New WoW ads featuring Shatner and Mr. T
by Eliah Hecht 
Nov 20th 2007 at 6:30PM
As our lovely sister site Massively posted about a few hours ago, there are some new WoW ads on the air! These feature the familiar faces of Mr. T and William Shatner, who is best known as Denny Crane from...wait, what? Star something? Nobody remembers that. Blizzard promises another ad coming soon starring Verne Troyer, who played Mini-Me in the Austin Powers movies. Download high-res versions at Blizz's site, or see below for Youtube copies.
I really like the minimalist style of these ads. I have to wonder, though, why now? Is WoW losing subscribers faster than we thought? Does this mean Wrath is far away, and they're trying to keep their numbers high in the mean time? Or are they just ads, and we shouldn't try to infer much from them besides that mohawks are awesome?
I really like the minimalist style of these ads. I have to wonder, though, why now? Is WoW losing subscribers faster than we thought? Does this mean Wrath is far away, and they're trying to keep their numbers high in the mean time? Or are they just ads, and we shouldn't try to infer much from them besides that mohawks are awesome?
Filed under: Blizzard, News items
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Markymark Nov 20th 2007 6:37PM
I hope to god you can have mohawk's as a hair style Mr.T ftw!
Hide Nov 20th 2007 6:37PM
I'd figure William Shatner would be the hemo dagger rogue in +spirit gear...
Argall Nov 20th 2007 6:38PM
We can't really speculate on the subscription numbers but WOW has released an ad once every once in a while. I think there's 3 now? There's the office commercial, the Toyota, and now these.
Paul Nov 20th 2007 6:42PM
@2, what!? shatner is a badass.
Markymark Nov 20th 2007 6:43PM
There just ads.....I doubt their loosing subscribers, I doubt there to hold us till new content, there just simple and fun ads that might draw the attention of new ppl who never even played WoW.... I'm tired of you guys at wowinsider over analyzing stuff.....jeez.
Argall Nov 20th 2007 6:42PM
Verne Troyer (Mini-me on Austin Powers) has a commercial due out according to WOW.com's website.
His character has to be a gnome.. rogue..
Stoneblade Nov 20th 2007 6:49PM
Who cares about some supposed motive behind it? Anything involving Shatner is automatically so full of win that it's practically overflowing. Just enjoy it for what it is.
Mario Nov 20th 2007 6:56PM
I Pity the Noobs!!!
Paul Nov 20th 2007 7:00PM
speaking of wow related actors, here's the worst campaign ad i've ever seen:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MDUQW8LUMs8
Juneau Nov 20th 2007 7:01PM
If they don't add that hair/beard combination in WotLK I'm going to be severely disappointed.
Gleb 70 Draka [A] Nov 20th 2007 7:09PM
In my opinion Blizzard IS losing subscribers. You have to take into account that from those 9.3 million a decent amount are gold farmers, and people who have multiple accounts. And your never sure if blizzard is taking into account banned/unpaid for account. EVEN maybe trial accounts. I'm not a hater i love wow but i have to bring the truth.
Anteia Nov 20th 2007 7:16PM
I have to cast my vote for the Mr. T Commercial. Shatner is awesome, but Mr. T wins. :)
twh Nov 20th 2007 7:24PM
There was so much win in those commercials that I cannot even describe it.
Savant Nov 20th 2007 7:57PM
First off, I don't think Blizzard is seeing a net loss of subscribers right now. Sure they are losing people, but they are gaining people as well. What I think is happening though is that they are almost getting to the point where they are losing as many people as they gain. When this happens things will start to go downhill. Frankly, the ads smack of desperation to me. First was the 'scroll of ressurection' campaign to get people who quit back into the game, and now this. While I have to give the game credit for lasting as long as it did without the need for such ads and campaigns, the reality is that the vast majority of players don't raid, and that means once they reach 70 things get old really fast.
The bigger issue is that the more money they pour into ads, the less money they have for profits and progression. As most companies put profits first, the millions they put out for ads will undoubtedly mean fewer resources for developers and ultimately the customers. (IOW, don't expect new servers anytime soon) Blizzard has missed their last two targets for subscriber growth, and I expect them to miss their next target as well.
MartinC Nov 20th 2007 7:50PM
Why are they putting out these commercials now? Ummm, Lrn2Holidays?
Wildhammer Nov 20th 2007 7:55PM
Mr. T plays a Night Elf.... *shakes head* I've never been so ashamed...... I pity the noob.
Matt Nov 20th 2007 7:56PM
omg... If they do a Chuck Norris one... Think of the impact. :O
G Nov 20th 2007 7:59PM
"There just ads.....I doubt their loosing subscribers, I doubt there to hold us.."
There, their, they're. Whiner: FAIL.
Aaron Nov 20th 2007 10:12PM
I demand Chuck Norris and Bruce Campbell ads!
Thane W Nov 20th 2007 8:25PM
As someone else already said, they need a Chuck Norris one and a Vin Diesel one.