MACHINIMA! THEORIES, PRACTICES, DIALOGUES

Matteo Bittanti, Henry Lowood

Launched in 2002, the Ludologica Collection examines the most important video games of all time. Each volume is dedicated to a key theme or a seminal title. The discussed texts are placed within the production of the game designer and the genre of development and are analyzed in depth. From Will Wright to Shigeru Miyamoto, from Hideo Kojima to Richard Garriott, Ludologica thus creates an original mosaic of aesthetics, genres, and autonomous intentions with few comparisons in the current publishing landscape. The collection offers a new way to look at video games with an approach that is both accessible and stimulating. Among the authors are prominent figures from specialized criticism, university professors from prestigious institutions, and enthusiasts.

Machinima! Theories. Practices. Dialogues sheds light on one of the most intriguing phenomena of media hybridization in the past two decades. A contraction of "machine" and "animation," machinima stands at the crossroads of video games and cinema, electronic animation, and real-time performances in virtual worlds. As a derivative yet unexpected art form, machinima has introduced a new aesthetic and, more importantly, a fresh way of interacting with imagery. Its history is marked by innovations and surprises, alterations and disputes, hacking, and modding.

The volume is divided into three sections. The first, THEORIES, conceptualizes the phenomenon within its historical, legal, and conceptual context, shedding light on its texts and productive, distributive, legal, and commercial environments. The second, PRACTICES, presents contributions from artists and directors, producers and performers who have shaped the medium's nature. Finally, DIALOGUES offer conversations covering topics ranging from art to the market, from playful disengagement to political activism. Its interdisciplinary nature and the diversity of approaches make Machinima! an ideal tool for understanding the transformations of media and contemporary art in the digital era.

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