Machinima in a Fanvid Ecology

The author discusses machinima in relation to a proliferating family of emerging DIY fanvids, remixes, and parodies spawning on the internet today. Like many other forms of DIY video, machinima is the byproduct of the creative energies of popular culture enthusiasts, fueled by increasingly accessible digital media production tools and online video distribution. Although machinima’s roots in gaming platforms and cultures make it unique, it shares a history and future with other kinds of DIY fanvids. In this diversified ecosystem, the author concludes, the base of machinima makers will continue to expand, while expert creators will proliferate more and more esoteric niches, some of which cater to the core gaming crowd, and others that cross over to other genres.