Here’s a trailer for a documentary called Second Skin, screened in several festivals all over last year this film tells the story of MMO’s and the millions of people who play them. Most of us have played them, some of us have lost a friend to their addictive force, some of us have been that friend at some point.

Second Skin interviews people who’ve fallen in love inside a game, found an identity they like better than their real one. Stories of success and community and of alienation and nearly suicide. The DVD comes out August 25 and it will also have a limited big screen distribution starting on August 7th. I am LFG to see this film, anyone want to join my party and… ok I’ll stop now.

Today come to you two stories of real world insanity over virtual world crimes, its like a pulp fiction novel, only completely absurd. First up: romance, betrayal and revenge.

A 43 year old woman in Japan has been arrested for virtual murder of her online boyfriend’s Maple Story avatar. In-game the two characters were married and when one morning the woman found her character had been divorced overnight she log on to his account and deleted his character, effectively committing online murder. She faces 5 years in prison or a fine of up to $5000.

Next up, two teenagers in Amsterdam where sentenced to do community serviced after coercing a 13 year old boy into giving up a mask and an amulet in RuneScape. One boy got 200 hours, the other 160 hours of community service. At least no virtual lives were lost in this case.

[Yahoo News / News 24]

Portfolio.com has snagged an interview with EA CEO John Riccitiello, who was willing to talk about EA’s two MMO projects. The first is, of course, Warhammer online. No news there. The second though, is…

"And the one that people are dying for us to talk to them about — in partnership with Lucas, coming out of BioWare, which is, I think, quite possibly the most anticipated game, full stop, for the industry at the point when we get closer to telling you about it."
Does Riccitiello mean the oft rumored Knights of the Old Republic Online?  "Yes," he said.

So there you have it. KotOR online confirmed.

Portfolio.com