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WOW is based on
Azeroth, a setting in a fantasy universe with some distinct similarities
to our world. Some of the coincidences are kitschy, funny even. But at
the heart of these japes lies something a bit darker. Blizzard sets up a
world where it is easy to hate the players on the other side of the
game. From that hate can spring the hate of people and races existing in
our World. Blizzard was not always kind to the people they represent
with the races in their game.
There are two sides a player must choose when beginning to play WOW.
The Horde is made up of Orc, Trolls, Tauren and the Undead. The Alliance
consists of Humans, Dwarves, Gnomes and Night Elves. From the very
beginning, players are set opposed to each other. The players of the
alliance share a common language, as do the horde. Interaction between
the two factions is limited to ‘emotes’ some visual, some purely textual
motions or gestures the players can make such as cowering, waving, and
spitting on the other gamers. Often times in such encounters, there is
no time for even rudimentary communication, as players are encouraged
and rewarded for slaying members of the opposing faction on sight.
Most people can see the game for what it is, entertainment. Yet some of
the players are absorbed by the game and lose perspective on reality.
After repeatedly being killed by members of the opposing faction, the
rage can build to a point where a player may begin threatening another
with real physical attacks. Blizzard set policies in WOW to
punish those who threaten others, but the hatred for the opposing
faction is never sated, always mounting.
WOW’s races have a great deal of similarities to those of our
world, stereo types included. The Dwarves, who speak with a
Scottish/Irish accent, have a lot of beginning quests concerning
obtaining, delivering and making liquor, implying that the fine folks
from the Emerald Isles are drunkards. The Trolls speak with a Jamaican
accent, and the dance the males perform is Capoeira, a martial art
devised by slaves in the Caribbean islands and South America. Blizzard
portrays the trolls aa island folk, like those of Jamaica, and they
actively practice various forms of voodoo, witchdoctors being the most
important officials in their society. The peaceful Tauren, with their
totemic and harmonic lifestyle are representative of Native Americans in
their naming practices and garb. Aside from potentially insulting
members of these nationalities, Blizzard sets them against other
players, furthering hatred for the people of the real world by spurring
hate for the digital representations of them in their game.
Walking the line between what is allowable in depiction of a group of
people and what is offensive; WOW inspires its players to hate
one another. From that hate, the more impressionable, or inclined
players would not have a far leap to transfer their hate from the player
to the race they play, then to the real life ethnic group from which
they are modeled.
About the Author
Hunter Crowell is a
researcher, marketer, and an avid online gamer, including World of
Warcraft and also the creator of
WOW Gold Price List, a web site setup to help players
find the cheapest place to buy their WOW gold. Visit his site at
http://www.wow-gold-price-list.com
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