Interview with Chris Metzen and Christie Golden

While browsing for WoW news I stumbled upon this interview (clicky)

While I greatly enjoyed the interview, I must confess that the ammount of times they brought the subject back to how amazingly special it was that Blizzard deals in female characters that are a little more than boobs on a stick started to annoy me. It would be nice if we could take this sort of thing for granted, instead of constantly repeating how important it is to have strong female characters. The fact that we feel the need to constantly call attention to it seems to betray that it is far from being accepted as the standard, even amongst the suppposed advocates of this movement, which greatly grieves me.

The thing that will be most interesting to many of our Night Elven poster on these boards though is that roughly around 37:15, Metzen actually ackowledged that they kind of fucked up Tyrande's character in WoW. I must say hearing him admit that definately increased my respect for Metzen. Speaking of Metzen: him speaking about Thrall and justifying the emphasis on his character in Catacalysm also made me feel more accepting of Thrall's major role in Catacalysm.

Overall it was a very enjoyable interview to listen to, and I definately recommend it to any lore buffs out there.

My two favourite people of Blizzard! And its Christie not Kirstie!

The problem I think is, if people keep mentioning that ''oh its a man's genre and your a woman doing well in it, how does it feel?'' then it kind of keeps reinstating that the gap is there. I think women will always be boobs on a stick in games and in fantasy, just look at the new Tomb Raider game! Good god.

When I read the book Thrall it did make sense for him to have that major role, it doesn't really show in the game the kind of struggles and choices he made which is a shame.

Ah, sorry Wulf, that's my Dutch heritage oozing trough the lines. I'll fix it immediately.

Wulfgnar wrote:My two favourite people of Blizzard! And its Christie not Kirstie!

The problem I think is, if people keep mentioning that ''oh its a man's genre and your a woman doing well in it, how does it feel?'' then it kind of keeps reinstating that the gap is there. I think women will always be boobs on a stick in games and in fantasy, just look at the new Tomb Raider game! Good god.

When I read the book Thrall it did make sense for him to have that major role, it doesn't really show in the game the kind of struggles and choices he made which is a shame.

Well Angelina was boobs on a stick too, so Tomb Raider being like that isn't a surprise!

Seems like all the socially forward chars are undead. We can boast the only strong females (Sylvanas and lady deathwhisper, pretty sure she would eat any mate) and the gay power couple (Thassarian and his twink). Clearly Undeath is the superior way :p.

We will have to see if MoP saves Jaina's char or not.

I may purchase some of Christie Golden's books for Starcraft and perhaps this new one she is releasing, but nice find overall. I found a pretty decent interview with Chris Metzen. that some might find interesting. I'll copy and paste the manuscript, it is only short!

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Catch up with our latest interview with the one and only Christ Metzen who is discussing the forthcoming expansion Mists of Pandaria.
Joseph King Interviews Chris Metzen, Vice President of Blizzard Creative Studios. August 14th 2012. Bookmark the link here.


King: Thanks for coming and welcome back to our humble abode.
Metzen: It is good to be back!
King: A lot has happened since you were last here. We have seen all Cataclysm has to offer, with the Theramore patch on its way. With just a month or so until the upcoming expansion is released, everyone here is excited to see Blizzard's latest installment. What can we expect from Pandaria?
Metzen: War. Lots of it. The Pandaren are a very enigmatic race with a lot to offer. The players will be thrown into a land rich with history, new and unique quests that drive forth the scenary that they're propelled into. It is one of my favorite expansions to work on to date, I just love the world and some of the new ideas thrown in are really going to excite our audiences. Expect big things with the Kirin Tor.
King: The Kirin Tor? Can you tell us anything about what you intend to do with them?
Metzen: I can tell you that there is a new leader coming about. A very powerful one with a lot to offer. Their status of neutrality will be, lets say, short lived.
King: Can you give us a name on this mysterious leader?
Metzen: I can. He's Khadgar's son, a lot of the later quests in Pandaria will cover this. He does not know who his father is until the player completes these quests and the character becomes very important later. His name is Vaell Silvine, a Violet Warden.
King: It sounds truly thrilling. Anyone reading this will have to take it as lore and prepare for the rise of Vaell, I suppose then?
Metzen: Exactly. Even people like Thelos and Drustai. Of whom, will both become his undying servants in Pandaria.
King: Well that is all we have time for, thank you for coming and speaking to us.
Metzen: My pleasure.
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HA!

*slaps Vaell*

Hahahahahaha!! Vaell, you just made my day. I was already going to quote it to someone when i read the name "Vaell" in middle of it >_<

You bastard.

Lexgrad wrote:Seems like all the socially forward chars are undead. We can boast the only strong females (Sylvanas and lady deathwhisper, pretty sure she would eat any mate) and the gay power couple (Thassarian and his twink). Clearly Undeath is the superior way :p.

We will have to see if MoP saves Jaina's char or not.

Sylvanas would be better if she looked like the Forsaken she ruled instead of some undead counterpart to the dragon leaders in bikini's and see-through capes, just to make sure you can see the string between their cheeks. Why do strong women have to be represented in bikini's!

Like this:

Spoiler:

I would prefer it similar to that, Wulf, but more fantasy in terms of - one very good looking side, one disfigured. Two-Face style.

Spoiler:

EDIT: But then again, that could be too dark!

I never understand why armour makers never make plate for female torsos. How many Fantasy female npcs must die from stabs in the guts, so senseless. :'(

I hate the Bodyless Saronite DK gear! They are DKs! Cover the bodies up ffs! DKs do not ned to look sexy, their bad guy mentality and borderline psychology makes them sexy :p.