THE WIZEGUY: Aperture R&D

Machinima is my algorithm. Or am I it’s methodology? In all actuality, it KNOWS what I like. The model for the future of digital entertainment a.k.a. Machinima.com – is a mix of original high end shows, distributed content from other creators and gameplay videos (but, you most likely already know all this).

I watch less and less ‘regular’ television, and end up getting most of my media from the net. And it looks like I’m not alone. In the previous 12 months, the network was viewed more than 20 billion times. Mainstream media had a captive audience until the invention of the TUBEZ, well…when the tech finally caught up to it.

The first season of Mortal Kombat: Legacy (my personal favorite) was one of the most-viewed web series of 2011 with more than 60 million views to date on Machinima. The popularity behind the series made it possible to get back on the scene with season two debuting VERY, very soon.

While some of the fandom has suggested that Machinima is “abandoning what made it popular’ by moving from niche to network, They’re keeping 95% of what they’ve always done, and are simply taking advantage of new opportunities to grow their business.

In a way, It’d be like chiding Apple at the time they chose to create/release the iPod, because, you know, they’d be abandoning their core computer business, which initially sought to contrast themselves from what else was out there.

And this just in, Director Ridley Scott has partnered up to produce 12 science fiction short films with Machinima. However, The shorts will not be directed by Scott himself; he and Machinima will choose directors from Ridley Scott’s production company (RSA). The list of possible directors is AWESOME and includes Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas), Sam Mendes (Skyfall), Kathryn Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty) and Neill Blomkamp (District 9).

So now that that’s out of the way, are you ready for this?

‘Aperature R&D’ is a live action comedy series that follows the lab techs of the tragicially Ill-fated Aperature labs. For those of you unfamiliar with the ‘Portal’ universe, Aperature Labs is the corporation responsible for the invention of the would-be portal gun that would later go on to cause so many problems. The series is produced by Wayside Creations, the same operation credited with 2011’s well-liked fan film ‘Fallout: Nuka Break’.

After viewing the trailer, I’m thinking ‘Portal’ meets ‘The Office’ with some darker humor mashed in and a WHOLE lot of fun. ‘Aperature R&D’premieres this Friday 3/15. BSR was lucky enough to get an EXCLUSIVE screen grab, enjoy! Be sure to let me know what you think of this new series.

-Dagobot
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