Help with Gaming Documentary

Hey guys,

I'm studying TV production in Glasgow and I'm in pre-production for a short documentary about gaming for my course. Mainly focusing on the rise of gaming, where its going, its effects and so on.
Won't be filming till April - just laying the groundwork now.

Anyway I'm looking for any help I can get - ideally making contacts with people I can interview but also just any sources of info you think may be useful. Any ideas or other suggestions are welcome.

Also it doesn't just have to be gamers - I'm also looking at folding@home and how technology from the industry has been used for worthwhile causes.

I realise this isn't the usual sort of post you see on here but any help you can give would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

I'd also be looking at the companies involved. Quite a lot for Britain to be proud of.
Application of the 3D software in modelling. I can't remember anyone doing that sort of virtual maps before Carmack. Also cultural, a tie into the Cyber-punk authors perhaps ? There was definitely a feedback loop in the language at least.

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Originally Posted by Phage

I'd also be looking at the companies involved. Quite a lot for Britain to be proud of.
Application of the 3D software in modelling. I can't remember anyone doing that sort of virtual maps before Carmack. Also cultural, a tie into the Cyber-punk authors perhaps ? There was definitely a feedback loop in the language at least.

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Yeah there is a strong industry presence in Dundee and in Education at Abertay uni. Will be looking at those (although money may be an issue as I have to pay for my crew's travel cost's so local is better as I'm skint).

Hadn't looked at the cultural aspect I have to admit. I like the Cyber-Punk angle - I love Richard Morgan's books so I should have thought of that :o. Thanks - 1st reply and I've already got new ideas!
I knew this was a good idea! :)

What about the social side of gaming, mmog's, LAN's, eSports and how they bring people together. The flip side of the coin could include isolation, lack of real social skills, meaningful interactions etc... Health might also be another avenue, how is gaming culture effecting our health, addiction, obesity etc, flip side would be interactive gaming using movement detection on the wii or connect (could also link this to social, how many people actually play these games alone?).

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Originally Posted by george1979

Yeah there is a strong industry presence in Dundee and in Education at Abertay uni. Will be looking at those (although money may be an issue as I have to pay for my crew's travel cost's so local is better as I'm skint).

Hadn't looked at the cultural aspect I have to admit. I like the Cyber-Punk angle - I love Richard Morgan's books so I should have thought of that :o. Thanks - 1st reply and I've already got new ideas!
I knew this was a good idea! :)

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No worries - I get a credit, right ?
Travel ? Teleconference ! Adds grit to see low-res cuts. I'd be sure that some of them would be willing to add a sound bite for free.
Try Gibson, he's got a new book out and would be good for a free interview as publicity. Try also Iain Banks as well. Gibson's generation is where I got my nom-de-plume. He invented an entire vocabulary for this, Cyberspace being the most famous.
More recently Cory Doctorow, and other Creative Commons authors. Also humour - Oatmeal, XKCD would all give a lighter view. The human condition never changes.

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Originally Posted by PeteSmith

What about the social side of gaming, mmog's, LAN's, eSports and how they bring people together. The flip side of the coin could include isolation, lack of real social skills, meaningful interactions etc... Health might also be another avenue, how is gaming culture effecting our health, addiction, obesity etc, flip side would be interactive gaming using movement detection on the wii or connect (could also link this to social, how many people actually play these games alone?).

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Yeah I had initially thought of focusing on the addiction side of things but Panorama did a whole programme about this last month so it would be difficult not to cover the same tracks as them.
Now I'm leaning towards an entirely more positive slant, while still touching on the negative aspects when people take it too far. Like you say - social gaming, mobile gaming and more physical interactivity being helpful in helping people recover from injuries or helping elderly people keep active. This physical element I hadn't considered yet so thanks for reminding me.
I really like how gaming has affected modern literature, language, music and the visual arts so I will definitely be spending some time researching this.

There is also the aspect of gaming brought up in this thread http://forums.hexus.net/parenting/19...thy-gamer.html I believe there was some good points brought up in the article and thread.

Personally I think a limited amount of gaming at an early age helps a child develop good hand eye co-ordination and also helps them develop their thought processes towards tasks they may meet in everyday life. So it might be good to touch on that subject as these kids are going to be the future of gaming.

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Originally Posted by Phage

No worries - I get a credit, right ?
Travel ? Teleconference ! Adds grit to see low-res cuts. I'd be sure that some of them would be willing to add a sound bite for free.
Try Gibson, he's got a new book out and would be good for a free interview as publicity. Try also Iain Banks as well. Gibson's generation is where I got my nom-de-plume. He invented an entire vocabulary for this, Cyberspace being the most famous.
More recently Cory Doctorow, and other Creative Commons authors. Also humour - Oatmeal, XKCD would all give a lighter view. The human condition never changes.

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Haha yep you'll get a credit. Was thinking of doing the teleconference thing - should be able to make it work (in small doses) given the theme. Got to admit I've never read any of Gibson's books yet (for shame) but I will.

I also support the above view that the good side of gaming should get some exposure
The amount of bad cred and stereotype involved should also make your work stand out a bit more
I'm not only talking about wii fit kinda stuff but also people's life - there is plenty of stuff about people nerding out and having no life but no one ever says anything about a healthy part of the gaming community which games a lot yet still has a more than healthy normal life and no issues with balancing irl and gaming time - I for one think there is far more people like that than society thinks there is.

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Originally Posted by Molotov

I also support the above view that the good side of gaming should get some exposure
The amount of bad cred and stereotype involved should also make your work stand out a bit more
I'm not only talking about wii fit kinda stuff but also people's life - there is plenty of stuff about people nerding out and having no life but no one ever says anything about a healthy part of the gaming community which games a lot yet still has a more than healthy normal life and no issues with balancing irl and gaming time - I for one think there is far more people like that than society thinks there is.

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Yeah That's what I am planning to do now. Like Phage mentioned, the cultural aspect and effect it has had is really interesting. Will also look at improving problem solving skills, hand eye co-ordination, job creation and so on. Obviously the are hundreds of millions of gamers out there, only a tiny proportion ever develop serious problems with it. I can't ignore that but focusing on it would be tantamount to scaremongering.

Keep your ideas coming guys, this is helping :)

What about older gamers and how they encourage their children to moderately play games rather than sit lifelessly in-front of the tv? I know with my kids I find them fun and interesting games to play that will hopefully also benefit their learning, co-ordination and stimulate the brain and in my opinion that is better for them than sitting there watching Hannah Montana etc.

I know the editor of Retro Gamer if thats any help (I was his best man :) )

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Originally Posted by Legthigh

What about older gamers and how they encourage their children to moderately play games rather than sit lifelessly in-front of the tv? I know with my kids I find them fun and interesting games to play that will hopefully also benefit their learning, co-ordination and stimulate the brain and in my opinion that is better for them than sitting there watching Hannah Montana etc.

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Good idea, - my generation of gamers are all now spawning a new generation so they will be better able to monitor their kids gaming habits.

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Originally Posted by MaddAussie

I know the editor of Retro Gamer if thats any help (I was his best man :) )

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Yes it absolutely would help! If you could PM me details I would really appreciate it. Thanks :)

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Originally Posted by george1979

Good idea, - my generation of gamers are all now spawning a new generation so they will be better able to monitor their kids gaming habits.

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Heh - my oldest is now 21. I have very fond memories of my toddling son telling me I should have used the rockets in Q2.

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Originally Posted by Phage

Heh - my oldest is now 21. I have very fond memories of my toddling son telling me I should have used the rockets in Q2.

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Ah the memories - that almost makes me wanna have kids myself. Almost ;)

First I would be careful of the title of you documentary, in my experience (when looking for jobs) "gaming" is often taken to mean gambling. I remember being asked if I had any problem with the "gaming industry", not knowing they meant gambling. (However for me people are free to lose their money however they like)

you probably shouldn't use "game" at all in the documentary, as it could be misconstrued as prostitution.

yeah I haven't settled on a name yet - still at the research stage - will sort that later.

The latest issue of New Scientist discussed a fascinating new slant on gaming with its feature 'Game On: When Work Becomes Play.'

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Originally Posted by DrATty

The latest issue of New Scientist discussed a fascinating new slant on gaming with its feature 'Game On: When Work Becomes Play.'

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Just checked that out - looks interesting. I wonder if I can steal a sample of their video... :)

Hi guys sorry for the bump but I was wondering if anyone could supply me with gameplay footage, preferably of some visually distinctive, unusual or 'arty' games like Heavy Rain, Flowers, Assassin's Creed or any other games you think would work (someone has already agreed to give me some black ops clips). I'm open to suggestions :)

Thanks in advance.

Ill do you some Silent Hunter 5 if you are interested?? or possilbly Medal of Honor Tier 1???

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Originally Posted by Consfearacy

Ill do you some Silent Hunter 5 if you are interested?? or possilbly Medal of Honor Tier 1???

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Yeah that would be great, thanks. Especially Silent Hunter.

Would the file be short enough to send over the Web? If not I can reimburse you for any postage and discs.

Let me know what details you'll need from me.

Thanks again! :)