CMDR Michael Holyland and his Elite Dangerous story on Netflix

[Sir.Tj]

For those who have been here on the forums and other social media outlets for a little while, you will I'm sure remember the poignant story of one of our very own CMDR Michael Holyland and the Elite Community who rallied around him in his final days.

The story of how this wonderful community, content creators, Frontier Developments and it's staff joined together in Michaels final days is now part of a Netflix program called Not a Game which looks at the complex relationship with gamers and their families.

Little bit of the backstory:

In May 2019 Michaels Uncle Mat (@Freebooted) reached out to the Elite Dangerous community and of course the Devs and Community responded in a incredible show of support, kindness and the true spirit of the game.

Matts thread.

Michael's Journey Through the Stars​

The Community flooded Mat and Michael with messages of support, ideas, advice, generosity and kindness. Frontier visited Michael at Addenbrooke’s hospital, Cambridge with lots of Elite gifts.

@Zac Antonaci suggested to Mat the idea of an audiobook and once agreed by the family Frontier staff of who there were many lead by Zac and Joe Hogan quickly leapt into action and in collaboration with Elite Dangerous author @drew Wagar, Voice actors Richard Reed, Jay Britton and Amelia Tyler worked tirelessly to create this incredible audiobook in under 24 hours with a foreword by David Braben.

As you can imagine Michael was delighted by this and got to hear his very own Elite Dangerous story just before he sadly passed to the stars and beyond.

Per ardua ad astra Michael.

o7



Links below

Michael's Story - Elite Dangerous Ebook and Audiobook​

A Guardian news piece on the story.

How a video game community filled my nephew's final days with joy​

Link to the program Michaels story starts at 65mins.
Netflix: Not a game

Update: @Phoenix_Dfire let me know the BBC has done a radio documentary on Michaels story as well.

BBC Sounds - This Game Changed My Life, Mat: Space Buddies and Fuel Rats

How video games gave Mat and his nephew Michael hope in their darkest hour.

www.bbc.co.uk

​

 

[MINDWIPE]

For those who have been here on the forums and other social media outlets for a little while, you will I'm sure remember the poignant story of one of our very own CMDR Michael Holyland and the Elite Community who rallied around him in his final days.

The story of how this wonderful community, content creators, Frontier Developments and it's staff joined together in Michaels final days is now part of a Netflix program called Not a Game which looks at the complex relationship with gamers and their families.

Little bit of the backstory:

In May 2019 Michaels Uncle Matt (@Freebooted) reached out to the Elite Dangerous community and of course the Devs and Community responded in a incredible show of support, kindness and the true spirit of the game.

Matts thread.

Michael's Journey Through the Stars​

The Community flooded Matt and Michael with messages of support, ideas, advice, generosity and kindness. Frontier visited Michael at Addenbrooke’s hospital, Cambridge with lots of Elite gifts.

@Zac Antonaci suggested to Matt the idea of an audiobook and once agreed by the family Frontier staff of who there were many lead by Zac and Joe Hogan quickly leapt into action and in collaboration with Elite Dangerous author @drew Wagar, Voice actors Richard Reed, Jay Britton and Amelia Tyler worked tirelessly to create this incredible audiobook in under 24 hours with a foreword by David Braben.

As you can imagine Michael was delighted by this and got to hear his very own Elite Dangerous story just before he sadly passed to the stars and beyond.

Per ardua ad astra Michael.

o7



Links below

Michael's Story - Elite Dangerous Ebook and Audiobook​

A Guardian news piece on the story.

How a video game community filled my nephew's final days with joy​

Link to the program Michaels story starts at 65mins.
Netflix: Not a game

View attachment 216666

​

Just watched this on Netflix.. Very touching about Micheal and also with Special Effect etc also...

i thought it was a tadd too heavy on the E-sports elements but there are alot of things in there with game addiction, life style culture and mental health also wich i can relate to with my own son approach to game, which have never been really able to showcase to some family and friends so have reccommended this to them to get an eye opener.

None the less very well thought out pretty accurate on the positives and negatives and a great tribute to community spirit for Micheal and again to charity's like special Effect (plus it was cool to see Drew, Zac John and Paige make an apperance

 

[Fost]

Just watched and the segment about Michael was both heartbreaking and lovely. Really appreciate what the team at Frontier did.

 

[LifesAJourney]

The part which is the most interesting for us is indeed very touching. The whole document, however, is worth watching. Thanks for sharing!

 

[DaveBurn]

I've just finished watching this after seeing it shared on Twitter. It's a good documentary covering different areas of gaming, and how people have been changed by it, for the good or bad.

The section about Michael was touching, and fits in with the Elite community as a whole. What they did for one of their players says a lot about the people involved in this game.

Thank you Elite: Dangerous

o7 Cmdr

 

[Skollxbox]

o7

 

[lq0501]

o7

 

[Gully Foyle]

Thanks TJ !

 

[BirdWisdom]

o7

 

[Susanna]

For those who have been here on the forums and other social media outlets for a little while, you will I'm sure remember the poignant story of one of our very own CMDR Michael Holyland and the Elite Community who rallied around him in his final days.

The story of how this wonderful community, content creators, Frontier Developments and it's staff joined together in Michaels final days is now part of a Netflix program called Not a Game which looks at the complex relationship with gamers and their families.

Little bit of the backstory:

In May 2019 Michaels Uncle Mat (@Freebooted) reached out to the Elite Dangerous community and of course the Devs and Community responded in a incredible show of support, kindness and the true spirit of the game.

Matts thread.

Michael's Journey Through the Stars​

The Community flooded Mat and Michael with messages of support, ideas, advice, generosity and kindness. Frontier visited Michael at Addenbrooke’s hospital, Cambridge with lots of Elite gifts.

@Zac Antonaci suggested to Mat the idea of an audiobook and once agreed by the family Frontier staff of who there were many lead by Zac and Joe Hogan quickly leapt into action and in collaboration with Elite Dangerous author @drew Wagar, Voice actors Richard Reed, Jay Britton and Amelia Tyler worked tirelessly to create this incredible audiobook in under 24 hours with a foreword by David Braben.

As you can imagine Michael was delighted by this and got to hear his very own Elite Dangerous story just before he sadly passed to the stars and beyond.

Per ardua ad astra Michael.

o7



Links below

Michael's Story - Elite Dangerous Ebook and Audiobook​

A Guardian news piece on the story.

How a video game community filled my nephew's final days with joy​

Link to the program Michaels story starts at 65mins.
Netflix: Not a game

Update: @Phoenix_Dfire let me know the BBC has done a radio documentary on Michaels story as well.

BBC Sounds - This Game Changed My Life, Mat: Space Buddies and Fuel Rats

How video games gave Mat and his nephew Michael hope in their darkest hour.

www.bbc.co.uk

View attachment 216666

​

Just watched Not A Game - interesting documentary! Thanks for the heads up

 

[Freebooted]

I'm glad folk are seeing and enjoying the documentary. Filming was a strange, jarring experience at the time, but I'm glad we did. Memory is a funny thing, especially at times of stress and this serves as a record to remind me of the positives that can be found in tragedy. And the film as a whole is a body of work I think Michael would have been proud to contribute to.

 

[KhaiJB]

watched the segment...
welled up.. and saluted the last image of him for real.

 

[Raliel]

will watch it now

 

[VR Nupol]

is there a memorial ingame so i can salute this brave cmdr?

 

[Glamdring]

When Leonard Nimoy passed, the team that made Star Trek online made a memorial in game. It would be nice for Frontier to make something like this, that players can go and visit.
I am not a fan of documentaries that talk about gaming, but this one was quite accurate; sorry for the loss.

 

[Gully Foyle]

I'm glad folk are seeing and enjoying the documentary. Filming was a strange, jarring experience at the time, but I'm glad we did. Memory is a funny thing, especially at times of stress and this serves as a record to remind me of the positives that can be found in tragedy. And the film as a whole is a body of work I think Michael would have been proud to contribute to.

I totally agree and best wishes to you!

 

[Deleted member 115407]

Belated sympathies.

 

[Freebooted]

is there a memorial ingame so i can salute this brave cmdr?

Hi Nupol,

there's no specific in-game memorial for Michael that I'm aware of, but his last act was to undock from New Growth asteroid base in the Pencil Sector EL-Y D5 system as we were embarking on an expedition to gather guardian artifacts. For me, New Growth is Michael's 'base camp' to his next life.

Yesterday was the 2nd anniversary of his death and I flew there to re-read his crematorium eulogy on my Twitch channel. You can watch the clip here.

 

[Werewolf13]

Thanks @OP.

Watched the whole video. So eye opening, enlightening, informative, heartbreaking and heartwarming.

 

[Breytac]

Was definitely eye-opening,especially with regard to e-sport. I had no idea it had become so competitive. And the Cmdr Michael Holyland segment was hearbreaking. But, he was a true warrior right up to the end, never gave up. May he be celebrating his victories with the rest of those cmdrs who have left us.