Film: Über Goober (Documentary)Year: 2004
Production Company: Scum Crew Pictures
Director: Steve Metze
Just as the film Trekkies was a documentary that examined Star Trek subculture, so too does Uber Goober examine gamer subculture. It even goes so far as to break gamers up into three main groups; Wargamers who play tactical miniature games like Warhammer, Roleplayers who play games like Dungeons and Dragons, and finally those who LARP (Live action roleplay) and act out their game like those who play Vampire the Masquerade.
Here is the summary from Uber Goober's Website...
I liked this movie. It's ambitions are in line with its budget and production capability. The makers of the film didn't try to do too much or attempt to illicit specific responses from those they interviewed as you sometimes see in documentary films. Rather they got their subjects going on a topic they are passionate about, Gaming, and let them talk about it and what it means to them.
Nearly all gamers will see some part of themselves in one of the people interviewed in this film. For me it was the cop who refused to be revealed on camera. He, like myself, is what is called a "Closet Gamer." We game, but we typically don't admit it to people. His tale about his wife finding his Dragon Magazine collection and telling her that he, "Only bought it for the articles" was probably my favorite part of the whole film. I have been dating my fiance for 10 years (we are getting married on our 11th anniversary). Just to show you how much of a closet gamer I am I didn't tell her that I gamed until... wait for it... 6 months ago. Yeah, I know... that's bad. But this guy on the film was much the same, and therein lies the greatest part of the film, gamers can relate to these people.
In addition to the very good documentary the DVD has some very entertaining special features, including a guided tour around the town where TSR started by the late great Gary Gygax. The DVD can be purchased here and is certainly worth the fifteen dollar price tag.
Like the Gamers this film is a great window into gamer subculture for those who are not part of it. So if you also haven't told you girlfriend what it is you are really doing on Thursday nights maybe this will help clear things up.
Overall Rating: 7/10 - A great documentary that will have you laughing at it... and maybe a little at yourself as well.
Nearly all gamers will see some part of themselves in one of the people interviewed in this film. For me it was the cop who refused to be revealed on camera. He, like myself, is what is called a "Closet Gamer." We game, but we typically don't admit it to people. His tale about his wife finding his Dragon Magazine collection and telling her that he, "Only bought it for the articles" was probably my favorite part of the whole film. I have been dating my fiance for 10 years (we are getting married on our 11th anniversary). Just to show you how much of a closet gamer I am I didn't tell her that I gamed until... wait for it... 6 months ago. Yeah, I know... that's bad. But this guy on the film was much the same, and therein lies the greatest part of the film, gamers can relate to these people.
In addition to the very good documentary the DVD has some very entertaining special features, including a guided tour around the town where TSR started by the late great Gary Gygax. The DVD can be purchased here and is certainly worth the fifteen dollar price tag.
Like the Gamers this film is a great window into gamer subculture for those who are not part of it. So if you also haven't told you girlfriend what it is you are really doing on Thursday nights maybe this will help clear things up.
Overall Rating: 7/10 - A great documentary that will have you laughing at it... and maybe a little at yourself as well.
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