Machinima for Dummies: Category Reviews

"Machinima Grows Up" - 3DWorld Magazine Issue 104

Johnnie Ingram — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 14:10:00 +0100

Hancock fans might like to note that Hugh is interviewed in the June 08 issue of 3DWorld Magazine, along with several other machinima superstars such as Phil Rice, Paul Marino and Leo Lucien-Bay.

The article is a very good one, and has a much higher accuracy-to-nonsense ratio than most articles on machinima that make their way into the mainstream press. It’s also interesting to read an explanation of machinima from the point of view of hardcore 3D artists. Let’s hope this article encourages more talented 3D artists to dip their toes into the Machinima lagoon.

Yikes. My metaphor-stretching toolkit has just exploded.

The article also features a quote from me. Irritatingly, it’s a single sentence in which I manage to split an infinitive in a manner so magnificent that Gene Roddenberry would weep with pride. That’s committed permanently to print now, and will therefore annoy me till the day I die. I’m described as a “machinima veteran”, a term which is highly complementary but embarrassingly inaccurate. The article also describes Machinima For Dummies as “indispensable”, which made me blush a little.

My personal syntactical blunders aside, the article is highly recommended. UK readers will find 3DWorld for sale in most large newsagents. International readers might have to search a little, but I believe the magazine is exported to Foreign Climes with reasonable regularity.

Hugh proved wrong

Hugh "Nomad" Hancock — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:54:03 +0100

One of the great joys of being a filmmaker is that all the rules can be broken.

For many years I’ve been saying that there’s not a lot of point shooting a film in Machinima that you could shoot in real life. If you’ve got the locations, the people and the cameras, it’s faster and easier to shoot IRL.

Sam Goldwater just proved I’m totally talking rubbish there.

“Monad” is his wonderful dystopian story about virtual worlds and personal separation. This is the first really modern, post-World of Warcraft social questioning film I’ve seen that works, and it works marvellously.

It’s also just beautiful - the shooting is exquisite, the lighting is astonishing. It’s the first time I’ve seen a film using the HL2 characters which made me forget who they were originally. (To be fair, I’ve not seen “Clockwork” yet).

The writing’s spare, startlingly realistic, and generally excellent, and the acting is first-rate - such a relief!

Oh, and there’s basically no reason it couldn’t have been shot in real life, except that there’s no way it would have looked this good.

Watch. This. Now. And watch ANYTHING that Sam Goldwater does in future.

Watch here.

In-depth review at Renderosity.com

Hugh "Nomad" Hancock — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:37:00 +0000

Ricky Grove has written an extensive and thoughtful review of MfD over at the CG super-site Renderosity - a good read!

"[This book] will serve as a resource for machinimators for years to come."

Johnnie Ingram — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:03:00 +0100

Machinima For Dummies gets its most comprehensive review yet over at Stranger109. Well worth a read.

More great reviews!

Hugh "Nomad" Hancock — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 11:11:00 +0100

Wow, the reviews are really rolling in – we’re up to four five-star reviews on Amazon.com now!

And Fulkster has made this short video review using Moviestorm, too! Awesome stuff.

Next week: some content that isn`t Johnnie and me going “OMG, people like the book!” Promise.

Interview with Hugh over at Stranger109

Hugh "Nomad" Hancock — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:03:18 +0100

There’s a lengthy interview with me on the subject of the book, what we wanted to add but didn’t, how much work it was, why I got started in Machinima, and more, over at Stranger109 - which is highly recommended anyway, incidentally.

First few reviews rolling in

Johnnie Ingram — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:22:00 +0100

We’re starting to get reviews for the book now, and they’ve been pretty positive so far (at the time of writing, the book is rated 5 stars on Amazon.com). It’s great to read what people think. For us, this book represents several months of ridiculously hard work and stress, and we’re very proud of it. Some reviews have been just awesome. I did a little happy dance when I read this one (by Sean on Amazon.com):

One book to rule them all …

Finally! A book discussing the many aspects of Machinima for a “dummy” like me! ;) I’ve been looking all over the corners of the web for advice and tips for filming, editing, and creating Machinima, but now I can just look at this book for easy reference. The book kept me pretty interested throughout, and I felt that the writers really worked hard. (I read their blog..) :)

The book details the aspects of Machinima in a variety of games; some I never even heard of before! There are enough tips, hints, and advice in this book to allow any person, beginner or novice, to feel confident enough to enter the world of Machinima. Oh, and the attached DVD was an incredible bonus! I never even heard of “Moviestorm”, but it came free (yes, FREE) with the book. This is one book that any “Machinimaker” needs, no matter your skill level! :)

Thank you very much, Sean. Since you read this blog, I’m assuming that our profound gratitude will reach you via this medium.

Please keep the reviews coming. There’s no need to be as effusive as Sean (although we won’t object if you are!), but please do give us your honest opinion.