Chanel Untold
Creator: Hardy Capo, Callous Productions
Game engine: Moviestorm

When you think of “Machinima”, you might not immediately think of movies about fashion designer Coco Chanel. But this genuinely fascinating piece explores her relationship with the Nazi leaders in France during World War II. It’s moody, it doesn’t look anything like a computer game, and it’s genuinely engaging - as well as being about as far away from the traditional image of Machinima as it’s possible to get.

Clockwork
Creator: Iain Friar, IceAxe
Game engine: Moviestorm

It’s present day in weird alternate future and, though the clockwork radio announcers tell the public there’s no crisis, a policeman is chasing a government-sponsored gang of violent thugs. If a mixture of “V for Vendetta” and “Clockwork Orange” sounds like your cup of tea - with gorgeous, harsh, atmospheric visuals to boot - check this short film out.

Shelf Life
Creator: Pixel Eyes Productions
Game engine: Half Life 2

Half-Life 2 is famous for having some of the most realistic characters in computer gaming, and that’s put to great advantage in this slick, engaging series - the plot of which has nothing to do with the computer game. There are mysterious medical experiments, a shadowy corporation, great voice acting, dialogue and cinematography. Quake movies this ain’t.

The Demise
Creator: Daniel Wasiluk
Game engine: World of Warcraft

And now for something completely ... sweet. Apparently, the creator of this lovely World Of Warcraft film edited every single frame in Photoshop - and it shows. You’ve never seen World Of Warcraft look like this beautiful, almost Disney-esque love story.

The Monad
Creator: Sam Goldwater
Game engine: Half-Life 2

If you only see one machinima film this year, you should seriously consider this one. Also made in Half-Life 2, this is a complex story about virtual worlds and their effects on humanity, set in a dystopian future that uses the Source engine to create a stunning atmosphere you’d struggle to match on a £100,000 budget in real life. Sam Goldwater, the director, is one of those people whom you expect to see in Hollywood in a few years time - in the meantime, don’t watch this because it’s good Machinima, but just because it’s a good film, period.