beyond-the-game
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Turbine talks Eberron vs. Forgotten realms in new DDO video
Turbine has released the next installment in its Menace of the Underdark dev diary series. The video clip runs for two-and-a-half minutes and features various developer personalities discussing Dungeons and Dragons Online's jump from one fantasy world to another. "It's really important to us that Faerun feels unique and is more true to the classic high-fantasy setting," says producer Fernando Paiz. Whereas Eberron featured elements of fantasy-tech and magicpunk, the Forgotten Realms is one of the more iconic and traditional high fantasy settings around. As such, Turbine says, it has collaborated closely with Wizards of the Coast to ensure the authenticity of the expansion experience. So what is the link between these two different realms? In a word, Lolth, the drow spider-queen goddess who is powerful enough to connect the worlds. Turbine remains mum on the specifics, though, so you'll have to check out the expansion to see for yourself. [Source: Turbine press release]
'Beyond the Game' could be a sweet documentary, if you help fund it
When you've got a good idea and no money to back it up, it can be really frustrating trying to get dat paper. Investors often don't see eye-to-eye with creative types like us -- our Cookie Cannon (patent pending) is such a damned good idea and we've yet to find a person with lots of money who agrees. That's why we like crowd-sourcing and, more specifically, Kickstarter. The latest campaign to catch our eye is for a documentary called Beyond the Game. Ian Santer needs $20,000 so that he can produce this behind-the-scenes look at the culture surrounding the games industry, with an emphasis on "the fighting game community, the advent of the chip tune sound, and the formation of underground art collectives." If you want to help him out, hit up the source link below and plunk down some cash.
Free film series at NYU Game Center kicks off tonight
If you live in the New York City area and still haven't visited NYU's Game Center for one reason or another, well, we're very disappointed in you. Luckily, several upcoming opportunities to head down and geek out amongst colleagues were announced on the Game Center's blog, starting tonight with a screening of short film "Play!" at 7PM EST. Subsequent film screenings -- in the theme of gaming, as you might imagine -- are scheduled to follow in March and April, with "I Got Next" closing out the film series on April 14. If the screenings themselves aren't enough, some of the films will feature a Q&A with that night's director. And hey, if that still isn't enough, there may be free refreshments. But you don't wanna be that guy, do you? A full listing of the film series can be found after the break.
Beyond the Game examines the lives of Warcraft III players
This isn't about World of Warcraft, but it will be familiar to some of you who spent hours building up bases and creating Spirit Towers. Beyond the Game is a new documentary from the Netherlands about two world-famous Warcraft III players and how the game has affected their lives and the people around them. It looks intriguing -- having been to a few gaming tournaments and interviewed a few of the top players myself, I agree that these guys are living some really strange lives. Even if you're not a Warcraft III player, this kind of esports is getting more and more popular around the world (from the old Counterstrike to WoW's Arenas, of course), and even though it hasn't quite hit the mainstream yet, more and more players are finding this kind of existence.The film is set to be released in parts of the EU mid-March, and is being shown at a few gaming tournaments in various places around the world. There's no word on a US or DVD release yet, but we'll keep an eye out for it.
