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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBlizzard cinematic team appears at Chapman University
by Michael Gray 
May 7th 2009 at 8:00PM
Nick Markham is a student at Chapman University , and he recently dropped us a tip about something special that happened there. Chapman University is fairly close to Blizzard's Irvine headquarters, which could be why they were able to take the time to drop by. One of their film classes had a treat when six members of the Blizzard cinematic team came by to give a three hour presentation about what they do, how they do it, and other miscellaneous film-related issues. So what's the news?
The most crushing news is another confirmation that we shouldn't expect to ever see a gnome in an official World of Warcraft cinematic. The quote from Jeff Chamberlain, the director of the cinematic team, is "Not if I can help it!" Apparently, while gnomes are arguably one of the coolest races in WoW, the director doesn't feel that they're "epic" enough. I can see that viewpoint, I guess, but that just means we'll have to rely on Baron Soosdon to brings us the gnome love.
The Wrathgate animation, of course, was a significant topic. According to Nick's report, the cinematic team and Blizzard both consider Wrathgate to be a complete success. We should expect to see a new, similar animated event with each significant content patch, though it's going to take a little bit to get that going.As for machinima, the presenters said they are continually impressed by the work fan machinimators produce. There was even a time when they wanted to publish a tool to help machinima creators, but that was unfortunately unable to come to fruition. The idea had been to build something like a Map Editor, or even an official WoW Model Viewer, but since the project never completed, we may never know.
There were a few hints about the World of Warcraft movie, though not a lot of details since the cinematic team isn't directly involved with it. Metzen's writing it, and the movie will not be about Arthas. However, the panel confirmed that Legendary Pictures will do the CGI and special effects. That's not outside speculation we've seen already, but it's pretty nice to have confirmation.
Finally, apparently there are going to be openings on the cinematic team. What's more, the team will be showing off some kind of new animation at the upcoming BlizzCon. They'll also be there, and might be looking to meet members of the machinima community. Machinima creators might want to shine up their pixels, as it were, if they're looking for an audition with the team.
All in all, it sounds like the presentation was pretty neat. It was definitely worth the time, and it whets my appetite for what we might start hearing about upcoming BlizzCon news.
Edit: Changed "Anaheim" to "Irvine." I guess I'm too excited about BlizzCon!
Filed under: Gnomes, Analysis / Opinion, Machinima
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
calnor May 7th 2009 9:21PM
because they are great for games, as in punting or tossing.
Deadly. Off. Topic. May 8th 2009 10:42AM
Nods. I think it’s rather stupid not to include gnomes in the scenes at all, they are part of the Alliance. That’s like saying maybe we shouldn’t put the cows (taurens) into the game, everyone’s seen cows before, how epic could they be?
Sean Riley May 7th 2009 9:20PM
You know what? There's flat out, no way no how, any excuse for the anti-gnome opinion. You know why?
Freaking metamorphosis, that's why.
Or, to craft a scene: Massive slavering orc advanced on tiny gnome. Gnome looks unimpressed.
Orc raises club.
Gnome transforms into 10 foot tall dreadlord and pounds five shades of stuff out of orc.
Sorry, but no. There are endless numbers of ways gnomes can be made cool. That they've declared gnomes 'aren't epic enough' says more about Jeff Chamberlain than it does about gnomes.
Zarfay May 8th 2009 2:06AM
Turning into a dreadlord defeats the purpose.
If I wanted to be impressed by a dreadlord. I would watch a dreadlord, not a gnome.
Metamorphosis fails.
Namus May 8th 2009 2:16AM
Even simpler: Gnome presses a button, a hundred taurens are blown up to the sky, gnome yawns... simple.
Trally-sue, lol, so true!
Sean Riley May 8th 2009 4:52PM
@Zarfay;
Yeah, I thought of that myself later, too. My mental scene is now more like this.
Gnome sits quietly on ground. Orc rushes up behind her. Gnome doesn't move. As the orc gets close, the camera pans up to show the orcish face and arm raised with club, the club comes rushing down... and is grabbed by a Dreadlord arm. The orc's face turns white as the Dreadlord comes face to face with the orc, and then the orc is hurled backwards. As the camera tilts around to view the dreadlord now, it's already fading back into a gnome, who hurls fel fire directly at the camera.
There, see? Badass use of metamorphosis, still clearly articulates the gnome.
Booyah.
kia May 7th 2009 9:42PM
As a hordie, I agree wholeheartedly with Chamberlain. All gnomes are good for is some good old-fashioned punting.
Maror May 7th 2009 11:31PM
That does it. I'm done.
From now on every Ally I make is going to be a gnome. EVERY. ONE.
Just as soon as I'm done with my Horde characters...
RogueJedi86 May 8th 2009 12:03AM
When you get tired of making blood elf metrosexuals, I'll be on Alliance side, waiting for your gnomes.
Maror May 8th 2009 9:38AM
Oh yeah? Well...
Wait, no, you got me there.
Catiya of Feathermoon May 7th 2009 9:52PM
I don't know. I really hate it whenever a Blizzard dev comes out and says "Gnomes just aren't epic enough for cinematics." What..is that? Then why are they even in the game...? Why would you blatentely ignore a race you designed?
By the way, I really hate gnomes. I just don't understand that and am of the opinion that each expansion cinematic should feature at least a snipet of every race. It's WORLD of warcraft, why not give all your races some screen time? That's kind of likc ignoring that races player base.
Sean Riley May 7th 2009 9:57PM
Just out of curiosity, since you seem a bit more approachable about it than some of the others -- Why do you dislike the gnomes? As an avid fan, it seems odd to me that they garner so much hatred.
Catiya of Feathermoon May 7th 2009 10:39PM
:] They just don't quite do it for me, player wise. It's not like they bother me in game, I kind of like the varity of seeing them, but playing-wise... I guess I hate being so low to the ground? I'm not sure. I also wish their culture were more finely developed than "They like engenieering."
Sean Riley May 7th 2009 11:08PM
There's actually a fair amount of Gnomish lore out there, though not as much as some of the other races. One of the legitimate criticisms of gnomes is that lore wise, they had very little before WoW. (I heard one person groan that the gnomes pushed the High Elves out of the Alliance, which is a fair point.) But still, I like 'em. There's a lot of tragedy in Gnomeregan and we get some fun facts about them in the RPG. (For instance, gnomes are the only democratic race on Azeroth, which is neat. They elect their leaders.)
As for being so low to the ground, hey, that's an advantage to a rogue. You just hide on rooftops. Nobody ever looks up for a gnome... :)
Thanks for the answer.
Thane W May 7th 2009 9:52PM
Go panthers!
artjunkie808 May 7th 2009 10:09PM
That's right Jeff Chamberlain! Keep them gnomes where they belong, out of sight!
A.T. May 7th 2009 10:16PM
LOL @ "gnomes are arguably one of the coolest races in WoW"
Melissa C May 7th 2009 10:36PM
I just wanted to throw out there that Jeff Chamberlain's comment was misquoted and taken out of context. Michael Gray left out the part where Jeff said he was making a joke. Anyone who was at the Blizzard Cinematic panel at BlizzCon 2008 would know that a Gnome was originally planned for the WOTLK cinematic but it simply didn't work out.
Also...he plays a Gnome Rogue on my server.
Sean Riley May 7th 2009 10:43PM
Can you give a better accounting of how that went down? I'd like to know what happened.
Blackthorn May 7th 2009 10:56PM
Jeff doesn't really hate gnomes, but he's smart enough to know what's good for business.
Orcs sell boxes. Dragons sell boxes. Gnomes get laughs.
Personally I think an appropriately fiendish male gnome warlock with the twirly moustache would be sufficiently epic if they made him really evil. And threw in a succubus for good measure.