Baron Soosdon is back with a new machinima, titled 1.21.1 / 4.0.3 / 2019. The video's narrative is a bit obfuscated. What is clear is that there is a paladin, a woman, a dragon, and a horse. According to Soosdon, the video represents a return to his old habits, "creating something incoherent and hardly (if barely) understandable." At any rate, the video is absolutely beautiful to watch.
I especially enjoyed the cityscape, complete with goblin-on-jumbo-tron action. I really enjoy looks at a "future" Azeroth, where technology has taken its inevitable steps forward.
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Throw together a bunch of random images and give it a grainy appearance. Hey I’m making art now! That makes me artistic! But seriously I would probably have more respect for this if the soundtrack were original. It’s not stealing if you give credit to the actual creator I suppose. Baron Soosdon’s initials are ‘BS’ and that’s a fitting description of this movie.
While pretty abstract, the machinima drew me into the world the artist was creating, which a lot of machinima does not do successfully. Thoroughly polished effort, too.
Understanding the title seems to be the key to understanding what the hell is going on in the movie itself. (Which, by the way, you have a typo on. It's a 12, not a 21)
1.12.1 was the patch which changed the costs of riding skill and mounts, which shows why the tier 2 pally spends all his time riding around on that charger of his. 4.0.3 was obviously when the world changes came about for cataclysm.
Seems Baron is hinting at the direction he sees WoW taking by the time the year 2019 rolls around. The video itself definitely makes one think about how things change in the game and what changes the future may bring...
Hell, it also stands as an interesting commentary on the way the past is lost and forgotten as we forge ahead towards the future in real life.
I like this video more than I thought I would because it's clear enough to indicate that the artist had some intended meaning, but it's open to interpretation by the viewer. Often that type of open-ended narrative can feel like the artist just threw a bunch of random crap together and called it "open to interpretation" but I don't get that sense on this one.
I'd rather say that the paladin is an old friend/lover of the woman. You see them on a weddingpicture about halfway through the movie. That could point to players leaving the game and leaving other people behind.
I love the whole vibe of this video :) And ofcourse the effects are something only Baron Soosdon can do.
i totally agree with you cutaia. After reading in the description that it was confusing as hell, i didn't have high hopes. But halfway through it became evident that soosdon was making a comment about the cataclysm and how the game has changed. I really liked it. and here's to hoping soosdon keeps the machinima coming, haven't heard much from him in a while, but haven't read his blog in longer so, who knows!
Yeah, kinda unimpressed (compared to his previous work which is amazing) Split screen male/female humans doing idle animations at the same time doesnt really show what Soosdon is capable of in Machinima
I'm not sure what the hell you're getting at. But I will say that there was no story. Whatever story you saw was unique to your own interpretation of the video. Don't try to make it more complicated than it needs to be.
I wouldn't say the narrative is confusing, it's just that Soosdon seems to be telling the story of Azeroth rather than the story of the individual characters. It's an interesting thought: Azeroth as a living entity that changes and adapts over time. Something that millions of people have interacted with and shaped over the course of the past few years... Or, if you'd prefer, it's a macinima version of the caverns of time. :D
I think the reason it's so confusion that we expect machinima, especially those presented on WoW Insider, to be entertaining. What I just watched wasn't a Hollywood Blockbuster but rather an Art-House film.
Once you stop looking for the jokes you're obviously missing (because they aren't there) and just enjoy it, it's actually very touching in subtle ways.
And, yes, I think Cutaia nailed it with his analysis above.
Feb 22nd 2011 at 12:00PM 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
carebear Feb 22nd 2011 12:11PM
fail
carebear Feb 22nd 2011 5:18PM
Throw together a bunch of random images and give it a grainy appearance. Hey I’m making art now! That makes me artistic! But seriously I would probably have more respect for this if the soundtrack were original. It’s not stealing if you give credit to the actual creator I suppose. Baron Soosdon’s initials are ‘BS’ and that’s a fitting description of this movie.
Stormwalker Feb 22nd 2011 12:11PM
While pretty abstract, the machinima drew me into the world the artist was creating, which a lot of machinima does not do successfully. Thoroughly polished effort, too.
I liek.
(cutaia) Feb 22nd 2011 12:35PM
Understanding the title seems to be the key to understanding what the hell is going on in the movie itself. (Which, by the way, you have a typo on. It's a 12, not a 21)
1.12.1 was the patch which changed the costs of riding skill and mounts, which shows why the tier 2 pally spends all his time riding around on that charger of his. 4.0.3 was obviously when the world changes came about for cataclysm.
Seems Baron is hinting at the direction he sees WoW taking by the time the year 2019 rolls around. The video itself definitely makes one think about how things change in the game and what changes the future may bring...
(cutaia) Feb 22nd 2011 12:41PM
Hell, it also stands as an interesting commentary on the way the past is lost and forgotten as we forge ahead towards the future in real life.
I like this video more than I thought I would because it's clear enough to indicate that the artist had some intended meaning, but it's open to interpretation by the viewer. Often that type of open-ended narrative can feel like the artist just threw a bunch of random crap together and called it "open to interpretation" but I don't get that sense on this one.
The Dewd Feb 22nd 2011 1:30PM
Would you say, then, that the "deletion" scene was a character re-customization from male to female?
Thijz Feb 22nd 2011 5:06PM
I'd rather say that the paladin is an old friend/lover of the woman. You see them on a weddingpicture about halfway through the movie. That could point to players leaving the game and leaving other people behind.
I love the whole vibe of this video :) And ofcourse the effects are something only Baron Soosdon can do.
lownwolf Feb 22nd 2011 5:10PM
i totally agree with you cutaia. After reading in the description that it was confusing as hell, i didn't have high hopes. But halfway through it became evident that soosdon was making a comment about the cataclysm and how the game has changed. I really liked it.
and here's to hoping soosdon keeps the machinima coming, haven't heard much from him in a while, but haven't read his blog in longer so, who knows!
Ickabob Feb 22nd 2011 12:49PM
What the hell did I just watch?
Devo_AS Feb 22nd 2011 1:04PM
Yeah, kinda unimpressed (compared to his previous work which is amazing)
Split screen male/female humans doing idle animations at the same time doesnt really show what Soosdon is capable of in Machinima
Iirdan Feb 22nd 2011 4:34PM
Good machinima lies not in how impressive the technology is; but rather how impressive the story being told BY the technology is.
People often think that story ought to be showcase for technology, but technology ought be showcase for story.
I loved it.
carebear Feb 22nd 2011 5:09PM
@Iirdan
I'm not sure what the hell you're getting at. But I will say that there was no story. Whatever story you saw was unique to your own interpretation of the video. Don't try to make it more complicated than it needs to be.
Shadda Feb 22nd 2011 1:08PM
I wouldn't say the narrative is confusing, it's just that Soosdon seems to be telling the story of Azeroth rather than the story of the individual characters. It's an interesting thought: Azeroth as a living entity that changes and adapts over time. Something that millions of people have interacted with and shaped over the course of the past few years...
Or, if you'd prefer, it's a macinima version of the caverns of time. :D
jordan Feb 22nd 2011 1:27PM
Seems this video is about a Human Pally who sex changed, leaving the past behind.
Ominous Feb 22nd 2011 1:28PM
Theme:
We progress, but do we really? It's only human to look back, if not wish to go back.
The Dewd Feb 22nd 2011 1:30PM
I think the reason it's so confusion that we expect machinima, especially those presented on WoW Insider, to be entertaining. What I just watched wasn't a Hollywood Blockbuster but rather an Art-House film.
Once you stop looking for the jokes you're obviously missing (because they aren't there) and just enjoy it, it's actually very touching in subtle ways.
And, yes, I think Cutaia nailed it with his analysis above.
Parrin Feb 22nd 2011 1:50PM
Finally. Finally! We get the account of the last two humans left on Azeroth (and then one get's deleted). :)
Rainbows and Unicorns are nothing compared to the warm fuzzy feeling this video left with me. Hang on, I'm a little verklempt...
kalatash Feb 22nd 2011 1:58PM
I have a sudden urge to wear a beret, snap my fingers, and say 'daddy-o' after watching this film. I feel... hipper just knowing that it EXISTS.
Furlover Feb 22nd 2011 2:55PM
I have absolutely no idea what is going on in that movie, but it is totally awesome nonetheless!
RetPallyJil Feb 22nd 2011 3:50PM
Oh, Judgement - how would anyone know it's a paladin without you?
I swear, I'm gonna make a movie wearing my T8 just to baffle people.