Inside the mind of Metzen
Cecil Vortex has a long interview up with none other than Azeroth's rockstar mastermind, Chris Metzen. He actually describes himself as a "world creator," and that's about right -- he's the guy (along with everyone else at Blizzard, obviously) who's come up with the entire universe that the World of Warcraft exists in -- from Orcs to Dwarves to Titans and Old Gods, Metzen is the guy who dreamed it.And for a guy who's created everything in this gigantic universe, he's remarkably "geeked" about it -- he still talks like he's a guy sitting at his basement table creating D&D quests (which, don't lie now, we've all done at one point or another). The second part of the interview is even more interesting -- Metzen talks about his creative process and just how much of a group process it is at Blizzard. Since they're all in the target audience, every group member censors each other and pushes each other to bigger and better heights of storytelling.
Metzen also mentions a non-Blizzard project called Soldier: 76, about a guy making his way through a second American Civil War. It came out a while ago, apparently, but would definitely be interesting to see what Metzen does outside of Blizzard continuity. And as if there was any doubt that Metzen was a rock star, he ends the interview exactly the way you'd expect a creative superstar to end it: when "you've tapped into something beyond the individual," then "it's off to the races."
[Via Blizzplanet]






Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
deviationer May 21st 2008 3:17PM
I dunno, kaplan seams more of a "superstar" to me
ILikePvPbuthatePvPers May 21st 2008 3:35PM
Kaplan sucks. Listening to him talk puts me to sleep. *SNORE*
Tim May 21st 2008 3:18PM
What do you mean, he's the guy who "dreamed it". WoW is a great game, nice execution, etc etc. but none of this is even remotely original content. They basically ripped off Tolkien, D&D, previous MMOs, you name it.
Please don't mythologize these people. Talented, but not gods. LOL
ILikePvPbuthatePvPers May 21st 2008 3:35PM
Not really. He made it enough to be different. Orcs that are actually complex instead of one-dimensional and evil? Elves that are as far from the normal fantasy elves as possible?
Blue sci-fi space-goats mixing along with traditional fantasy themes?
Badger May 21st 2008 3:21PM
Though much of WoW's content is fairly original, I'm still inclined to agree with you, Tim. Much of the fantasy genre these days is largely derivative.
Mixx May 21st 2008 3:23PM
I have to agree - this stuff has been around for years upon years. Nothing new here.
Rihlsul May 21st 2008 3:33PM
I agree - it would be like talking to the chef who made the best version of a chocolate cake currently on the market. He didn't "dream up" eggs, flour, or even cake. But, Blizzard has done a fine job of making a tasty treat out of common elements.
Ryan May 21st 2008 3:42PM
Originally, Warcraft was to be a Warhammer game, but the licensing fell through.
Melf May 21st 2008 4:04PM
Please read the interview before you flame the OP . . . Metzen credits his influences and just seems really passionate about this stuff. It was interesting to see how his impetus was not what people tend to assume/flame about (Tolkien), but rather D&D, comic books and Star Wars. Great read.
Makros May 21st 2008 4:49PM
Saying that there is nothing new here is similar to saying that nothing anyone ever says is original. As the great George Carlin points out, there is no such thing as "in your own words;" we all use the same words as everyone else.
He took pre-existing fantasy elements and created a story and a world to give them a new life.
Silverslide May 21st 2008 5:53PM
What, nobody has done the appropriate Penny Arcade Strip?
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/4/10/
(read the news post behind the strip if you don't get it)
ryanailts May 22nd 2008 1:34PM
What I came to post.
Kris May 21st 2008 7:01PM
now that you mention it.. God created man in the likeness of himself. where's the originality in that?
wyrd May 21st 2008 8:24PM
Still always amazed at some of the comments that get vote down. Warcraft was going to be a warhammer game originally. Why would you vote that down?
Dready May 21st 2008 10:47PM
Warhammer.
End topic.
Suzaku May 22nd 2008 8:39AM
Most of the stuff in WoW can be traced way back to Norse mythology, Greek mythology, Hindu mythology, etc. etc..
Pretty much everything in the sci-fi and fantasy genres are derivative of their predecessors.
brucimus May 21st 2008 3:31PM
Wonder what JRR Tolkien would have thought about evil elves?
Rihlsul May 21st 2008 3:35PM
My wife still wants to have her troll defect from the Horde to join Zul-jin in slaughtering the Blood Elves. Heh.
Maro May 21st 2008 5:06PM
Read The Hobbit.
mams May 21st 2008 5:49PM
You might want to take a good look at the silmarilion and Eöl the dark elf in particular. Evil elves was nothing new for Tolkien.
Feanor himself, even though being manipulated by Melkor, is quite evil in his own right.