment", then I have to question Sims2 videos as machinima.
If you take a look at Jaydee's video, "From Yesterday", I feel almost certain you would agree that she didn't make that video by simply going into the game and filming it in real-time. And it is a fine example of filmmaking and what can be done with the Sims2 game engine, provided you have the "know-how" to manipulate the files and hacks. And yet, based on the definitions of machinima, I just don't think it fits into that category.
No matter what we choose to call it, I believe the Sims2 game engine offers a valuable creative filmmaking tool to those who take the time to manipulate the program and force the format to duplicate their visions.
2 comments:
Good point Kheri. Now that I think about it, I don't really see Sims 2 videos as being machinima either.
If we're going to use the "standard" definition of what machinima is - and excuse me for the possibility that I might offend people when I say this - it seems to me that most machinima promotes more of the video game itself than it would the storytelling.
Nonetheless, I agree that Sims 2 sets itself apart from that considering all we go through. Like how you pointed out Jaydee's video and the work she did, even down to the smallest details which included the fact that she made her own meshes and recolors. That's a lot of work, and it's all for the sake of storytelling - dedication.
More good points, Jule, and your mention of "storytelling" has had me thinking about this all day. Finally I realize what causes me the most conflict when it comes to the machinima concept is the use of the word "filmmaking" in the definition of machinima. As we know film is a tangible item and associated with motion pictures and the motion picture industry. I think it's really reaching to say machinima is filmmaking. It's more believable that machinima is characteristic of CGI. After all, the images (that are not live action footage) we borrow to make our videos and tell our stories are all computer programmed.
The second issue that concerns me is how the definition changed to include "within a real-time, 3D virtual environment", because that significantly broadens the field. So, now, by definition 3D online communities and other 3D environments like iClone or Moviestorm (for example) are components of machinima.
Try this philosophy on for size ... if the definition of machinima continues to "expand", then eventually everything relevant to the subject of machinima will be machinima, which also means, machinima will cease to exist.
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