Machinima Commercials

MIT Advertising Lab and Futurelab's Blog highlight some interesting early attempts at Machinima Commercials.  For those unfamiliar with Machinima, Wikipedia defines the production technique as:

"rendering of computer-generated imagery (CGI) using low-end 3D engines, as opposed to high-end and complex 3D engines used by professionals. Engines from first person shooter video games are typically used."

Consumers, armed with nothing more then a massively multiplayer game or 3D virtual world environment (such as World of Warcraft  or Second Life) are producing their own 30-60 second commercials and posting them on the likes of YouTube or Google Video.

MIT Advertising Lab and Futurelab Blog highlight the following examples:

• Beautiful (pictured above, a must-see), The Motel, and Video Camping for Nylon camera in Second Life (more info).
• An entry for Converse Gallery made in World of Warcraft.
• A spoof of the Bravia spot done in Battlefield 2 and a piece of MasterCard's "Priceless" theme in Halo.