Forerunners : The History Of The PC Side-Scroller

/afk: Away from Keyboard

June 2011 •English

/afk - AWAY FROM KEYBOARD explores the relationship between online gamers and the games that they play. It examines the evolution of the World of Warcraft from its infancy to its non-existent conclusion and beyond, into the world of obsession. Through the lives of several key characters, it shows the joys associated with online games, and offers a objective look at some of its inherent trappings. /afk seeks to create a dialog about gamers in an attempt to bring understanding to the online gaming phenomenon and the millions of gamers behind the World of Warcraft; the most successful MMO of all time. In doing so, one might assert that gaming can no sooner be understood than that of any other form of addiction: if it's an addiction at all.

The Space Invaders: In Search of Lost Time

September 2012 •English

Beginning with Space Invaders in 1978, arcade games began to appear everywhere. By 1982, there were 13,000 dedicated arcade locations across North America. It was the Golden Age of Arcade Games, generating $3.2 billion dollars in 1983. By 1985, revenue had fallen 97%. Atari declared bankruptcy. Arcades closed. Most of the old games were converted or destroyed. A few were packed into warehouses where they remained, largely forgotten, for at least another decade. This is the story of arcade video games, and the generation who grew up in the arcades attempting to collect and preserve their fondest memories.

Running with Speed

January 2023 •English

Follows speedrunners, past and present, collaboratively digging for secrets and working to uncover mind-blowing shortcuts and glitches which are used to streamline their runs in top game franchises.

Chris Danger: Creating a Superstar

December 2022 •English

In 2014, YouTuber DenkOps (Chris Denker) created a fictional version of himself inside of a pro wrestling video game. 8 years and 1.5 million fans later, it's time to turn fiction into reality. This documentary follows Chris's odyssey into the very real world of professional wrestling, with every bump, botch, & breakdown that occurs along the way. Can he make it through training and prove he has what it takes to do this for real? Or will he find himself... in danger? It’s definitely not a game anymore.

Us and the Game Industry

December 2013 •English

This film follows several independent game developers (Jason Rohrer, thatgamecompany, Douglas Wilson, Zach Gage, Aledander Bruce) examining why they make digital games. The film delves into their creativity and explores some of their thinking and design strategies. Game developers operate in terrain that demands both programming logic and aesthetic quality. The work is hard, however that's what they want to do. The film explores how the developers go deeper into the notion of entertainment and discovery.

The King of Arcades

June 2014 •English

Follow the rise and fall of the King of Arcades as one man pursues his dream against all odds. The King of Arcades details the life and times of punk rock musician and classic arcade collector Richie Knucklez, on his journey to cultural prominence when he takes his passion for collecting to new heights by opening an arcade business in Flemington, New Jersey, only to watch it fall in the wake of economic hardship.

From Bedrooms to Billions

October 2014 •English

From Bedrooms to Billions is a 2014 documentary film by British filmmakers Anthony Caulfield and Nicola Caulfield that tells the story of the British video games industry from 1979 to the present day. The film focuses on how the creativity and vision of a relatively small number of individuals allowed the UK to play a key, pioneering role in the shaping of the billion dollar video games industry which today dominates the modern world's entertainment landscape. The film features interviews with major British game designers, journalists and musicians from across the last 30 years.

Game Over: Gender, Race & Violence in Video Games

June 2000 •English

Video and computer games represent a $6 billion a year industry. One out of every ten households in American owns a Sony Playstation. Children who own video game equipment play an average of ten hours per week. And yet, despite capturing the attention of millions of children worldwide, video games remain one of the least scrutinized cultural industries. Game Over is the first educational documentary to address the fastest growing segment of the media through engaging questions of gender, race and violence. Game Over offers a refreshing dialogue about the complex and controversial topic of video game violence, and is designed to encourage high school and college students to think critically about the video games they play. - See more at: http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=205#sthash.f6Cram5T.dpuf

8 Bit: A Documentary about Art and Videogames

October 2006 •English

8 BIT is a hybrid documentary examining the influence of video games on contemporary culture. A mélange of a rocumentary, art expose and a culture-critical investigation, 8 BIT ties together seemingly disconnected phenomena like the 80’s demo scene, chiptune music and contemporary artists using machinima and modified games. Produced in NYC, LA, Paris and Tokyo, 8 BIT brings a global perspective on the new artistic approaches of the DIY generation which grew up playing Atari and Commodore 64. 8 BIT insists that in the 21st century Game-Boy rock, machinima and game theory belong together and share a common root: the digital heritage of Generation X.

Stella at 20: An Atari 2600 Retrospective - Vol. 2

August 1999 •English

Over the course of August 1997, interviews were shot for a video documentary entitled Stella at 20: An Atari 2600 Retrospective. The founders of Atari, the original engineers, the famous programmers, and some lesser known programmers were gathered together to look back on the system that launched the home videogame industry. Volume 2 focuses on the individual programmers, their background, and in-depth discussions of the games they created, covering all eras of the system.

100 Yen: The Japanese Arcade Experience

August 2012 •English

Imagine a world where video games reign supreme. Five story buildings filled with arcade cabinets, old and new, inundate the streets. Welcome to downtown Tokyo, Japan. A place where the arcades of the 80s and 90s not only still exist, but thrive and have evolved into an elaborate, unmatchable gaming experience. 100 Yen is a historical documentary about the evolution of arcades and the culture surrounding it - from the birth of arcades to the game centers that still thrive today. With a predominant focus on the three major arcade genres, Shooting games, Fighting games and Rhythm games, 100 Yen explores the culture and evolution of arcades through the past and present. Featuring interviews with industry professionals, game programmers and designers, casual gamers and gaming icons from Japan, Canada, and the USA.

Stella at 20: An Atari 2600 Retrospective - Vol. 1

July 2000 •English

Over the course of August 1997, interviews were shot for a video documentary entitled Stella at 20: An Atari 2600 Retrospective. The founders of Atari, the original engineers, the famous programmers, and some lesser known programmers were gathered together to look back on the system that launched the home videogame industry. Volume 1 contains a roundtable discussion on the origin of the 2600 itself, from concept to finished product, as well as musings on the rise and fall of Atari and changes in the industry then vs. now.

The Video Craze

July 2013 •English

A documentary on classic video arcade collectors across North America. Those who were the first to look into the neon haze of a vector/raster screen and fall in love. The first quarter poppers, the "vidiots" who never grew up.

Game On! The Unauthorized History of Video Games

November 2006 •English

CNBC examines the history of the video game industry from the first tennis game developed for an oscilloscope to the Atari and video arcade game boom of the early 1980s. It looks at the history of electronic game all the way up to the current Nintendo, Playstation, and Xbox game systems.

Enter the Battlefield: Life on the Magic - The Gathering Pro Tour

April 2016 •English

Magic: The Gathering is the most popular collectible card game in the world. At Magic's Pro Tour, players from around the globe compete to prove who is the best. They are writers, game theorists, jewelry apprentices, female pioneers, and teenage geniuses.

Inside the Dragon's Lair

December 2013 •English

Inside The Dragon's Lair takes a journey into the ongoing history of one of the most popular video games of all time - Dragon's Lair. The film will give the audience an in-depth view of the extensive production process that created this revolutionary game. Utilizing the laserdisc medium, this technologically advanced game was a marvel during its release in 1983 and has changed the video gaming world forever. The documentary will revisit the game from its initial conception to its most current release, showing the many different variants and iterations of the game. Also featured will be interviews of the original creators Don Bluth, Gary Goldman, John Pomeroy, and Rick Dyer. Additional interviews will feature artists and programmers involved in the game's production, collectors, technical gurus and die-hard fans.

How Videogames Changed the World

November 2013 •English

From Pong to Grand Theft Auto, Charlie Brooker delves into the history of videogames and pulls out a selection of its most significant titles. From Atari to Angry Birds, How Videogames Changed the World explores how interactive entertainment evolved from a penny arcade diversion into a medium that some believe is art, and shows how it is changing the way we work, communicate and, of course, play. Joined by Jonathan Ross, Dara O'Briain and gaming legends like Will Wright and John Romero, Brooker looks at how videogames have become the most progressive art form of the last 40 years. This humorous and insightful tour will surprise and entertain the uninitiated and dedicated gamers alike.

FURIA: Road to Legends

February 2022 •Portuguese

Official Film of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Side A

June 2022 •Japanese

Follows Japanese director Naomi Kawase as she directs the official film of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, giving a message that goes beyond the physical exploit to mark souls, with her style and all her subtlety.

O Brave New World

August 2011 •English

To cap off Bungie's 20th Anniversary festivities, the team has assembled a near hour long documentary covering the studio's past, present, and future. Featuring insight from the team -- including their ever illusive Creative Director, Jason Jones -- and interviews from key industry veterans and luminaries, "O Brave New World" is both a celebration of Bungie's legacy and a love letter to the community of gamers who have embraced Bungie's games for two incredible decades.