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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsFinally an answer on Gnomes in the cinematics
by Mike Schramm 
Apr 30th 2009 at 5:00PM
We've very closely covered the lack of Gnomes in any of Blizzard's major cinematic pieces so far. We had hoped to see them in the Wrath cinematic, but of course Blizzard went a completely new direction with that one (retelling the story of Arthas rather than showing players fighting), and so they weren't there either. In fact, the problem has gotten so bad that at least one person has remade the Burning Crusade cinematic, filling it with Gnomes just to see what it would be like. And while we've gotten some snide comments from the Blues before ("they're there, they're just too short to fit in frame"), Bornakk has finally given us an honest answer as to why the Gnomes haven't been show in cinematic form: they're just not awesome enough?Wait, that's not what he really said? Well that's what we heard -- he says that the cinematic folks go for what seems most awesome, and Gnomes have just never been a part of that combination. He says Trolls have gotten nearly the same treatment, and while that's true, you can see a Troll for a split second in the Burning Crusade cinematic -- they haven't had the complete shutout that the shorter denizens of Azeroth have had so far.
In fact, Murlocs have gotten more screen time than Gnomes have. But the good news is that the more Blizzard leaves Gnomes out, the more awesome it'll be when they finally appear. The cinematic team can't leave them out of the game forever, right?
Filed under: Gnomes, Analysis / Opinion, Fan stuff, Virtual selves, Odds and ends, Blizzard, NPCs
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 4)
Zeplar Apr 30th 2009 5:42PM
Insanity is really not that hard a phase considering Novos doesn't have a tree healer messing him up.
So I'll have to give this to Novos.
Remember, though, that the really hard part about Volazj (at least before we got all epixed and stuff) was the trash guys just before him. Those things hit HARD.
Zeplar Apr 30th 2009 5:43PM
thank you wowinsider commenting system, that was *&#$ed up.
Ben Striegel Apr 30th 2009 5:46PM
I realize that it makes no sense given the gnomes' technological background (which, itself, makes little sense in the setting anyway) but I really wish that gnomes were more akin to hobbits than to irritating, squat humans. Goblins already fill that role with more flair (that and their technology is more in line with the setting).
Let's face it, gnomes are simply reviled regardless of setting. Think D&D. There are halflings, and then there are gnomes. If you are a halfling, you are awesome and get carried on the barbarian's shoulders during drunken tavern parties. By contrast, if you are a gnome, and should we happen to come across a bloodstained hole in the floor at the foot of a sacrificial altar deep within a mountain hideout inhabited by insane cultists, we will not hesitate to lower you into said hole on the end of a rope (true story, and the worst of it was that I had to buy a whole new rope ;_;).
boo Apr 30th 2009 5:56PM
bah. keep them out. i don't want to see them. LOL
Rexton Apr 30th 2009 6:04PM
@Robert:
I agree with everything you said except for Bowie. Bowie makes everything God Tier.
Also, last scene in a future cinematic. An atomic explosion is seen in the distance. Camera pans down to the face of a walking, smiling gnome warrior. He smirks and quick cut to black with the WoW logo, which reads: World of Warcraft: Gnomes>Everything.
Balius Apr 30th 2009 6:16PM
The role gnomes play in World of Warcraft is comic relief. That's fine, comic relief is important. But comic relief has to be used properly, and throwing it into a cinematic meant to show off the seriousness and epic powers in the game would just be a step backward.
The other option, of course, is to make gnomes seem as hardcore and serious as the others, which can be done but, really, isn't the tone of gnomes in the game.
alpha5099 Apr 30th 2009 6:21PM
Considering Trolls and Gnomes are my probably my favorite races on either faction (with close seconds being Tauren and Draenei), I would certainly like to see more of them in the cinematics. Another thing I'd like is some nicer looking Tauren in the cinematics. The few Tauren you see are ugly as sin, and don't really look anything like the awesomeness you have in-game.
Jim Apr 30th 2009 6:41PM
Wait, you mean as opposed to all those really attractive Tauren?
alpha5099 Apr 30th 2009 6:46PM
That's right. I think they're a fabulous looking race, and something like this:
http://bestgamewallpapers.com/files/world-of-warcraft/tauren-shaman.jpg
isn't really representative of how they look.
Shkam Apr 30th 2009 6:38PM
Gnomes are fail, just admit it and move on with your life.
spo Apr 30th 2009 6:43PM
Yes, gnomes are comical.
Yes, gnomes are kind of creepy. (Combovers should never be a hairstyle choice for any race in any known universe, and seeing a person that resembles a child doing sexy dances bothers me a lot.)
All the same I think gnomes give good cinema. You only have to think of the high visibility of gnomes in machinima to realise that.
Leaving gnomes out is much like trying to make the Lord of The Rings without hobbits.
(Plus the sight of a gnome tanking Kologarn may be absurd as all hell but it never fails to impress me.)
As for trolls...well, trolls just rock on every level as far as I'm concerned.
Wulfkin Apr 30th 2009 6:54PM
"Murlocs have gotten more screen time than Gnomes have."
Thats because Murlocs are way cooler (and funnier) than gnomes.
Tori Apr 30th 2009 7:03PM
The less gnomes I see the better in my opinion. ;) Unless they want to implement /punt as a viable emote. =D
Lemons Apr 30th 2009 7:13PM
I just think that wow cinematics are like actual movies. They are meant to be watched by just about everyone so they need to be uber accessible.
Everyone knows what an orc is, and everyone can recognize an elf easily enough (any humanoid with pointy ears), but to the uninitiated a gnome is simply a midget. I can guarantee that after watching a cinematic containing a gnome a non wow playing person's first reaction would be "it was cool, but why was that midget in there?"
That said I do think that blizzard really needs to give Gnomes their due in the next cinematic. Seriously, they're not so horrible that there is no way in hell to make them look cool, and if people don't like then screw 'em, Gnomes are a part of Warcraft like it or not.
Gnomercy Apr 30th 2009 7:44PM
Warcraft Census suggests that there are 351,434 gnome characters being played.
There are also 408,183 Orc characters and 339,016 Dwarf characters being played.
If you argue that popularity is one of the reasons that Gnomes aren't part of cinematics, the numbers suggest otherwise.
Frank Apr 30th 2009 8:13PM
i don't play a gnome, but i freakin' LOVE the gnomes. i love their chipper upbeat look at life despite all experiences to the contrary, i love their kickass hair and facial hairstyles and their nerdish love of tech... i think they provide a much-needed light note to the game. they just rock. i would love to see them get proper attention in a cinematic. DO IT, BLIZZ!
Rakeesh Apr 30th 2009 8:19PM
They're too cute to be properly depicted as frightening, magnificent or deadly. Let's be honest people. As awesome as they are in and of themselves, they're just too toony to be taken seriously.
Magnus Apr 30th 2009 8:25PM
The cinematic team can't leave them out of the game forever, right?
No, not right.
They can leave the gnomes out for as long as they want.
And forever isn't long enough.
Taladan Apr 30th 2009 8:48PM
"He says Trolls have gotten nearly the same treatment, and while that's true, you can see a Troll for a split second in the Burning Crusade cinematic -- they haven't had the complete shutout that the shorter denizens of Azeroth have had so far."
Oh, cry me a river. From now on, I think every Horde should start a campaign for more Trolls on cinematics, 'cause a split of a second isn't enough for such noble and deeply religious race.
Tom Apr 30th 2009 9:52PM
Yeah...uh... there is so much you could do with gnomes in a cinematic. I mean you got the gadgetry/weapons, you got the awesome dodging/climbing/yoda-fu-ness going on. I mean who can't see a gnome girl sliding under the leg of a striking tauren leaping and crawling onto his back, stabbing him through the back of his neck and then jumping off of him, the kick off toppling the bovine creature down as the pig tailed warrior leaps towards her next opponent and the camera...you know there's so much fun awesomeness you could do. You could have a gnome firing rockets like crazy at a dragon or some other flying mob in the sky whilst in a gyro-copter, you could have a gnome just cloaked in fel magic burning stuff up... freaken polygonal racism.