Avatars Offline (2002)

Secrets of the virtual gaming world are revealed in "Avatars Offline," the first feature-length documentary to examine the people and stories behind the seven billion dollar a year gaming industry: the history, the personal dramas and the future of a trend expected to explode in popularity with the upcoming release of the "Star Wars Galaxies" game. A look at what may become the most significant medium of the 21st century - a place where art, technology and social interaction form a hypnotic new whole. Portrayed by media pundits as highly addictive but considered by fans to be the future of entertainment, massively multi-player on-line role-playing games like "Everquest" and "Ultima Online" are forging ahead into mainstream American culture, and changing the lives of those who play them.