New Documentary Examines Social Impacts Of MMORPGs

A new documentary, "Avatars Offline", has been released by indie filmmaker Daniel Liatowitsch which chronicles the phenomenon of massively multiplayer online roleplaying games. The film interviews dozens of developers (including Richard Garriott, Raph Koster and Marc Jacobs), players, critics, and members of the academic world. It focuses on the social aspects of MMORPGs -- why people play them, the allure, gender bending characters, romance lost and found in games, and so on. The documentary was previewed to a packed room at the Game Developers Conference last March, and Gamasutra gives the film two thumbs up. The film is available in DVD format from the film's official web site, and is priced at $24.99. The DVD features the 75 minute documentary itself plus an additional 75 minutes worth of footage, including a an extended tour of Britannia Manor with Lord British, a closer look at the making of Star Wars Galaxies, further conversations about hardcore fans, Prof. Janet Murray talking about interactive media and storytelling, and more.