On this episode of And Now For Something Completely Machinima, Damien, Tracy and Ricky dive into one of Machinima.com’s most unexpected gems: the documentary series “All Your History Are Belong To Us”, focusing on the Stamper brothers and their legendary studio, Rare.

💬 We talk about how the series charts Rare’s rise from a small UK outfit in Ashby-de-la-Zouch to a powerhouse behind classics like Donkey Kong Country, GoldenEye 007, and later Sea of Thieves – highlighting their pioneering use of pre-rendered 3D graphics and their influence on console FPS games. Ricky explains why, despite his misgivings about machinima.com, this more serious, low-flash, history-focused series stands out as a true passion project by writer/director Nicholas Werner, packed with fascinating early game footage.

Tracy brings in her deep-dive research: the meme origins of the title, the messy archival trail across YouTube, Rooster Teeth and the Internet Archive, the handover of the series, and why such valuable historical content never hit the popularity Machinima.com wanted. Together, we explore the cultural importance of the show, Rare’s place in UK games history, and why All Your History is now a kind of hidden treasure for anyone interested in game development and machinima’s legacy — all while Phil is, of course, busy “moving to Mars.”

Credits
Hosts: Ricky Grove, Damien Valentine, Tracy Harwood
Producer: Damien Valentine
Editor: Phil Rice
Music: Phil Rice & Suno AI

In this episode of Completely Machinima, hosts Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood, and Damien Valentine explore the stunning AI-powered operatic machinima “Arido Taurajo” — a groundbreaking short film created by Chantal Harvey (aka Mamachinima) in collaboration with digital artist James Morgan, AI composer Roboccini and soprano/AI researcher Maya Ackerman, among others.

🎮 About the Film:
Set in the World of Warcraft universe, Arido Taurajo tells the story of Dahlia, a female warrior torn between family life and adventure. The film combines AI-generated music with human performance, blending digital game visuals and classical opera in a visually rich and emotionally resonant experience.

💡 Discussion Highlights:

• The role of AI in creative filmmaking and music generation.
• How Roboccini, trained on Puccini operas, composed the film’s aria.
• Chantal Harvey’s filmmaking process inside World of Warcraft.
• Insights into AI ethics, creative authorship, and collaboration.
• The film’s connection to the EU COST Action Grassroots of Digital Europe (GRADE) project, celebrating women and minorities in creative technology.

✨ Whether you’re into AI art, machinima, digital filmmaking, or World of Warcraft, this episode dives deep into the fusion of technology, music, and storytelling.

Credits -

🎙️ Hosts: Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood, and Damien Valentine
Producer/Editor: Phil Rice
🎵 Music: Phil Rice & Suno AI

#Machinima #CompletelyMachinima #AIArt #ArtificialIntelligence #AIMusic #WorldofWarcraft #ChantalHarvey #MayaAckerman #DigitalArt #FanFilm #VirtualProduction #AIOpera #CreativeAI #MachinimaPodcast #AridoTaurajo

In this episode of Completely Machinima, hosts Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood, and Damien Valentine review two creative Star Citizen machinima commercials — Dumpers Depot and Big Benny’s Grab Eats — both made for a Star Citizen video contest.

They explore how these 45-second in-game ads show off community creativity, storytelling, and production skills. Tracy breaks down what made Dumpers Depot Commercial more sophisticated in design and sound, while Big Benny’s... Grab Eat took home the win with its humor and clever use of Star Citizen lore.

💬 In This Episode:

• Star Citizen machinima film analysis: Dumpers Depot vs Big Benny’s Grab Eat
• How short-form machinima builds game lore and community engagement
• The potential for fan contests to uncover new creative talent
• Ideas for a future Completely Machinima short film contest

🎮 Whether you’re a Star Citizen fan, machinima creator, or just love game-based filmmaking, this episode dives into how fan films bring virtual worlds to life.

#StarCitizen #Machinima #CompletelyMachinima #FanFilm #GameFilm #DumpersDepot #BigBennys #StarCitizenMachinima #GameContest #ShortFilm #Podcast

Credits -
Hosts: Phil Rice, Damien Valentine, Tracy Harwood
Editor/Producer: Phil Rice
Music: Phil Rice & Suno AI

We're beginning Season 6 with one of the best machinima-animated shorts we've ever seen (probably)!

🎥 Back to the Future UNHINGED, Machinima Film Made in Blender

In this episode of The Completely Machinima Podcast, hosts Phil Rice, Damien Valentine, and Tracy Harwood review “Back to the Future Unhinged”, a viral machinima short film by Landon’s Animation Wheelhouse, created entirely in Blender 3D.

This chaotic, hilarious reimagining of Doc Brown and Marty’s adventures has racked up 700,000+ views and showcases incredible 3D animation, storytelling, and sound design. It’s packed with visual gags, cinematic camera work, and even a Doom scream!

🎬 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• The brilliance behind Back to the Future Unhinged and why it feels both planned and chaotic
• How Landon built the film’s world entirely in Blender (not a video game engine!)
• The hosts’ breakdown of the film’s humor, detail, and love for the original trilogy
• Landon’s backstory as a young animator with huge potential in film and game design
• The film’s connection to the 40th anniversary of Back to the Future
• Why even Dr. Helen Sharman, the UK’s first astronaut, reacted to the film!

Credits -
Speakers: Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood, Damien Valentine
Editor/Producer: Phil Rice
Music: Phil Rice & Suno AI

🎬 Ricky’s Wonderful World of Sound – Footsteps

In episode 5 of our Maker Series, Ricky Grove explores the often-overlooked power of footstep sound design — and how something as simple as a single step can define mood, build tension, and reveal character.

👣 What You’ll Learn:
How footstep sounds convey location, emotion, and suspense in film.
Why footsteps in the Spanish horror series 30 Coins masterfully foreshadow violence.
The challenges of using video game sound libraries for cinematic sound design.
Practical tips on recording and manipulating ambient sounds for realism.
How to find free, high-quality sounds using Creative Commons resources like freesound.org

🎧 Ricky breaks down how to use sound not just as background, but as storytelling — helping filmmakers, sound designers, and creators elevate their craft through the language of footsteps.

#SoundDesign #Filmmaking #MakerSeries #RickyGrove #FilmSound #FoleyArt #AudioDesign #HorrorFilm #CinematicSound #CreativeCommons #FreeSound #30Coins #Suspense #IndieFilm #FilmTips #machinima

About Ricky Grove
Ricky Grove is an award-winning actor, director, voice artist, and sound designer with decades of experience in stage, film, and virtual production.

After earning his BFA in Directing from Arizona State University and a Master’s in Acting from the Yale School of Drama, Ricky built a rich career in theatre and television, appearing in works such as Army of Darkness and ER. In the late 1990s, he became a pioneer in the machinima community, collaborating with trailblazers like Hugh Hancock, Phil Rice, and Jason Choi.

His contributions as a voice director, actor, and sound designer have shaped many award-winning early machinima films. He’s hosted festivals, championed the art form, and continues to share his passion as co-host of the Completely Machinima Podcast.

The first episodes of Ricky’s Wonderful World of Sound were originally created for the early-2000s machinima podcast The Overcast. This updated series expands his original teachings, offering timeless advice for creating powerful sound in machinima.

Credits -
Speaker / Producer / Sound Editor: Ricky Grove
Visuals & Music: Phil Rice

🎃 Halloween Special | Ricky’s Wonderful World of Sounds: MONSTERS! 👹

This Halloween, step into the dark side of Ricky’s Wonderful World of Sounds — where we explore the terrifying art of monster sound design! 🧟‍♂️

What do monsters really sound like? From the primal screeches that haunted early humans to the eerie, unearthly noises that send chills down modern audiences’ spines — this episode reveals how sound designers craft the perfect scare.

Discover:
🔊 Why you should hear the monster before you see it
🦴 How altered animal and environmental sounds create fear
🧬 The science of sound that taps into our instinctive fight-or-flight response
🎥 Classic monster sound examples from “Them!”, Godzilla, Predator, The Exorcist, and more

Whether you’re a filmmaker, sound designer, or just a Halloween horror fan, this episode will make you listen to fear in a whole new way.

💀 Subscribe, turn up the volume, and enter the world where sound becomes terror.

Ricky Grove shares his expert insights on using ambient sound to bring machinima to life, offering practical tips and creative ideas you can apply to your own projects. Whether you’re crafting your first indie animation or refining your cinematic game scenes, you’ll be inspired and better equipped to design unforgettable soundscapes.

About Ricky Grove
Ricky Grove is an award-winning actor, director, voice artist, and sound designer with decades of experience in stage, film, and virtual production. After earning his BFA in Directing from Arizona State University and a Master’s in Acting from the Yale School of Drama, Ricky built a rich career in theatre and television, appearing in works such as Army of Darkness and ER.

In the late 1990s, he became a pioneer in the machinima community, collaborating with trailblazers like Hugh Hancock, Phil Rice, and Jason Choi. His contributions as a voice director, actor, and sound designer have shaped many award-winning early machinima films. He’s hosted festivals, championed the art form, and continues to share his passion as co-host of the Completely Machinima Podcast.

The first episodes of Ricky’s Wonderful World of Sound were originally created for the early-2000s machinima podcast The Overcast. This updated series expands his original teachings, offering timeless advice for creating powerful sound in machinima.

🎧 Tip: For the best experience, close your eyes and immerse yourself in Ricky’s words.

Credits

• Speaker / Producer / Sound Editor: Ricky Grove
• Visuals, Monsters & Music: Phil Rice

#Machinima #SoundDesign #Filmmaking #3DAnimation #GameEngines #MonsterSounds #HorrorMovies #IndieFilm #VoiceActing

🕯️ Maker Series: Phil’s Music Notes – [Horror] Intervals 👻

🎃 A pre-Halloween special exploring the dark side of sound.

At its core, music is a game of intervals — the spaces between notes that define every melody, every emotion. Even without musical training, we instinctively recognize the cheerful sound of a major chord or the melancholy of a minor. But some intervals go far beyond sad or happy… some are unnerving, unsettling, even evil.

In this pre-Halloween edition of Phil’s Music Notes, we dive into the tritone, the infamous “Devil’s Interval.” Once banned by tradition and feared for its dissonance, this interval has haunted music for centuries — from John Williams’ shark-infested tension in Jaws, to John Carpenter’s chilling Halloween theme, to the thunder of Holst’s Mars, the chaos of Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain, and the heavy riffs of Black Sabbath and Metallica. 🎸

But there’s more to this sinister sound — it’s also at the heart of jazz harmony. Those lush, complex 7th chords you hear? They’re built on the same mysterious tritone. The very interval once deemed forbidden became the key to modern expression. In this episode, we’ll explore how this interval transformed from symbol of darkness to a cornerstone of musical color — and how you can use it to bring new life (or afterlife 👀) to your own compositions. For a full list of playlist Phil refers to, go to our Show Notes here: https://completelymachinima.com/maker-series-e2-phils-music-notes-horror-intervals/

🎧 About Phil Rice aka @zsOverman

Phil Rice is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, filmmaker, and storyteller whose creative work bridges the worlds of music, technology, and narrative art. With a background spanning rock, jazz, and digital media, Phil brings a uniquely analytical yet deeply emotional perspective to music theory and composition. His Maker Series: Phil’s Music Notes explores the building blocks of sound and how they shape the way we feel, think, and create — from timeless harmonic traditions to modern experimental sounds. Phil’s original music has appeared in independent films, multimedia projects, and his own albums, including Mad Hominem, where his song “Walking Papers” features a deliberate use of the tritone explored in this episode.

Through his work, Phil continues to celebrate the craftsmanship and curiosity at the heart of making music.

🧠 Listen. Learn. Create. Subscribe for more reviews, tips and hints 🔔 Don’t miss the next deep dive into the world where sound meets story.

For a full list of works referenced in this episode, go to our show notes web page.

Credits -
Producer/Editor: Phil Rice
Music: Phil Rice

#Makerseries #PhilsMusicNotes #HalloweenSpecial #MusicTheory #Tritone #DevilsInterval #HorrorMusic #JazzHarmony #FilmScore #Composing #MusicEducation #PhilRice

How do you make virtual worlds sound real? 🎧

In this episode of Ricky’s Wonderful World of Sound, Ricky Grove reveals the secrets of sound frequency—the subtle audio magic that transforms machinima and 3D game-engine films into unforgettable experiences. Perfect for filmmakers, animators, and sound lovers alike.

🎬 Ricky’s Wonderful World of Sound – Ambient Sound in Machinima

Discover how sound transforms storytelling in filmmaking, with a deep dive into frequency—the subtle audio that sets mood, builds atmosphere, and immerses your audience. This episode focuses on machinima—films created using 3D game engines and virtual worlds—making it a must-watch for filmmakers, sound designers, game creators, and animation enthusiasts.

Ricky Grove shares his expert insights on using sound frequency to bring machinima to life, offering practical tips and creative ideas you can apply to your own projects. Whether you’re crafting your first indie animation or refining your cinematic game scenes, you’ll be inspired and better equipped to design unforgettable soundscapes.

About Ricky Grove
Ricky Grove is an award-winning actor, director, voice artist, and sound designer with decades of experience in stage, film, and virtual production. After earning his BFA in Directing from Arizona State University and a Master’s in Acting from the Yale School of Drama, Ricky built a rich career in theatre and television, appearing in works such as Army of Darkness and ER.

In the late 1990s, he became a pioneer in the machinima community, collaborating with trailblazers like Hugh Hancock, Phil Rice, and Jason Choi. His contributions as a voice director, actor, and sound designer have shaped many award-winning early machinima films. He’s hosted festivals, championed the art form, and continues to share his passion as co-host of the Completely Machinima Podcast.

The first episodes of Ricky’s Wonderful World of Sound were originally created for the early-2000s machinima podcast The Overcast. This updated series expands his original teachings, offering timeless advice for creating powerful sound in machinima.

🎧 Tip: For the best experience, close your eyes and immerse yourself in Ricky’s words.

Credits

• Speaker / Producer / Sound Editor: Ricky Grove
• Visuals & Music: Phil Rice

#Machinima #SoundDesign #Filmmaking #3DAnimation #GameEngines #AmbientSound #VirtualWorlds #IndieFilm #VoiceActing