Activision sent out a missive today tooting their own horn about the excellent machinima The French Democracy. We first wrote about this last month, after Clive Thompson pointed it out. The machinima, created with The Movies, is a short about the riots in France that uses the dramatized lives of three black French citizens who follow different paths but all end up rioting.

Activision points out that the short, made by French designer Alex Chan, has attracted international media attention showing up in the Washington Post, MTV, Business Week and 20 Minutes. (A French newspaper with a circulation of more than 800,000)

They also got comment from their own Peter Molyneux.

With The Movies we wanted to make a game that allows anyone to easily express themselves by making a short film and posting them online to share with the world. Alex s film, which is absolutely terrific, really demonstrates the potential power and impact that these films can have.

And from Chan himself.

I did not expect such a reaction to my little home-made movie, but I have spread some human values that are important to me. I'm very happy that The French Democracy has moved so many people, even if it is not always in a positive way. I'm very glad and proud that this movie may help people to think a bit more.

It's nice to see a game that is not only fun to play, but is also a palette for those creative enough to use it.

A Thinking Man's Machinima [Kotaku]