Pop Culture
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Happy 54th Birthday, Laser Beams
We imagine that on May 16th, 1960, when the first laser was fired, no-one involved was particularly concerned with the invention's impact upon pop culture. After all, proving Albert Einstein's 1917 theory about amplifying light by the stimulated emission of radiation was probably seen as a bigger deal back then. In the decade that followed, the technology was used to verify the veracity of the moon landings, remove a tumor from someone's eye and threaten the survival of James Bond's "gentleman's area" for ever.
Azeroth Choppers revs up to episode three
You've met the teams. You've understood the concept. Now it's time to get to the exciting work of watching people build fantasy motorcycles for World of Warcraft characters to ride in the newest installment of Azeroth Choppers. This is the first stage of assembly, leading to the usual ramping drama that you see in any sort of reality show wherein someone runs out of something and everyone panics before more is obtained in a minute of screen time. If you've enjoyed the previous installments, you'll find more to like here, as both of the factional teams are feeling the pinch in time and one team loses a crucial member. This episode also gives the barest hints of what the bikes will look like in preparation for the first look for Blizzard at the end of the episode. Take a look past the break to watch the full show, and stay tuned for future installments.
Wowhead catalogs pop culture in WoW
Ever wondered about all the references to pop culture that permeate the World of Warcraft universe? Well, you're in luck. Perculia from Wowhead is putting together a comprehensive guide to all things pop culture in WoW. And she's just getting started, this first instalment covers items that relate to general culture, food and drink, movies, television and other video games. And it's really interesting reading. I'm kind of terrible at pop culture, but even I've heard of P.E.T.A. What I didn't know was just how many in-game items reference the charity. G.E.H.T.A., for example, is a gun that reduces your attack power against beasts, found in the D.E.H.T.A.'s little P.I.T.A. achievement chain. It's accompanied by various other ethical items. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Perculia has a truly encyclopaedic knowledge of WoW items, and it's great to read as she delves into that expertise with guides like these! Read through it, I'll bet you learn something new.
More World of Warcraft pop culture you should know
Our friend Panser of TradeChat has been exploring the pop culture references within World of Warcraft for quite some time now. Today, the sixth video in her series has been released, which you can watch either on YouTube or embedded above. Some of these you'll no doubt already know, but stick it out. There's almost certainly something in there you'll be hearing for the first time.
Samuel L. Jackson voices the objectively best announcer pack for Heroes of Newerth
You're going to play Heroes of Newerth now. It's the best game of its type, and that's simple fact. No, stop going on about balance or game mechanics or anything else in the world. Heroes of Newerth has an announcer pack in which all of the clips are voiced by Samuel L. Jackson, and if you think there's any other reason to play or not play a game, it's time for you to step back and re-evaluate your life choices to date. Jackson's announcements are... well, pretty much exactly what you'd expect from the terms "Samuel L. Jackson announcer pack." You can check them out past the break, although we should warn you that if your workplace or home has an issue with shouted profanity, you might want to turn down the volume. For everyone else, click past the break and enjoy the new pack.
Sam Raimi discusses why he's not doing the World of Warcraft movie
If you're of the mindset that a World of Warcraft movie directed by Sam Raimi would be a nice thing, Blizzard Entertainment is the reason you can't have nice things. That's Raimi's story, at least. He discussed his withdrawal from the project in a recent interview regarding other films and several projects he's no longer involved with, but the World of Warcraft departure merits a lengthy aside. According to Raimi, he had read the script that Blizzard had put forth and wanted to put together something better, so he enlisted the aid of screenwriter Robert Rodat. Rodat wrote the story, but when the story was pitched to Blizzard, the company wasn't terribly enthusiastic. He and Rodat continued to work on refining the script, only to find out later that Blizzard had completely rejected what they had done and wanted to go in an entirely different direction. You can read more details on the story from Raimi in the full interview.
This is the Modem World: Japan is not weird
Each week Joshua Fruhlinger contributes This is the Modem World, a column dedicated to exploring the culture of consumer technology. There's a dotted line between geekdom and Japan -- some of us call ourselves "otaku;" we follow Japanese technology companies; we look to Japanese culture as a beacon of our tech-obsessed future; we dream of visiting Tokyo. And yet we love to criticize Japanese culture, as if to say, "Well, sure, they make cool stuff, but they sure are messed up." I'm no expert on Japanese culture. While my visits to the island nation number in the double digits and I'm married to a citizen, I'm not about to claim any sort of authority on matters of Japan. However, I'm pretty sure they're not as weird as we like to say they are. And if they are, we're just as off-kilter.
The Soapbox: Stop reminding me that I'm playing a game
To me, the most amazing part of a video game is the way that it can steal you away from the real world in a way that nothing else quite can. A good book or film will take your focus for several hours, but you're still aware that there's a layer between you and the media. A good game blurs that, lets you creep into the game world for a while and experience things you never would otherwise. There are moments of wonder and joy that you can feel from a few hours in games that are simply unmatched. So please, stop ruining it. MMOs in particular have gotten bad about this. It's ironic, as the genre as a whole lends itself to people taking a step into another world. But what's changed isn't a matter of systems or mechanics, just a sense of what designers feel are completely acceptable breaks between in-game reality and the real world. It's annoying. So stop reminding me that I'm playing a game, will you?
EverQuest, Ultima Online, and World of Warcraft among Time's top 100 games
We tend to think of MMOs as being different from other video games, but the genre has had a pretty major impact on all areas of gaming. As a result, it's no real surprise to see that three of the all-time most important MMOs show up on Time's recent list of the Top 100 Video Games of All Time. EverQuest, World of Warcraft, and Ultima Online are all included on a list that honors everything from Oregon Trail to Katamari Damacy and Pac-Man to Batman: Arkham City. The entries on EverQuest and Ultima Online both make note of the longevity and long-term success of the older titles, while the World of Warcraft article homes in on the diverse audience attracted to MMORPGs (something arguably true of the former titles as well). While other MMOs didn't make the list, it's well worth taking a look at the full article if you want a walk down video game memory lane.
The pop culture references in Mists of Pandaria you need to know
Mists of Pandaria is hardly the first WoW expansion to embrace plenty of cheeky pop culture references, but it's the most recent one to do so. Of course, that's because it's the most recent expansion. It's all freaky coincidental like that. At any rate, grab yourself a steaming hot mug of irony and kick back to enjoy your guided tour through those references with Panser of TradeChat. Whether we're talking about frogs in bottles or arrows in the knee, Panser will make sure you're up to date on all the hip in jokes. 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.
Walk through WoW pop culture with Panser from TradeChat
Who doesn't love some pop culture? I mean, seriously -- that stuff is like the internet's bread and butter. We get to the choppa on the back of a lolcat, just in time to catch The Hunger Games out on DVD. And just like a microcosm of real life, WoW is stocked full with plenty of pop culture references. In this video, Panser of TradeChat (and our weekly news roundup) takes you on a guided tour through the annals of pop culture in Azeroth. She lists dozens of references, many of which will probably surprise even the most veteran WoW players, especially if you don't play both factions.
One Shots: Welcome to pop culture week!
Pop culture week kicks off here on One Shots with a submission from Massively reader Tanek. While I like many of the references to pop culture I see in MMOs (Star Trek, Firefly, Oprah Winfrey), it is the slightly more obscure ones that stand out for me. Like one that can be found on the Jade Sea in Guild Wars: Factions. Zenos, a Luxon famous for his writings about his squad's adventures, had tragedy hit his last expedition. As it is told by one of his crew: "On our last journey into the far reaches of the Big Green, Zenos' longtime partner and best friend, Bestenon, was unexpectedly eaten... completely devoured... by a mysterious monster of the unknown. And so we prepare for one more expedition, not for knowledge, or even for gold. No, Zenos seeks revenge against the monster, and we, his loyal crew, will join him" It is, of course, the plot of the movie The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. As you continue the quest and gather up a squad for a new expedition to find the mysterious monster on the Jade Sea, each person you meet is another reference to a character in the movie. Here you see a screenshot of Zenos himself, planning his last, greatest adventure. We're celebrating pop culture in our MMOs this week. Developers sneak references in all over games, whether it be via NPCs, quests, or items, and we want to see your favorites. Grab a screenshot, tell us a bit about what it is, and send it to oneshots@massively.com. We'll be featuring the best of these all week. %Gallery-112285%
Breakfast Topic: What pop figures deserve an Easter egg in WoW?
This Breakfast Topic has been brought to you by Seed, the Aol guest writer program that brings your words to WoW Insider's pages. Just this past year, I've fallen in love with a television show called Dr. Who. For all of you who do not know what the show is about, it first aired in the 1960s, and it is about an alien who can change his face and goes traveling through time and space with a human girl in a spaceship that looks like a blue box that is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. If that turns you off based the level of geekiness from that last sentence, don't worry -- it gets a lot worse. But as I learned more about the history of the show, I always ended up asking myself, "Where is my Time Lord in WoW?" We are all aware of the fact that Blizzard is not afraid to put popular references in WoW, with Lady LaLa and Haris Pilton -- but why not put in a well-respected science fiction character? The thing that kills me is that there is an excellent place to put the Good Doctor into WoW that makes it seem natural: the Caverns of Time. It would seem like a great fit, a place where heroes can witness significant events and fight to correct them. What about you guys -- who think should get a nod from Blizzard? Do you stop and ask why there are not five teenaged NPCs running around fighting monsters in five different-colored outfits? Or do you think that adding more and more of these fourth wall-breaking nods ruins the game, similar to what people say that Harrison Jones did to Uldum?
The Daily Grind: What's your favorite MMO Easter egg?
Easter eggs have always struck me as weird. On one hand, the bunny keeps hiding them, so I guess he doesn't want you to find them. But then he makes them brilliantly colored, which blends in with nature not at all. So which is it, Easter bunny? Do you want us to find your eggs or not? In a similar fashion, some MMO Easter eggs are cleverly hidden, undiscovered by most who run on by. Those eggs tend to reward the observant, the meticulous and the just plain lucky. Then there are the eggs that the developers all but shove in your face as if to say, "Hey! Look at this! It is wacky and out of place and breaks the fourth wall!" Those eggs are available to all, usually whether you want them or not. So what are your favorite Easter eggs in MMOs? Are they oblique references to pop culture hidden in item description text? A remote area that's almost inaccessible unless you know the exact trick to getting there? A secret buried inside a quest that unveils itself if you know just where to look? What makes you gurgle with delight when discovered?
Pop culture loves the iPad: Paper presentation, Parry Grip anthem
All of Apple's devices have been embraced by pop culture sooner or later, but I think the iPad has probably nabbed the record for quickest to the bear hug. Here's two silly things we've seen today, just a week after the iPad's official announcement. First up, songsmith Parry Gripp's latest mini-tune is all about the iPad, and as you can see above, it's actually a pretty interesting commentary on just how successful the device will likely be: we may argue about which kinds of nachos are ruling, but we can all agree that nachos in general are awesome. Second, the iPad announcement itself has even been immortalized in papercraft. And if you want your own paper-based recreation of last week's event, you can download the plans and put it together yourself. Weird? Yes. Strange? Very. But for a company that wants to sit at the intersection of technology and the liberal arts, Apple's mission is pretty much accomplished.
Breakfast Topic: They just don't get it...
Geekdom is much like any other group of people. There are movies, music, and literature which are considered classics and are generally accepted as having been seen, heard, or read by everyone at one point or another. Some of these are so accepted as classics that the idea someone is unfamiliar with them is simply "inconceivable" and we are left shocked when this occurs. Unfortunately, one of our own staff seems uninitiated in such classics.While discussing some of the quests coming up in patch 3.3, we'd made a joke referencing the Knights who say "Ni!" from Monty Python's Holy Grail. Our own Matt Low mentioned that he didn't get whatever inside joke we were making. Much to our dismay, he had never seen the movie or any Monty Python for that matter. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords for daily quests wouldn't get a chuckle from him. Terry Palin in Elwynn Forest quoting the lumberjack song is also lost on him. He wouldn't even be that concerned about eating the Crunchy Frog available from Darkmoon Faire because he wouldn't know that it contained crunchy, raw, unboned, real, dead frog instead of an almond whirl.With the vast number of pop culture references scattered in World of Warcraft, it's sad when any are lost on its players. What obscure references have you found in the game that you've enjoyed or other people have completely missed?
The Daily Grind: Games with potential
One of the things people chalk growth in an MMO up to is the strength of the IP - especially when you're talking about an established IP in popular culture like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, etc. Of course, some others will point out that there's something to be said for a completely new experience with an interesting story or idea behind it. City of Heroes, while based on comic books, wasn't based on any one comic in particular. EverQuest was general fantasy. World of Warcraft, while based on the Warcraft RTS wasn't nearly as much of a pop-culture buzzword then as it is now. Assuming all games have good mechanics - do you think that having a well-known IP can offer more potential in terms of creating an MMO these days, or do you feel that a well-timed new concept with a fresh new IP would do better? What particular games do you think have the most potential - and are they new franchises, or old, established stories already well-known to popular geekdom? Will it take a new spin on an old IP to really make things interesting in terms of upcoming games?
The Daily Grind: Doing the (WoW) dew?
Let's face it; it's Mountain Dew. Even if it weren't all tied up in Summoner Geeks pop-culture nerditry, we'd probably drink it anyway. So the idea of mixing Mountain Dew with World of Warcraft is essentially mating money to money and waiting patiently for more money to come out of it. The question is - how many of us will buy in on this? I already know most of the Massively team - and the WoW Insider team, of course - will pick some up if just for display. We figured we'd ask this morning, how likely are you to try World of Warcraft Mtn Dew? If WoW isn't your game, would you drink it if they made a variety for your favorite MMO - like low-sec EVE Black Mtn Dew as an example? Or will you just buy it because you'll be buying Mountain Dew anyway?
The Queue: Hawaiian Pizza edition
Welcome back to The Queue, WoW Insider's daily Q&A column where the WoW Insider team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Alex Ziebart will be your host today.Today, in addition to all of the questions I'm answering for you, I need all of you to answer a question for me. Hawaiian Pizza: Delicious, or Crazy Delicious? This is an important question, my friends. I need each and every one of you to contribute. It's for the good of mankind. Also, to prove my girlfriend wrong. It rules, does it not?%Poll-26965%Evaline asked...Are there any Ulduar achievements currently on the PTR? I'm guessing they aren't there yet, because we would have heard something about them if there were. Another question if I may, do the bosses on the PTR currently drop loot? Again probably not, for the same reason as above, but can't hurt to ask.
The Daily Grind: Your favorite MMO pop culture reference?
It seems like no matter which way you turn in many MMOs, you'll eventually find a pop-culture reference nestled in there somewhere. While World of Warcraft may be perhaps the most blunt about using them with quests named after things as varied as a Peter Murphy song and a Kevin Smith movie, we know they're by no means the only designers who have added references. This morning, we thought we'd ask you what some of your favorite MMO pop culture references are? Have you ever run across one that just made you stop and laugh? Shake your head? Anything you think is a pop-culture reference but perhaps aren't quite sure?
