WoW Insider http://wow.joystiq.com WoW Insider http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/wow.joystiq.com/media/feedlogobig.gif WoW Insider http://wow.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. View our terms of service here: http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/ Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: Dynamic Action Team Ep 3: Fitting In]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/27/wow-moviewatch-dynamic-action-team-ep-3-fitting-in/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/27/wow-moviewatch-dynamic-action-team-ep-3-fitting-in/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/27/wow-moviewatch-dynamic-action-team-ep-3-fitting-in/#comments
Oxhorn's got a new series of movies out which he's posted under the name BMD over at WeGame.com. His latest flick is the third episode in the Dynamic Action Team series, called Fitting In. It's a bit of a hybrid movie for us to show here at WoW Moviewatch, since its premise revolves around three characters from Team Fortress 2 who try to find their way around our beloved World of Warcraft, but we love the nearly seemless blending of the two games.

Episode 3 follows the team's attempt to fit in with guilds and arena teams. Let's just say their social skills come with a 3-day waiting period and their classes are definitely OP. I'd absolutely want these guys on my side against the zombie scourge, but I'm not so sure I'd want to pal around with them. I like to see Oxhorn playing with the medium's possibilities; moviewatchers can only benefit as he continues to stretch his talents.

You don't need to know anything about Team Fortress 2 to enjoy this film, much like you didn't need to know about any version of The Sims to enjoy Releasing the Beast. It's a great way to poke fun at WoW's foibles while at the same time winking at us with some inside jokes.

[Via WeGame. Thanks, Jeff! ]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

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WoW Moviewatch: Dynamic Action Team Ep 3: Fitting In originally appeared on WoW Insider on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blended-machinimabmddynamic-action-teamfitting-inhumormachinimaoxhornteam-fortress-2tweet-thiswegamewow-moviewatch (Natalie Mootz) Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: The Little White Poney Inn]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/24/wow-moviewatch-the-little-white-poney-inn/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/24/wow-moviewatch-the-little-white-poney-inn/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/24/wow-moviewatch-the-little-white-poney-inn/#comments

More Hallow's End spirit to end your week, in the form of a little horror flick called The Little White Poney Inn from Olibith. It's a silent horror film that was originally made in French for Le Grand Prix MMO Machinima in 2007, which won the grand prize. (Anyone surprised? This guy eats awards for breakfast.) This version contains English subtitles over the French dialog cards (subtitles for the subtitles?) and a dialed-down "old film effect" compared to the version he entered into the contest. For this year's version of the same contest, Olibith won a finalist spot for The Noob Song.) If you like to be spooked, you'll have fun with this film and I have to admit that the ending made me laugh.

Oh, and someone please go give the guy a chair so he can get back to work! We want more movies, dangit!

[Via Vimeo]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

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WoW Moviewatch: The Little White Poney Inn originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> horrorle-gran-prix-mmo-machinimalittle-white-poney-innmachinimaolibitholibith-kirin-tortweet-thisvimeowow-moviewatch (Natalie Mootz) Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: Redshift: Pursuit Trailer]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/23/wow-moviewatch-redshift-pursuit-trailer/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/23/wow-moviewatch-redshift-pursuit-trailer/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/23/wow-moviewatch-redshift-pursuit-trailer/#comments

Fresh off of winning an Oswald award at BlizzCon 2008, the filmmakers at Slashdance have released a trailer for their next movie, Redshift: Pursuit. Pursuit will be a sequel to their first movie, Redshift. (The award-winning Interlude was a prequel to the same movie.)

The premise appears to be revolve around the conflict that arises when the clairvoyant Aislynn (a former Night Elf turned Undead) foresees the death of another Night Elf in her visions and tries to prevent it, putting her at odds with her fellow Horde. That's all the trailer really hints at, but it's a gripping teaser for what's to come. On their website, Slashdance says that the full film version of Pursuit will be released on October 31. We'll keep a look out for it.

[Via Vimeo]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

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WoW Moviewatch: Redshift: Pursuit Trailer originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> dramamachinimaredshiftredshift-pursuitredshift-pursuit-trailerslashdancetrailerstweet-thisvimeowow-moviewatch (Natalie Mootz) Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: The Grasshappa Chronicles]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/22/wow-moviewatch-the-grasshappa-chronicles/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/22/wow-moviewatch-the-grasshappa-chronicles/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/22/wow-moviewatch-the-grasshappa-chronicles/#comments

Happy Hallow's End! Today we bring you a fluffy treat from TRiBViDs called The Grasshappa Chronicles. The most recent installment to the series, Episode 4, is linked above. (Previous episodes are 1, 2, and 3.) These movies are all treat, no trick, like the G.N.E.R.D.S. handed out these days by Innkeepers. A tasty, not too filling, but definitely an enjoyable confection featuring two dudes who pay the price for ripping off intellectual properties in previous episodes. The guys are goofy and have amusing songs running through their heads starring Justin Timberlake and Vanessa Carlton. Oh, and there's also a Hello Kitty reference for good measure.

I think we all have some guilty pleasures like this in our movie-watching closets. My favorite guilty pleasures contain ram-a-lama ding-dong, Brando singing, and R.O.U.S.'s in them. I know some of you out there are Goonies freaks. Confess!

[Via Machinima.com]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

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WoW Moviewatch: The Grasshappa Chronicles originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> a-thousand-milesbrandobringing-sexy-backgooniesgrasshappa-chronicleshello-kittyhumorjustin-timberlakemachinimamachinima.commarlon-brandoR.O.U.S.ram-a-lama-ding-dongsillyTRiBViDstweet-thiswow-moviewatch (Natalie Mootz) Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: The Gnomeregan Revenge: Red Alert]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/21/wow-moviewatch-the-gnomeregan-revenge-red-alert/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/21/wow-moviewatch-the-gnomeregan-revenge-red-alert/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/21/wow-moviewatch-the-gnomeregan-revenge-red-alert/#comments

The Gnomeregan Revenge: Red Alert is an original tale told in pre-Arthas Azeroth, the first of a new trilogy by filmmaker Odessa. The Gnomish race is cast in the role of Soviet revolutionaries against the Alliance. In this episode they use their technological superiority to stage a surprise attack on Ironforge. The Gnomes even speak Russian, albeit with English subtitles.

The machinima is excellent and the handheld out-of-focus shots work superbly to convey the surprise and confusion of the first wave of copter attacks. Since I don't speak French or Russian, it's difficult to tell the quality of the voice acting but the other sound effects are deftly done. (The English subtitles need some work; there are a lot of typos.) Still, I think it's possible to follow the story just from the visuals. The cliffhanger at the end prepares us for the next two episodes which promise to show us the war and its outcome. From just this first episode, it's difficult to tell if the film will have an allegoric theme with a larger message or if this was merely a creative tangent invented by the filmmaker. The follow-up episodes should come before the end of the year, so I guess we'll find out soon enough.

[Via WarcraftMovies]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

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WoW Moviewatch: The Gnomeregan Revenge: Red Alert originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> dramagnomeregangnomeregan-revengegnomesmachinimaodessared-alertrevolutionsovietstweet-thiswarwarcraftmovieswow-moviewatch (Natalie Mootz) Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: Releasing the Beast II: Don't Call me Huntard]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/20/wow-moviewatch-releasing-the-beast-ii-dont-call-me-huntard/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/20/wow-moviewatch-releasing-the-beast-ii-dont-call-me-huntard/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/20/wow-moviewatch-releasing-the-beast-ii-dont-call-me-huntard/#comments
Warning: This video contains harsh language.

Today we're featuring Releasing the Beast II: Don't Call me Huntard! by Sazabi. It's an intriguing, mesmerizing, hilarious, self-aware take on a PvP movie -- following up the hugely successful Releasing the Beast. Now, wait! Don't tune out if you don't like PvP movies. It's not actually a PvP movie, per se. It's a comedy all the way, including the filmmaker showing his own failures in the battlegrounds and making fun of his arena rating. It's certainly not a how-to movie. In fact, the story goes out of its way to demonstrate that it is NOT a model of PvP play tactics.

The premise is this: after brutally failing during a PvE raid (with a very funny guest voice appearance from the star of Onyxia Wipe Animation) caused by his hobby as a Fraps-aholic machinima filmmaker, our hero decides to try his hand at the battlegrounds and arena scene at the urging of his main character, an Orc hunter. (Hence, the subtitle: Don't call me huntard!) The PvP scenes are interludes within the arc of the bigger story and are set to some great music, mostly from the Naruto Original Soundtrack. These battle scenes are slickly filmed with split-screen punctuations of the action. (My only complaint about them is at times the camera angle is too high to see well.)

The battle fray is framed by the comedic conflict between the Sims 2 avatar of the filmmaker and his WoW creation (or so he believes), Sazabi. The story folds in on itself so many times that you feel like you're in a Möbius strip that's been flagged in enemy territory. But that's exactly the fun here. Even though the film is 27 minutes long, you need to wait for the twist at the end which presents a fine comeuppance for our hero. (Which hero you'll have to find out for yourself.) I also recommend downloading the FileFront version because the subtitles are a bit difficult to read in the streaming version and they help clear up some of the European accents at times.

[Via WarcraftMovies -- Thanks Zac!]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

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WoW Moviewatch: Releasing the Beast II: Don't Call me Huntard originally appeared on WoW Insider on Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> humorhuntardhuntermachinimaminingnarutoonyxia-wipe-animationpvpreleasing-the-beast-2sazabisecond-lifetweet-thiswow-moviewatch (Natalie Mootz) Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: Fruit of Elune]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/wow-moviewatch-fruit-of-elune/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/wow-moviewatch-fruit-of-elune/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/wow-moviewatch-fruit-of-elune/#comments
Warning: Parts of this film may be offensive to some viewers.

It's sad that we have to end the Moviewatch week with the film Fruit of Elune by Tivas & Gobbler of Myndflame and Dementia Studio. The filmmaker's description is this: "Elune, diety of the night elves, rains love from the heavens creating peace." My take? No. It's neither love nor peace. It's just another commercial parody, this time without much imagination and with the same underwear joke over and over again. If it were merely immature, I would shrug it off, roll my eyes, and forget about it. But on top of not being very funny or original, the filmmakers attempt a joke about domestic violence which I find entirely unhumorous and offensive to boot. I'm astounded and saddened that the judges picked this film as a Runner Up in the Comedy category for the BlizzCon 2008 movie contest. If it hadn't won a prize in the contest, you wouldn't be seeing it here on Moviewatch. Not on my watch, anyway. Not cool, Blizzard, not cool at all.

[Via WarcraftMovies]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

Continue reading WoW Moviewatch: Fruit of Elune

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WoW Moviewatch: Fruit of Elune originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blizzcon-2008fruit-of-elunehumormachinimamyndflametweet-thiswarcraftmovieswow-moviewatchyoutube (Natalie Mootz) Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Elemental Shaman talent builds for Patch 3.0.2]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/elemental-shaman-talent-builds-for-patch-3-0-2/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/elemental-shaman-talent-builds-for-patch-3-0-2/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/elemental-shaman-talent-builds-for-patch-3-0-2/#comments So you logged in on Tuesday and all your talent points were gone. (Let's hope you noticed this fact before you went out to attack someone or something.) If you're looking at the new Elemental tree and wondering what talents to pick, here's a little help for you from someone who's been speccing and respeccing almost pure Elemental on the beta servers for several months now. (That would be me.)

The first thing you should do is go read what our resident shaman expert, Matt Rossi, says about the overall changes to our class in Echoes of Doom, just to make sure you still want to stay Elemental (Part 1 and Part 2). For my part, I leveled to 70 as Elemental and saw no reason to switch as I worked my way up the new Wrath talent tree. Since we've already been over the new spells, the point of this post is to simply recommend a build for you. So let's get a-buildin'!

Tier 1
Both the PvE and the PvP specs start the same way. Take all 10 talents on the first row of the Elemental tree (Convection and Concussion) and put 5 points in Improved Healing Wave on the Resto tree. This is probably no different than your spec before Echoes of Doom.

Tier 2
PvE and PvP are the same here too. Max out both Call of Flame and Elemental Warding, which will improve both your DPS and your ability to survive. (That's right, elemental shamans are all about FIRE now.) Raiding shamans, on this tier you should also put 3 points into Ancestral Healing so that when you off-heal, your targets can reap this potential armor-increasing benefit.

Tier 3
On the third level, both PvE and PvP should take Elemental Focus and all 5 points in Elemental Fury, which are both talents you probably had before the patch. PvE can take all 5 points in Reverberation, but PvP should save 3 of these points for later.

Tier 4
Both play styles should max out the points in this tier for Eye of the Storm (familiar talent) and the new Improved Fire Nova Totem. Now some of you will say that PvE shouldn't be using Fire Nova totem and I'll partially agree with you. No, you shouldn't be using it in raids or instances. However, you can use it carefully in PvE and questing (which I've done) and it can be extremely useful because of its slowing effect if you get mobbed.

Continue reading Elemental Shaman talent builds for Patch 3.0.2

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Elemental Shaman talent builds for Patch 3.0.2 originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> echoes-of-doomElementalelemental-buildpatch-3.0.2patch-3.0.2-talent-guideshamanshaman-buildshamansTalentsTotemswrathwrath-beta (Natalie Mootz) Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:30:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: Mercy of the Sea]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/wow-moviewatch-mercy-of-the-sea/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/wow-moviewatch-mercy-of-the-sea/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/wow-moviewatch-mercy-of-the-sea/#comments
Mercy of the Sea, Runner Up in the Action/Adventure category of the BlizzCon 2008 movie contest, is a long film, clocking in at over 23 minutes. The clip embedded above is only the first act of three acts total. You can watch the entire film by streaming it, downloading it, or watching the three YouTube clips in order. Sleeping Dogs Productions, headed by J. Joshua Diltz, which also created Rise of the Living Dead and The Island, now brings us the tale of High Priestess Elunari as she tries to rescue her kidnapped child from her power-hungry husband, the Arch Druid. Of the BlizzCon-entered movies I've watched this year, this one is my least favorite.

While it is an undoubtedly polished production -- the voice talents, music, and sound design stand out in particular -- the story struggled to keep my interest, sometimes from plain confusion. The backstory takes up the first 3-1/2 minutes of the film and is told without animation, via what is essentially a slide show. It moves very slowly and provides little that we don't understand from context later. (As such, I would recommend axing the narrated backstory altogether.)

Then, ironically, much of the action in the main portion of the film was difficult for me to follow. The battle scenes were too cluttered with closeups and blur-effects to make much sense to me. Most times I couldn't even tell what spells were being cast or who was fighting whom. I never figured out how the Priestess escaped, who died overall, or why the "core" meltdown occurred. Nor was I able to follow the action well enough to figure out how the Arch Druid caught up to the Priestess at the end of the film, much less why either of them were still alive after their fiery collision. Without adding spoilers, I also can't figure out how the ending events occurred either. There were too many quick cuts, too many out-of-context closeups, too much deus ex machina, too much backstory and not enough battle context for me to enjoy the film.

Tomorrow we'll take a look at Fruit of Elune by Myndflame to wrap up our BlizzCon movie contest coverage.

[Via WarcraftMovies]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

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WoW Moviewatch: Mercy of the Sea originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blizzcon-2008dramaj-joshua-diltzjoshua-diltzmachinimamercy-of-the-seasleeping-dogs-productionstweet-thiswarcraftmovieswow-moviewatchyoutube (Natalie Mootz) Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: Dead Rain 2: Deader]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/wow-moviewatch-dead-rain-2-deader/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/wow-moviewatch-dead-rain-2-deader/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/wow-moviewatch-dead-rain-2-deader/#comments
In case there was any confusion about yesterday's post, I intentionally linked only to the films featured previously here on WoW Insider. The other three movies will be covered as we go along this week and the original post will be updated as such. Today you'll see Dead Rain 2: Deader from Bear on a Trampoline, which took Runner Up in the Drama/Romance Category for the BlizzCon 2008 movie contest. Although I'm not a horror/zombie movie fan, I was incredibly impressed with this film, a sequel to last year's Dead Rain. Even though I love the Snacky films, I don't think it's fair that Dead Rain was included in the same category with those films since it's impossible to compare the two films.

Deader's story picks up where the first one left off, with our two heroes mourning their losses and continuing to fight off zombies. There are so many things to like about this film: the grainy black-and-white film style, the high-contrast dramatic flashes, the genre homages (forced perspective camera angles, peeking through holes at the zombies, pop-up gotchas), and the wonderful cinematography. The only thing I wish is that the audio volumes were more stable. I had to ride my dial a few times to hear the dialog over the music or sound-effects. But the storyline was fantastic. The twist caught me completely by surprise and made me say, "Holy cow!" (Only, of course, "cow" was not the word I used. I live in a PG-13 household, so sue me.) I thought, "How the heck are they gonna get out of this?" Well, you have to watch it yourself to see.

Tomorrow we'll look at Mercy of the Sea by Sleeping Dog Productions and Friday we'll see Fruit of Elune by Myndflame.

[Via WeGame]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

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WoW Moviewatch: Dead Rain 2: Deader originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bear-on-a-trampolinedead-rain-2deaderdramamachinimatweet-thisundeadwegamewow-moviewatchzombies (Natalie Mootz) Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: Snacky's Journal 4 wins Grand Prize at BlizzCon]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/wow-moviewatch-snackys-journal-4-wins-grand-prize-at-blizzcon/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/wow-moviewatch-snackys-journal-4-wins-grand-prize-at-blizzcon/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/wow-moviewatch-snackys-journal-4-wins-grand-prize-at-blizzcon/#comments

Although the BlizzCon movie contest was hardly publicized at all -- no press releases about the contest or the winners -- it yielded the cream of the WoW machinima crop so we will be featuring the winning movies here at WoW Moviewatch for the next few days. The winner in each category, as well as the Grand Prize winner, received the newly minted Oswald award to put on their shelves. (I hereby dub thee The Ozzie!)

Today we feature the Grand Prize winner, Snacky's Journal - Episode 4 by the typically brilliant Stone Falcon Productions. This film also won the Drama/Romance category (see below), even though I think it is better suited for the Comedy category. It's good, Snackish fun, with high quality film-making and acting, as all the Snackys are. I like the new fem gnome and I hope she continues in the series because she's a cute character and could make for a good foil for Snacky.

Here's a list of the other winners, along with links to ones that have been already featured on WoW Insider. We'll feature and comment on some of the others this week.

Action/Adventure Category

Comedy Category

Drama/Romance Category

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

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WoW Moviewatch: Snacky's Journal 4 wins Grand Prize at BlizzCon originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blizzcon-2008humormachinimaoswaldoswald-awardsnackysnackys-journalsnackys-journal-episode-4stone-falcon-productionstweet-thisvimeowow-moviewatch (Natalie Mootz) Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: WoW That's Irregular]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/wow-moviewatch-wow-thats-irregular/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/wow-moviewatch-wow-thats-irregular/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/wow-moviewatch-wow-thats-irregular/#comments

Ever wonder what happens to your character when the boat or zeppelin goes out of your view as it zips across the ocean? Well, WoW That's Irregular is here to 'splain you, Lucy. The filmmaker, Wizeer, is a pal of Baron Soosdon's and a student of Machinima 101 and his third machinima makes it clear he'll be a force to be reckoned with.

The movie is really two separate vignettes which both riff on the theme of unexpected outcomes. The first story shows an Undead Rogue capturing the flag in Warsong Gulch with comedic flair. There is little standing in his way except a rookie Gnome, a surprised Draenei, and a Dwarf Hunter who looks surprisingly like BRK. One of these three offers the rogue his comeuppance, which is amusing, but what actually happens is a bit difficult to follow. According to the film's notes, the rogue overused Sprint, but I'm not entirely sure what occurred.

In the second half of the film, a Night Elf boards a boat and gets mobbed by a gang of Horde who apparently don't judge gender very well. The special effects on the boat ride showing us what happens when the boat hits the worm hole are splendid. The voice acting in this segment is also quite amusing. (Did you know that Orcs scream like little girls?) Give it a shot; I think you'll like this one.

For those of you interested in the non-WoW music used in this film, Wizeer lists "Concerning Hobbits" (Lord of the Rings), "Lacrimosa" (Immediate Music), and "Ringtone" (Battlefield Heroes).

[Via WarcraftMovies]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

Previously on Moviewatch ...


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WoW Moviewatch: WoW That's Irregular originally appeared on WoW Insider on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> baron-soosdonbattlefield-heroesbigredkittybrkhumorimmediate-musiclord-of-the-ringslucymachinimamachinima-101rickytweet-thiswarsong-gulchwizeerwow-moviewatchwow-thats-irregularwsg (Natalie Mootz) Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: What Happens in Booty Bay Stays in Booty Bay]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/wow-moviewatch-what-happens-in-booty-bay-stays-in-booty-bay/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/wow-moviewatch-what-happens-in-booty-bay-stays-in-booty-bay/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/wow-moviewatch-what-happens-in-booty-bay-stays-in-booty-bay/#comments
(Warning: This video contains some harsh language.)

Just in time for the weekend, like a quick junket to Vegas,we offer a movie called What Happens in Booty Bay Stays in Booty Bay. The filmmaker, Brigitte Swiftblade, calls this an "RP documentary." I love this format; it's very original. Since she's playing on an RP server, she decides to follow around her pal, Zaitzegrait, and film the consequences while he tries to meet chicks in Booty Bay. Apparently Zait is quite a famous character in Trade chat (US Twisting Nether-A), so it's like she picked a celebrity for a reality show. And, in a way, a "reality show" is really what this movie is since Zait is the only one who knows why the little Dwarf Rogue is following him around so closely. (Her POV is the camera's eye.) Everyone else plays their part to perfection, albeit unbeknownst to them. The subtitles offer insight into the documentary setup and a running non-RP commentary on the action -- or Zait's lack thereof. The result is a very humorous, original movie that contains themes of love, betrayal, honor, and cross-faction hanky-panky. I would love to see more of this kind of documentary movie-making from role-players!

[Via WarcraftMovies]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

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WoW Moviewatch: What Happens in Booty Bay Stays in Booty Bay originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> booty-baybrigitte-swiftbladedocumentaryhumormachinimareality-showsreality-televisionreality-tvrole-playingrprp-documentarytweet-thistwisting-netherwarcraftmovieswhat-happens-in-booty-baywow-moviewatchzaitzaitzegrait (Natalie Mootz) Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: Unbroken - Prelude]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/wow-moviewatch-unbroken-prelude/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/wow-moviewatch-unbroken-prelude/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/wow-moviewatch-unbroken-prelude/#comments
Holy moly, Firebolt Productions just keeps coming at us with high quality films! We only recently just saw them win fourth place in the WeGame contest and now they've already got a teaser out for another film. Johan Vagstedt says that Firebolt is apparently in the process of making a "huge machinima project" called Unbroken and today's feature, called Unbroken - Prelude, is the teaser for it which they've entered into the BlizzCon movie contest.

This film follows a council of Orcs led by the "very special" Gul'dan, set a short time after after the Dark Portal was opened by Ner'zhul, trying to decide if they will join the Burning Legion. Later in the film, we also see a glimpse of the Draenei side of the story.

This film is, quite frankly, one of the most highly-polished pieces of machinima I've ever seen -- from the lighting to the camera angles to even the facial expressions. I highly, HIGHLY recommend -- no, I demand -- that you download the full version of this movie from Filefront -- it's simply incredible. I can't wait for the full version!

[Via WarcraftMovies]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

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WoW Moviewatch: Unbroken - Prelude originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blizzcon-2008blizzcon-movie-contestfirebolt-productionsgul-danguldanmachinimaner-zhulnerzhultweet-thisunbrokenunbroken-preludewarcraftmovieswow-moviewatch (Natalie Mootz) Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[How to play WoW with a joystick]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/how-to-play-wow-with-a-joystick/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/how-to-play-wow-with-a-joystick/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/how-to-play-wow-with-a-joystick/#comments Reader Aaron Stacey wrote to tell us about a simple new script he's developed that allows him to play WoW more fluidly, despite having little fine dexterity control in his right hand. Since a spinal cord injury, he is only able to grasp and release his hand. Prior to developing this script, Aaron used to play only with his left hand using "an abundance of key binds and keyboard/mouse switching." He was restricted to caster classes because of the difficulty in moving and attacking at the same time.

Inspired by our Wii remote post and our treadmill post, Aaron came up with an ingenious idea that he hopes will help others with similar disabilities. The key is GlovePie, a piece of Windows freeware (donations welcome) originally written for virtual reality gloves, which allows you to play any game using any type of controller you like. GlovePie's website lists controllers like joysticks, gamepads, mice, keyboards, and Wiimotes, among a host of other hardware.

Find out how to do it yourself after the break.

Continue reading How to play WoW with a joystick

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How to play WoW with a joystick originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> accessibilitycarl-kennerdisabledgame-accessibilitygamepadgesturesglove-pieglovepiejoystickmouse-gesturesphysically-handicappedtweet-thisvoicevoice-commandswiimotewiimote hackWiimoteHack (Natalie Mootz) Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: Hoodoo Teleshopping - The Deadmurloc]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/wow-moviewatch-hoodoo-teleshopping-the-deadmurloc/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/wow-moviewatch-hoodoo-teleshopping-the-deadmurloc/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/wow-moviewatch-hoodoo-teleshopping-the-deadmurloc/#comments

Seen commercials for the ShamWow? Well, today Kilh Machinima brings you its Azerothian equivalent in Hoodoo Teleshopping - The Deadmurloc(tm), his entry for the BlizzCon movie contest. Be warned: you must reconcile yourself with the idea that, although this version of Azeroth has television, it doesn't have a better way to clean your house than with a rehydrated dead murloc. Hoodoo Teleshopping is a Troll-run version of Home Shopping Network which demos the Deadmurloc product (don't forget the trademark) right before your eyes and shows you how the murlocs are harvested in cartoony, gory detail.

I found the background music to be too distracting, competing with the already-variable levels on the voice acting, so sometimes it was hard to follow the sales pitch especially from the gravelly-voiced Troll salesman. The visuals are well done, though, and the effect of putting the HSN-style border around the image is slick. Kilh says it only took him 4.5 days to finish the production in order to meet the contest deadline. But hey, you can't argue with getting a Big Flat Rock for FREE. Now what would you pay?

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

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WoW Moviewatch: Hoodoo Teleshopping - The Deadmurloc originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> big-flat-rock-for-freedeadmurlochoodoo-teleshoppinghoodoo-teleshopping-deadmurlochumorkilhkilh-machinimamachinimamurlocmurlocsshamwowspooftweet-thiswow-moviewatch (Natalie Mootz) Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: Flapping Feast]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/07/wow-moviewatch-flapping-feast/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/07/wow-moviewatch-flapping-feast/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/07/wow-moviewatch-flapping-feast/#comments
Here's an endearing little film called Flapping Feast from Tinkersmith Productions. It brings us that universally heartwarming story of a boy and his... um, chicken. Well, the chicken's a man, actually. And the boy is a middle-aged gnome named Falkireohan Tinkersmith the Second. But nonetheless! As I was saying... This film tells the tale of a gnome whose self-defense spell against a ganker goes horribly wrong and, in his guilt, Falkie tries to set things right as much as he can. The story logic is, assuredly, like a Grimm fairy tale -- the only way a man-who-thinks-he's-a-chicken can live happily ever after is if he has a pullet for a bride? -- and it has a feel to it without much of a character arc, but choosing a child to voice the 50-ish gnome and the folk-taleaccented English somehow works for me. And anyone who doesn't crack up laughing at the music which plays over the credits needs to get their funny bone examined. You may want to also view the sequel called Flapping Feast 2, but I didn't find it as charming as the original.

[Via Machinima.com]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

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WoW Moviewatch: Flapping Feast originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> falkireohan-tinkersmithflapping-feastflapping-feast-2humormachinimamachinima-commachinima.comthinkersmith-productionstinkersmithwow-moviewatch (Natalie Mootz) Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: Unofficial BlizzCon achievements]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/07/breakfast-topic-unofficial-blizzcon-achievements/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/07/breakfast-topic-unofficial-blizzcon-achievements/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/07/breakfast-topic-unofficial-blizzcon-achievements/#comments

If you're going to BlizzCon, you don't have to wait for Echoes of Doom to come out to get a head start on racking up achievements, at least according to the playful commentary going on in the forums right now. Here's a taste of some of the humorous achievements they've suggested you can earn at BlizzCon.
  • I Have No Use for This - Try to sell a piece of junk to any vendor at BlizzCon
  • Ruler of BlizzCon - Survived both days of BlizzCon without sleeping, eating, and showering (Blue poster Bashiok begs you not to attempt this one)
  • Savior of the Public - Brought enough soap for yourself and at least 1 other person (takes achievement away from Ruler of BlizzCon)
  • I put on pants for this! - Worry about the fact that you're missing a raid with your guild
  • Defender of the Throne - Order a greasy, overpriced hamburger from the convention center floor and spend at least 2 hours on the john
  • Everyone's Best Friend - Buy a round of drinks for the Blues
  • The Not-So Magic Kingdom - Go to Disneyland in Warcraft apparel
  • I Want My Mommy - Utter the phrase "Don't tase me Bro!" as security comes for you
  • THEY GOT THE KEYS MAN - Intoxicate a Blizzard CM
  • Munchhausen - Complain about your class to Kalgan
  • Nerf THIS! -Yell and nerdrage at a dev during the class panel
  • Oops! I Did it Again! - Come to the convention dressed as a character not pertaining to WoW
  • Slayer of the Dragon - Hand out mints to five people with the "dragon" breath
Okay, now it's YOUR turn! Surely we can come up with even funnier ideas for BlizzCon achievements!

[Thanks, Andrew Anderson!]

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Breakfast Topic: Unofficial BlizzCon achievements originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> achievementsblizzconbreakfast-topicforumshumor (Natalie Mootz) Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: The Rumpus Machine]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/wow-moviewatch-the-rumpus-machine/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/wow-moviewatch-the-rumpus-machine/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/wow-moviewatch-the-rumpus-machine/#comments
The Rumpus Machine is the latest offering from Oblivious Films, of The Grind fame. It's the story of what happens when an easily-frightened dwarf and his friends stumble upon a "metal pig" which seems to grant their every wish. It's not a follow-up to The Grind storyline, but rather a new, self-contained story. It's kinda like what O. Henry would have written if he'd only lightened up a bit. The moviemaking here is top notch and the storytelling is quite funny with everything from sexy dancing girls to throwback dungeons. Make sure you stick around throughout the entire credits roll for some final jokes at the end.

Drew "Drewbie" Syring from Oblivious tells Moviewatch that Macheath made this film for the BlizzCon machinima contest and, for you Diablo III fans, "yes, that is really the real Deckard Cain who was kind enough to lend his voice talents to our production." How'd they manage it? Just watch it, you'll see.

Updated: In case it wasn't clear to anyone who watched the film: The filmmakers want you to know that they got the actual voice actor for Deckard Cain to perform in their film.

[Via Vimeo]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

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WoW Moviewatch: The Rumpus Machine originally appeared on WoW Insider on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> deckard-caindiablodiablo-3diablo-iiidrew-syringdrewbiemachinimaoblivious-filmsthe-grindthe-rumpus-machinevimeowow-moviewatch (Natalie Mootz) Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: Trollbane 2 trailer]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/03/wow-moviewatch-trollbane-2-trailer/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/03/wow-moviewatch-trollbane-2-trailer/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/03/wow-moviewatch-trollbane-2-trailer/#comments

Today's pick is a trailer for Trollbane 2 by DTB Productions who, of course, brought us Trollbane. The filmmaker is asking for feedback on his Warcraft Movies profile, so if you'd like to have an impact on his film, I'm sure he'd appreciate your thoughts. My first thought is: fix the grammar, dude! The tenses are so tortured in the setup titles that it's hard to tell if this isn't a time-travel movie -- or will it might have been?

My second comment is that the machinima looks incredibly slick. This is going to be a very high quality, well-produced movie when it's finished. However, shiny polish does not necessarily equal a good film. My main concern with this trailer is that I have no idea what this movie is going to be about. From the titles toward the end -- new outfits, places, and powers -- it sounds like this is a trailer for a new video game, not a movie. I can tell that there's going to be action and gore and female Troll behinds (or was that a Blood Elf?) but other than that? No clue. I don't even know who the heroes and villains are. A trailer is supposed to make me want to see a film. (Sometimes with Hollywood films, the trailer is actually better than the full length film. Wanted, I'm looking at you!) However, slick production values by themselves aren't enough to draw me into a movie if I don't know why else I'm watching it.

[Via Warcraftmovies.com]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

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WoW Moviewatch: Trollbane 2 trailer originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> dtb-filmsdtb-productionsdtbnmachinimatroll-tuckustrollbanetrollbane-2wantedwarcraftmovieswow-moviewatch (Natalie Mootz) Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: Warcraft Political Ad: Rend Blackhand '08]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/02/wow-moviewatch-warcraft-political-ad/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/02/wow-moviewatch-warcraft-political-ad/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/02/wow-moviewatch-warcraft-political-ad/#comments
In case you haven't had your fill of political attack ads this year, check out this ad for Rend Blackhand '08 created by Gape/Horn Productions. This video, produced for an Orc who apparently wishes to overthrow Thrall, is a virtual Threat Down of everything wrong with Azeroth. PvP is terrorist activity. The Venture Company exploits our natural resources for profit. Trolls are illegal immigrants and Goblins benefit from the outsourcing of our jobs. And you won't even believe what he blames Blood Elves for.

Although this video features some epic music (from Psycho, John Philip Sousa, The Right Stuff) and one of the most amusing knock-offs of Rosie the Riveter I've ever seen, the satire is only 50 percent effective. Gape does a good job of winding up but can't seem to throw the pitch over the plate when it comes to the final payoff at the end. I'm not sure if he loses his nerve or if he only had a half-formed idea, but I wish he'd gone for the jugular at the end instead of just quitting.

[Via Warcraftmovies.com]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

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WoW Moviewatch: Warcraft Political Ad: Rend Blackhand '08 originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> attack-adsgapegape-horn-productionshumorjohn-phillips-sousamachinimapolitical-adspsychorend-blackhandrend-blackhand-08rosie-the-rivetersatirethe-right-stuffventure-companywarcraft-political-adwarcraftmovieswow-moviewatch (Natalie Mootz) Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: Hallow's End fanmade trailer]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/01/wow-moviewatch-wow-hallows-end-custom-trailer/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/01/wow-moviewatch-wow-hallows-end-custom-trailer/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/10/01/wow-moviewatch-wow-hallows-end-custom-trailer/#comments
It's October 1st, and Brewfest will be over at the end of this week. But fortunately we have Hallow's End starting on October 18 to look forward to. In the spirit of the upcoming holiday, filmmaker Konack1 made a trailer to prepare us all for the visit of the Headless Horseman. This is his sixth machinima attempt and he's making wonderful progress. This trailer features a spooky kid whispering warnings (The Sixth Sense, anyone?) and a professional-quality narrator whose deep voice sounds remarkably like the late Don LaFontaine. Konack1 even uses the dip-to-black technique so popular with movie trailers these days. The visuals of the Horseman rising from his grave and stalking his way to the city combined with the child's creepy voiceover are very effective in creating a Hallow's End mood.

Konack1 is still posting his work on YouTube, so we don't have a higher quality version of this video to show you. However, I would urge you to check out some of his previous work. Especially My Immortal - Tribute to Cody, an ode to a lost pet, that left me in tears.

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

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WoW Moviewatch: Hallow's End fanmade trailer originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> hallows-endheadless-horsemanin-a-worldkonack1machinimamy-immortal-tribute-to-codysixth-sensethe-headless-horsemanthe-sixth-sensewow-hallows-end-custom-trailerwow-moviewatchyoutube (Natalie Mootz) Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: Chronicle of the Annoying Quest, Episode 28]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/wow-moviewatch-chronicle-of-the-annoying-quest-episode-28/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/wow-moviewatch-chronicle-of-the-annoying-quest-episode-28/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/wow-moviewatch-chronicle-of-the-annoying-quest-episode-28/#comments
It's been so long since Moviewatch took a look at the Chronicle of the Annoying Quest that two more episodes have come out since then. I've decided to feature Episode 28 instead of Episode 27 because I feel it's the much better of the two. The humor is better and the pacing is quicker. It's interesting, though, that Bakasavant starts off both episodes very slowly, taking a bit too long to get to the point. In Episode 27, there's some messing about with flying mounts that, although somewhat humorous, doesn't add much to the story. And with Episode 28, there is a long intro as a tribute to the late Richard Wright which probably should've gone at the end of the episode.

I disagree with the previous Moviewatch post on Episode 26 in that, if you've never watched an episode of Chronicle of the Annoying Quest, I don't think you need to watch the entire series to enjoy these last two episodes. (I haven't watched more than 8 of these episodes total.) The comedic timing alone in Episode 28 stands by itself. I think, also, that the series doesn't necessarily need an ending point. In that way it reminds me not only of an American soap opera, but also of WoW content in general. In fact, the title of the series itself suggests that its part of the reason the quest is annoying is due to its unending nature.

Bakasavant Productions says that Episode 31 will be the season finale. What the filmmakers mean by a "season," however, is beyond me. How long is a machinima "season"? How long will they be gone? Will they merely be taking time away from CotAQ to do other films or will they drop off the radar entirely? I hope it's not the latter.

[Via Warcraftmovies.com]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

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WoW Moviewatch: Chronicle of the Annoying Quest, Episode 28 originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bakasavantbakasavant-productionschronicle-of-the-annoying-questcotaqgadgetzanmachinimawarcraftmovieswow-moviewatch (Natalie Mootz) Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: Drop of Blood: The Collection Pt. 1]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/29/wow-moviewatch-drop-of-blood-the-collection-pt-1/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/29/wow-moviewatch-drop-of-blood-the-collection-pt-1/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/29/wow-moviewatch-drop-of-blood-the-collection-pt-1/#comments
Drop of Blood: The Collection Pt. 1 is a twin set of parodies and it's the first machinima by a 15-year-old kid named Morten from Denmark. He's remade the openings of the old Spider-Man and Scooby-Doo cartoons set in Azeroth, including setting them to music of The Simpsons take-off for the former and the original music for the latter. (Apparently he's a student of ancient television history?) It's quite silly and fun; it will make anyone who used to watch those old shows smile.

Let's help out Morten by giving him a few pointers. (Constructive criticism for a new guy on the block, please? I know you guys can do it!) Some of the action is tied to the music very well. The Spider-Pig pops in to "scare" us right on cue with the music. On the other hand, when he leaps through the trees, there was an opportunity to hit the last "Look out!" with the pig zooming off screen, but instead he flies away too slowly. Also, even on the high quality version on Youtube the title fonts look a bit blurry. It could be poor font choice multiplied by Internet sizing, but it's something to watch out for when you make movies to be viewed online. On the last tilt up to the top of the mountain with Spider-Pig looking over the valley takes too long. Instead, I'd consider using a faster tilt with push into the pig at the very end of the scene. The main issue I have with the Scooby-Doo parody is that we never see a WoW version of Scooby! Rut-ro! I think Scooby would be a Shaman in Ghost Wolf form, but maybe that's not goofy enough. Any other ideas?

[Via The WoW Portal]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

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WoW Moviewatch: Drop of Blood: The Collection Pt. 1 originally appeared on WoW Insider on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> a-bloodsprayer-productdrop-of-bloodhumormachinimamortenparodyscoobyscooby-doospider-manspider-pigthe-simpsonsthe-wow-portaltweet-thisworld-of-warcraftwowwow-moviewatchwow-portalyoutube (Natalie Mootz) Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Skill Mastery: Improved Fire Nova Totem]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/26/skill-mastery-improved-fire-nova-totem/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/26/skill-mastery-improved-fire-nova-totem/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/26/skill-mastery-improved-fire-nova-totem/#comments

I'm having a lot of fun playing an Elemental Shaman in the Wrath beta. As Mike described in Skill Mastery: Thunderstorm, we have some fun new talents to play with and I hope we get to keep most of them. The new talent I'm highlighting today is Improved Fire Nova Totem.

To the right you can see the stats for the Fire Nova Totem at level 71 without taking the Improvement talent. However, 20 points into the Elemental talent tree, you can spec Improved Fire Nova Totem. If you take both talent points, you'll slash the time it takes for the totem to activate and you'll add some handy bonuses to the spell.

First, the timing. The unimproved Fire Nova Totem takes 3 seconds to fire, but for each talent point you put into Improved Fire Nova Totem, it procs one second faster. So, if you spec both points, it will only take one second for the Fire Nova to explode after you drop it. With only a 15 second cooldown on the spell, that means you can use this bad-boy several times during a PvE fight.

Continue reading Skill Mastery: Improved Fire Nova Totem

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Skill Mastery: Improved Fire Nova Totem originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> elementalelemental-shamanelemental-specfire-novafire-nova-totemfire-totemsimproved-fire-nova-totemshamanskill-masterytalentstotemtotemswrath-betawrath-of-the-lich-king (Natalie Mootz) Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: Pepitoz]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/26/wow-moviewatch-pepitoz/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/26/wow-moviewatch-pepitoz/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/26/wow-moviewatch-pepitoz/#comments
Today's feature is a humorous tale of QQ channeled into roleplaying entitled Pepitoz: The World of Warcraft Story. Although Rurikar, the same filmmaker who brought us the hilarious Jimmy: A World of Warcraft Story, seems lately to have moved away from machinima to creating his own animated shorts, Pepitoz is a character that stands the test of time. It is a tragic love story, with a twist. Perhaps a dash of music would've added even more humor, but that's my only critique. Anyone who is wincing at possible changes to their class upcoming in Wrath, you'll be able to relate to the source of the melodrama here.

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

Previously on Moviewatch ...

Continue reading WoW Moviewatch: Pepitoz

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WoW Moviewatch: Pepitoz originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> gnomeshumorjimmymachinimapepitozrurikartweet-thisworld-of-warcraftwowwow-moviewatchyoutube (Natalie Mootz) Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: Stuck in the World of Warcraft]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/25/wow-moviewatch-stuck-in-the-world-of-warcraft/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/25/wow-moviewatch-stuck-in-the-world-of-warcraft/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/25/wow-moviewatch-stuck-in-the-world-of-warcraft/#comments

Yesterday I wanted to impress you all on my first Moviewatch post, so I showed you a very classy, serious movie. Today? Not so much! Instead, today I offer you a good laugh. MTGScreenie brings us his musical and comedy stylings in the form of Stuck in the World of Warcraft. This music video, set to Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire," but with WoW-specific lyrics, is a comic ode to the game he loves. MTGScreenie's singing isn't going to win any awards, but I think that makes the song even more endearing and funny, especially when he strains to hit the high notes or runs out of breath because the song outpaces him. The visuals won't blow you away, but you'll see lots of amusing reminders of things you love and hate about playing WoW. Seriously, people, who doesn't love lag and ganking!

[Thanks, Terrë Yuki!]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

Previously on Moviewatch ...

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WoW Moviewatch: Stuck in the World of Warcraft originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> billy-joelgankinghumorlagmachinimamtgscreeniemusic-videostuck-in-the-world-of-warcrafttweet-thiswe-didnt-start-the-fireworld-of-warcraftwowwow-humorwow-moviewatchyoutube (Natalie Mootz) Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW Moviewatch: Lingering Memory]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/24/wow-moviewatch-lingering-memory/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/24/wow-moviewatch-lingering-memory/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/24/wow-moviewatch-lingering-memory/#comments
Hey there, I'm the new WoW Moviewatch blogger since Moo unfortunately had to leave our hallowed halls. My first pick is a new film by Count Vrenna called Lingering Memory. The story follows a young Paladin's conflict with The Scourge at Caer Darrow. It's told without dialog or voiceover, with just a few titles by way of setup and some emotional music to carry the mood.

Count Vrenna asserts that this is his first time filming large battle scenes, but I wouldn't have guessed if he hadn't told me. The last scene showing rows of Death Knights -- including one of the Naaru, just like we find in Ebon Hold -- is chilling in its inevitability. Another scene I liked is where the hero confronts her fate and memories of her life flash before her eyes. It reminds me somewhat of Here Without You but without the love story. I've never quite gotten the hang of role playing but all these RP guilds making such cool recruitment videos sure make the idea tempting to try.

[Via WarcraftMovies.]

If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.

Previously on Moviewatch ...

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WoW Moviewatch: Lingering Memory originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> caer-darrowcount-vrennadeath-knightsebon-holdhere-without-youlingering-memorymachinimanaarupaladinrole-playingroleplayingrp-guildsscourgethe-scourgetweet-thisworld-of-warcraftwowwow-moviewatch (Natalie Mootz) Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[The state of Inscription]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/18/the-state-of-inscription/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/18/the-state-of-inscription/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/18/the-state-of-inscription/#comments One thing I know is this: the 8962 beta patch which downloaded last night is not going to be the last beta patch we see. How do I know this? Because there are still no Warrior, Death Knight, or minor glyphs available to train yet. Yes, I know what some websites are reporting about Death Knight glyphs, but I assure that these glyphs are not at the trainers. The lack of clear information on the topic is making it interesting to be a scribe on the beta servers. (And by "interesting" I mean "lame.") While I'm standing in front of the trainer looking at the list of available glyphs, people on the Trade channel are calling me an idiot because I have no DK glyphs because they read about them. (Lolwut?) But my graphic for this post is my proof. They're not available yet, people!

Continue reading The state of Inscription

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The state of Inscription originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> auction-housebetadeath-knightenchantersglyphsherbsinscriptionlexicon-of-powerpatch-8962peacebloomscrollswotlkwotlk-betawrath-beta (Natalie Mootz) Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:25:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: Who are you without your main?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/13/breakfast-topic-who-are-you-without-your-main/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/13/breakfast-topic-who-are-you-without-your-main/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/13/breakfast-topic-who-are-you-without-your-main/#comments Let's say the grid goes down tomorrow. Or maybe The Pattern catches up to Blizzard and it happens to fry that small part of a server that houses your character because it really is you they're after. (Admittedly, there are more realistic ways that you can lose your WoW character, but that kind of takes the fun out of this topic.) From a philosophical point of view, how would you feel? Any kind of loss -- even an electronic one -- may inspire grief and all its stages. But no doubt you spent a lot of time, effort, and money leveling that character so in a way it's part of yourself. You've probably thought about what it would feel like to lose your main.

But what would you be like without your main? Would you lose a bit of confidence? Would your coworkers sense you withdraw just a bit? Or would you feel free, finally able to, I don't know, learn how to surf? Would you be any different at all? Would it be something you could (or would even want to) talk to your non-WoW friends or family about? I wonder if roleplayers would have a more difficult time -- or would it be easier because they are like actors? For me, since my main is much more powerful than I am and also provides me with a lot of laughs at his expense, I would feel just a little bit smaller and weaker. It would also be freeing. I don't think I'd level another main, but I might just try something new. Would the loss of your main have any impact on who you are on a daily basis?

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Breakfast Topic: Who are you without your main? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sat, 13 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> alter-egobreakfast-topicmain-characterrole-playingroleplayroleplayingthe-patternvirtual-identityvirtual-selves (Natalie Mootz) Sat, 13 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Omar the Test Dragon]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/12/omar-the-test-dragon/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/12/omar-the-test-dragon/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/12/omar-the-test-dragon/#comments
Once upon a time I had a Carrot on a Stick. Then I copied my shaman to the Wrath beta server. To my surprise, when I logged onto the beta realm for the first time, waiting for me at the mailbox was the curious message above. Now, we've covered the riding enchantment ground already (that is, it may not ever go live), but what I want to talk about on this post is my new buddy, Omar the Test Dragon.

I think I have a crush on him. I wonder what he looks like. I expect Omar looks like a cross between Mr. T. and Justin Timberlake -- ohhh, dreamy! Is he a Troll, a Goblin, or is he really a member of the Dragonflight? How wonderful that would be! Nighttime flights above Netherstorm or setting fire to ogres in Stonemaul. How romantic! But if Omar really is a dragonIflight, he speaks differently than I expected. His language style is utterly intoxicating. I mean, his use of exclamation marks alone is enough to give a girl the dizzies. Maybe that's why he doesn't reply to my emails -- perhaps there is a language barrier between us? O, my dear Omar, if you can hear the sound of my voice, I have but one message for you. I am no dawg, just a simple bovine from Mulgore. Peace out.

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Omar the Test Dragon originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> carrot-on-a-stickdawgdragonflightdragonsdragons-is-so-stoopidomaromar-test-dragonomar-the-test-dragonpity-the-fooriding-cropskybreaker-whipwhos-your-homieword (Natalie Mootz) Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:30:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Death Knight Ghouls' baby name book]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/10/death-knight-ghouls-baby-name-book/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/10/death-knight-ghouls-baby-name-book/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/10/death-knight-ghouls-baby-name-book/#comments If you spec your Death Knight as Unholy, 30 points into the talent tree you get the Master of Ghouls ability which lets you control your ghoul like a pet. On the PvE beta realms, your ghoul doesn't have a name yet; it comes up "RandomPetName," as pictured to the right. However, on the new Murmur PvP realm (US only), level 80 Death Knight premade characters are getting names for their pet-ghouls. An enterprising poster on the beta forums is compiling a list of possible names using set prefixes and suffixes they've seen. Here's the list so far.

Prefixes Suffixes
Blight Basher
Bone Chewer
Brain Cruncher
Carrion Feeder
Corpse Gnaw
Crypt Gobbler
Dirt Grinder
Grave Leaper
Gravel Masher
Rib Muncher
Rot Ravager
Skull Ripper
Stone Slicer
Tomb Stalker

Basically, the ghoul names come from picking a prefix from column A and combining it with a suffix from column B. I hope my ghoul's name comes out to be GraveFeeder or CorpseCruncher. However, as you can imagine, some of these name combinations just will not fly as they may sound too R-rated. (In particular, Blizzard might want to consider killing the "Muncher" suffix altogether.) Similar to a Warlock's minion name, it appears that the ghoul's name stays constant, even after dismissing and resummoning. Blue forum poster Ghostcrawler says that generating a random name for every summon requires a code change that won't happen before Wrath hits. However, Ghostcrawler does say that the randomizing code will likely be included in a post-Wrath release.

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Death Knight Ghouls' baby name book originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> betadeath-knightghoul-namesghoulsminionsmurmurpetswotlk-betawrath-beta (Natalie Mootz) Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Some Gnomes glitched in Wrath beta]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/09/some-gnomes-glitched-in-wrath-beta/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/09/some-gnomes-glitched-in-wrath-beta/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/09/some-gnomes-glitched-in-wrath-beta/#comments
Gnomes can't handle their weapons. At least not in the Wrath beta. In a strange graphics glitch, gnomes of certain classes look as if their swords are glued to the backs of their hands instead of being grasped. The glitch occurs whether fighting or not. It doesn't happen with Warlocks, who hold their weapons correctly, but I was able to replicate it with a Rogue and there are Warrior screenshots elsewhere on the web. Some players are even reporting that their offhand weapon is floating away and seeming to fight by itself. Blue forum poster, Gradina, says that Blizzard knows about the issue and is working on a fix.

Now in the meantime, I think a little creativity is called for. Instead of stabbing or slicing with your sword, you could slap mobs upside the head. (Who doesn't like the phrase "upside the head"?) Or, you could spin around really quickly, Whirlwind style, and scrape everyone on the ankles, thereby cutting them down to your size. Maybe for the female Gnomes out there, you could use your weapon as a mirror for smoothing out split ends after a fight. And if your offhand weapon gets frisky and floats away? Take some time out for a bite of toast or to smell the roses while your extra weapon does all the work.

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Some Gnomes glitched in Wrath beta originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> betabeta-bugsbugsglitchgnomesroguewarlockwarriorwotlk-betawrath-beta (Natalie Mootz) Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Premade beta toons available again -- for real]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/09/premade-beta-toons-available-again-for-real/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/09/premade-beta-toons-available-again-for-real/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/09/premade-beta-toons-available-again-for-real/#comments
After the false alarm a few days ago, premade characters are available for copy to the US Wrath beta PvP realm Murmur. (Apparently, the realm was called "Murmer" up until a few hours ago. I guess Blizzard decided on a last minute spell check.) I have firsthand knowledge that the character copy now works because I copied three toons this morning and less than two hours later they are now playable. If you have a beta key and you want to play on the PvP server, keep in mind a few things:
  • You can only choose all Horde or all Alliance toons because it's a PvP server.
  • You can copy up to three level 80 characters, stacked with top-notch PvP gear.
  • This server is designed to test Wintergrasp. Other PvE areas like Azeroth and Outland may not be available for play on this server.
  • If you like Night Elves, you're stuck playing a Druid. Dwarves, on the other hand, get a choice of three classes (Hunter, Priest, or Warrior). Every other race gets two classes each.
  • Right now the wait time is only a couple of hours. It will get longer as more people copy toons. So go over there ASAP.
Commenters have (sad to say, rightly) accused me of a US bias in my posts so I did some extra research on the this topic for our EU readers. The EU servers do not have premade templates available because -- at the moment, at least -- there is no Murmur-equivalent beta realm available to them. Sorry, folks. We'll keep you posted if that changes.

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Premade beta toons available again -- for real originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> betacharacter-copycharacter-templateslevel-80lkpremade-characterspremadestemplateswotlkwrathwrath-beta (Natalie Mootz) Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Boat crews return in the Wrath beta]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/09/boat-crews-return-in-the-wrath-beta/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/09/boat-crews-return-in-the-wrath-beta/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/09/boat-crews-return-in-the-wrath-beta/#comments In today's Ask a Beta Tester post, there was some discussion about the boat/zeppelin crews on the Northrend boats. I'm here to report that transportation crews in Azeroth are back in the current Wrath beta build!

I really liked the idea of the boat crews when they were so briefly implemented before. It was nice to be able to repair or get supplies en route without having to wander all over tarnation to get them, especially if the boat was headed to a discombobulated destination like Booty Bay. And when you'd never been to the boat's destination before, it saved a lot of time. Plus, the goblin crews were just hilarious and I liked watching their banter. So I was very disappointed when they went poof on the live realms.

You can also stay mounted on the boats and zeps now, which is quite convenient. (And, by the way, you can stay mounted in Booty Bay now too!) The crews are level 40 which makes them easily raidable. I'm not sure what to make of the fact that the goblins on the Horde boats are there for the humor but it seems like the humans on the Alliance boats are very serious about their jobs. We've seen some legacy testing items in the Wrath beta -- like the materials quartermasters from 2006 which are still in the beta but not in the live game -- so I hope the crews aren't just leftovers from previous beta builds that Blizzard has no intention of rolling out in Wrath (or in the upcoming patch). We'll just have to wait and see.

Gallery: Boat/Zep Crews in Wrath Beta

Zepplin from UndercityZep CaptainCaptain StashThe Crew's MandateEngineer Combs

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Boat crews return in the Wrath beta originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 09 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> boatboat-crewsboatscrewsNPCspatch-3.0.2tweet-thisvendorszepzep-crewszeppelinzeppelin-crewszeppelins (Natalie Mootz) Tue, 09 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Beta realms down tomorrow for maintenance]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/08/beta-realms-down-tomorrow-for-maintenance/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/08/beta-realms-down-tomorrow-for-maintenance/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/08/beta-realms-down-tomorrow-for-maintenance/#comments The Wrath beta realms are down as I type this. Not news, I know, for those who are actually in the beta. The realms seem to be unavailable frequently. I chalk this up to the nature of beta testing. However, today we actually got a heads-up on planned maintenance downtime, scheduled for tomorrow at the same time the live realms will be offline. Now, this is news to me because so far the patches to the beta have been released without any announcement. In other words, the only way I've found out updates were coming was that when I try to log on, and then I end up waiting an hour for everything to download and install.

So now I'm intrigued. Will we need to install another beta patch after maintenance? Will the beta now move to planned maintenance instead of spontaneous crashes? (Okay, wait, that last question was just crazy-talk.) Or -- maybe the announcement of planned maintenance mean that the beta realms are ready for the release of patch 3.0.2 and all of its dreamy barbershop and achievement goodness! Oo, I can't wait!

UPDATED: According to the beta forums, the beta realms will be offline starting at 9:00AM Pacific time September 9th 2008 for one to two hours.

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Beta realms down tomorrow for maintenance originally appeared on WoW Insider on Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> betabeta-realmsbeta-testmaintenancepatch-3.0.2tuesday maintenancetuesday-maintenancetuesday-morningtuesdaymaintenancewrathwrath-betawrath-of-the-lich-kingwrath-of-the-lich-king-beta (Natalie Mootz) Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:51:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Is Recruit-A-Friend a game-killer?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/is-recruit-a-friend-a-game-killer/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/is-recruit-a-friend-a-game-killer/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/is-recruit-a-friend-a-game-killer/#comments After reading Outland Bound's amusing tale of an encounter with a level 59 "Recruit-A-Friend" player wearing level 26 pants because of the triple-leveling benefit, I got to thinking about the gameplay ramifications of this promotion. As a marketing professional as well as a student of game design, this promotion seems to me at best a bad idea and, at worst, a game-killer.

As tight as the Blizzard team claims it is, and as much as it professes to act only in the best interest of gameplay, this promotion may have been poorly conceived. It seems like the Marketing Department had a great idea to accomplish two goals: (1) acquire more accountholders and (2) encourage current accountholders to stay. However, I wonder how well this idea was vetted by the game design team. My guess is: not well at all.

Continue reading Is Recruit-A-Friend a game-killer?

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Is Recruit-A-Friend a game-killer? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blizzard-marketingpromotionsrecruit-a-friend (Natalie Mootz) Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:30:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[BlizzCon ticket drawing winners to be selected soon]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/blizzcon-ticket-drawing-winners-to-be-selected-soon/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/blizzcon-ticket-drawing-winners-to-be-selected-soon/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/blizzcon-ticket-drawing-winners-to-be-selected-soon/#comments Zarhym posted on the BlizzCon forum that the opt-in period to get into the drawing for BlizzCon tickets is now over. Blizzard will be randomly selecting winners over the next few days. Account holders who get selected by the drawing will receive an email from Blizzard explaining how to purchase up to two BlizzCon 2008 tickets if they so desire -- so make sure your contact information is updated!

So now the forums are all abuzz as to what are the odds of winning the drawing. Let's do the math, shall we? There are 3,000 tickets available and they'll be offered by pairs to each drawing winner. We can assume there will be no more than 3,000 winning accounts (if every winner buys only one ticket -- unlikely) and no fewer than 1,500 (if every winner buys the max allowed: a pair). According to MMOGChart.com, Blizzard has about 10,000,000 subscribers right now. Okay, now, stay with me... Originally, 12,000 tickets were sold to BlizzCon. Let's assume that all the tickets purchased so far went to subscribers, rather than people who wouldn't show up on the subscription rolls. Let's also assume that each subscriber bought one to two tickets in the first batch. That means 6,000 - 12,000 accounts already have tickets, leaving 994,000 to 988,000 folks left for the opt-in drawing. With my mad Excel skills, it looks like if everyone who didn't get BlizzCon tickets the first time around opted in to the drawing, you've got a 0.015% to 0.030% chance to get one of those sweet emails in the next few days.

Since it's unrealistic to assume that everyone opted in, I'd say you have a better chance than that. However, keep in mind that in order for you to even have a 1% chance of winning the drawing, only about 150,000 accounts would have had to opt-in. No matter how you slice it, good luck!

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BlizzCon ticket drawing winners to be selected soon originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blizzconblizzcon-2008blizzcon-ticket-drawingmmogchartsubscribers (Natalie Mootz) Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW movie poster contest winners announced]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/wow-movie-poster-contest-winners-announced/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/wow-movie-poster-contest-winners-announced/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/wow-movie-poster-contest-winners-announced/#comments Worldofwar.net announced the winners of its WoW movie poster contest today. Each winner of the contest received a Wrath of the Lich King beta key. The five winning posters, oddly, have a very sci-fi feel to them. Two of the winners, in particular, gave me a Star Wars vibe. One shows a cast of Alliance characters posed in a fashion reminiscent of Luke and Leia on the A New Hope posters and the other (pictured to the right) reminds me of an Imperial Star Destroyer on the move. Maybe it's just me, but I expected a poster to have more of a fantasy feel to sell this movie. Something that reminds me more of, say, Lord of the Rings rather than Star Wars.

I think my favorite one is the one of Arthas staring at the viewer. It looks menacing and the artwork is fantastic. (Not a big fan of the "2012," teaser date, though.) In addition to viewing the winning designs, you can also flip through a gallery of all the entries they received, including a nice one in the honorable mention category called "There is no escape," featuring Kil'jaeden which definitely has a fantasy vibe to it.

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WoW movie poster contest winners announced originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> arthaskil-jaedenkiljaedenlord-of-the-ringsmoviemovie-poster-contestmovie-postersposter-conteststar-warswarcraft-movieworldofwar.netwow-movie (Natalie Mootz) Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoW blog roundup]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/wow-blog-roundup/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/wow-blog-roundup/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/wow-blog-roundup/#comments

Time for another tour of the WoW blog kingdom...

Why now? | Alts Ahoy
All of a sudden Nasirah enjoys playing a shaman where it was boring before. In this post, she muses on why her mind has changed.

How to annoy NPC's - Keep Clicking on them! | Pugnacious Priest
Amusing detective work shows what happens when you annoy an NPC, including quotes on what they'll do to you if you don't stop. To bad you can't back-talk them too.

Sir, I Respectfully Disagree | ChickGM
A well-put and humorous rebuttal to two of WoW Insider's posts about what traits make a good guild officer and which ones to avoid.

I spoke too soon | Misery
This is actually a pair of posts in which Misery first points out that raid utility vs. damage is a flawed argument and subsequently analyzes a blue post about the same issue. Interesting theorycrafting for raid leaders.

Multi-Boxing Macros 102 | Three Druid Noob
Razorbax offers a primer on healing macros for the beginning multiboxer.

Goblins. Innocent Pranksters, or Evil Madmen bent on world domination? | The PvP Nub
Finally! The answer to the question, "Just what is it with those goblin doods?"

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WoW blog roundup originally appeared on WoW Insider on Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> altsblogsgoblinsguild-managementhumormacrosmulti-boxingnpcspvpraid-compositionraidingshamanwow-blog-roundupwow-bloggerswow-blogs (Natalie Mootz) Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST WoW Insider