Frequently Asked Questions
For the sake of clarity this will be as brief as possible.
If you would like to discuss any points further you can do so in this forum thread.
1) What is machinima? A simple definition would be "Making movies with computer games".
A longer definition is "Machinima is filmmaking within a real-time, 3D virtual environment, often using 3D video-game technologies.
In an expanded definition, it is the convergence of filmmaking, animation and game development. Machinima is real-world filmmaking techniques applied within an interactive virtual space where characters and events can be either controlled by humans, scripts or artificial intelligence." - machinima.org faq
You can read another full description from - Machinimag
It has also been described as "A revolution in film-making", "The mp3 of movies", A "Punk" art-form, and many other things! For me it is a fascinating, and fun, hobby!
2) What is Machinima Premiere for? To promote the making of machinima movies.
(If you are wondering which game you should use for making movies, have a look at this forum discussion.)
3) How can I submit movies? By clicking on "Submit Content" in the left Menu. The movies are organised by game categories. If your movie does not fit into one of these, put it in the "Other" category. But if you do please remember to mention which game you used.
We are not going to host movies here, so you will need a link to where people can download and view your movie. If you need a host, have a look at Hosting in the forum.
So to summarise the basic requirements of the "Submit/Films" form -
"Category" - dropdown menu of game used.
"Heading" - MUST include title of movie.
"Sub-Heading" - MUST include director's or production company's name.
"Summary" - brief description of movie.
"Text" - full description of movie.
(The two "MUST" entries are for database purposes, ie for counting the votes for the awards.)
4) What can I put in "Submit Reviews"? Any machinima related review.
The "Reviews" section is intended as an inspirational area, reflecting some of the major influences from the world of machinima. So tell us about the movies, producers, websites, software etc. that have had the most effect on you!
5) What can I use "Blogs" for? Hopefully some directors will use it to make a diary or journal of their machinima making, so that others can learn from their experience. Otherwise it can be used for anything, within reason.
6) How do the ratings work? You have to be logged in to rate a movie as only members can vote. With each movie description is a ratings drop-down menu, from one to ten. Ten would be a "perfect" movie and one a "very poor" movie. Each member can vote for each movie once. The awards cover monthly, tri-monthly and annual periods, represented by the Bronze, Silver and Gold categories in the Movie Charts and Hall of Fame pages. Movies entered during those periods are eligible for all of those awards. The Movie Charts page and the Hall of Fame page is updated on a monthly basis.
7) Rules? Only one major rule, the golden one, treat others as you would like them to treat you and you will be fine.
Normal netiquette conventions also apply. If you notice any spam or other abuse please tell site staff so it can be dealt with. The site has a lower age limit of 13, in other words it is aimed at most internet age groups, so please act accordingly.
If you are submitting a movie which contains "mature" or "adult" themes, ie would have an advisory warning if shown in a cinema, please label it as such so that viewers will know what to expect.
Due to the possibility of abuse of the voting system (most internet providers offer multiple email accounts) membership is limited to one account per computer or IP address.
Persistent low voting will not be tolerated unless you provide written comments for the low votes. This is only fair to the producers who have gone to the trouble of making a movie for others to enjoy. If you continue to make low votes without a written comment then you will be permanently banned.
8) My view of mprem? When a "new" person comes to a machinima site the first thing they will want to do is look at some movies and mprem will provide not only an easy way to do that but will also show them some of the most highly rated amongst the many they could look at. As for directors it will provide a forum (hopefully fun!) where they can see how their movies compare against other movies, (a sort of permanent online festival), and receive feedback on their work.
Ideally I would like to spend as little time as possible doing admin tasks and as much time as possible being just another member. In that sense it is similar in some ways to a "wiki" in that it's content will mostly be supplied by it's members. It is a community site made by members of the community for members of the community. So in the end it will be exactly what you make of it.
If you would like to discuss any points further you can do so in this forum thread.
1) What is machinima? A simple definition would be "Making movies with computer games".
A longer definition is "Machinima is filmmaking within a real-time, 3D virtual environment, often using 3D video-game technologies.
In an expanded definition, it is the convergence of filmmaking, animation and game development. Machinima is real-world filmmaking techniques applied within an interactive virtual space where characters and events can be either controlled by humans, scripts or artificial intelligence." - machinima.org faq
You can read another full description from - Machinimag
It has also been described as "A revolution in film-making", "The mp3 of movies", A "Punk" art-form, and many other things! For me it is a fascinating, and fun, hobby!
2) What is Machinima Premiere for? To promote the making of machinima movies.
(If you are wondering which game you should use for making movies, have a look at this forum discussion.)
3) How can I submit movies? By clicking on "Submit Content" in the left Menu. The movies are organised by game categories. If your movie does not fit into one of these, put it in the "Other" category. But if you do please remember to mention which game you used.
We are not going to host movies here, so you will need a link to where people can download and view your movie. If you need a host, have a look at Hosting in the forum.
So to summarise the basic requirements of the "Submit/Films" form -
"Category" - dropdown menu of game used.
"Heading" - MUST include title of movie.
"Sub-Heading" - MUST include director's or production company's name.
"Summary" - brief description of movie.
"Text" - full description of movie.
(The two "MUST" entries are for database purposes, ie for counting the votes for the awards.)
4) What can I put in "Submit Reviews"? Any machinima related review.
The "Reviews" section is intended as an inspirational area, reflecting some of the major influences from the world of machinima. So tell us about the movies, producers, websites, software etc. that have had the most effect on you!
5) What can I use "Blogs" for? Hopefully some directors will use it to make a diary or journal of their machinima making, so that others can learn from their experience. Otherwise it can be used for anything, within reason.
6) How do the ratings work? You have to be logged in to rate a movie as only members can vote. With each movie description is a ratings drop-down menu, from one to ten. Ten would be a "perfect" movie and one a "very poor" movie. Each member can vote for each movie once. The awards cover monthly, tri-monthly and annual periods, represented by the Bronze, Silver and Gold categories in the Movie Charts and Hall of Fame pages. Movies entered during those periods are eligible for all of those awards. The Movie Charts page and the Hall of Fame page is updated on a monthly basis.
7) Rules? Only one major rule, the golden one, treat others as you would like them to treat you and you will be fine.
Normal netiquette conventions also apply. If you notice any spam or other abuse please tell site staff so it can be dealt with. The site has a lower age limit of 13, in other words it is aimed at most internet age groups, so please act accordingly.
If you are submitting a movie which contains "mature" or "adult" themes, ie would have an advisory warning if shown in a cinema, please label it as such so that viewers will know what to expect.
Due to the possibility of abuse of the voting system (most internet providers offer multiple email accounts) membership is limited to one account per computer or IP address.
Persistent low voting will not be tolerated unless you provide written comments for the low votes. This is only fair to the producers who have gone to the trouble of making a movie for others to enjoy. If you continue to make low votes without a written comment then you will be permanently banned.
8) My view of mprem? When a "new" person comes to a machinima site the first thing they will want to do is look at some movies and mprem will provide not only an easy way to do that but will also show them some of the most highly rated amongst the many they could look at. As for directors it will provide a forum (hopefully fun!) where they can see how their movies compare against other movies, (a sort of permanent online festival), and receive feedback on their work.
Ideally I would like to spend as little time as possible doing admin tasks and as much time as possible being just another member. In that sense it is similar in some ways to a "wiki" in that it's content will mostly be supplied by it's members. It is a community site made by members of the community for members of the community. So in the end it will be exactly what you make of it.