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Travels through Azeroth and Outland comes to a close
I've been pretty vocal in the past about my intense love for Travels through Azeroth and Outland. It's a five-year, player-penned travelogue that takes readers on an expansive journey through every zone in the pre-Cataclysm game. Over the years, it's attracted a lot of attention due to the incredible quality of its writing and storytelling. Not only does it have its own TV Tropes entry, but even Blizzard's taken notice, and we've gotten the opportunity to interview its writer. Even if you're not a roleplayer or all that interested in WoW's lore, Travels has an unsettling capacity to get you thinking about the deeper implications of the game's quests and become absorbed in the narrator's observations. It is, quite simply, one of the best pieces of fan fiction I've ever read and a hugely addictive story. If you haven't read it, please do. You will never see the game the same way again. But, as with all good things, Travels has reached its end. While Zac, its author, plans to post some story cues related to the Cataclysm expansion on his travelogue's forums, he's wrapped up the main storyline, and our beloved narrator -- a Forsaken named Destron Allicant -- is riding off into the sunset. I was lucky enough to talk extensively with Zac about what spurred the travelogue, how he sees the various Azerothian races, and good versus evil in Blizzard's universe.
World of WarCrafts: World of Geekcraft giveaway
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music, fan fiction and more. Sample the whole spectrum on our Arts and Crafts in WoW page. Feeling a little crafty? Have we got a giveaway for you! We're giving away three copies of World of Geekcraft, a collection of 25 crafting projects sure to satisfy any geek. Organized by difficulty, this book features crafts paying homage to everything from Oregon Trail to D20 jewelry designs, including a WoW-themed tote bag designed by former World of WarCrafts author Shelbi Roach of The Bronze Kettle. Ever want to make your very own tribble? A Coraline sewing box? How about a quilt hiding a message in Morse code? This book absolutely has you covered. To enter for a chance to win, leave a comment on this post before 11:59 p.m. ET, Friday, May 27, 2011. Winners must be 18 years of age or older and a legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec). Only one entry per person please, and make sure your email address is one that you check frequently -- that's what we'll be using to get hold of you. We'll be picking three winners at random. Here are our official rules -- good luck! Edit: Contest closed, thanks everyone! World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including arts and crafts, fan art, WoW-themed recipes, comics, cosplay, music and fan fiction. Show us how you express yourself by emailing anne@wowinsider.com with your not-for-profit, WoW-inspired creations.
NASA abandons Mars rover Spirit, chooses to remember the good times
More than a year after it first lost contact with its Mars rover Spirit, NASA has finally decided to throw in the towel. Yesterday, the agency confirmed that it will end all planned communications with the robot on May 25th, effectively ending the craft's seven-year mission. NASA was hoping that the approaching Martian spring would allow the Spirit to recharge its solar panels and re-establish radio contact, but it now appears that the craft sustained irreparable damage last winter, when it was forced to endure brutally cold temperatures. NASA executive David Lavery, however, says the rover team will remember the Spirit more for its achievements than its slow demise: "I think we'll all sit around and have a sip of Guinness and reminisce about when Spirit was a wee small little rover and look back at the accomplishments and successes rover had over its entire lifetime." So the Spirit's spirit will live on, but what about NASA's mission to Mars? Well, the Opportunity is still in good health and, later this year, will be joined by the next-generation, nuclear-powered rover Curiosity, which will investigate whether or not Mars ever supported life forms. Meanwhile, NASA's network of orbiting spacecraft will continue to passively listen for signals from the Spirit, just in case it miraculously comes back to life. Full PR after the break.
World of WarCrafts: Moonkin taxidermy by Cid Snook
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music, fan fiction and more. Sample the whole spectrum on our Arts and Crafts in WoW page. Today's World of WarCrafts is certainly one of the more unique submissions we've ever had here at the column. While some Warcraft fans create art in the form of drawing or painting, and others create art in the form of sculpture, I think this can safely be called the first time I've ever seen art in the form of a taxidermy-style head carefully mounted on a wall. A unique piece of sculpture, indeed -- and the detail on the piece is absolutely stunning. Cid Snook, otherwise known as Masoret from the guild Vanishing Point on the Hydraxis server (US-H), is no stranger to Warcraft-related arts and crafts. In fact, her artwork has been featured on the official World of Warcraft website; one of her pieces was listed as a "tasty leftover" in the monthly Warcraft comic contest. So what drives a person to make a replica of a Warcraft race and mount it on her wall? We had a chat with Cid to find out just that. Take a look at Cid's gallery below, and follow us after the break for more from Cid! %Gallery-123969%
Portable Portal 2 Personality Cores are ready for adventure
We've grown quite attached to the Personality Cores we've met in our jaunts through Aperture Science, and leaving the adorable AIs in the gameworld has always been hard for us. You too? Cheer up! Now you can bring them with you, thanks to robot engineer Chris Myles.
World of WarCrafts: Blizzard fan fiction runner-up Corwin D. Riddle
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music, fan fiction and more. Sample the whole spectrum on our Arts and Crafts in WoW page. Sentinel Hill, nestled in Westfall, was a zone filled with sorrow and conflict in vanilla World of Warcraft. Part of it was the harsh and unforgiving landscape, unsuitable for farming; but the majority of the conflict lay in the hands of Edwin VanCleef, leader of the Defias Brotherhood, a band of thieves and scoundrels that preyed upon any who were foolish enough to roam the roads of Westfall unprotected. The story of the Defias Brotherhood is fairly well known, but we know little of the events surrounding Edwin's decision to defy Stormwind nobility and take matters into his own hands. Defiant, a story by Corwin D. Riddle, explores the little-known origins of Edwin VanCleef's descent into one of the most wanted men in the Eastern Kingdoms. It's an exploration into the events that directly resulted in the Brotherhood's formation, including an appearance by Lady Katrana Prestor and the rest of the House of Nobles and their confrontation with the leader of the Stonemasons. But it's also a beautiful look into the fall of VanCleef, from leader of a guild of architects, builders, and engineers to the leader of a rebel band of mercenaries out for the pay they were denied.
World of WarCrafts: Blizzard fan fiction runner-up Saif Ansari
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music, fan fiction and more. Sample the whole spectrum on our Arts and Crafts in WoW page. The Lich King may be dead, but the assault on Icecrown Citadel and its fallout will never be forgotten. Over the course of Wrath of the Lich King, many players fought their way through Naxxramas, explored the mysteries of Ulduar, challenged themselves at the Trial of the Crusade and finally scaled the frozen peaks of Icecrown to challenge the Lich King at the foot of the Frozen Throne. But what of those who didn't fight the Lich King face to face? What of those who paved the way, those who dealt with the bodies of the fallen? In Entombed, author Saif Ansari explores the lives of those who weren't warriors on the front lines -- the lives of those who quietly worked behind the scenes, addressing the carnage and preventing as many souls as possible from succumbing to the Lich King's grasp, and the lives of those left alone and abandoned in the midst of battle to fend for themselves. Interesting? Even more interesting is the exploration into the link between Ulduar and Icecrown Citadel, a link many may have overlooked or forgotten.
World of WarCrafts: Blizzard fan fiction runner-up Marika Kermode
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music, fan fiction and more. Sample the whole spectrum on our Arts and Crafts in WoW page. The new race and class combinations in Cataclysm raised a lot of questions and opened a lot of doors as far as the lore and story behind the new combinations. In the case of night elf mages, we were presented with Mordent Evenshade, a member of the Shen'dralar who ventured into Darnassus to seek the help of Tyrande Whisperwind. But how and why did Mordent make the journey, and how did he handle the chilly reception once he'd arrived? In The Wicked and the Righteous, author Marika Kermode explores just that with a tale about Mordent, the Shen'dralar, and the hope of an alliance. It's an interesting take on the scene that played out in the Temple of the Moon months before Cataclysm's release -- and unlike the scene in game, Mordent isn't left to eternally beg for an audience with Tyrande Whisperwind. It's a tale of two factions and the still-smoldering, leftover preconceptions from a war that occurred 10,000 years ago.
World of WarCrafts: Blizzard fan fiction runner-up Meghan O'Hara
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music, fan fiction and more. Sample the whole spectrum on our Arts and Crafts in WoW page. What is it that makes a Forsaken a Forsaken, and what keeps him from giving up and letting go? A few weeks ago, we interviewed 2010 Global Writing Contest runner up Celine Taillefer, whose story In the Blood told the tale of Blood Queen Lana'thel and her place in Icecrown Citadel. This week, we have a story of a different kind, one that explores the link between Scourge and Forsaken and what happens when that link is broken. In the story Fresh, author Meghan O'Hara tells the chilling tale of once simple farmer Henry Walker and his development from mindless fiend of the Scourge armies to Forsaken priest. It's an eerie, well-written exploration into what exactly keeps an undead man sane and what drives him to continue waking up and moving on day after day. But beyond that, Fresh is an unlikely, strange and beautiful love story and a look into the interaction between the undead and the powers of the Light.
World of WarCrafts: Chocolate Celebration Cake
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music, fan fiction and more. Sample the whole spectrum on our Arts and Crafts in WoW page. What makes a proper celebration? Cake, and lots of it! Wrath of the Lich King introduced a lot of new content and a lot of new food, including cakes and pies that were designed to be shared. Today's cooking experiment may look complicated as all get-out, but it's actually incredibly easy to construct using store-bought mix and some secret ingredients to doctor it to perfection. Check out the gallery below for a step-by-step illustrated guide, and follow us to the kitchen after the break to get started with this chocolate masterpiece! %Gallery-121173%
Protect your slingshots with an authentic Zelda treasure chest (with sound!)
Are you looking for a quick-and-easy storage solution for the adventure-ready knick-knacks you've got laying around the house? Oh, sure, you could probably just tuck that slingshot, Deku stick and empty bottle into any old Rubbermaid tub, but if you're looking for a more authentic way to put things into other things you need a real-life Legend of Zelda treasure chest, complete with brief musical interlude. (You know the one.) You can follow the instructions posted on Instructables to make your own Hylian lockbox, and check out the video after the jump to see (and hear!) it in action. Just be sure that you make everything to scale -- if you make the chest too large, you're going to have to put something way more awesome in it.
World of WarCrafts: Sera's colorful take on WoW
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music, fan fiction and more. Sample the whole spectrum on our Arts and Crafts in WoW page. I love getting fan art submissions for World of WarCrafts, not just because everyone who sends in material is ridiculously talented, but because it's fun to see different people's interpretations of what Warcraft looks like. Today, we've got an artist with a flair for several different styles of artwork and several different ways of looking at WoW. Sera's unique perspective on WoW looks almost as if the models in game were breathed with a life of their own. From the rich colors to the effortlessly detailed weapons and armor, it's clear Sera's got a knack for art -- something that comes as no surprise, given her academic background. Take a peek at the gallery for more of Sera's work, and follow us after the break for a few words from Sera herself. %Gallery-120504%
World of WarCrafts: Blizzard fan fiction runner-up Celine Taillefer
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music, fan fiction and more. Sample the whole spectrum on our Arts and Crafts in WoW page. We talked a few weeks ago about the art of fan fiction, stories written about characters in the setting of a pre-established world. Last year, Blizzard held a Global Writing Contest -- the second of its kind -- for fan fiction authors around the world to share their works involving Blizzard properties. The response was enormous, with stories submitted totalling 18 million words worth of fictional prose -- an astonishing amount of written material. The winner of the Global Writing Contest received a trip to Blizzard's headquarters among other prizes, and the runners-up received a ton of Blizzard books as a reward for their writing efforts. So what's it like writing a submission for a winning contest entry? Today we chat with runner-up Celine Taillefer, whose entry In the Blood involved the most unlikely of protagonists, Blood Queen Lana'thel, the ringleader in charge of the Blood Wing in Icecrown Citadel.
World of WarCrafts: Aly's whimsical Warcraft world
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music, fan fiction and more. Sample the whole spectrum on our Arts and Crafts in WoW page. The Warcraft universe is generally seen as a fairly dark place. With Old Gods and evil dragons bent on global explosions, bloodthirsty battles between Alliance and Horde, and the Burning Legion knocking down Azeroth's door, it's hard to picture Azeroth as anything but dark. But sometimes all it takes is a second look to find the whimsical side of Warcraft, and today's featured artist has done just that. Aly, a video game artist, has captured Warcraft in a manner that's much less "war" and a lot more "craft." Her illustrations manage to be light, airy, and fun while at the same time capturing the essence of iconic Warcraft races and characters in images that are effortless and brilliantly charming. Take a look through the gallery for a peek at Aly's images of WoW, and follow us after the break for a few words from the artist herself. %Gallery-119557%
World of WarCrafts: Revisting the WoW Soundtrack Project
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music, fan fiction and more. Sample the whole spectrum on our Arts and Crafts in WoW page. Tired of hearing the same old tracks in Warcraft instances? Last year, we visited with WoW-playing composer Jejin (The Venture Co. [US-H]), who created a library of original compositions for various vanilla WoW instance zones. The Warcraft Soundtrack Project was a method of replacing old world tracks with new pieces, all created by Jejin himself. When we left Jejin, he was working on a way to make his tracks actually playable in game, and now he's come up with an answer. Jejin created the Jejin Soundtrack Project, a sound pack addon to be used in conjunction with the Soundtrack addon. Though not without its bugs, the addon finally lets players listen to Jejin's original tunes while running their favorite old world instances, including Dire Maul, Blackfathom Deeps, Ragefire Chasm and Wailing Caverns. For those looking for a break from the usual Blizzard tunes, Jejin's work offers a refreshing new perspective on what the music of these old world instances could be. Follow us after the break as we catch up with Jejin, find out what he's been up to, and also find out what kind of musical plans he has for the future.
World of WarCrafts: Chocolate Cookie
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music, fan fiction and more. Sample the whole spectrum on our Arts and Crafts in WoW page. Has today been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day? Would you like to feel better? We've got a recipe that will do just that -- or so the flavor text says. Today we're getting our hands dirty with some Cataclysm cooking in the form of the Chocolate Cookie. While the in game version may make you feel a little better, a warm plate of these may make you feel substantially better ... possibly even a lot better. Thankfully, though the in-game version takes a cooking skill of 505, the real-life version is considerably easier to make. Let's get to the kitchen and start baking!
World of WarCrafts: Guide to fan fiction
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music, fan fiction and more. Sample the whole spectrum on our Arts and Crafts in WoW page. Of all the various and assorted Warcraft-related crafting that people do, there is none quite as prolific as the world of Warcraft fan fiction. Artwork, jewelry making and knitted crafts require at least some small amount of artistic talent, cake and cookie decorating take at least a rudimentary knowledge of baking basics, and things like music, home decorating, and other projects require creators to know an incredible amount of information about their various areas of expertise. But with fan fiction, all it takes is a piece of paper and a pen (or a computer and a word processing program) and your imagination.
World of WarCrafts: Warcraft tattoos
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music, fan fiction and more. Sample the whole spectrum on our Arts and Crafts in WoW page. Tattoos can be fun, if painful. Sometimes they act as reminders of special times in our lives; sometimes they are odes to people or things that we love. I have a couple myself, though none Warcraft-inspired as of yet. I keep thinking about that Horde symbol, though ... Today on World of WarCrafts, we've got a few updates to our Warcraft tattoo gallery and a few words from Eldomon of <Skull marks the Treasure> from the Darkmoon Faire server (EU-H). Check out the gallery below for the new additions as well as tattoos from times past, and follow us after the break for more! %Gallery-40471%
World of WarCrafts: Crocheted WoW pets and the crafting of Cristy Rowley
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music, fan fiction and more. Sample the whole spectrum on our Arts and Crafts in WoW page. I'm not handy with crocheting or knitting at all, which makes me just a little more wistful and a little more curious about learning the process every time we see tiny crocheted critters here on World of WarCrafts. Today there are not one, but two -- a tiny reproduction of Speedy the Turtle, pictured above, and everyone's favorite Love is in the Air darling, the Toxic Wasteling. Both critters were created by Cristy Rowley, a master of crafts who doesn't just stick to crochet. She's got an assortment of other WoW craft projects under her belt! While currently on break from WoW, that hasn't stopped her crafting in the slightest. Cristy's works can be found on Tossed Cookies, a blog centered on the art of crafting. Judging from projects like crocheted critters in tiny boxes to earrings and more, Cristy's got a lot of crafting experience. Check out the gallery for a glimpse at Cristy's various Warcraft pieces, and follow us after the break for a few words from Cristy about her handiwork, as well as how you can make a real life Warcraft pet to call your own. %Gallery-116800%
World of WarCrafts: Cozy knitted troll mohawk hat by Anreha
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music, fan fiction and more. Sample the whole spectrum on our Arts and Crafts in WoW page. I don't know about the rest of the world, but out where I live, I just got a good 6 inches of snow dumped on me. According to the groundhog, spring was supposed to come early this year, but apparently "early" doesn't equal today -- either that or the groundhog's a liar. Hopefully there isn't any more snow on the way, but even if it doesn't snow again soon, it's still freezing outside. With that in mind, today's World of WarCrafts looks like something that would be incredibly welcome while venturing out there in the cold: a warm, knitted hat made to mimic the style of trolls and their outrageous mohawks. This warm and fuzzy creation was put together by Anreha of the guild <Stonewall Misfits> on Proudmoore (US-A), and we were lucky enough to catch a few words with Anreha about the creation of the hat. Follow along after the break for more from Anreha!
