Exploring Avalon Keep
by NorseGamer, HSM Editor-in-Chief
Every so often, I’m asked why I don’t film virtual estate tours.
I suppose I could; hell, it’d save me a lot of time to just slap on a Vanna White avatar, film everything in one long master shot and call it a day. And there is a market for that; sometimes you just want to see what the space looks like, without any marketing bells and whistles to dress it up.
Dramaturgically, though…it’s boring.
What excites me is seeing what people do with a setting. How they elevate it beyond just the sticks and bricks into something more interesting. The LOOT Space Station, for instance, inspired a time-traveling love story in Periselene, and also became a Star Trek starship in LOOTerprise. Lockwood’s Midnight Glade became the last gathering spot for young friends who would never see each other again in Wistful, while their Dream Yacht inspired a Robin Leach parody in The Nautical Saturnalia. The stillness of the Gothic Manor became the perfect haunted house for a demon to torment a man in silencieux. Blueprint:Home became a sort of tropical Myst in L’Île mystérieuse.
So when Heavy Water’s Avalon Keep was released, I knew it had to be given the same treatment. There’s just so much going on in this estate — it’s more like a game that’s slowly unfolding rather than just another personal space — that it sets the imagination on fire. I prefer filming virtual showcases instead of virtual tours — the idea is to try to capture the emotional impact of a space, rather than just its nuts and bolts — and Avalon Keep brings a lot to the table.
The machinima you’re about to watch took me a hell of a lot of time to put together. There is a story at work — but more importantly, if I’ve done it right, it should convey a sense of adventure. And there should be at least one “Oh, DAMN!” moment in it. Turn your volume up to maximum for this, and let’s discover the mysteries of Avalon.
August 17th, 2012 by NorseGamer | 3 comments
NorseGamer is the product manager for LOOT Entertainment at Sony Pictures, as well as the founder and publisher of HomeStation Magazine. Born and raised in Silicon Valley, he holds a B.A. in English/Creative Writing from San Francisco State University and presently lives in Los Angeles. All opinions expressed in HSM are solely his and do not necessarily reflect the views of Sony DADC.
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I love this space and I loved your take on it too Norse. Good to see you without your sunglasses for a change! Being creative in Home can take many forms, from decorating to fashion. Film is one of the most creative of them all though, and you are getting quite good at projecting a mood or feeling with it.
I have always thought you were good at projecting feeling in the films you create. The films you began creating are what really what got me into making them.
Personal fav has to be Periselene.
I think it should have been a girl coming out of the lake Norse- you know you have the ability to change genders on home LOL. But I have to say that I like the music! And yes the ability to be able to portray emotion with limited animation always amazes me- you are Godz both got that.
Your Aurora Machinema still stands out in my mind and one of the best I have seen. Your Dresden war flick was one that raised poignant questions at a time when attention needed to be brought to that particular aspect of our history.
Thank you for your wonderful story telling ability with this media.