Free to Play documentary

[squarefrog]

I just watched Free to Play, a documentary by Valve centred around professional Dota 2 players.

To be honest I knew nothing about professional gamers, or esports in general so it was quite eye opening. It's free to watch - probably a feature length advert for Dota, but I think it's worth watching if you've got a spare hour or so.

And if you enjoy this I recommend Indie Game: The Movie and The King of Kong.

[Puddsy]

It's pretty good.

It's spawned a bunch of memes, so I'm happy.

There's nothing better than shouting "hate him as much as fear loves his desk" when you're killing the fed guy on the other team.

[squarefrog]

Man I got hit in the feels a couple of times during this film. The first was seeing Fears setup! When his mum suggested he move I thought she meant to Europe so the time difference wasn't so bad. But I didn't realise she just meant anywhere apart from here.

I think I found hyhy's story the most heartbreaking though.

I still can't believe people can make money playing games. Living the dream

[baldgye]

You also need to watch the Super Smash Bro's documentary... IMO it's much better and gives you a much better understanding of the scene and the people... that said its like 5hrs long or some ****... but defo worth watching

[squarefrog]

That sounds interesting. I love SSB!

[baldgye]

its all free on youtube, pt1;

[jwaz]

And if you enjoy this I recommend Indie Game: The Movie and The King of Kong.

King of Kong is a classic!

[squarefrog]

Queued them all up for watching when my wife goes to sleep

Any other vg related documentaries are most welcome!

[squarefrog]

King of Kong is a classic!

Absolutely! I particularly liked how certain people were so bitter about others. The cutthroat world of donkey kong

There was a pinball one too that was pretty good. Special When Lit maybe?

[chibishin]

call me when "the platform master" is completed, because that's the only gaming documentary worth watching.

[baldgye]

call me when "the platform master" is completed, because that's the only gaming documentary worth watching.

So, the only gaming documentary worth watching, is one you cannot watch? #logic

[chibishin]

call me when "the platform master" is completed, because that's the only gaming documentary worth watching.

So, the only gaming documentary worth watching, is one you cannot watch? #logic

Considering the subject of the documentary, yeah, I would say so. Free To Play was absolutely dreadful.

And yes, let's use hashtags on a site that doesn't support them. #irony #cool #tybg

[baldgye]

call me when "the platform master" is completed, because that's the only gaming documentary worth watching.

So, the only gaming documentary worth watching, is one you cannot watch? #logic

Considering the subject of the documentary, yeah, I would say so. Free To Play was absolutely dreadful.

And yes, let's use hashtags on a site that doesn't support them. #irony #cool #tybg

I used a hashtag to further highlight the nonsensical notion of your post...

[Photekq]

Free To Play was absolutely dreadful.

[squarefrog]

Well I enjoyed it. Doesn't look like that other documentary is ever going to get made anyway!

[pichu23]

HE'S AN A STAR STUDENT YOU KNOW ?

^ Dat sentence is stuck in my head.

[squarefrog]

Yeah I think towards the end I really felt sorry for him. His family though he was throwing his life away. Nice to see he was continuing his studies though.

[noisyturtle]

I loved King of Kong, and it's hilarious how they paint Billy Mitchell as the bad guy there. I suppose every movie's got to have a foil.  Indie Game the Movie hits too close to home though, and depresses the hell out of me

If you liked those you should also check out Minecraft: The Story of Mojang. It's an interesting piece, and you don't even have to be a Minecraft fan to enjoy it. I've never even played it, and still found most it very interesting from a developers and designers perspective.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySRgVo1X_18

[squarefrog]

Ok cool I'll add it to my list. I've never played mine craft either so would be good to know more about it.

[chibishin]

king of kong was okay (whoops, conflated a couple of movies), but they presented wiebe as such a doormat and billy as such a cartoonish villain.

I honestly prefer chasing ghosts over that, plus it focuses a bit more on the history of the scene as opposed to just a couple of folks vying for a record.

[Vibex]

I absolutely loved the movie even though I've only played one or two games of DOTA. I've watched a little DOTA, but it's not really my jam. I'm more of a Starcraft man.

[Sifo]

DENDIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

[squarefrog]

I honestly prefer chasing ghosts over that, plus it focuses a bit more on the history of the scene as opposed to just a couple of folks vying for a record.

Ok I'll check it out!

[Dyslexic]

call me when "the platform master" is completed, because that's the only gaming documentary worth watching.

So, the only gaming documentary worth watching, is one you cannot watch? #logic

Considering the subject of the documentary, yeah, I would say so. Free To Play was absolutely dreadful.

And yes, let's use hashtags on a site that doesn't support them. #irony #cool #tybg

The tone is unnecessary but I agree, the documentary was cringe-worthy on multiple levels. I enjoyed Dendi's parts, but Fear came off as a typical "living in my mom's basement" nerd pining about being misunderstood. It sucks that she isn't supportive, but she's not wrong. Gaming as a career is not viable as a main source of income unless you move to China or are placing top 3 at almost every major event. Then there was Hyhy's part, which maybe didn't strike a chord with me because I don't relate to the whole tiger mom cultural aspect, but it was just kinda weird to watch this guy who has an opportunity to gain exposure pining about his ex the entire film. I love Dota 2 and Valve deserves credit for even putting the subject to film, but for the most part it was a pretty awkward and confirms a lot of stereotypes that just don't need further validation.

[CPTBadAss]

If you guys are into documentaries related to video gaming, I suggest watching The Smash Brothers about the Pro Smash Bros scene. Also, Liquid Rising, which follows the TeamLiquid Pro StarCraft 2 team, is worth watching if you're a StarCraft 2/TL fan.

I also loved King of Kong and Indie Game.

[Vibex]

If you guys are into documentaries related to video gaming, I suggest watching The Smash Brothers about the Pro Smash Bros scene. Also, Liquid Rising, which following the TeamLiquid Pro StarCraft 2 team, is worth watching if you're a StarCraft 2/TL fan.

I also loved King of Kong and Indie Game.

Watched Liquid Rising a while ago, but it was great. If you like Starcraft (even if you don't like Team Liquid) it's a great watch.

[baldgye]

If you guys are into documentaries related to video gaming, I suggest watching The Smash Brothers about the Pro Smash Bros scene. Also, Liquid Rising, which following the TeamLiquid Pro StarCraft 2 team, is worth watching if you're a StarCraft 2/TL fan.

I also loved King of Kong and Indie Game.

Watched Liquid Rising a while ago, but it was great. If you like Starcraft (even if you don't like Team Liquid) it's a great watch.

I don't think Liquid Rising was all that great... IMO Tthe Jaedong doc was much better

[Vibex]

I don't think Liquid Rising was all that great... IMO Tthe Jaedong doc was much better

Never knew there was a Jaedong doc. I'll have to check it out.

[baldgye]

I don't think Liquid Rising was all that great... IMO Tthe Jaedong doc was much better

Never knew there was a Jaedong doc. I'll have to check it out.

yeah, you have to pay for it... but it's really well made and documents Sc2 alot better than LR (IMO ofc)

[Nixietube]

i liked the documentary but at the end of the day there are so many players who get nothing so pursuing a career in it is not something one should do

[Smasher816]

i liked the documentary but at the end of the day there are so many players who get nothing so pursuing a career in it is not something one should do

That is also what I thought. When I read the comments I was confused by the people who said something like "this video makes me want to be a professional gamer now".

[Candyflip]

If you guys are into documentaries related to video gaming, I suggest watching The Smash Brothers about the Pro Smash Bros scene. Also, Liquid Rising, which following the TeamLiquid Pro StarCraft 2 team, is worth watching if you're a StarCraft 2/TL fan.

I also loved King of Kong and Indie Game.

Watched Liquid Rising a while ago, but it was great. If you like Starcraft (even if you don't like Team Liquid) it's a great watch.

I don't think Liquid Rising was all that great... IMO Tthe Jaedong doc was much better

I don't think Liquid Riding was that great either, it kinda disappointed me. The JaeDong one was way better.

[katushkin]

I really liked it. I'm glad hyhy got back with his girl again.

Although the trend I saw was that none of them really had father figures in their life... Dendi's died of cancer, hyhy's worked 16 hours a day, and the other guy's left when he was young. Weird.

But it made me like dota even more.

[pichu23]

I really liked it. I'm glad hyhy got back with his girl again.

Although the trend I saw was that none of them really had father figures in their life... Dendi's died of cancer, hyhy's worked 16 hours a day, and the other guy's left when he was young. Weird.

But it made me like dota even more.

Typical Asian family. Like my dad, sometimes he works really really late into the night. Oh wells. 

[esko997]

Watched this last night, got hit right in the feels towards the end. Great movie