Canned Column: Obligatory Predictions of 2006
We're two weeks into the new year and I think we can get the year's predictions just under the wire. Without further adieu, here's my predicitions for Machinima-related events for 2006. Some of these are a bit prophetical, and others fall into the "eventual and obvious" category.
- Buzz around Machinima will continue into 2006, and then slow as we enter 2nd quarter of the year.
- A Machinima will be created that will stir up legal matters/IP issues around Machinima in general (akin to the RIAA item of 2005, only for real). Though this could counter prediction #1.
- Next-gen Machinima software will be announced, possibly from an existing software developer. This could be either a new product entirely, or an existing package with Machinima-like features rolled out.
- Mods from The Movies community will continue the growth of using that game for Machinima development. Disclosure: This is somewhat already in play with the new MED and Max Import/Export tools on the horizon.
- Lionhead will release an expansion pack for the Movies, clearly targeting their Machinima users. However, Lionhead will continue not to include the word "Machinima" in any of their press/marketing.
- The 2006 Machinima Festival will be the largest yet.
- More mainstream acceptance/visibility for Machinima. The measure of this will be the inclusion of the term "Machinima" in a more casual context.
- Console developers will key into Machinima as another platform feature (Disclosure II: this is already happening somewhat with RvB episodes in XBox Live Marketplace).
- More Machinima artists will be approached about commissioned works.
- First Machinima series produced for broadcast television will be announced. While some works already meet some of the criteria of this prediction (Strangerhood Studios, Fresh Baked Videogames, Heavy.com etc.), this prediction is about a full-up Machinima series ordered (and marketed) for a broadcast television audience.
4 Comments:
Hey Paul,
They sound pretty accurate. I already feel they're right on target. Hoping the film festival this year does really well too..
Good Job
Shaqatak20
(P.S. I've been trying to contact you for a long time, if you would like to get back to me, check any of your email addys, you'll find all my mail..or could email me at Shaqatak20@gmail.com)
With sales of The Movies below expectations, I don't know if they're going to make it to a 2nd Expansion pack. The new one relating to Stunts might have better Machinima support, thought.
Also: Wouldn't 'Game Over' meets the qualifications for a Machinima series? Although I'm hoping as much as anybody that something more interesting can snag "First Machinima Show" in the public consciousness.
"Game Over" was a show about video game characters only - its production methods were that of a traditional 3D animated show.
your list is exellent. I read them and I was going "oh yeah! didnt think about it from that perspective" ...
just to add one ...
Machinima will be appropriated by the academia as a legitimate research area (Disclosure: Already two top universities are bringing out a Machinima reader) At least two (more?) universities will form Machinima or related groups.
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