What are the best video game documentaries?

[Nocturnaloner]

Since we know that Video Games: The Movie is getting slammed as a puff piece, (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/video_games_the_movie/
https://www.blu-ray.com/Video-Games-.../?show=preview)

Are there good documentaries out there that talk about the history of gaming? I know there was a series of that name, and a few different independent documentaries, but I wanted to ask the forum: Have you seen any good documentaries on the subject, and what did you think?

[Nick At Now]

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

[Mahatma]

Originally Posted by Nick At Now

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

Second that

[Nocturnaloner]

Originally Posted by Nick At Now

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

I figured most people will respond with that, but it's not really what I'm going for. Great flick, but it's much more about the battle of two competing personalities than the culture as a whole.

Has anyone seen Chasing Ghosts, or films of that nature?

[Nick At Now]

I've seen Chasing Ghosts. It's alot of the same guys from Kong. Pretty enjoyable.

[xander]

I can't think of any history of gaming ones that I've seen like you're asking. Chasing Ghosts does sound interesting.

I did watch Video Games: The Movie yesterday and was really unimpressed. It jumps all over the place, completely ignores a large chunk of consoles, and doesn't seem to really have anything to say.

[Foggy]

There's only really a couple out there, I've only seen Indie Game: The Movie, which I liked a lot.

About Video Games: The Movie, it seems like it's been pieced together by people who don't really understand how to really make a documentary, seems all a bit big in scope while a little bit too focused on gimmicks (yay, let's go find E.T. The Game!) it just seems like it lacked pacing and through line to follow from the trailer I saw.

Compared to Indie Game The Movie, that's a film that's focused on three stories, all with unique dynamics and different stories, and it all comes together that creates an enlightening piece on a difficult business within a broad piece of medium. To just jump into the medium and say "yeah, we're going to do a film about the all of this" just won't work, especially if you have a love for it, since there will be more things you'll want to focus on. Indie Game actually doesn't rely too much on prior game knowledge, but instead puts the light on the people...sadly one of those people is Phil Fish, but atleast he's not glorified too much.

[SimBelm]

If you're interested in the history of video games, there's a great ongoing internet series produced by Retroware TV called The Video Game Years. Their first episode started with 1977 and so far they're up to 1984.

[Nocturnaloner]

Originally Posted by Foggy

To just jump into the medium and say "yeah, we're going to do a film about the all of this" just won't work, especially if you have a love for it, since there will be more things you'll want to focus on.

That's absolutely true. My personal bias is toward the arcade era, and the Atari 2600, because that's when I formed my interest. Chasing Ghosts is on my list, and, going from memory, The Video Craze.

[Nocturnaloner]

Originally Posted by SimBelm

If you're interested in the history of video games, there's a great ongoing internet series produced by Retroware TV called The Video Game Years. Their first episode started with 1977 and so far they're up to 1984.

Thanks for that. I had discovered a few of their youtube vids, but missed those. The immediate thing that strikes me about them is that none of their talking heads were alive in 1977

[SimBelm]

Originally Posted by Nocturnaloner

Thanks for that. I had discovered a few of their youtube vids, but missed those. The immediate thing that strikes me about them is that none of their talking heads were alive in 1977

Yeah, that was the downside to those early episodes. It goes away in the early 80s episodes. I think their plan is to go back to the 70s after they finish the 90s and expand on those episodes to include more guests. They've had some really informative guests on such as Atari designer Howard Scott Warshaw (Yars' Revenge, ET).

[Foggy]

Charlie Brooker did a TV special called How Video Games Changed The World, yet to catch up on it, but it was rather well received and I enjoy most of his work. So that might be one to catch up on as well.

[L.J.]

Chasing Ghosts was a good one as mentioned earlier.

[Lord Method Man]

People mentioning The King of Kong in the same topic as "documentary" is just sickening.

[Mahatma]

Originally Posted by Lord Method Man

People mentioning The King of Kong in the same topic as "documentary" is just sickening.

You Billy Mitchell or one of his minions?

Oh well,got the attention you were seeking anyway

[Nocturnaloner]

Originally Posted by Mahatma

Oh well,got the attention you were seeking anyway

Well he did now

[Tekka]

Originally Posted by SimBelm

If you're interested in the history of video games, there's a great ongoing internet series produced by Retroware TV called The Video Game Years. Their first episode started with 1977 and so far they're up to 1984.

I feel like I am watching a VH1 show from the mid 2000s.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Foggy

About Video Games: The Movie, it seems like it's been pieced together by people who don't really understand how to really make a documentary, seems all a bit big in scope while a little bit too focused on gimmicks (yay, let's go find E.T. The Game!) it just seems like it lacked pacing and through line to follow from the trailer I saw.

I'm curious whatever happened to the Atari E.T. cartridges too--being geezer enough to have actually played one--but it's either this or that one X-Play episode G4TV did, where the host's search for the cartridges turns into a conscious parody of the Terry Gilliam "Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas".
(Obviously that one wasn't a documentary. )

It's a pretty limited genre, as of yet, so, um, yeah: KoK:AFoQ, and the competitive search for the Kill-Screen.
(I've had my own twenty-five year obsession with Bubble Bobble, m'self, but in all that time, never got past Level 52.)

Originally Posted by Tekka

I feel like I am watching a VH1 show from the mid 2000s.

Oh, well, here, let me help:

[Show spoiler]

VH1 - I Love The 80s - 1982 - YouTube

[Gerby]

High Score (2006)

Although technology continues to evolve, a group of die-hard gamers refuses to abandon the classic arcade games of yesteryear. The 80's live on for these enthusiasts, who compete against each other and history to record the world's highest scores.
Portland gamer Bill Carlton is one of the most brazen, fearlessly taking on some of the toughest records on the books. HIGH SCORE follows Bill as he attempts to take down the Atari classic Missile Command and its twenty year-old record. To get the 80 million points he'll have to play the game on one quarter for over two days straight. There is no pause button. There will be no sleep. There can only be one victor in this classic story of Man versus Missile Command.

Whist it's not about the history of video games, this is a good but short watch (50 mins).

[theprestige85]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Charlie Brooker did a TV special called How Video Games Changed The World, yet to catch up on it, but it was rather well received and I enjoy most of his work. So that might be one to catch up on as well.

Yeah, I think our Brooker actually used to be a video games journalist for Gamesmaster magazine or something like that. He was the original video game geek. Wonder what he plays these days. I have yet to see his TV special so i'll youtube that in a bit.