The Daily Grind: How do you like your references?
by Eliot Lefebvre 
Nov 20th 2009 at 8:00AM
Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Humor
We gamers do love our nods to other media. From the earliest days of gaming and software, the easter egg has been a staple, something hidden without mention in the recesses of code. These days, we're as likely as not to have entire areas devoted to a drawn-out reference, or in some cases an entire element of gameplay added mostly as a long-standing joke. Some games have elevated the art of reference almost to an art form, with major storyline characters introduced as a sort of extended cameo from their original media.Of course, that's also the problem with references: it can sort of cheapen the game you're playing if it's subtle, and it destroys immersion if it's mind-shatteringly overt. So what do you think? Do you like little snuck-in references to books and movies, or do you like your world to be totally consistent? Do you prefer it when the inspiration is kept under the radar, or would you rather just have the whole thing out in the open? What's your favorite instance of a game calling back to something else?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Iceballs..yum said on 8:16AM 11-20-2009
I always thought the ones in WoW were corny, this night elf mohawk included. Harris Pilton or someshit like that..blech
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amber_curtis said on 8:54AM 11-20-2009
I'm just the opposite; it has always been one of my favorite features of WoW to find the references, subtle and not so subtle, from Nat Pagle to Haris Pilton. My all time favorite is the quest line based on the Dune series, where you use the thumpers to kill "Hai Shulud".
It always kept me amused in an otherwise lackluster storyline, and they were always a bright spot of good humor. I appreciate that they never seemed to take themselves too seriously and they were Eggs that everyone could find and understand instead of some arcane coders inside-joke.
Sam said on 6:39PM 11-20-2009
The WoW ones were decent up until mid-BC, but now they're into the 1990s+ culture, and it's boring. the quest "All Along the Watchtowers was a subtle and very good reference, but now we've got things like D.E.H.T.A (druids for the ethicial and humane treatment of animals) and they've milked the Hemet Nesingwary story farrr to much.
Bam! said on 8:39AM 11-20-2009
In Asheron's Call occasionally you can spot for just a few seconds the TARDIS box, but if you get close it just dissapears.
Also, you can occasionally find a handy dandy towel.
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Wisdomandlore said on 8:55AM 11-20-2009
I like my references a little more subtle...or at least a little less in your face. Being slapped with a Night Elf mohawk every 10s is not fun. Stumbling upon half an area that's dedicated to the pod racing scene in Phantom Menace isn't either.
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Leese said on 9:09AM 11-20-2009
I don't mind references in moderation, but the ones in CO were constant and really got obnoxious after a while.
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Dumac said on 9:15AM 11-20-2009
Can someone explain what the night elf mohawk is about? I don't think I've ever seen one and i did play WoW until recently
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Neolith8300 said on 9:48AM 11-20-2009
Here is the Night Elf Mohawk...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqJE5TH5jhc
You are warned.
Dumac said on 2:48PM 11-20-2009
(did i have to reply to my own post?)
Thanks Neolith8300 ... that is, indeed, something one should be warned about :s
Swusn said on 9:41AM 11-20-2009
"Some games have elevated the art of reference almost to an art form..."
Really?
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aurickle said on 10:29AM 11-20-2009
To my way of thinking, the very best ones are subtle enough that no more than about 25% of the population will pick up on it. Probably even better at 10%. It's cool when I happen to spot one that most other people have missed - and just as cool to have someone point one out to me that I'd been unaware of.
The Lost Dwarves in Uldaman (patterned after the Lost Vikings console game, which I later learned was also from Blizzard) is a great example of this and to my mind one of the best easter eggs in the whole game. As WoW has matured, though, its references have become increasingly blatant and I think that's to the game's detriment.
An easter egg is only rewarding if found. Like in life, they're not nearly as much fun when they're being thrown at you.
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K1LLSWITCH said on 11:21AM 11-20-2009
Personally, I love it when a game references back to it's predecessor (tying the loose ends, so to speak) in the form of a story arc or even an item such as a weapon or armor that relates to a particular character who was considered legend long ago, and now seeing what that person wore or held in battle, it's a glorious sight.
However, as was mentioned in the article, if that's all a game does is reference the previous installment, then really, what is the point of making a game if the developer is going to use material already written and thought out?
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Iceballs..yum said on 12:30PM 11-20-2009
Story Arc and godawful pop culture references are not the same thing.
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Darthkirby707 said on 9:36AM 11-22-2009
Only very subtle ones...
CO was so obnoxious, it was like "Haha, we're clever, we saw Anchorman, let's have an entire mission full of terrible references! People'll like that!"
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Cray said on 7:04PM 11-23-2009
I like homages, as long as they are subtle and fit the genre. I totally despise references to pop cultural gags or celebrities. Jokes get old real fast and make the game feel dated within a few hours of game play.
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