French WoW ads starring Alexandre Astier
by Mike Schramm 
Dec 5th 2008 at 2:30PM
Here's the last (or at least we think it's the last, it's all that's mentioned on Blizzard's official page) round of television ads for World of Warcraft in 2008. The ads come from France this time, and they both feature Alexandre Astier, star and creator of an Arthurian comedy show called Kaamelott, as a Human Paladin. While the German ads seemed to focus on PvP, these are very PvE based -- in one, he and his group run from a rampaging Frost Wyrm, and in the second (after the break, and apparently it's a "web exclusive," maybe because you can't show a virtual pile of corpses on television), he shows off his rezzing powers, and, err -- their limits.
WorldofWar has translations for both of the ads. Is it me, or aren't these as funny as the others? I think Ozzy comes out the best in all of them -- not only is his ad hilarious (better than the Mr. T ad, my previous favorite), but he gets to co-star with the Lich King, and you can't really compete with that. But kudos to Blizzard's teams for putting all of these together. Maybe next year we'll actually get a female WoW player, or, you know, a whole new campaign.
Filed under: Human, Paladin, Analysis / Opinion, Machinima, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Humor, NPCs
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
elly Dec 5th 2008 2:39PM
seriously, why hasn't there been a fab female WoW commercial? it's not like we don't exist.
someone call Felicia Day!
Jason Dec 5th 2008 2:42PM
Indeed!
crsh Dec 5th 2008 2:43PM
I call Alicia Silverstone, playing a sassy Blood Elf mage..
Salacia Dec 5th 2008 2:44PM
seriously, it's a little odd.
heck, they can give me a call. i'll gladly show them how i melt faces :D
Salacia Dec 5th 2008 2:46PM
(granted i'm not a celebrity, but i am pretty cool if i may say so myself.)
elly Dec 5th 2008 2:49PM
i wonder what the male/female ratio is in WoW? where are the stats?!
"Who is the female on vent?"
:D
el ranchero Dec 5th 2008 2:53PM
"My name is Heidi Klum, and I play a warrior."
I'd buy that game.
Mizzle Dec 5th 2008 6:29PM
I vote for Mila Kunis and McCulley Culkin, since they both publicly admit to being players (I just can't imagine Shatner or Mr. T actually playing).
That would make for a really great commercial.
Mep Dec 5th 2008 2:43PM
lol, the only Frenchy not to run away, and the only time he probably should have :)
Blake Dec 5th 2008 2:46PM
The web exclusive part of the french add is my new fav. WoW commercial. It pays to know french I guess.
Doctor Otto Dec 5th 2008 3:01PM
Definitely Felicia Day. Or Mila Kunis. Or Brigitte Nielsen.
Blizz should also get the cast of "The Big Bang Theory." Penny was cheetos-in-the-hair addicted to AoC, not WoW, so she might be okay this time around.
Amaltor Dec 5th 2008 3:12PM
I love Alexandre Astier (big fan of Kaamelott!) and thought his commercials funny. ;-)
Captain Obvious Dec 5th 2008 3:20PM
Felicia Day couldn't do a "famous person who plays WoW" commercial because she's primarily famous for playing WoW.
The point of the commercials is "slap my jaw, THAT person plays WoW? Wow! I am very surprised!"
Is there anyone on earth who's heard of Felicia Day who would be surprised to learn she plays WoW?
You want a funny WoW commercial?
"I'm Jack Thompson, and I'm a warlock! I channel demonic energy and spew it at my enemies..."
PeeWee Dec 5th 2008 3:26PM
"slap my jaw, THAT person plays WoW? Wow! I am very surprised!"
You're new to this century, aren't you. It's a _commercial_.
Kylenne Dec 5th 2008 7:09PM
PeeWee, you're the one missing the point. The point of using celebrities in these campaigns is the juxtaposition of "cool" people squeeing about/participating in something the mainstream largely thinks is for geeks and shut ins. It's funny, and it helps sell the game to people outside that much ballyhooed 11 million figure, who may not have given it a chance otherwise.
No one in the target demographic for these ads knows Felicia Day or gives a flying frell who she is, so she wouldn't make sense for these spots. Hell, I'm *in* the WoW community and am pretty much indifferent to her. She seems like a nice enough person, but I don't get the slightly creepy cult of personality around her, other than the fact that she's a conventionally attractive woman and we're dealing with a lot of heavy breathing fanboys. There is far better WoW/MMO humor than The Guild out there.
Kellhouse Dec 5th 2008 3:30PM
well i could not understand anything :( but the animatio was cool
as to the women in the adds i dont think Felicia Day will cut it because if you know who she is you already play WOW
They will use some "pop" culture figure for the promotion soo i think the time for that is comming and soon. I think blizz is just careful in choosing the first one, they probably want to do it right. a person with general good mass appeal.... who can that be>?
LAURA Dec 5th 2008 4:20PM
"Get away from her, you..."
"I'm Sigourney Weaver and I'm a Paladin. What's your game?
Ch0ke Dec 5th 2008 4:16PM
My translation of the first add (sorry if I make English grammar mistakes, French is my first language) :
- My name is Alexandre Astier, I'm a Paladin
- I'm the guy who kinda... lead the whole...
- All together, my fellow companions!
-... hey, "all together" doesn't mean you guys have to stay like 10 yards behind.
-Hey... hey... oh
- Oh, don't run away!
- You come back or I (kick your ass like a ninja) -dont really know how to translate that in English-
- ...
- My name is Alexandre Astier, I'm a Paladin.
- And you, what are you playing? (or something)
yep, it's not litteraly "Whats your game", but "À quoi tu joues" also means, in French "what the hell is your problem".
Frank Dec 5th 2008 4:54PM
I love this guy! I used to watch his show religiously when I worked in France. I ended up buying the DVDs for the first three seasons and I'm going to buy the newest ones soon.
Imagine Monthy Python and the holy Grail meets The Office. They stick very close to the arthurian legend, but insert very dry and sarcastic humor. with jibes about current events, translated into mideaval times (football games become warzones, donwsizing becomes religious "cleansing")
AZShizzle Dec 5th 2008 5:19PM
Female players could make fun of the fact how their armor looks. *cough* plate bikinis *cough*