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Warcraft reaches max level in adorableness with Funko toys
Funko's Pop! Vinyl series of collectibles is recruiting heroes, villains and creatures alike for its second run of figures based on Blizzard's Warcraft universe, Toy News International reports. The series will include three standard, 3.75-inch tall figures: the Horde's former warchief, Thrall (as he appears in Warcraft 3), leader of the Forsaken, Sylvanas, and one of those lovable, gargling fish-men, a murloc. There will also be a "Super Sized" Deathwing figure, which stands at 6 inches tall and looks ... well, a heck of a lot less intimidating than when he shattered Azeroth's landscapes. The Pop! Games: World of Warcraft Series 2 figures will release in November. Thrall, Sylvanas and the murloc will cost $10, while Deathwing will sell for $16. [Image: Funko]
All hail Grommloc
If you were wondering what the BlizzCon 2014 pet was going to be, wonder no more, for it is Grommloc, the mightiest of murlocs. Announced via the official World of Warcraft twitter, this little guy will be available for those of us who get to attend BlizzCon this year, as well as those of us who purchase the Virtual Ticket. Personally, I find his little Gorehowl so freaking cute I can't damn well stand it. I hope he yells We will never mrrghlgrlrble slaves at some point, I really do. Oh, man, we need a lil' Pit Lord pet now for Grommloc to whack with his axe. Tiny murloc Mannoroth! You have to make this happen, Blizz.
Ride your own Darkmoon Carousel (sandbox) mounts
The wonderful Perculia of Wowhead fame tweeted today that she'd added a new vendor's items to the site, and it caught WoW Insider's collective eye, with our love for quirky items and the like. Just added this to the DMF guide, Gelvas Grimegate sells more sandbox rides in 5.1, looks like carousel rides: wowhead.com/npc=14828 - perculia (@perculia) December 5, 2012 Sandbox mounts that look like the Darkmoon Carousel? We had to check it out. It took a short while to locate the vendor, Gelvas Grimegate, very near to the carousel itself. But once we did, he had a huge array of sandbox mounts to sell, for only one Darkmoon Prize token for ten charges. What's the catch? With a deal as good as that, there's always a catch. And this is no exception. Sandbox mounts don't move, they are stuck to the ground by their springy stands, and simply undulate gently back and forth. What's more, that one Darkmoon Prize Token only buys you ten charges, but you can carry as many sets of those ten-charge items as you see fit. So you can only summon this incredibly entertaining wooden murloc ten times per purchase, and the same applies for the rest, of which there are many! Mists of Pandaria is here! The level cap has been raised to 90, many players have returned to Azeroth, and pet battles are taking the world by storm. Keep an eye out for all of the latest news, and check out our comprehensive guide to Mists of Pandaria for everything you'll ever need to know.
WoW Moviewatch: Murloc
It's the holidays and we're all dreaming of food and fish. That's what this Murloc is thinking about and it receives its fin-al desserts. (I'm sorry for the pun. Truly.) Frederik Lindbom's short masterpiece enjoys some of the finest animation you'll see, so it's worth a brief rerun while we're all preparing to get turkeyed up. It helps to watch Murloc on a larger screen. It's a fast movie so it won't chew up your bandwidth. Lindbom gave amazing fluidity and motion to our erstwhile hero, though, so watch the HD version for full effect. Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
WoW Archivist: 7 ways vanilla Wailing Caverns baffled us
WoW Archivist explores the secrets of World of Warcraft's past. What did the game look like years ago? Who is etched into WoW's history? What secrets does the game still hold? We've come a long, long way, haven't we, since the days of Wailing Caverns? The dungeons of Pandaria are gorgeous, vivid, and varied. The bosses are dynamic and engaging. The best way to appreciate what Blizzard is doing now is to look back at what they were doing eight years ago. Vanilla WoW's dungeons were not always so expertly crafted. Some dungeons, like Deadmines or Stratholme, were a big hit. Others, like Razorfen Downs, were not so warmly embraced. The popularity of vanilla's Wailing Caverns is not easy to nail down. For some, especially old school Horde players, they have fond memories of the place as the first real dungeon they experienced in WoW. For others, memories of endless hours wandering its unforgiving maze haunt them to this day. One thing is certain: vanilla Wailing Caverns runs led to a lot of questions -- questions that we no longer have to ask today when we step into a dungeon. Here are seven of them!
Meet Murkablo, the BlizzCon 2011 exclusive pet
BlizzCon 2011 attendees and live stream purchasers will receive a gift this year of Murkablo, an in-game companion pet resembling the fearsome Diablo, main antagonist in the third game bearing his name. From the included screenshot, Murkablo appears to burn characters with fearsome, fiery breath. Along with Murkablo, players will receive an as-of-yet unrevealed StarCraft 2 in-game gift. You can still purchase the BlizzCon Virtual Ticket at the site for $39.99, which gives you four channels, panels, game tournaments, the contests, and more, without actually having to run from panel to panel like we will be doing. Ever since Murkablo was datamined, players had been wondering if Murkablo was going to be this year's BlizzCon exclusive pet or a pack-in companion for Diablo 3's inevitable collector's edition. Since BlizzCon pets are usually of the murloc variety, it was a safe bet that Murkablo would be our new best friend come BlizzCon 2011. Official announcement and screenshot of fire-breathing action after the jump.
WoW TCG: Aftermath: Throne of the Tides adds monsters to the mix
As the Worldbreaker series comes to an end, we now turn to the aftermath of Deathwing's destructive awakening into Azeroth and the continued battle against the elements and the Twilight Hammer Cult. The newest WoW TCG expansion, Aftermath: Throne of the Tides, puts players in control of murloc, naga, and ogre heroes as exciting new additions to the WoW TCG hero lineup. Playing as some of the more monstrous races in the World of Warcraft universe is pretty cool, with all new keywords and abilities to take advantage of during gameplay. In addition, Throne of the Tides has been built from the ground up to be a smoother draft and sealed play experience, preparing even the newest players for fun, engaging tournament play. Read on to learn about the Epic Collection and the new in-game goodies that await TCG fans.
World of WarCrafts: Make your own amigurumi baby murloc for charity
This article has been brought to you by Seed, the Aol guest writer program that brings your words to WoW Insider's pages. Editor's note: Elizabeth Harac, creator of this amigurumi murloc, makes these adorable critters for a charity she established, Hands of Hope, which designed to help inspire and empower children in third-world countries. Read more about Hands of Hope, and join us after the break as Elizabeth shares the pattern along with a step-by-step photo guide on how to make your own amigurumi baby murloc. I have been doing various needlework since I was a child and Mother was trying to keep me still for more than five minutes. Last October, I had the idea that since needlework taught me a lot of things -- like self-confidence, purpose, planning, and relaxation -- it might be helpful as a skill or hobby to other people. I had seen a TV segment about a sewing program in the projects somewhere and how the confidence the girls had gained was flowing into schoolwork and other areas. My original idea was just to find ways to teach needlework to girls in third-world countries where they could use the skills to also raise money for themselves. I needed to make money to make embroidery teaching kits, so I started making amigurumi and selling them. Then I met Betty Makoni. She was a CNN Hero 2009. She runs the Girl Child Network Worldwide. She rescues girls in Africa who have been raped, abused, sold into slavery, forced to be child brides and worse. She loved the idea of the embroidery. In May 2010, we sent 52 kits to Zimbawbwe, and we have requests now for hundreds more. The girl are teaching each other; they are making clubs and using the time to talk about dreams, planning how to reach them, and working through the trauma of abuse. As a victim of rape and abuse myself, my heart went out to these girls.
BlizzCon 2010: Food cart sells Murloc baked goods, potions
The line to pick your badge for tomorrow's 2010 BlizzCon remains a bit of an endurance test. With hundreds of fellow players, you'll be waiting for hours in a line that snakes around the convention center. The usual array of pizza boxes and fast food wrappers lay strewn about, but there's one more relief for the hungry and afflicted line waiters this year. A food cart travels up and down the line, selling baked goods ostensibly provided by Cookie the Murloc, the Defias' chef, fruit from Stranglethorn Vale, sweets from Smokywood Pastures, and bottled water that doubles as a rejuvenation potion, according to the cart's sign. I have to say, those prices don't exactly inspire Heroism in me or anything, but hey. If you're hungry and stuck in line, you do what you gotta do. Maybe next year that Taco stand will finally rebrand themselves Murloco's Tacos. For high res pics of the cart and more, check the gallery below. %Gallery-105730% BlizzCon 2010 is upon us! WoW Insider has all the latest news and information. We're bringing you liveblogging of the WoW panels, interviews with WoW celebrities and attendees and of course, lots of pictures of people in costumes. It's all here at WoW Insider!
Know Your Lore: They are murloc
The World of Warcraft is an expansive universe. You're playing the game, you're fighting the bosses, you know the how -- but do you know the why? Each week, Matthew Rossi and Anne Stickney make sure you Know Your Lore by covering the history of the story behind World of Warcraft. If you're a troll, you owe your current faction to them. If you've leveled in Elwynn Forest, or on Bloodmyst Isle, or the Ghostlands, or the coast of Darkshore, or even in Durotar, you've heard their battle cry. If you've adventured in Northrend, you've learned that they can indeed speak and display intelligence, and in the upcoming Cataclysm, you'll discover that they suffer from the depredations of their ancient neighbors, the naga. Whether you've seen them in Serpentshrine Cavern, fought to free them on the Isle of Quel'Danas or tried to wipe them out in Blackfathom Depths, one thing is for certain. They are murloc. Murlocs may indeed be one of the oldest native races on Azeroth. It's clear that they are not one of the "seed races" created by the Titans or descended from said Titanic creations. No curse of flesh seems to be inherent in their origins. Like trolls and tauren, there is no known explanation for the existence of these aquatic folk. They simply are. Interestingly, murlocs are susceptible to the plague of undeath, but at least in one location, said murlocs retained their free will much as the Forsaken do. Beyond this part be spoilers for Cataclysm. For indeed, these piscean folk have many secrets to share and much wisdom to impart. World of Warcraft Lore - The Murlocs Several indicators from the murlocs themselves point to the possibility that the fish-men are but worshippers or underlings of perhaps several deep-sea monstrosities that currently lie sleeping, or at least waiting, in the murky fathoms – and even more disturbing, that the murlocs' emergence is an indication of their incipient awakening. source
Guest Post: 5 ways to become a master of disguise
This article has been brought to you by Seed, the Aol guest writer program that brings your words to WoW Insider. We've all experienced it: You're walking into Orgrimmar or Ironforge, intent on visiting the auction house to spend that gold jingling in your pocket, when suddenly you stop dead, dumbstruck. Your jaw goes slightly slack as you /awe in wonder. A strange creature unlike anything you've encountered before is dancing in the town square and emoting kisses to everyone nearby. A crowd has gathered. People are cheering. "That's neat ... and maybe a little weird," you silently muse as you crack a smile and continue on your way. I'm talking about player costumes. When the skin of your orc, troll, gnome or draenei becomes too heavy a burden, plenty of opportunities exist for a brief stay in the body of another creature (unless you're a druid, in which case you change forms all the time). These devices, elixirs and enchantments come in many shapes and stack sizes, but one key element runs through them all: They're a blast for the light-hearted player inside each of us. Ever wondered where they're from and how to get them? Wonder no more! Without further ado, I present five of the most delightfully awesome, portable, use-anywhere player costumes of all time. With Hallow's End just around the corner, you're sure to find something here that will suit you as you strut through your city of choice, sipping from a bottle of Autumnal Acorn Ale.
BlizzCon 2010 pet revealed
At last, it's begun. Who's the most adorable lava-coated mutant fish man ever? This year's BlizzCon exclusive pet, that's who! BlizzCon 2010 World of Warcraft & StarCraft II In-Game Items "Death will rise from the tide!" Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain once warned -- and at BlizzCon 2010, the band's dire musical prophecy will finally come to pass. Everyone who attends this year's BlizzCon or purchases the BlizzCon Virtual Ticket will receive an exclusive set of murlocalyptic in-game items for World of Warcraft and StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. World of Warcraft players will be joined by Deathy, a murloc companion decked out as Deathwing and doing his best to strike fear into the hearts of Azeroth's crustacean population. You'll also be able to display your tidal pride in StarCraft II with a Murloc Marine character portrait and a pair of deep-sea decals to emblazon on your units, each with a different terran, protoss, and zerg design. BlizzCon 2010 takes place on October 22 and 23 at the Anaheim Convention Center. For further details or to order the BlizzCon Virtual Ticket, visit www.BlizzCon.com. source Oh, Deathy. You complete me. I think I will have no other choice but to order the PPV of BlizzCon this yeah, because I can't make the flight to Anaheim and I simply must have this pet. This is the most ridiculously awesome volcanic monstrosity I have ever seen in my entire life. (Yes, even you pale before him, Gorthamal. Sorry.) For more details, check out the BlizzCon site.
Murloc stein available for pre-order
I have bad memories of elementary school art class. My art teacher used to scare us into behaving by warning us that if we got a single drip of ceramic paint on our skin, we'd die from blood poisoning. That said, it seems appropriate that I am now telling you that there is a new ceramic stein in Taverncraft's World of Warcraft Epic Collection steins series, featuring Azeroth's deadliest aquatic antagonists: murlocs. The mug is endearingly titled RAWGRLRLRLRRLGLRL!!! and features a Winterfin Oracle, Bluefin Murloc, and a Murloc Tidehunter. There is also a wonderfully creepy, open-mouthed murloc head protruding from the stein's pewter lid. Unlike ceramics class, this stein won't kill you ... Well, it shouldn't kill you. The mug will ship in September, and is currently available for a pre-order price of $89.99 USD until Sunday, June 13th, 2010. After that, the normal price of $99.99 USD will apply. Taverncraft is responsible for various other licensed World of Warcraft steins, which you can find on their website. %Gallery-94890%
Mrghlllghh! Real-life murlocs?
It seems that Azeroth and Earth have more in common than pop culture references and noise pollution. Meet the handfish, an Earth-dwelling fish found in the waters of southeastern Australia that is oddly reminiscent our favorite aquatic Azerothians, the murlocs. As their name implies, handfish have hand-shaped fins which they use to walk on the ocean floor instead of swimming. (Check out this video if you want to see one ambling about.) According to National Geographic, the handfish are no new discovery on Earth, but a recent scientific review evaluating the known populations of the fish have identified nine new species. The new species were determined on a number of traits, such as the number of vertebrae and fin rays, coloration and more. Like murlocs, handfish are a scientific mystery in terms of behavior and biology, but unlike murlocs, this is due to their low population and small geographic occurrence. They are considered critically endangered, something Azeroth's adventurers only wish they could say about murlocs. As many of our tipsters have pointed out, the handfish certainly do resemble WoW murlocs in a way, especially when you look at all the color varieties. I wonder what kind of sounds they make or if they can hold anything with those little hands? You know, like little sharpened spears? Perhaps Ghostcrawler, marine expert that he is, has some thoughts on how capable these little guys are or at least some insight on any connections that might exist between them and the murlocs of Azeroth. Check out our murloc gallery and let us know what you think! %Gallery-93799%
Reminder: Vote for your favorite plushie photo
Have you voted in the Plushie Photo Contest yet? Today is the last day to choose your favorite Plushie in the Wild and Plushie in Captivity. As of this writing, Muzz is currently in the lead in the Captivity contest and it's neck and neck between Jowell and Thatshot in the Wild contest. Time is running out for you to affect the outcome. Vote now in the polls after the break.
Vote for the Plushie Photo Contest winners
We asked you to show us your plushies and many of you sent in entries to both the Plushie in Captivity and Plushie in the Wild contests. We have narrowed down the finalists for you to vote on in each category. Once the votes have been tallied and the winners announced, we'll put all of the entries in the galleries for you to enjoy. You have until Friday, March 19th to vote for your favorite in each category. Galleries and polls are after the break.
Photo Contest reminder: Show us your plushies
The Spawn got her Wind Rider Cub on Friday and it has since been slept with, rained on and taken for a ride with Barbie. His name is now Lionel and he has become good friends with Murky the Murloc. Together they embark on great adventures and battle the nefarious deeds of the Darth Vader Happy Meal toy. (Don't get me started on the fact that McDonalds believes that Star Wars is for boys and iCarly is for girls. Seriously.) Have you shown us your plushies yet? We have some really great entries already, but yours could be even better. You have until midnight, March 10th to send us your photos of your Plushie in the Wild and/or Plushie in Captivity. WoWTCGLoot.com has generously provided the loot codes for the prizes. All of the contest details are after the break.
Plushie Photo Contest: Show us your plushies
So you hopped into the Blizzard Store and ordered yourself a plushie or two. Or maybe you picked up one from BlizzCon. Regardless, there you are, with at least one official Blizzard stuffed toy. Whether you collect them for yourself or have a child for whom you say that you bought them, you have one or more in your home... but now what? Does he sit on your desk? Does he sit on your lap? Is he used to recreate famous in-game battles? And the most important question of all: have you taken pictures of it? We here at WoW.com want to see your best plushie photos. There will be two categories: Plushies in The Wild and Plushies in Captivity. We will narrow down the best of both categories and offer them up to the readers for voting. The top three of each category will receive loot codes, provided by WoWTCGLoot.com. Details are after the break.
World of WarCrafts: Sweet but not spineless
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music and fan fiction. Show us how you express yourself; contact our tips line (attention: World of WarCrafts) with your not-for-profit, WoW-inspired creations. Admit it: You thought murlocs were spineless little critters, didn't you? Take a peek inside our gallery, below, and you'll see that even this sweet little fellow boasts his share of backbone -- literally. World of WarCrafts visited with Bradley Barger (aka Monmanteau of US Stormreaver), one of the winners of this year's WoW Holiday Dessert Contest, for a taste of the inspiration behind his winning creation. What we discovered beneath this little guy's skin (a backbone of steel!) was more spine than we ever expected from a murloc. The creation is based around a metal armature, which Bradley covered with cereal-based cake and butter cream, then finished with fondant for a smooth texture. The spines are made from colored sugar, melted and cut to shape. The pond water is fashioned from a high-temperature molten sugar mixture, poured it into a frame of fondant. %Gallery-81316% Continue past the break for an interview with Bradley on how he cooked up this sweet success.
World of WarCrafts: The littlest Murloc
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music and fan fiction. Show us how you express yourself; contact our tips line (attention: World of WarCrafts) with your not-for-profit, WoW-inspired creations. And you thought we were done with Halloween references! We simply couldn't resist wrapping up the season with this latecomer: a young Murloc from the family of Tyrialfrozen of US Ursin. The little gurgler's mother adapted the costume from a Wal-Mart baby tiger costume pattern. Her instructions, as channeled through Tyrialfrozen: "Follow the pattern for the body. There wasn't anything special, just good old sewing machine and scissors. The same was done to make the main part of the head. Next was the blue and white stripes, which were sewed directly on the head. For the red hair/spikes, she cut out long strips and soaked them in half-and-half water/glue and then cut up the bottom. They were then sewn into the head through small cuts. "The eyes were ping-pong balls that got cut in half and painted. In order to get them on the head, she had to hot glue them to some string, which then was sewn on. Next, she added some white fleece teeth, and to cover everything up, she put in a red fleece layer in the head. In order to close the front, she added some Velcro. Last was some red trim and 'feet' and a zipper." We've got a full gallery showing the construction process as well as the finished product (and something extra), after the break.
