If you've ever dreamed of making movies, but don't have access to famous actors, large special effects budgets or huge sets, then machinima is for you. A mish-mash of the words 'machine' and 'cinema', machinima is the art of real-time filmmaking in a virtual environment (oftentimes within a video game engine) the playable characters are your actors, the game environments are your sets, and the games weapons and monsters are your special effects.

But don't just take our word for it check out the video below and let Officer Dan be your guide to the world of Machinima.



Here's a selection of some of our favourite machinima videos, to give you a taste of what's possible:

1. The Device Has Been Modified


A cool music video that combines World Of Warcraft and Portal to great effect!

2. Anna


The life of a flower in a fairytale forest. Made with the engine from Quake a great demonstration of how bloodythirsty shooters can be turned into beauty in the hands of a skilled machinimist!

3. Skullcrusher Mountain


A music video for one of Jonathan Coulton's other songs, 'Skullcrusher Mountain'. You almost feel sorry for this lonely evil genius.

4. The Adventures of Bill And John: Ep II


Watch bored pilots Bill and John take flight in this award winning machinima video that make Top Gun look like... Middle Gun.

5. A Few Good G-Men


A great little film that uses lines from the movie 'A Few Good Men' to show what great performances you can get from Half Life 2 machinima characters.