Machinima (digital films created using a game engine or virtual world) are a powerful and accessible medium for storytelling and artistic expression. And despite its game-based roots, there is ample evidence that machinima can be used to engage people on serious issues and ideas -- whether it is an upcoming US Presidential election or climate change.
Here is a list of political and social-themed machinima for your consideration:
- 10 Convention on the Rights of the Child 1 Minute PSAs (link one, link two) by Global Kids
- "Avatars Against the War" (2007) on an anti-war protest in Second Life by Rik Panganiban
- "A Better World in Second Life" (2007) a 5 part documentary on the social uses of virtual worlds by Josh Levy
- "A Childs War" (2007) on child soldiers in Uganda by the Virtual Video Project of Global Kids
- "Dead in Iraq" (2007) online protest in "America's Army" MMOG by Joseph Delappe
- Draxtor Dupres' machinima news reporting in Second Life regularly covers social and political topics
- "Discovered" (2009) youth-created machinima on child sex trafficking by Virtual Video Project of Global Kids
- "Election Duel! Obama V. McCain - Who Get's Pwned?" (2008) poll of World of Warcraft players on which presidential candidate they are voting for by Rich Kuras
- "The French Democracy" (2005) about the French riots by Lionhead Movies / Alex Chan
- "The Greenest Console" (2007) about pollution in the game console industry by GreenPeace
- "Invisible Threads" (2008) parody art piece on sweat shops by Annie Ok
- "Oils Well" (2008) about the global oil crisis by Civil Protection
- "Race to Equality" (2008) on access to education by the Virtual Video Project of Global Kids
- "Repuffs" (2008) political satire by the Martin Brother
- "Safety Kids" (2003) PSA on child safety around railroad tracks by LA MTA
- "A Second Life on Second Life" on people with disabilities in SL by Scribe Media
- "Sheik Attack" (1999) on the horrors of war by Eddo Stern
- "Snoop Votes" (2004) by Paul Marino, Adam Penenberg, and Magdalena Kimshizzle
- "This Spartan Life" machinima series that has dealt with a number of serious issues, from the future of the book to Net Neutrality by Chris Burke
- "Standing Alone" (2006) about a couple's loss of a child by Decorgal
- "Swift Kicks Moms for Truth" (2008) political satire by Silver and Goldie
- "Understanding Island through Virtual Worlds" (2009) by Dancing Ink Productions
- "An Unfair War" (2006) war commentary by Thuyen Nguyen
- "Welcome to the Desert of the Real" (2009) on post-traumatic stress disorder by Paolo Pedercino
Also worth mentioning are competitions and festivals that feature social change machinima.Quest2changeRL is a contest for machinima on climate change offering $500 for the best one.
