Robert N EmersonThe Gamers 2: Dorkness Rising
January 1st 2009 08:12
Now it should come as no surprise to most folk, given the prevalence of role-playing games in nerd culture, but I'm a lifelong gamer and I've been throwing dice at the table since the ripe old age of six. Yeap, you read that correctly, I started playing Basic Dungeons and Dragons when I was six years old, thanks to a very open minded mother taking a different route when a school counselor suggested she find me a creative hobby. Seriously, everyone was suggesting the accordion and, trust me, I've enough misplaced aggression issues, as is, without that added onto the bonfire of rage.
*grins*
Mostly kidding, anyhow, on with the subject at hand: The Gamers 2: Dorkness Rising.
First off, if you've not seen the original, The Gamers, then you're missing out on an excellent comedy of geek culture that is a well crafted story romp focusing on the events of a game table, the people around it, and the game they play upon it. Damn fine film, from Dead Gentlemen Productions.
While not a direct sequel, The Gamers 2 is another excellent look at tabletop role-playing and the folk who enjoy it, with some nice elements thrown into the story that were less present in the first Gamers movie. In addition to adding a female gamer to the table, there is also a bit more conflict between the Dungeon Master, Kevin Logue, and the players, which is a bit grittier when compared to the good natured sense of the game table in the original Gamers. Also, there is an inkling of feelings between the DM, Kevin, and the new player, Joanna, which grows as the movie progresses. However, whether this is a simple friendship or something deeper is never more than hinted, such as with their characters, Sir Olric and Daphne, holding hands at a key moment in the movie or their long conversational walk after a gaming session.
By the way, Joanna is played by Carol Roscoe, who not only gave an enjoyable turn as Joanna and Daphne, but has a striking resemblance to Geraldine Hughes. So striking is the resemblance that I had to go look at several online resources to confirm that the two were not the same person. Perhaps its something in the genome, not only do they both look similiar, but they're both fine actresses, too.
The Gamers 2 starts off with one of the most infamous moments in any role-playing game group, which is the TPK, also known as The Total Party Kill. A TPK is where the whole party is slain by the NPCs and/or monsters that the DM puts in the path of the player characters as engines of conflict in the on-going story. But, while the adventure has an interesting tale of its own, it is the conflict between players and DM that is the true nature of our tale.
It is sometimes lost in the high energy of role-playing games, with all the fantasies of people saved and riches rewarded, that the game is as much drama, as it is action, and this is the true focus of the Gamers 2. The DM, Kevin, is not only running games for his friends, but he is trying to achieve the hallmark of any DM's life, which is the sacrosanct moment of being published, thus being a professional gamer. However, it is the conflict between DM and player that is retarding his progress.
You see, Kevin doesn't trust his players to role-play and his players feel like he is leading them around, by their collective noses, and doesn't trust them to play right. But, with the addition of Joanna, Kevin starts to see the error of his ways, growing more as a person and a writer, and in the end his adventure is finished and the group is ready to move on to the next story, which should be familiar to viewers of the original Gamers.
Overall, The Gamers 2 is an excellent independent film, whose previous success allowed for the inclusion of role-playing games, card games, and others actual named products to be included from real gaming companies. In fact, Goodman Games actually published the Mask of Death adventure, as a tie-in to the movie. Whether you're a game, in real life, or someone who just likes an interesting look at one of the myriad of subcultures in the human experience, the Gamers 2 is an excellent movie to buy or rent.
*grins*
Mostly kidding, anyhow, on with the subject at hand: The Gamers 2: Dorkness Rising.
First off, if you've not seen the original, The Gamers, then you're missing out on an excellent comedy of geek culture that is a well crafted story romp focusing on the events of a game table, the people around it, and the game they play upon it. Damn fine film, from Dead Gentlemen Productions.
While not a direct sequel, The Gamers 2 is another excellent look at tabletop role-playing and the folk who enjoy it, with some nice elements thrown into the story that were less present in the first Gamers movie. In addition to adding a female gamer to the table, there is also a bit more conflict between the Dungeon Master, Kevin Logue, and the players, which is a bit grittier when compared to the good natured sense of the game table in the original Gamers. Also, there is an inkling of feelings between the DM, Kevin, and the new player, Joanna, which grows as the movie progresses. However, whether this is a simple friendship or something deeper is never more than hinted, such as with their characters, Sir Olric and Daphne, holding hands at a key moment in the movie or their long conversational walk after a gaming session.
By the way, Joanna is played by Carol Roscoe, who not only gave an enjoyable turn as Joanna and Daphne, but has a striking resemblance to Geraldine Hughes. So striking is the resemblance that I had to go look at several online resources to confirm that the two were not the same person. Perhaps its something in the genome, not only do they both look similiar, but they're both fine actresses, too.
The Gamers 2 starts off with one of the most infamous moments in any role-playing game group, which is the TPK, also known as The Total Party Kill. A TPK is where the whole party is slain by the NPCs and/or monsters that the DM puts in the path of the player characters as engines of conflict in the on-going story. But, while the adventure has an interesting tale of its own, it is the conflict between players and DM that is the true nature of our tale.
It is sometimes lost in the high energy of role-playing games, with all the fantasies of people saved and riches rewarded, that the game is as much drama, as it is action, and this is the true focus of the Gamers 2. The DM, Kevin, is not only running games for his friends, but he is trying to achieve the hallmark of any DM's life, which is the sacrosanct moment of being published, thus being a professional gamer. However, it is the conflict between DM and player that is retarding his progress.
You see, Kevin doesn't trust his players to role-play and his players feel like he is leading them around, by their collective noses, and doesn't trust them to play right. But, with the addition of Joanna, Kevin starts to see the error of his ways, growing more as a person and a writer, and in the end his adventure is finished and the group is ready to move on to the next story, which should be familiar to viewers of the original Gamers.
Overall, The Gamers 2 is an excellent independent film, whose previous success allowed for the inclusion of role-playing games, card games, and others actual named products to be included from real gaming companies. In fact, Goodman Games actually published the Mask of Death adventure, as a tie-in to the movie. Whether you're a game, in real life, or someone who just likes an interesting look at one of the myriad of subcultures in the human experience, the Gamers 2 is an excellent movie to buy or rent.
| 52 |
| Vote |
