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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBreakfast Topic: Northrend pop culture references
by Lesley Smith 
Apr 18th 2009 at 8:00AM
Blizzard is famous for adding references from all kinds of films, TV shows and other media into WoW (aka Easter Eggs.) Take this lovely young flower seller in Dalaran. Remind you of anyone? As I wander through Azeroth and Outland, I'm struck by the number of references to real world pop culture. From snakes on a plane in Nagrand to Dr. Boom in Netherstorm to Florist Gump in Stormwind, not to mention a talking rat and some turtles in Dalaran sewer. The list goes on and on. I also quite like the virtual presence of beloved Blues in the form of Eyonix in the Stormspire and Drysc in the Exodar, but my favourite is that human joke about a bracelet of power.
With the addition of Wrath, it seems we have even more references to uncover. So tell us, constant readers, which are you favourites and have you uncovered any new ones post Patch 3.1?
With the addition of Wrath, it seems we have even more references to uncover. So tell us, constant readers, which are you favourites and have you uncovered any new ones post Patch 3.1?
Filed under: Patches, Virtual selves, Odds and ends, Breakfast Topics, Expansions, Humor, The Burning Crusade, Lore, NPCs, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 5)
Reinhold Apr 18th 2009 11:10AM
Damn sure it's Floydus Pinkus, the Innkeeper in Thrallmar.
it's just too obvious, but, curse me, his innkeeper chat is awesome.
Rizuli Apr 18th 2009 11:12AM
The achievement "Supermassive" which involves destroying Black holes is a reference to the Muse song "Supermassive Black Hole"
Most americans won't get it, but a lot of people form the UK will.
( sorry if i double posted, did not see my first post)
mcbattle Apr 18th 2009 11:47AM
Dood!
I love Muse, and i think they are pretty big here in the US too.
I gotta go look up this achievement.
(At the very least people will probably recognize that song from Twilight)
cannedhero Apr 18th 2009 11:19AM
In zangermarsch there is a troll engineering trainer with a diving helm on his head, his name is called McDyver :D
dillonwelch Apr 18th 2009 11:39AM
And there is a gnome in Howling Fjord named McGoyver =)
doit Apr 19th 2009 2:26AM
you should become an engineer just to do the mote extractor schematic quest
Wulf Apr 18th 2009 4:42PM
The two engineering trainers in Hellfire:
http://www.wowhead.com/?npc=18752 : Zebig
http://www.wowhead.com/?npc=18775 : Lebowski
There's another Lebowski reference in Howling Fjord:
http://www.wowhead.com/?npc=24718 : Lebronski
He also has a rug on which someone has left a 'present'.
WoWie Zowie Apr 18th 2009 11:49AM
i love the easter eggs. harrison jones is one of my favorites, as well as adam eternum with his battlecat in shattrath.
side note: the popup ads are unbearable in the gallery. they actually pop up right over the picture, and there's no way to close them...
phail
Kylenne Apr 18th 2009 12:01PM
I about had a nerdgasm when I hit up the lounge in the Violet Citadel for the first time and saw Arcanist Ginsberg chillin' with Alchemist Burroughs. It's the English major in me, I suppose. And the fact that Blizzard makes references to beat poets in the same exact room as Alfred from Batman pretty much sums up why I love this game so much.
The only thing that really gets on my nerves about all the references and shoutouts in WoW is when..."less cultured" fanboys see something in WoW, then get exposed to whatever the reference is referring to, and assume it's a WoW reference instead of the other way around. Fail.
Lycanthro Apr 18th 2009 12:08PM
Nobody has mentioned the Firefly references? Fail.
Kaylee Smallfry the engineering trainer in Telredor who wants you to get parts for a ship that she says will fall right out of the sky and the flavor text on the Captured Firefly item "Still flying..." I'd really love to see a boat that takes us out to the Maelstrom be Captained by a Mal Reynolds and driven by Wash
Sminus Apr 18th 2009 1:58PM
Wash died in the Exodar crash on Azuremyst. Sorry.
He was a leaf on the wind.
Drizzimus Apr 18th 2009 7:34PM
Awwww! Poor Wash...
I love that series.. I wish they would come back with it. Damn near everybody died in Serenity! WTF?
As for the Easter eggs in WoW... didn't know that one! I will have to go back and look that up! That's cool!
Kuasi Apr 18th 2009 12:10PM
I'm a fan of MXC on Spike channel, and just about fell out of my chair laughing the first time I was in Dalaran and saw the mage NPC next to the entrance to Violet Hold courtyard.
Babagahnoosh the Grumpy
There's always one "competitor" on the show with Babagahnoosh on each episode.
Abraxxis Apr 18th 2009 12:11PM
I just noticed that the innkeeper in southern Icecrown is called Vasskess. If you look closely, you see a strong resemblance to a certain marine ...
Phantom Apr 18th 2009 12:35PM
another MacGyver reference
a Horde Engineer trainer by the name of Mack Diver
RetPallyJil Apr 18th 2009 12:40PM
I'll just go with names, since there are too many others to list:
The Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche player names scattered throughout the game, particularly in Hillsbrad.
(GO WINGS!)
Abra Cadabra, the Dalaran vendor (delightfully blatant), followed closely by Endora and Hagatha Moorehead.
And one that isn't a pop culture reference, but I love him anyway:
Fabioso the Fabulous. I have no idea why, but this guy makes me smile every time I walk past.
Vladius Apr 18th 2009 3:43PM
Not a pop culture reference but there's Fansy Goodbringer in Dalaran. It's a sort of joke within a joke.
parity Apr 18th 2009 1:43PM
Archmage Vargoth in Netherstorm paraphrasing the lyrics to Hotel California
luce May 1st 2009 2:53PM
omigosh, I loved the Hotel California bit, too.
Vandar Apr 18th 2009 1:49PM
I always find it funny that the first names of the bankers in Stormwind are Olivia, Newton, and John. :)