The Elite Tauren Chieftains should count as employee references Samuro /Samwise Didier, Sig Nicious /Chris Sigaty, Bergrisst /Dave Berggren, Mai'Kyl /Mike Morhaime, Chief Thunder-Skins /Alan Dabiri being their in-game names and their real life counterparts in the band.
Nadina's Pendant of Purity and Nadina Stargem are named after Nadina (Christina Estrada), a former Holy Paladin of Fusion, Blizzcon costume contest winner (the outfit that Nadina Stargem wears is that winning costume) and current Hearthstone Community Rep.Slikk's Cloak of Placation and Pepe's Shroud of Pacification are named after the main tanks of Fires of Heaven (Alex Afrasiabi's guild) in TBC.
Its always been a pet peeve of mine that developers put themselves and their families into the games they work on. Its sort of like the architect of some great public building putting his handprints in the cement. At the end of the day everything still functions as it should, but it just looks unprofessional.
Is it a silly question to ask why you omitted Mia the Rose? :Phttp://www.wowhead.com/npc=46343#comments
She's under Warlocks, although her in-game representation is a bit of a Rogue/Warlock hybrid.
You forgot one of the most touching tributes: Ahab Wheathoof (Ahab Wheathoof)
What about Elder Ezra Wheathoof ? Or did I miss it?...Anyways, AWESOME thread, I love these!
Sweet thread.Any eta on when you'll finish the other non-item music/pop culture references?I kill two dwarves in da mornin,I kill two dwarves at night.I kill two dwarves in da afternoon,And den i feel alright.I kill two dwarves in time of peace,And two in time of war.I kill two dwarves before i kill two dwarves,And den i kill two more.=]
Ahab Wheathoof and other memorials to deceased players are here.
A really great list, I was amazed to see some of the non-employee references :)Thank you very much and my kudo's to the work this must have been.
How has there never been a Cider's Helm for Ciderhelm, the original founder of Tankspot?Granted he personally no longer plays, but his wife is still a raider and still produces encounter guides for current WoW content.
I love you for the Awesome Games Done Quick 2014 mention.
I always have a lot of fun watching the speedrun marathons! Vulajin from the Rogue section is also the guy who did the Bastion speed run this year.
References like these are what brings people into the community even more. Love the article! Thanks!
Perculia, I think you should make a post on creepy and unexplained things in WOW.
Ahab Wheathoof and other memorials to players that have passed away are here :)
No mention of Elite Tauren Chieftains anywhere on this list?Elite Tauren Chieftains is made up of senior blizzard employees, and their in-game NPCs have names that make reference to them (cept for the Chief Thunder-Skins, but his real life counterpart is widely known)Samuro: Samwise Didier, senior AD, lord of pandas, currently on Team 1 (Starcraft 2, heroes of the storm) (the name Samuro is also a throwback to the WC3 Blademaster, from the Founding of Durotar bonus campaign and regular multiplayer random name)Sig Nicious: Chris Sigaty, currently the producer on Team 1 (Starcraft 2/heroes), the name is also a spoof of former Sex Pistols bassist sid viciousBergrisst: Dave Berggren, one of the blizzard senior artists, not sure which dev team he's currently onMai'Kyl: Mike Morhaime, the bossChief Thunder-Skins: Alan Dabiri, senior programmer, i think he's currently on Team 1 (SC2/Heroes) as well having seen him in a few of the editor/art-tools/game-engine interviews.