There’s been a few video game documentaries that I can think of off the top of my head, but none really worth mentioning. (aside from The Wizard. That was a documentary, right?) At this years Sundance Film Festival, there’s an 8 bit battle being waged between two video game documentaries. According to GameSetWatch, ‘King of Kong’, a film that “chronicles a rivalry between two gamers, Steve Wiebe and Billy Mitchell, as they battle for the title of world champ of the arcade game…” has been acquired by New Line (distribution rights outside of North America) and Picturehouse (theatrical distribution rights within North America). Meanwhile, ‘Chasing Ghosts’, a look at the first video game celebrities and the nationally televised 1982 Video Game World Championships, is still looking for distribution. I’m not 100% sold on either of these films, but I do think if they’re handled correctly, there’s an opportunity to capture the early ‘trailblazer’ years of what has now become a multi-billion dollar industry. I think video games have evolved in a similar way to pro-wrestling. The early days were more colourful, more fun and less complicated. You know, back when it was okay to create wrestling villains based on ethnic stereotypes. (Iron Shiek, Nicolai Volkoff…) Now everything just takes itself too seriously. I guess if these films can offer anything, it’s a nostalgic look at those simpler times.

Related Link: GameSetWatch