Gamers Upset at Blizzcon's Slur-Ridden Speech

[Ghengis John]

Blizz just couldn't give the alliance the damn pandas leading into Burning Crusade, no somebody insisted that the pandas were so good they had to be shared. So they pulled the plug on their announced plans and created the Dranei. But did anyone care that the elves would be super popular? Oh I'm sure they did.

Not true, there were problems with the original storyline for the Pandaren, namely China pitched a ***** fit, so the swapped in the Dranei because it was too late to wompletely rewrite the resources for the Pandaren, the Dranei being meant to be solely a plot race for BC. With the assets there Blizz swapped some writing around, and viola.

Yeah I don't really buy the whole "china pitched a fit" story. Sorry. At the time Blizz only said that they had "internal issues" with their development. The whole china angle was just "fanon" I figured. Most especially when there was an interview with Metzen and when asked about the last minute pull he said "of course Pandarian are coming to the game eventually, naturally for the horde." Makes it seem to me like it wasn't a government knuckling down on them as much as it was people on staff who really wanted to see the alliance hobbled. I would hasten to ask, with the chinese government becoming increasingly opposed to internet cafes why would they be more accepting of an MMO addition of their national symbol now than then? Does the Joyland amusement park simply possess that kind of pull?

 

[Beryl77]

Whether it's bad or not what Blizzard did, that apologize was really lame.

 

[Ghengis John]

I would hasten to ask, with the chinese government becoming increasingly opposed to internet cafes why would they be more accepting of an MMO addition of their national symbol now than then? Does the Joyland amusement park simply possess that kind of pull?

Originally the Pandaren storyline contained drunken samurai pandas, among other things. Essentially, the entire lore was much more Japan oriented than Chinese. Now we have Kung Fu Pandaren. One storyline is manifestly more acceptable to the Chinese government.

So the chinese government has a red phone to blizzard HQ then?

God forbid the singer from Cannibal Corpse dislike night elves! How dare he call the players faggots! I need to go have a good cry!

I think their problem stems from the fact that this was a video presented and endorsed by blizzard entertainment.

 

[RanD00M]

People are getting their panties in a bunch now? Over a video that's how fucking old?
Get a fucking grip and take that log out of your ass, it's doing no good for ya.

 

[RookwoodX]

The rant is fine as some little video floating around the Internet.

The problem is Blizzard endorsing it. This is a pathetic, offensive, and pointless rant that in no way should have been highlighted at their convention.

I've never understood why Blizzard has felt so free as to show their obvious disdain for Horde, when more than half their subscribers are Alliance. Do they not understand that such displays can lead to actual violence? Some people are easily motivated to such acts. I feel like Blizzard doesn't know when enough is enough and just how fervent their fans are over this "game" as others are saying.

Secondly, this is 2011, can a company still get away with such obvious bigotry? I just wonder what it's like on Proudmoore. That server used to be predominantly homosexual. Blizzard owes them and the whole community a sincere apology. Not this "we were just joking when we said that" deal. That's something only an 8th grader can get away with...

 

[Thyunda]

Well, that's okay, because nobody has ever, or will ever care what death metal 'musicians' have to say. These are people that have no concept of art, and only of controversy, so I'm really not surprised that they think they're all unique and special for talking shit like this.

And a friendly "Up Yours" to you. Nobody has ever cared what you had to say. You are just another nobody with no concept of art as your japanese mecha avatar clearly shows. Silly taunts aside. Seriously, don't push everyone over the same edge, not cool.

OT: That people even became offended is pretty offensive. People are so thin-skinned these days they'll cry about just anything.

Now, to insult my avatar is not only incredibly petty, but also totally irrelevant, since I didn't choose the picture because I liked it, but because I didn't actually have anything else on my hard drive at the time. I do NOW, but changing avatars is such a pain. So I keep an Armoured Core one, despite my hatred of all things Japanese. Well, except Japanese people. I hate their culture and style, not them themselves.

And is true, nobody DOES care what I have to say, but I don't go giving myself some stupid name and screaming over a microphone about morbid topics that I think I'm being unique by 'daring' to approach.

Well, that's okay, because nobody has ever, or will ever care what death metal 'musicians' have to say. These are people that have no concept of art, and only of controversy, so I'm really not surprised that they think they're all unique and special for talking shit like this.

Condemning a whole genre of artistic creation for the statements made by one musician is a great way to present an argument, I hear. Perhaps, before you try to consider such creation, you should keep your mind open about it, you might find something you like.

Ignorance is fun.

I've never really been a fan of Cannibal corpse, that said. Corpsegrinder doesn't really strike me as the brightest cookie in the death metal bunch, so, I'm surprised they even let him up there. I'd much rather have Paul Masvidal alongside me, on stage.

You got mixed up. I'm not judging the genre based on him, I'm judging him based on the genre. If the genre wasn't already synonymous with being stupidly controversial for the sake of it, there might actually be something unexpected about this.

It's interesting how I've managed to stay away from bands like that... well, lyrics-wise, anyway. I am a huge metal fan, but not so much "death metal" simply because I cannot stand either their sound or the lyrics. Usually the lyrics. There was a band called Red Funeral (I think) that had a fantastic song until I looked up the lyrics and realized the song was about raping a girl. After a quick NOPE I went and listened to As Blood Runs Black (their songs aren't exactly the pinnacle of music, but their drummer is awesome and the lyrics are surprisingly good. For the first album, at least).

I remember watching a documentary on metal (the history of it), and it just got sad when they turned to the black metal genre and its roots, because it went from false, controversy-creating shenanigans (in the US with bands like Black Sabbath and co.) to legitimate church-burnings and hate. I just realized that this is a possible metaphor for this article and the people who play WoW, some get that it's only a game and poke fun of people, others take it very seriously and ruin it for everyone.

Ah, finally, somebody whose first reaction isn't to go OMG THIS GUY HATES METAL! GET HIM!
I don't hate all metal. However, I hate death metal as a genre and as a culture. And it IS fair to generalise death metal, because the very definition of DEATH metal practically rules that they HAVE to be everything that I hate about them. Your Red Funeral example is a damn good one. I know Rammstein pull stuff like that sometimes, with songs like Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da, but at least they take the effort to be poetic about it - and almost justify it, I notice. Rammstein logic is worryingly sound.

 

[VoidWanderer]

... And this is why I am glad I will not go back to WoW

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

Folks need to learn to take life, and video games, and silly promotional stunts a lot less seriously.

 

[5t3v0]

Uh... Corpsegrinder. I'm not even a CC fan and that discrepency Irks me... (probably been said, but too lazy)

Though yeah, I too notice a massive amount of hatred towards the Alliance, but I know nothing of the Warcraft series, so my opinion doesnt count...

 

[Samurai Silhouette]

People are probably more upset that he was bashing their faction rather than the anti-homo statements.

Also, that song would have been much MUCH better in my opinion without that creature croaking into the mic and swirling his hair. Got to be some of the dumbest shit I've ever seen.

 

[Kasawd]

Well, that's okay, because nobody has ever, or will ever care what death metal 'musicians' have to say. These are people that have no concept of art, and only of controversy, so I'm really not surprised that they think they're all unique and special for talking shit like this.

And a friendly "Up Yours" to you. Nobody has ever cared what you had to say. You are just another nobody with no concept of art as your japanese mecha avatar clearly shows. Silly taunts aside. Seriously, don't push everyone over the same edge, not cool.

OT: That people even became offended is pretty offensive. People are so thin-skinned these days they'll cry about just anything.

Now, to insult my avatar is not only incredibly petty, but also totally irrelevant, since I didn't choose the picture because I liked it, but because I didn't actually have anything else on my hard drive at the time. I do NOW, but changing avatars is such a pain. So I keep an Armoured Core one, despite my hatred of all things Japanese. Well, except Japanese people. I hate their culture and style, not them themselves.

And is true, nobody DOES care what I have to say, but I don't go giving myself some stupid name and screaming over a microphone about morbid topics that I think I'm being unique by 'daring' to approach.

Well, that's okay, because nobody has ever, or will ever care what death metal 'musicians' have to say. These are people that have no concept of art, and only of controversy, so I'm really not surprised that they think they're all unique and special for talking shit like this.

Condemning a whole genre of artistic creation for the statements made by one musician is a great way to present an argument, I hear. Perhaps, before you try to consider such creation, you should keep your mind open about it, you might find something you like.

Ignorance is fun.

I've never really been a fan of Cannibal corpse, that said. Corpsegrinder doesn't really strike me as the brightest cookie in the death metal bunch, so, I'm surprised they even let him up there. I'd much rather have Paul Masvidal alongside me, on stage.

You got mixed up. I'm not judging the genre based on him, I'm judging him based on the genre. If the genre wasn't already synonymous with being stupidly controversial for the sake of it, there might actually be something unexpected about this.

It's interesting how I've managed to stay away from bands like that... well, lyrics-wise, anyway. I am a huge metal fan, but not so much "death metal" simply because I cannot stand either their sound or the lyrics. Usually the lyrics. There was a band called Red Funeral (I think) that had a fantastic song until I looked up the lyrics and realized the song was about raping a girl. After a quick NOPE I went and listened to As Blood Runs Black (their songs aren't exactly the pinnacle of music, but their drummer is awesome and the lyrics are surprisingly good. For the first album, at least).

I remember watching a documentary on metal (the history of it), and it just got sad when they turned to the black metal genre and its roots, because it went from false, controversy-creating shenanigans (in the US with bands like Black Sabbath and co.) to legitimate church-burnings and hate. I just realized that this is a possible metaphor for this article and the people who play WoW, some get that it's only a game and poke fun of people, others take it very seriously and ruin it for everyone.

Ah, finally, somebody whose first reaction isn't to go OMG THIS GUY HATES METAL! GET HIM!
I don't hate all metal. However, I hate death metal as a genre and as a culture. And it IS fair to generalise death metal, because the very definition of DEATH metal practically rules that they HAVE to be everything that I hate about them. Your Red Funeral example is a damn good one. I know Rammstein pull stuff like that sometimes, with songs like Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da, but at least they take the effort to be poetic about it - and almost justify it, I notice. Rammstein logic is worryingly sound.

Re-reads under the weight of a massive quote because he is entirely too lazy to snip.

I see what you mean, now, but, if you do not introduce the second party after finishing a sentence in which you imply a lack of something, if the sentence is viewed as negative, it will be assumed, in a literary sense, that you are simply continuing commentary on the original party.

I certainly was mixed up, but, your original comment does nothing but encourage the mix-up, as I'd imagine you already see. I didn't say you hated metal, just suggested you condemned death metal.

You made what smacked of sweeping generalization and were called out on it.

 

[Thyunda]

Re-reads under the weight of a massive quote because he is entirely too lazy to snip.

I see what you mean, now, but, if you do not introduce the second party after finishing a sentence in which you imply a lack of something, if the sentence is viewed as negative, it will be assumed, in a literary sense, that you are simply continuing commentary on the original party.

I certainly was mixed up, but, your original comment does nothing but encourage the mix-up, as I'd imagine you already see. I didn't say you hated metal, just suggested you condemned death metal.

You made what smacked of sweeping generalization and were called out on it.

But I DID make a sweeping generalisation. It is as I explained. Metal that falls into the categories of 'things I hate' also falls into the category of 'death metal'. It's only as sweeping a generalisation of the genre as it would be a generalisation to say "I hate all members of the Nazi party because they're ignorant and with a sense of self-superiority."

The point of my comment was this: If a death metal lyricist is going to say something publicly, don't hold your breath for a sentimental piece. The fact it was a guy named 'Corpsegrinder' just tells me he's gonna be a fat, greasy-haired American saying some controversial things. Because that's what they do. That's what got Cannibal Corpse banned in some countries. It's almost a prerequisite for a death metal band to BE controversial.

Note - There's nothing wrong with being a fat, greasy-haired American. Unfortunately, a large number of death metal fans or musicians fit said description.

Like the fat, greasy haired Brit my brother knows who claimed to speak German because he could translate 'du hast', and even then, he did it wrong.

 

[Therumancer]

Yes, the whole "Alliance Syndrome" is well known, to be honest, while the reason I stopped playing WoW was largely the collapse of my guild and not wanting to rebuild, I got sick of the treatment of The Alliance (not to mention not liking the "Cataclysm" expansion in general).

One of the final straws was how The Horde got goblins who had racial haste (attack speed), crafting bonuses for alchemy, a summonable banker, and an instant cast device/abillity that could be used as a free blink or DD attack. In comparison The Alliance got the Worgen whose major abillity is to bend over in the anal sex position (which helps them run a little faster for a few seconds).

This kind of behavior at cons and such isn't especially uncommon, and really combined with the favortism and game imbalances it's not surprising that we've seen things leaking over into public statements. Give it another year or so and Blizzard probably won't even bother
to make apologies.

If Blizzard ever wants to make this right, they need to nerf the horde to balance out the period of time they have had advantages and unrepaired exploits, since all of those things compounded. By exploits I mean things like how you used to be able to hide a druid in cat form inside of a mounted Tauren model to do flag captures and such... which was worked on, but it took a long time, and never did address the issue of all the gear/honorkills/etc.. obtained as a result of this exploit which resulted in a continued advantage. That's ancient but summarizes the basic problems. Even if total game balance is achieved, there is still the issue of counterbalancing the effects on the game power structure caused by the existance of those imbalanced. If Alliance is ever compensated, or horder is deliverably nerfed, it might contribute to me making a return, but I doubt that will ever happen. The bottom line is the game needs to be balanced in an absolute sense, but before that can happen parity needs to be restored. With Blizzard's attitude about the cold, hard, facts, is it any surprise they have created this kind of enviroment?

It also hasn't gone unnoticed that outside their offices they have a giant orc statue... of course it matches the one of a human warrior right next to it... oh wait...

 

[Ubermetalhed]

I think people should instead of getting annoyed at the sweeping generalisations about metal by Escapists realise that the article writer is the one who started or insinuated this.

There was no need for 'or if like me you don't like metal' or the comment on death metal being a largely homophobic genre in this article.

The Escapist needs to stop putting biased personal opinions in these articles and just report the news. Relating the whole genre to the stupid comments of one idiotic frontman whom the writer repeatedly fails to even get his nickname right is not good journalism and is in fact unnecessarily stirring things as the rest of this thread has proved.

EDIT: Also I might add I know a number of LGBT people and they are very big metal and death metal fans, saying the two groups do not exist is pure ignorance.

 

[akfg666]

Who actually cares? It's a game...get over it. You get pissed about this sort of thing or get violent over a game then quite simply you are a very sad person indeed

 

[Fwee]

Saw that video years ago. It's just George in an interview at (if I remember correctly) a large music festival and having a good time (probably about five beers in at least) and getting passionate about the video game he loves to play.

I found the video to be humorous, although people who get a little to into their "side" in videogames can make me start to get uncomfortable. If someone gets that serious about a game I start to wonder about what their families are like.

Maybe they shouldn't have played the video for Blizzcon, is all I can think. Someone might get offended, and their precious little lives will be shattered forever because someone with a different attitude said something that they'll never unhear.

I'm really just trying to say, relax a little and try not to be such a putty.
O_.

I meant to type "pussy" but accidentally typed "putty", like Tweety.
I'll leave it.