WoW Moviewatch: World of Warcraft Instructional Video
by Michael Gray 
Apr 27th 2009 at 12:00PM
You might remember Wowcrendor from It's a Hard Gnome Life. That piece was a comedy satire about many of WoW's most interesting little quirks. Well, Wowcrendor's back, with a new piece that will help us cynics have a cold chuckle at our own folly. The World of Warcraft Instructional Video actually had me laughing out loud.
This simple instructional video involves brief cuts from gameplay, but also features two very important voiceovers. The first voice is "Billy," a complete and total newb to the game. Billy's not even sure what the difference between melee and ranged DPS. The instructor, by comparison, shares a deeply voiced "insider's view" of the game. The instructor's helping Billy with everything from how to name his character ("Orcosaurus") to how to avoid grouping with PUGs.
The video is satire, and insightful satire at that. Almost every joke and instructional portion made me chuckle, thinking of some of the more hostile and unhelpful responses I've seen in Barrens chat. Part of the reason I find it so funny isn't that it's unreasonably over the top, but that it really seems, sometimes, like there's someone teaching players to act this way. It's like this video could be real, and that frightens me.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, WoW Moviewatch
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Yeng Apr 27th 2009 12:08PM
It's a Hard Gnome Life [...] little quirks. Bahaha.
Ecthalar Apr 27th 2009 12:20PM
zero chuckles. fail.
Roland Apr 27th 2009 2:59PM
I appreciated it more for the insightful social commentary.
I know people on Drenden named Gnomermercy and Bubleoseven...
Zable Apr 27th 2009 12:23PM
I enjoyed it, but these black-and-white instructional videos usually make me laugh.
Daniel Apr 27th 2009 12:28PM
There was a chuckle or two. I liked option C) on the noob definition. So true.
I still don't understand PUG hate. 90% of all my PUG experiences have been positive and I have PUG every instance from BFD to Old Kingdom.
Shrielkul Apr 27th 2009 12:38PM
"He's still here." LOL
I liked the Super Mario piano ragtime music.
kabshiel Apr 27th 2009 12:39PM
I thought it was pretty funny. I didn't understand why it kept zooming in and out though.
Triptothane Apr 27th 2009 1:51PM
You know, the idea was there, but his lame voiceovers and humor just made it feel like some 13 year old getting ahold of the video editor for playtime. Oh, wait! It was a 13 year old editing for playtime!
Manic Soul Apr 27th 2009 12:52PM
It was cute...not as funny as I'd hoped, though. When the troll wanted to group, then instructor should've told Billy to gearcheck him on the armory and imba and find out if he was worth the time or not...that seems to be what 90% of the other nerd elitists in this game do.
"You mean you're not geared for this raid and want to run it so that you can get geared?? What sense does that make?? Don't waste my precious gaming time, fail noob!!"
Akuma Apr 27th 2009 3:19PM
He's too low level to do that with, I think the video was trying to stay realistic.
Phun Apr 28th 2009 10:10AM
This
BaronSoosdon Apr 27th 2009 1:08PM
Not funny enough. I barely smiled once.
This would have had quite a lot of potential to be a real ROFL-bomb.
Keyra Apr 28th 2009 12:47AM
Agreed. This had a lot of potential, but really missed the mark.
Sikaros Apr 27th 2009 1:17PM
i lol'd =P
Saint Apr 27th 2009 1:20PM
I smirked. Best part was the Super Mario Land music.
skreeran Apr 27th 2009 1:59PM
Hell to the yeah!
Lemons Apr 27th 2009 1:29PM
"Shut up Billy! Just, shut up! I'm the expert here!"
LOL!
I've been wanting to make a machinima in this style for a while now, except mine would be and "edumatainment" video introducing group of raiders the "the PvP".
Too bad I know literally nothing about making machinima...
godest Apr 27th 2009 2:23PM
windows movie maker failure
JrSlacker Apr 27th 2009 3:13PM
Was that the Mario theme?
Maxim Apr 27th 2009 6:52PM
Twas funny :) Would watch again.