WoW Moviewatch: The Demise
I blogged about Olibith's Worldwide Invitational machinima contest-sweeping video, The Bountiful Chest, yesterday. Today, I want to show you the video that should have won. While there's nothing wrong with the winning entry, this one just seems far superior in terms of subject matter and effort. Surgee put a tremendous amount of work into The Demise, yet promised himself that if he didn't win, he would give up. I, for one, think that he should continue!
[Thanks, #machinima on Quakenet IRC!]
If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.
Previously on Moviewatch ...
Filed under: Machinima, WoW Moviewatch
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
whoa.. Jul 13th 2008 12:09PM
That was so intense and awesome.
I agree, this should've won - in comparison Olibiths dosn't meet the standards of this, I believe his came first due to the fact it was mainly humour which is appealing to most. But this is touching and the actual effects and stuff are unique, I can't recall seeing most of these effects anywhere else (or used so well).
Elmo Jul 13th 2008 1:02PM
absolutely perfect.
nothing I saw felt out of place
Alittan Jul 13th 2008 1:25PM
No offense, but the creator clearly tried to win by playing on the emotions of others, the whole "Oh no, shes jumping off! and then JUST missing to grasp her hand" stuff is, in my opinion, too cliché and trying too hard.
PeeWee Jul 13th 2008 1:30PM
How was the decision made to crown the winner? Anyone responsible for this video not winning should be shot. Twice.
Olibith Jul 13th 2008 1:32PM
"Today, I want to show you the video that should have won."
I won't tell you what I'd like to show you today, but you got enough imagination I guess.
Siona Jul 13th 2008 1:41PM
Insulted winnah is insulted winnah. *hands you your free QQ coupon*
Brian Jul 13th 2008 5:07PM
I think it's fair enough. I mean WoW Insider has a large readership and I'd be pretty annoyed if they made offhand comments about my work. I don't think people should make dramatic statements about what they'd do if they won or not. It's taking part that counts and as I said in my comment below it won the special effects prize and is up on the WWI site. If that's not recognition then what is?
Tuhljin Jul 13th 2008 11:54PM
Classy as ever, Olibith.
Juliah Jul 30th 2008 4:25PM
You won. Be gracious. You tear down your own work by not respecting that of others.
Siona Jul 13th 2008 1:41PM
Stunning! I love the use of color, and the movements didn't seem jerky or out of place at all. Man, this should've won. D:
Jay Jul 13th 2008 2:16PM
This guy has talent, but he's foolish if he really quit after making only 3 and losing in a competition :/
MeckyZ Jul 13th 2008 4:23PM
He quits because main price was new computer and his current one is ancient, thus painful to make machinima.
Zedius Jul 13th 2008 2:25PM
Sorry Oblith. I love all your videos (The Elekk one is just pure win all year around) but you gotta admit, this one beats the Bountiful Chest.
I love your work, but I agree with Moo Money. This should have won... Sorry.
Surgee should really continue making movies... Cause this is better then many films acually reaching the cinemas...
Matthew Rossi Jul 13th 2008 3:03PM
Yes, nothing gayer than a love story between a man and a woman.
Dessux Jul 13th 2008 3:19PM
I personally prefer the bountiful chest. This video had its merits but it did seem a little cliché.
sezmra Jul 13th 2008 3:53PM
Beautifully DONE, I'll give it that.
To say it SHOULD have won is a tad rude, Moo. I did have the potential, but oh well.
I also have to question the intent of someone who threatens that they'll "quit" if they don't win a competition.
Surgee Jul 13th 2008 4:01PM
Thanks for featuring ! :D
@ Sezmra
I didn't threaten at all. No one knew about my intentions untill the contest was over and I posted the description on WCM. It was promise that I made myself, not to others. And it's not just coz I'm dissapointed. My reasons to quit are far beyond that :) real life stuff, 1st prize would save me from that.
Brian Jul 13th 2008 5:12PM
Keep doing your thing Surgee and don't let people drag you into a flame war. Do what you want to do and be the master of your own destiny. Don't let life grind you down.
Brian Jul 13th 2008 4:59PM
Err this move did win a prize. It won best special effects. That's why it's on the winners page on the WWI site.
I didn't like it all that much myself. While I don't mind a bit of romance "here without you" was a lot better for pace and style. I liked Oblith's better because it still looked like WoW rather than some of the forced perspective and scenery making The Demise look a bit Disney in places. Oblith's entry had snappy writing good animation. It was as much poking fun at players as it was having fun with the suggestiveness of the subject.
What I like to see in WoW machinima is something that draws me in and makes me think that WoW can be a place where good stories can happen and I can be part of a greater whole. ANd even makes me want to log in.
Tragedy is all well and good but at the end it needs something to go on for or strive towards. An excellent twist at the end would have been for the human to have jumped as well and revealed himself to be a Paladin as he bubbled and saved her life. Or failing that for him to go down to her dead body and ress her so they could run off together. That would have given the story a hook that made me think I wanted to be one of them.
Surgee Jul 13th 2008 5:11PM
I respect your opinion Brian :)
To clear things up. The idea of the movie was to make something unique (as blizzard asked for unique stuff with unique style). Not all characters in WoW world are some classes from game. As you make quests you can meet farmers , alchemists , teachers or other simple people. I wanted to do somethign that wasn't done before (as far as I know atleast), a story about those simple people.
Cheers :)