What's Your Game?!

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2009-10-13T17:30:33Z

World of Wracraft TV ads & Youtube

2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= active World of Warcraft, commercial, youtube, videos

What's Your Game?! <h2>Introduction</h2> <a href=":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_of_Warcraft">World of Warcraft</a> is a MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) released to the world since 2004. Prior to the late 2007, there , already and obviously, were commercials concerning the game, some that were remade or parodied on Youtube like this World of Warcraft/Office space mix from 2006: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2V1QB89CCz4&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2V1QB89CCz4&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> But in those cases, even if they got a decent amount of views (more than 600,000 views for the video above), the existing parodies of the ads in themselves without the initial game being reused in another context or purpose can be counted on the fingers of one hand. <h2>What’s your game ?!</h2> Around November 2007, Blizzard Entertainement released a series of short TV commercials featuring celebrities such as Mr. T, William Shatner, and Verne Troyer discussing the virtues of the character classes they play in the World of Warcraft game: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bqJE5TH5jhc&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bqJE5TH5jhc&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> A Spanish commercial featuring Guillermo Toledo and a French one featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme were also televised. <h2>Youtube phenomenon</h2> Real life famous names ? In my World of Warcraft ? That’s more likely than you think. This entertaining use of well-known celebrities with their “Hello, I’m X and I’m a/an Y” one-liner, along with the simple aspect of the background behind them (a white wall) caught on immediately. Th 21th November 2007, the Mr.T ad’s version was firstly reused as a soundboard for a recorded <a href="http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/soundboard-pranks">Ventrilo prank</a> : <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6VnMPkdiOc4&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6VnMPkdiOc4&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> But it was the 6th of december 2007 that Youtube user <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/IceflowStudios">IceflowStudios</a> made the first “What’s your game” based parody: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/n-xPoazWeD8&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/n-xPoazWeD8&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> This video gathered more than 1 000 000 views. The popularity of that first video led to two other ones from the same user the 10th and 11th of December respectively: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5HpZ5_tq1BQ&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5HpZ5_tq1BQ&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tPKAUQA1TZc&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tPKAUQA1TZc&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> The three videos altogether have gathered about 2 500 000 views. Following that new trend, other people started to make their own version of the ad. The simplicity in the requirements needed in order to produce a parody (white background + single person + cutscenes from the game) helped its spread even further: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/S5IMHhG9Sv4&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/S5IMHhG9Sv4&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AdbL1vppeMs&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AdbL1vppeMs&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KKLE6Jto6sU&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KKLE6Jto6sU&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Eih0UUPD-VQ&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Eih0UUPD-VQ&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_hfICnfpy5k&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_hfICnfpy5k&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7bYzL8p0QKs&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7bYzL8p0QKs&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <center>Drunk David Hasselhoff version</center> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y1FYlhYGjuY&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y1FYlhYGjuY&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <center>Juno version</center> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/E37dDIymHs0&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/E37dDIymHs0&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <center>Murloc</center> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mWX4g8cJ6yE&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mWX4g8cJ6yE&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <center>Chris Crocker</center> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nlaBsZlSnqg&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nlaBsZlSnqg&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <center>Vic Mignogna, american voice of Edward Elric from the Full Metal Alchemist show</center> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/e-ZqcW-xu5c&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/e-ZqcW-xu5c&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <center>French actors (Funglisoft ™) parodying the ad for their own universe based on a fan film series called “Lost levels”. The first one will be also used in the first episode of their TV show called “Noob” that can be seen on a private french channel named “Nolife” and internet</center> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1mZ8oHGEmFE&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1mZ8oHGEmFE&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rhoiO7SmDQ8&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rhoiO7SmDQ8&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <center>French actors from a different TV show called “Nerdz” that also aired on “Nolife” and Internet</center> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kepLHayye9Q&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kepLHayye9Q&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hdaS3NKUYkA&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hdaS3NKUYkA&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yYXB6lCDadA&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yYXB6lCDadA&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/S3fDoDn0NhA&hl=fr&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/S3fDoDn0NhA&hl=fr&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Finally, a French blog named “Nioutaik” hosted, the 12th of March 2008, a <a href="http://www.nioutaik.fr/index.php/2008/03/12/511-concours-des-stars-et-des-mmorpg-les-creation-votes">contest involving the creation of posters parodying the initial ad</a>. It got a total of 110 submissions. The majority is based on French speaking jokes but a very small part is in English. Here is an <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/?blog=54664">accurate article</a> made in november 2008 and analyzing the commercials impact and the parodies that ensued, while a new set of commercials featuring Ozzy Osbourne and Steve Van Zandt, among others, was released.

2009-11-17T19:10:56Z

1070

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