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World of Warcraft News - (Traumatize) Children's Week
Posted by Jon Wood on Mar 16, 2009 | 65 comments in our forums
MMORPG.com World of Warcraft Correspondent Deborah Diterich sounds off on Blizzard for the events in this year's incarnation of the popular event, "Children's Week", that sees players rewarded for being unusually mean and cruel to their young charges.
What has happened to Children’s Week? This used to be one of the most heartwarming events in Azeroth. To quote Blizzard: “ Children’s Week is celebrated by both the Horde and the Alliance…. At the beginning of May and lasting for a week, it is a time for the heroes of both sides to give back to the innocents of war…The orphans!
How that has changed. With the initiation of the achievement system, Children’s Week has metamorphosed into Traumatize an Orphan Week. Rather than giving back to “the innocents of war,” players are required to behave in a manner likely to traumatize their orphans. They are directed to take children already wounded by the tragic loss of their family and expose them to the mayhem of battle. Having lost their parents to the horrors of war, players are now required to take these fragile children into active battlegrounds where they are certain to see both friend and foe slaughtered in front of their eyes. What is Blizzard thinking? I guess this puts the final nail in the coffin that there is any support for roleplaying in this game.
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wow thats kinda creepy. y would anyone wanna scar a innocent child? even if its not real???
Oh joy, another set of achievements that require not just PvP, but require you to play like a moron.
Sigh.
These orphans will have many challenges as they grow up into adulthood. For this reason, they must learn a trade. Killing is a trade.
Personally, I think it would be more fun to reunite an orphan with their family or something. Or tame a pet for them.
Weird. I know they try and do something a little different with each holiday event, but this feels a bit misjudged.
I'm on a RP server and I loath PVP. I love Children's week and would love to have the title that goes with that achievements. Obviously that's not gonna happen. One I'm a Holy Priest no one is gonna let me take the flag back... two I'm the type of PVPer that gets all nervous and fumbly with my hot keys.
I agree we should be taking our orphans on fun trip through out the World, reuniting them with lost loved ones anything but this crap!
WTG Blizz!
Guys suprised no one has noticed this. Its an April Fools Day Joke I gurantee it from Blizzard like they do every year.
Too wrong.
Besides this being horrific (no idea what kind of developer comes up with this) it also makes me wonder (and it's happened before) if Blizzard even has a PR department.
"Hey crazy developer guys, i don't care if this is a good idea or not but I don't want the commotion it will cause. Take it back to toys and ice cream."
BAH.
I thought of that too but it's a little early for their usua joke isn't it?
Would fit though.
Nah they do this all the time they run it and release their what suppose to be r eal change or addition a coule weeks ahead of time and watch people speculate etc then announce on on April 1st that it was a April fools joke. they started the one with the two headed ogre we could play with another player about this time as well years back.
Has nothing to do with april 1, These have been the acheivments for childrens week since achievements were introduced in october of last year. I know cause I went thru them all to see what i was gonna have to do to get the meta world event achievement.
Not that they won't change them right before the event, they probably will, and they also better, cause like other posters, there is no way I can accomplish some of the PvP stuff as a mage
Traumatize children is nothing new in WoW the most frieghtning thing to date for me are the CHILDREN OF GOLDSHIRE google it and you will see what I mean. Or here is a couple of links if you like:
http://www.wowinsider.com/2006/06/08/the-haunting-of-goldshire/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrToVaNtp0U
Child of the CORN is more like it. Even if this becomes a april fools joke or not. The real question is it OK to use CHILDREN orphan or not to promot a in game event?
Oh whine whine whine. "Dont hurt the pixel childrens! It r make me cry!"
Please take a step away from the computer, you obviously take your fantasy worlds just a bit too seriously.
Congratulations! You have just identified yourself as part of the problem.
Congratulations! You have just identified yourself as part of the problem.
If there were in fact, "A problem", I would be more than happy to be a part of it.
Congratulations! You have just identified yourself as part of the problem.
Luckily for us, I happen to have a solution for that problem. There will be blood, lots of it.
If there were in fact, "A problem", I would be more than happy to be a part of it.
just because its not real doesnt mean it cant do harm
You know, a part of me wants to say, "Lighten up. It's only a game." But the author really does have a point. Those achievements do fly completely in the face of the spirit of the event. That's bad enough. But the fact that they blatantly exclude the RP community is a real misstep for Blizzard. Some people love RP. Most love to laugh at RP'ers. But Blizzard is nuts to make a move that antagonizes that portion of the community.
There are whole servers dedicated to RP. And now the simple truth is that anyone on those servers who gets the world events meta achievement -- one of the most prestigious achievements in the game since it requires a minimum of one year of dedicated effort -- will in effect be advertising that they're doing the opposite of what the server was meant for. That's pretty sad.
(And for the record, I play on a regular PvP server.)
If there were in fact, "A problem", I would be more than happy to be a part of it.
just because its not real doesnt mean it cant do harm
Only to those that are delusional and lack a firm grip on reality. Games don't hurt people, morons and bad parenting does.
just because its not real doesnt mean it cant do harm
Only to those that are delusional and lack a firm grip on reality. Games don't hurt people, morons and bad parenting does.
im not disagreeing with you at all. but there are those out there who need to be watched and not be allowed to play violent games because they believe its real or the right thing to do or whatever
Yes I agree with you signiture you are using the ART of TROLLING for this thread. PLEASE DONT FEED THE TROLL.
until May, when the seasonal week happens - its going to be hard to judge
the achievements have been known since last year
5 month old April fools joke? I doubt it
This article is a classic example of recgnizing the symptoms, and not the disease. The entire tone of the game has change with Wrath. The end of The Burning Crusade saw the Alliance and the Horde putting their difference aside and working together to overcome the threat of the demons. Wrath sees the hostilities of the 2 sides reigniting into all out war.
just because its not real doesnt mean it cant do harm
Only to those that are delusional and lack a firm grip on reality. Games don't hurt people, morons and bad parenting does.
im not disagreeing with you at all. but there are those out there who need to be watched and not be allowed to play violent games because they believe its real or the right thing to do or whatever
Edit: Sorry I just got a warning for agreeing with you... as apparently me agreeing is "trolling", so apparently the mods disagree that these people should be watched.
Explains alot.
Yes I agree with you signature you are using the ART of TROLLING for this thread. PLEASE DONT FEED THE TROLL.
There ya go.
Damn, people getting upset about this happening in a game, yet this happens all the time in real life. Sad to see people get worked up about a game, this is why roleplaying should be banned.
I can't help but lol at some people in this thread. I was shocked when I read what the event entails, but I find the fact that I was shocked rather funny. Blizzard have successfully done something totally unexpected.
I think there should be a happy medium to the reactions here. Maybe Blizzard could take a look at the achievements for the event. Maybe there's not enough time. To me, it' not a big deal. Personally, I don't need any titles or achievements. I've never even planned on getting them. To be honest, I haven't participated in Children's Week events before. I'm an adventurer, not a baby-sitter. And an adventurer's life is no place for an orphan. [The life creates orphans!] But really, I don't take part in the fluff blizzard adds to the game to appease the kids that play. Even with my ADD, if I got bored in-game, I'd play something else.
But, as long as people don't freak out too much over the fact that these things happen in the game, we should all be fine. I say, role-playing wise it seems dumb. So, don't take part in it. It's not forced on you. But I seriously don't think that an event like this will lead anyone to abuse real children. Nor do I think Blizzard needs to walk lightly with their game content to coddle to .00001% of people who might be influenced to act because of a video game. Gaming companies should NOT be held responsible for actions the players take once they shut the game off. Take it from someone who's been locked in the "loony-bin" more than once, crazy is crazy. World of Warcraft is not gonna push a fragile mind over the edge that wasn't already a foot-and-a-half there. Quite frankly, anything can "set somebody off". So we cannot account for what will be someone's final straw.
From a role-playing stand-point, why would our characters have to "give back"? We "give back" every day when we save the freaking world! These children live in cities where they're fed, cared-for, and protected. Who does the protecting? We do! Who keeps the roving, ever-spawning monsters at bay? Us, of course!
I've always found events like Children's Week and what they do for Valentine's Day to be too corny for my tastes. So, I don't do them. No big deal. All this is nothing to get on Blizzard about. For every five that don't participate, there's five thousand that will. But, my opinion, and $0.50 will maybe get you a pack of gum, in this world. So relax. There's plenty more important things to worry about then pixel-orphans.
..Still... I wouldn't be opposed to some GOOD role-playing elements added to WoW. We could be getting on Blizzard's case on that issue. I'd back that petition 100%!
LET THE TORTURE BEGIN! mwhahahaha
I hope to God this is an April Fool's joke from Blizzard.. If not.. Good Going Blizzard.. Cripes even!!
Although this game is rated for the Teens, we all know that younger children play this game. I can just IMAGINE what would go thru their heads, if this event proceeds as to what I have read.
As if our younger ones are not subject to way to much violence IRL now!!!
*sighs*
I have taken a hiatus from Wow at present.. If, things like this start to be true.. I WILL take a permanent hiatus from this game.
Bye!
Who let Jack Thompson write an article for mmorpg.com? This is the same game where there is a quest to take a crap in a porta john. Who cares? Mario jumps on people's heads. I mean, thats not violent....really.... What if I jumped on your head? I don't think you would be too happy about it. Hell, he collects mushrooms to make him stronger..that could be called drug use. =p
In Darkfall definitely (hell in Darkfall you can set babies on fire and then use them as flaming range weapons)
In Warhammer Online yes,
in Age of Conan maybe,
but in WoW no.
What are the Blizzard guys, a bunch of Republicans?
You realize, this game has PvP.
HOLY CRAP YOU ARE ALLOWED TO MURDER EACHOTHER IN THIS GAME!
How many of you have killed a 14 year old in the battle grounds?
:)
Not that your argument has any ground, but if that were the case..wouldn't you think Age of Conan would be a definate yes and warhammer a definite no based on the rating system currently in place?
I think you, like many people, are taking this waay to seriously. After all-as was mentioned--it IS just a game and not everyone likes, or participates, in every facet of it. I personally don't like all PvP or 'warm fuzzy' but I will try some of both. That is the thing that makes WoW the best MMORPG -in my opinion. You can play the way YOU want to. Peace
I love how many people seem to have barely read through the actual article, or don't even seem to grasp what is being written.
What the article is saying, is that the achievements are spitting in both the faces of the spirit of the event, and the roleplayers. Now, unless you are an undead, who doesn't give a care in the world about anything, much less killing an orphan and eating the kid, I'm pretty damn sure each race cares about their own children, and despite it being a time of war, wouldn't want to expose their own children, much less orphans, to the horror of war. The whole point of Children's Week previously was to help these orphans, show them around, give them some candy, help them meet their idols, that kind of deal.
Now, the achievements are geared towards "How much psychological and/or physical scarring can you cause to the orphan". Now, on a PvE or PvP server, not that big of a deal, with the PvP server not being affected by this, and the PvE server doesn't really care too much. But on a RP server? They are bad enough already since no one enforces anything on those despite what its supposed to be. This is just another kick in the nuts aimed at those who enjoy only PvE and RP in WoW.
Like I said, I'm all for a movement to get some actually good role-playing elements in the game, because the ones that are in place now, suck.
As would I, and I could tell you read the article. What I find though, is that many of the events that have achievements, fit the achievements. So, I don't see what's so hard in creating achievements for Children's Week. Hell, why can't blizzard change the meta achievements only require so many achievements in it done. Now, for the ones who play Undead, these achievements are simple RP-wise, it fits them."
Though, I can argue against the "We save the world everyday" point. Only the raiders do that.... casuals who don't raid, or those leveling up aren't able to save the world so why not help the orphans who might grow up to be raiders who save the world (or the people who save those people aka healers :P)
That is actually not the way the achievements are meant to be percieved as. It is just what all of you are deciding to take out of context that is being percieved.
I would have thought this too....one problem though....it's not April.
Not that your argument has any ground, but if that were the case..wouldn't you think Age of Conan would be a definate yes and warhammer a definite no based on the rating system currently in place?
AoC, yes. Warhammer, yes, because it'd be a miracle if any kid (who is not royalty, thus not exposed to daily life) grew up normally in the Warhammer world. If you wanted to go strictly by rating, what, are they going to change it to Mature because of "Child Abuse"? Lol.
WE all know that blizzard is a money hungery corparation with no grips on reality...this is not news. now to interduce the idea that its ok to bring children into the idea of war is wrong and moraley disgusting. its a game yes but look at how much hold the game media has. 1st its ok to take "game children into combat" next it will be ok to kill "fake game children" thus desensitizeing real humans to the horrification of killing children. now if this is a "april fools joke" its not funny. so we have become a society who is so used to blood and murder on tv and video games that we see no problum with killing...i speak of a handfull of ppl not every one. we must rember that yes its a game but it dos have real effect of real players. iam sure that blizzard will do dum things like this in the near future. this make me wounder what kind of sick employees work at this company....its a sad thing really esspecialy if this is a "april fools joke". shows that they are socialy moranic unmoral ppl and honestly there HR should look into the back round of some of there "game and story programmers" i said my 2 cents take it as you will and i hope you understand my point.
Lets see here......
Teach the children to cook or defend themselves......hmmmmmmm
LET ME SEE YOUR WARFACE YOU LITTLE PIXEL PUNK!!!! AAAAAARRRRRHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
I would have thought this too....one problem though....it's not April.
Exactly. And I'm more than certain they wouldn't include damaging the fragile psyches of children as an april's fool joke, they would make themselves look like the fools. Their jokes are always light-hearted, ala the wisp as a race, the bard, turning the Molten Core raid into a console game (though that did happen, the game spawned from the joke itself), and the like.
This is going to be fun. I look forward to taking the imaginary children all over the place.
If you are one of the people that this upsets, no problem -- don't do them. But I am going to have fun with it.
You have to be kidding me! Its a video game!!! This is the kind of crap ppl shove down other ppls throats to make them look better then what they really are, and thats absolutely jack! just like that POS lawyer down in florida that tryied to get all video games banned like Rated M games due to the fact that Idiot parents buy them for there 10 y/o kids of ppl saying that Counter Strike trains kids to shoot up schools just because they played the game. ppl need to stop taking things so seriously and take responcibilty for there actions.
If your not happy about something why take it away from others that do. its not only selfish but it makes you look like an idiot. seriosly ppl No one cares about ur cause. they are just laughing at you cause u dont have any idea what your talking about.
So please, with all the time you are taking up complaining about stuff so stupid you could go and do something useful like.... i dunno going back to college and finding the cure for cancer? or making ciggerettes safer or i dunno maybe something with a more ironic twist... How about cureing child luciemia.(sorry i think i spelled it wrong)
Sounds likely yes.
Still, THIS ISN'T FUNNY. Kaplans just been gone for WOW a few weeks and they pull a stupid joke like this. Tasteless.
You know, i sit here reading the progression of this thread and am amazed at how some people are really taking offense to this little "event". I wonder to myself do these people not realize that this is a game, that these are not REAL children that are going to be affected. I know my opinion won't matter to the delusional people that are so taken aback by the horrific things that these "children" are going to have to go through, but really people are you all really that IDIOTIC. I have to really question the sanity of these people, and really have to question why these people are not locked up in a mental institution and handed helmets for their own safety. Get a life meet some REAL children so you can get your perspective back and realize "hey the children of WoW aren't real at all......silly me, I need to get out more often." LOSERS!
P.S. If you are really that mortified by the actions of Blizzard quit the game, I'm sure that'll show them. ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggghhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!
haha...funny stuff.
Jeez, it's only a game. Get over it already. That people take this stuff so seriously is a little frightening to be honest.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggghhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!
haha...funny stuff.
Jeez, it's only a game. Get over it already. That people take this stuff so seriously is a little frightening to be honest.
I agree, who gives a shit.
Must be awful having so little imagination you can actually say something as stupid and ignorant as "roleplaying should be banned". Wow, you must really hate fantasy. You don't read fiction either, do you? Hell - WTF are you doing in a MMORPG? How do you stand the hated lore, quests and the people who enjoy that? Maybe you would be lot happier playing Quake. I know we'll be a happier with your deadened psyche well away from us.
I'm curious - do you guys think people like this are just trolls trying to get a rise out of people who enjoy the lore or are actual RPers? Or are they actually psychologically unable to enjoy fantasy? Seriously. Cause I wonder at times if they can actually really mean crap like that. I mean I dislike personally doing many things. Doesn't mean I harbour ill will towards those who do.
"Damn, people getting upset about this happening in a game, yet this happens all the time in real life. Sad to see people get worked up about a game, this is why roleplaying should be banned."
I get the feeling this person uses the "word" pwned a lot for some reason...
Its fairly par for the course in WotLK
All fantasy games have a certain level of "Go there and murder N" , some to an ethnic cleansing level - but I noticed a much nastier theme in WotLK than usual esp in a game where neither of the major factions is considered "evil"
I've seen quests which involve -
Kidnapping of children (daily!)
Deliberate deforestation (ok, this isnt a heinous crime but its still indicative of the amoral trend)
Torture of prisoners (which the KT lot are too wimpy to do them selves <cough> rendition <cough>)
Assassination whilst under flag of Truce
Organised murder on a genocide level
If ulduar has child slavery and rape I think they'll have the set.
I know its only a game and its only pixels but if its a conscious choice then I'm worried about the direction of a game that seem largely directed at the less mature audience.
If its a unconscious decision....
Hi. I am new to this game. Where do I sign up to hurt the children?
Thanks.
When exactly did WoW have to become politically correct? Come on it isn't like these children are actually going to suffer from anything players do. They are NPC ie not real. Get over you high and mighty attitude and let people have some fun.
Next you'll probably be slamming Brewfest.
To those who say that this flys in the face of the event.... the achievements are a seperate part of the game from the event. It doesn't really fly in the face of the RPers either. They have a choice... be evil (many role players like this kind of thing) or be good and don't do the achievements. Seriously, if you don't like this then don't do the achievements. Not everything in life needs to be treated as a crisis, especially when the topic in question is in a video game.
You're right (though I do think they're rather tasteless as opposed to funny), only shouldn't someone RPing a good character, e.g. Paladin bright! :-D have a chance at meta-achievements as well? Blizzard seem to have their head up their arses when it comes to RPers as per usual.
OOPS
Sounds likely yes.
Still, THIS ISN'T FUNNY. Kaplans just been gone for WOW a few weeks and they pull a stupid joke like this. Tasteless.
It so apparent that many people in this thread do not even play WoW. Especially this poster. The constant references to April Fools have got to stop. The achievments were introduced in early October of last year. All of them were easily viewable at that time. The content of this achievement has not changed, it has been in place since that time. I have been dreading this achievement since that time in fact. Not since it makes me damage the poor children, that I really do not care one way or another, although the article written raises some very good points. This achievement does fly in the face of the spirit of the event
No, why I dread this achievement is because it forces PvP, and I do not PvP......ever. I do not care for it in any way, On top of that some of the assigned tasks such as successfully carry the flag in WSG are not even remotely possible for my class.
ahh so "childrens week"
I guess this is where the majority of the market is.
Deborah made very valid points. i will opt not to 'earn' an achievement in this World Event. i don't view something as PC but whether it is correct or humane. that this is a virtual or fantasy world is not the issue and i don't have to go with the flow and i don't need a ribbon with everyone else to make me feel good. i already wrote WoW and expressed my concerns. i believe in pay-it-forward and random kindness. the nice thing about WoW right now, is not having to do something distasteful and still making level 80. i will say, if i still had children at home (we've played EQ & WoW with our sons) we would discuss why the new Children's Week achievement is wrong.
I used to play WOW hardcore, sick of it now though I think its more me then WOW dunno.
I dont give a shit about the child abuse achivements for childrens week. But to be honest I've given up on the lore of wow ( lorelol). Blizzard doesnt care about lore anymore, most of the players dont, so I dont either. Damn Russian space squids. If I was still trying to roleplay I soppose it would depend on your character. Orcs, foresaken and my power mad warlock wouldnt think twice about this. So really I dont see it as a big deal.
If you want to bitch about WOW, complain about the constant dumbing down and streamlining. How dual specs hurt pure DPS classes, how arenas killed world PVP, something more palatplbe.
To be removed in patch 3.1, I suggest better research before writing such articles next time.
if it is, there's no mention in the patch notes
www.worldofwarcraft.com/patchnotes/test-realm-patchnotes.html
Source?