A theory as to the Pandaren expansion for WoW.

[Not G. Ivingname]

If you haven't heard, World of Warcraft is getting a new expansion.

"Wow," you wonder, pun unintended, "they just literally destroyed the world with a huge Dragon, how they going to follow that up?"

They are going to follow it up... with pandas.

Ones literally out of Kong Fu Panda.

No, really: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyeZ8khSEC0

This isn't an April Fools joke.

I know that trailer looks fake, they didn't prerender anything, it spouted one cliche' after another, how can this be real?

Assume it is real, and this isn't just one really big joke by Blizzard, I have come up with a theory as to why they are making this expansion, which clashes with the games direction, the feel of the game, and the lore of Warcraft.

It's for China.

World of Warcraft has only had headaches trying to remain in service in the most populous nation on the planet. The Wraith of the Lich King was at first banned from the nation, they made laws against how long one can spend on the game, the Chinese servers have been shut down multiple times, and I am not entirely sure if the game is currently legal at all in the nation. Now, Activision really wants to get a name for it's self in China, since it is currently the fastest growing nation on the planet. So, how does one make the Chinese govrenment back off WoW? Copy Kung Fu Panada.

Before you call be a racist, let me explain.

Kung Fu Panada was very popular in China for how much it got right about Chinese culture. Major film makers were brought before a Chinese government comity and were asked why they could not make a better Chinese film then the animated one the Americans made. Kung Fu Panada 2, which went so under the radar here in the US that you most likely don't remembered it happened, broke the record for the highest grossing animated film in China's history.

This is the only reason why I can think of that Blizzard would be making this expansion and not put as much effort in it's advertising as the rest of the expansions.

Edit: I have forgotten this race has appeared in Warcraft Lore before, and now I think I sound like pretentious dick

I apologize.

 

[Corven]

That, may have been true, if not for the fact that the idea of the pandaren existed before the movie kung fu panda even came out.

Also I see it as trying to bait in the old subscribers who were in on the pandaren joke, as well as going for the kid demographic.

 

[KefkaCultist]

If you haven't heard, World of Warcraft is getting a new expansion.

"Wow," you wonder, pun unintended, "they just literally destroyed the world with a huge Dragon, how they going to follow that up?"

They are going to follow it up... with pandas.

Ones literally out of Kong Fu Panda.

No, really: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyeZ8khSEC0

This isn't an April Fools joke.

I know that trailer looks fake, they didn't prerender anything, it spouted one cliche' after another, how can this be real?

Assume it is real, and this isn't just one really big joke by Blizzard, I have come up with a theory as to why they are making this expansion, which clashes with the games direction, the feel of the game, and the lore of Warcraft.

It's for China.

World of Warcraft has only had headaches trying to remain in service in the most populous nation on the planet. The Wraith of the Lich King was at first banned from the nation, they made laws against how long one can spend on the game, the Chinese servers have been shut down multiple times, and I am not entirely sure if the game is currently legal at all in the nation. Now, Activision really wants to get a name for it's self in China, since it is currently the fastest growing nation on the planet. So, how does one make the Chinese govrenment back off WoW? Copy Kung Fu Panada.

Before you call be a racist, let me explain.

Kung Fu Panada was very popular in China for how much it got right about Chinese culture. Major film makers were brought before a Chinese government comity and were asked why they could not make a better Chinese film then the animated one the Americans made. Kung Fu Panada 2, which went so under the radar here in the US that you most likely don't remembered it happened, broke the record for the highest grossing animated film in China's history.

This is the only reason why I can think of that Blizzard would be making this expansion and not put as much effort in it's advertising as the rest of the expansions.

Firstly, and this is pretty important to the central theme of your argument, the Pandaren have been in Warcraft BEFORE Kung Fu Panda existed. Warcraft III: the Frozen Throne had a Pandaren Brewmaster in the WoW-like side game after their reception as the april fools joke.

Secondly, I'm pretty sure all of the expansions had a video shown as it was announced that wasn't prerendered. They only come out with the good looking ones closer to the expansion being released.

My thoughts on the expansion: I like it. I loved the Pandaren in Warcraft III and this may actually get me back into WoW even though I said I would never play it again.

Spoiler: EDIT: proof of video thing

Cataclysm reveal trailer (2009):

Cataclysm Cinematic trailer (2010):


They did the exact same with WotLK and I'm pretty sure they did the same for BC

 

[Amnestic]

Ones literally out of Kong Fu Panda.

Holy shit, seriously? Blizzard have a time machine?

No wonder WoW is the most popular subscription-based MMO of all time. They can travel through time!

Pandaren were first brought in in Warcraft 3 (2002) as a joke-hero, and then added to the lore proper in The Frozen Throne expansion (2003).

So I guess Blizzard travelled 5-6 years into the future, stole the Kung Fu Panda idea and cleverly added it into their game ahead of time.

GENIUS!

 

[Zeren]

WoW has jumped the shark. That is all.

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

If you haven't heard, World of Warcraft is getting a new expansion.

"Wow," you wonder, pun unintended, "they just literally destroyed the world with a huge Dragon, how they going to follow that up?"

They are going to follow it up... with pandas.

Ones literally out of Kong Fu Panda.

No, really: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyeZ8khSEC0

This isn't an April Fools joke.

I know that trailer looks fake, they didn't prerender anything, it spouted one cliche' after another, how can this be real?

Assume it is real, and this isn't just one really big joke by Blizzard, I have come up with a theory as to why they are making this expansion, which clashes with the games direction, the feel of the game, and the lore of Warcraft.

It's for China.

World of Warcraft has only had headaches trying to remain in service in the most populous nation on the planet. The Wraith of the Lich King was at first banned from the nation, they made laws against how long one can spend on the game, the Chinese servers have been shut down multiple times, and I am not entirely sure if the game is currently legal at all in the nation. Now, Activision really wants to get a name for it's self in China, since it is currently the fastest growing nation on the planet. So, how does one make the Chinese govrenment back off WoW? Copy Kung Fu Panada.

Before you call be a racist, let me explain.

Kung Fu Panada was very popular in China for how much it got right about Chinese culture. Major film makers were brought before a Chinese government comity and were asked why they could not make a better Chinese film then the animated one the Americans made. Kung Fu Panada 2, which went so under the radar here in the US that you most likely don't remembered it happened, broke the record for the highest grossing animated film in China's history.

This is the only reason why I can think of that Blizzard would be making this expansion and not put as much effort in it's advertising as the rest of the expansions.

Firstly, and this is pretty important to the central theme of your argument, the Pandaren have been in Warcraft BEFORE Kung Fu Panda existed. Warcraft III: the Frozen Throne had a Pandaren Brewmaster in the WoW-like side game after their reception as the april fools joke.

Secondly, I'm pretty sure all of the expansions had a video shown as it was announced that wasn't prerendered. They only come out with the good looking ones closer to the expansion being released.

My thoughts on the expansion: I like it. I loved the Pandaren in Warcraft III and this may actually get me back into WoW even though I said I would never play it again.

Really? I thought it was the prerndered stuff, THEN the gameplay trailers, like how they did it with Cataclysm.

 

[Maxtro]

Ignoring the misinformation of WoW copying Kung-Fu panda, it does make sense for Blizzard to think about how the new expansion would affect Chinese sales.

I have no reason to doubt that the game would not be very successful in China.

It's a smart move for Blizzard.

 

[MellowFellow]

My only question is that since Panderan can be on the horde and alliance, can they talk to each other, if one is on the alliance and another is on the horde?

 

[KefkaCultist]

If you haven't heard, World of Warcraft is getting a new expansion.

"Wow," you wonder, pun unintended, "they just literally destroyed the world with a huge Dragon, how they going to follow that up?"

They are going to follow it up... with pandas.

Ones literally out of Kong Fu Panda.

No, really: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyeZ8khSEC0

This isn't an April Fools joke.

I know that trailer looks fake, they didn't prerender anything, it spouted one cliche' after another, how can this be real?

Assume it is real, and this isn't just one really big joke by Blizzard, I have come up with a theory as to why they are making this expansion, which clashes with the games direction, the feel of the game, and the lore of Warcraft.

It's for China.

World of Warcraft has only had headaches trying to remain in service in the most populous nation on the planet. The Wraith of the Lich King was at first banned from the nation, they made laws against how long one can spend on the game, the Chinese servers have been shut down multiple times, and I am not entirely sure if the game is currently legal at all in the nation. Now, Activision really wants to get a name for it's self in China, since it is currently the fastest growing nation on the planet. So, how does one make the Chinese govrenment back off WoW? Copy Kung Fu Panada.

Before you call be a racist, let me explain.

Kung Fu Panada was very popular in China for how much it got right about Chinese culture. Major film makers were brought before a Chinese government comity and were asked why they could not make a better Chinese film then the animated one the Americans made. Kung Fu Panada 2, which went so under the radar here in the US that you most likely don't remembered it happened, broke the record for the highest grossing animated film in China's history.

This is the only reason why I can think of that Blizzard would be making this expansion and not put as much effort in it's advertising as the rest of the expansions.

Firstly, and this is pretty important to the central theme of your argument, the Pandaren have been in Warcraft BEFORE Kung Fu Panda existed. Warcraft III: the Frozen Throne had a Pandaren Brewmaster in the WoW-like side game after their reception as the april fools joke.

Secondly, I'm pretty sure all of the expansions had a video shown as it was announced that wasn't prerendered. They only come out with the good looking ones closer to the expansion being released.

My thoughts on the expansion: I like it. I loved the Pandaren in Warcraft III and this may actually get me back into WoW even though I said I would never play it again.

Really? I thought it was the prerndered stuff, THEN the gameplay trailers, like how they did it with Cataclysm.

Nope, they did the same with cataclysm (see my edit in my first post). They showed the in-game video stuff at Blizzcon and then the fancy video a few months later. I'm fairly certain it was the same for WotLK, but not 100% sure about BC since I didn't start playing until after it's release.

 

[KefkaCultist]

My only question is that since Panderan can be on the horde and alliance, can they talk to each other, if one is on the alliance and another is on the horde?

What I've heard from my friend who has an unhealthy obsession with the game is that at a certain level (I think he said lvl 10 iirc) you get to decide whether you want to be horde or alliance and then continue on as horde/alliance normally would from there. To me, that's the method that would make most sense.

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

If you haven't heard, World of Warcraft is getting a new expansion.

"Wow," you wonder, pun unintended, "they just literally destroyed the world with a huge Dragon, how they going to follow that up?"

They are going to follow it up... with pandas.

Ones literally out of Kong Fu Panda.

No, really: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyeZ8khSEC0

This isn't an April Fools joke.

I know that trailer looks fake, they didn't prerender anything, it spouted one cliche' after another, how can this be real?

Assume it is real, and this isn't just one really big joke by Blizzard, I have come up with a theory as to why they are making this expansion, which clashes with the games direction, the feel of the game, and the lore of Warcraft.

It's for China.

World of Warcraft has only had headaches trying to remain in service in the most populous nation on the planet. The Wraith of the Lich King was at first banned from the nation, they made laws against how long one can spend on the game, the Chinese servers have been shut down multiple times, and I am not entirely sure if the game is currently legal at all in the nation. Now, Activision really wants to get a name for it's self in China, since it is currently the fastest growing nation on the planet. So, how does one make the Chinese govrenment back off WoW? Copy Kung Fu Panada.

Before you call be a racist, let me explain.

Kung Fu Panada was very popular in China for how much it got right about Chinese culture. Major film makers were brought before a Chinese government comity and were asked why they could not make a better Chinese film then the animated one the Americans made. Kung Fu Panada 2, which went so under the radar here in the US that you most likely don't remembered it happened, broke the record for the highest grossing animated film in China's history.

This is the only reason why I can think of that Blizzard would be making this expansion and not put as much effort in it's advertising as the rest of the expansions.

Firstly, and this is pretty important to the central theme of your argument, the Pandaren have been in Warcraft BEFORE Kung Fu Panda existed. Warcraft III: the Frozen Throne had a Pandaren Brewmaster in the WoW-like side game after their reception as the april fools joke.

Secondly, I'm pretty sure all of the expansions had a video shown as it was announced that wasn't prerendered. They only come out with the good looking ones closer to the expansion being released.

My thoughts on the expansion: I like it. I loved the Pandaren in Warcraft III and this may actually get me back into WoW even though I said I would never play it again.

Really? I thought it was the prerndered stuff, THEN the gameplay trailers, like how they did it with Cataclysm.

Nope, they did the same with cataclysm (see my edit in my first post). They showed the in game video stuff at Blizzcon and then the fancy video a few months later. I'm fairly certain it was the same for WotLK, but not 100% sure about BC since I didn't start playing until after it's release.

...

Now I feel really stupid.

 

[EmperorSubcutaneous]

Okay, people saying "Pandaren were in Warcraft before!" need to chill. Lots of things were in Warcraft before and aren't in WoW yet, and some things in WoW are completely new to the series.

Why would they pick this specific aspect of Warcraft lore to put into the game now, and not something else?

The fact that about half of WoW's subscribers are Chinese is a very distinct possibility.

 

[Amnestic]

Okay, people saying "Pandaren were in Warcraft before!" need to chill. Lots of things were in Warcraft before and aren't in WoW yet, and some things in WoW are completely new to the series.

Why would they pick this specific aspect of Warcraft lore to put into the game now, and not something else?

Because it was time? They planned to put Pandaren in instead of Draenei as the Alliance race for TBC originally, but shelved that idea. I guess they decided to take it off the shelf now.

 

[Prismatic Baron]

I thought the theory was that A) Azeroth has been a hair from total destruction for 6 years, it needs a break, and B) Warcraft fans love Pandaren and have been asking for them as a race since WoW launched.

As someone who has been playing WoW on and off since release, and still loves the game even though I take breaks (Like you should with ANY game), I fully welcome this expansion, and plan to resub when it comes out.

 

[Draksila]

Okay, people saying "Pandaren were in Warcraft before!" need to chill. Lots of things were in Warcraft before and aren't in WoW yet, and some things in WoW are completely new to the series.

Why would they pick this specific aspect of Warcraft lore to put into the game now, and not something else?

Because it was time? They planned to put Pandaren in instead of Draenei as the Alliance race for TBC originally, but shelved that idea. I guess they decided to take it off the shelf now.

This. And, note, it was said they shelved the idea because in China there were laws against showing violence against pandas in media. As such, Blizzard would have been unable to sell the Burning Crusade expansion in China because putting a Pandaren in combat was actually against the law over there.

I take the current pending inclusion of the Pandaren into the game as evidence that Blizzard cares LESS about what the Chinese think at this point. Either that, or the success of Kung-Fu Panda (if that much is true) is evidence that the Chinese have made their laws regarding displays of violence against pandas in media less strict.

Either way, the Pandaren have existed for a long time in the Warcraft lore and have been referenced in WoW since the beginning (e.g., the Chen's Empty Keg questline). It's about time they're actually going to be playable.

 

[StBishop]

Why would they pick this specific aspect of Warcraft lore to put into the game now, and not something else?

Possibly the massive portion of the Warcraft community that want Pandaren in the game.

The fact that about half of WoW's subscribers are Chinese is a very distinct possibility.

Not as likely as that Pandaren are a fan favourite which has been wanted in wow since vanilla.

 

[Gennadios]

It's for China.

Not possible, in China, it is a crime to depict the death of a Panda. Unless the Pendaren are somehow invincible, this expansion won't even make it into the country.

My theory is simply that it was an april fool's joke, and then after seeing the massive fan boners popping up they realized they could make a ton of money off of the concept.

 

[Wuggy]

Yeah, this theory of yours falls flat on a lot of fronts, as pointed out in posts above. Most notably that Pandaren existed before Kung-Fu Panda, and that Pandaren has been planned to be included before but wasn't because of Chinese playerbase. But you've edited your OP accordingly and admitted the mistake, so I'm not going to give you flack for that. However...

The Wraith of the Lich King

It's Wrath of the Lich King. The final boss of the expansion would've been quite lame if it would've been just a Wraith.