Jump to content

Make Love, Not Warcraft: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m →Production: clarification
m add {{Use American English}} template
 
(874 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
⚫
{{Infobox Television episode
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
| Title = Make Love, Not Warcraft

⚫
| Series = South Park
⚫
{{Infobox television episode
| Image = [[Image:South Park machinima.jpg|200px]]
⚫
| series = [[South Park]]
⚫
| Caption = [[Machinima]] was used extensively in "Make Love, Not Warcraft", albeit in a manner inconsistent with the gameplay of ''[[World of Warcraft]]''. Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny's characters are shown in the foreground.
| Season = 10
| image =
| Episode = 147
| caption =
| Airdate = [[October 4]], [[2006]]
| season = 10
| Production =
| episode = 8
| airdate = {{Start date|2006|10|04}}
⚫
| Writer = [[Trey Parker]]<br>[[Matt Stone]]
| Director = [[Trey Parker]]
| production = 1008
| Guests =
| director = [[Trey Parker]]
| writer = Trey Parker
| Episode list = [[List of South Park episodes|List of ''South Park'' episodes]]
⚫
| music = "[[Live to Win]]"<br>by [[Paul Stanley]]
| Season list = {{Infobox South Park season 10 episode list}}
| Prev =
| guests =
| season_article = South Park season 10
⚫
| Next =
| episode_list = List of South Park episodes
⚫
| prev = [[Tsst]]
| next = [[Mystery of the Urinal Deuce]]
}}
}}
"'''Make Love, Not Warcraft'''" is the eighth episode in the [[South Park season 10|tenth season]] of the American animated television series ''[[South Park]]''.<ref name="episode_eight">{{Cite web |title=South Park Season 10 Episodes |url=https://southpark.cc.com/seasons/south-park/s6x4l8/season-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309071810/https://southpark.cc.com/seasons/south-park/s6x4l8/season-10 |archive-date=March 9, 2023 |access-date=January 17, 2024 |website=[[Comedy Central]]}}</ref> The 147th episode overall, it first aired on [[Comedy Central]] in the United States on October 4, 2006. In the episode, named in a play on words after the [[1960s counterculture]] slogan "[[Make love, not war]]", [[Eric Cartman|Cartman]], [[Kyle Broflovski|Kyle]], [[Stan Marsh|Stan]], and [[Kenny McCormick|Kenny]] enjoy playing the popular [[massively multiplayer online role-playing game]] ''[[World of Warcraft]]''. When a high-level player goes around [[Player Versus Player#Player killing|killing other players]] in the game, they start playing the game every day to try to stop him. The episode was written and directed by series co-creator [[Trey Parker]]. In 2015, he and co-creator [[Matt Stone]] listed it as their third-favorite episode of the series.
"'''Make Love, Not Warcraft'''" is episode 147 of [[Comedy Central]]'s animated series ''[[South Park]]'' which first aired on [[October 4]], [[2006]]. This episode is a [[parody]] of the [[massively multiplayer online role-playing game]] (MMORPG) ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', and on [[gamer]]s themselves. The episode was announced by Comedy Central on [[September 30]], 2006 and was advertised as the tenth season second half premiere.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/02/south-park-make-love-not-warcraft/|title=South Park: make love, not Warcraft (update 1)|author=Ross Miller|work=[[Joystiq]]|accessdate=2006-11-12|date=2006-10-2}}</ref>


Despite worries from Trey Parker near the end of production, the episode went on to receive critical acclaim, with critics praising its lampooning of nerd culture and use of [[machinima]], and is considered by many fans and critics as one of the best episodes of the series. The episode additionally went on to win a [[Primetime Emmy Award]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program|Outstanding Animated Program]] (for programming less than one hour), becoming the first machinima work to win an Emmy.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Records |first=Guinness World |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MNEyDQAAQBAJ&dq=longest+animated+movie+the+seal+of+nehahra&pg=PA190 |title=Guinness World Records 2017 Gamer's Edition |date=2008 |publisher=Guinness World Records |isbn=978-1-910561-41-6 |language=en |access-date=2023-02-22 |archive-date=2023-06-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621032419/https://books.google.com/books?id=MNEyDQAAQBAJ&dq=longest+animated+movie+the+seal+of+nehahra&pg=PA190 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2007 the episode won the [[Primetime Emmy Award]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour)|Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour)]].<ref name="Emmys2007">{{cite web| url=http://www.emmys.tv/awards/2007pt/nominations_crtv.php?action=search_db | date=2007-09-8 | accessdate=2007-01-09 | title=2007 Primetime Emmy® Awards nominations | publisher = [[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]] }}</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==
A [[griefer]] repeatedly kills [[Eric Cartman|Cartman]], [[Kyle Broflovski|Kyle]], [[Stan Marsh|Stan]], and [[Kenny McCormick|Kenny]]'s characters in the [[Massively multiplayer online role-playing game|online game]] ''[[World of Warcraft]]''. Stan's father, [[Randy Marsh (South Park)|Randy]], becomes interested in the game, but his character is quickly killed by the griefer; the griefer in reality is a middle-aged obese man whom [[Blizzard Entertainment|Blizzard]] employees deem has "no life". The boys phone their annoyance to Blizzard, but the company executives cannot remove the griefer from the game because his ridiculously high level blocks any attempts to do so.
[[Image:South Park Blizzard executives.jpg|thumb|left|The Blizzard Entertainment executives as seen in the episode.]]
A [[griefer]] named Jenkins{{ref label|Jenkins|I|}} repeatedly kills the ''South Park'' boys' characters in the [[MMORPG |online game]], ''[[World of Warcraft]]''. The griefer, an obsessive player, is said to have been playing nearly every hour of every day for a year and a half, and has advanced through many levels, allowing him to disobey [[Blizzard Entertainment]]'s rules and kill players as well as GMs (Game Masters) and Admins (Administrators) at will (even though the admins are on extremely high levels themselves). {{Fact|date=January 2008}} [[Randy and Sharon Marsh|Randy]], Stan's dad, becomes interested in the game, but does not survive long before being killed by Jenkins.<ref name="Make Love, Not Warcraft">''[[South Park]]''."Make Love, Not Warcraft".[[October 4]], [[2006]]</ref>


[[Cartman]] gathers all the boys of South Park to plan a retaliatory attack on the griefer, conspiring to all log in simultaneously and attack him. However, once the battle begins, the griefer summons scorpions and easily dispatches the boys' characters. Afterwards, the defeated players give up and find other interests. The executives at Blizzard then realize that many players will soon become too frustrated from being killed every time they log on, and will quit playing altogether, which would very well cause "the end of the World... of Warcraft". However, Cartman isn't ready to give up, and convinces [[Stan Marsh|Stan]], [[Kyle Broflovski|Kyle]], and [[Kenny McCormick|Kenny]] to keep playing. "You can stand here and toss a ball around... or you can sit at your computer, and do something that ''matters''." For the next two months, they play the game for twenty-one hours a day (giving themselves 3 hours of sleep), killing boars in the game's forests to gain experience points (very slowly), and hiding from Jenkins.{{ref label|Montage_scene|II|}} In the process, the boys become lazy, long-haired, grossly overweight, except Cartman, who was already overweight, becomes [[morbidly obese]]. Cartman refuses to leave the game to the extent that his mother has to hold out a bedpan when he needs to use the bathroom. They also become acne-ridden from eating mainly [[Hot Pockets]] and [[Rockstar energy drink]]s during their crusade. In addition, the boys develop large Internet vocabularies, using terms such as "[[Über]]" and "[[pwn]]ed" and "r-tard" in daily conversation. The boys' characters grow so quickly that the Blizzard executives take notice, realizing that the boys have no personal lives at all. They see this as chance to stop the griefer since he will end Warcraft's popularity if he's not stopped. However, they calculate that the boys have a 90% chance of death.<ref name="Make Love, Not Warcraft">''[[South Park]]''."Make Love, Not Warcraft".[[October 4]], [[2006]]</ref>
Cartman gathers all the kids of South Park and convinces them all to log in at the same time in order to execute a retaliatory attack on the griefer. However, once the battle begins, the griefer summons giant [[scorpion]]s and easily dispatches the kids' characters. This causes everyone to lose hope and stop playing. [[Butters Stotch]] quits to play ''Hello Kitty Island Adventure'', a then-fictional game that eventually [[Hello Kitty Island Adventure|a real game released in 2023]] would be titled. Cartman, convinces Stan, Kyle, and Kenny to keep playing, and calculates exactly how much time it would take for the four of them to gain as many experience points as the griefer. For the next two months, the boys play the game for 21 hours a day, killing low-level boars in the game's forests to gain experience points. In the process, the boys become lazy, long-haired, morbidly obese, and acne-ridden. The boys' characters earn experience points so quickly that the Blizzard executives, who have also been monitoring the griefer, take notice and believe they might have a chance.


Determined to help the boys slay the evil griefer, the executives decide to give the boys the ''Sword of a Thousand Truths'', a weapon so powerful (120 damage per second, instant mana burn, stamina plus 80) that it was removed from the game and stored on a 1 GB flash drive. However, "Salzman from Accounting" foretold that it would eventually be put to use. Unaware of the plan, however, the boys have already initiated what becomes seventeen-hour crusade against the griefer, which the executives predict to be unsuccessful without the aid of the powerful sword. The executives arrive at Stan's house with the flash drive, unaware that the boys are actually at Cartman's house. Randy tells the executives that although he is a "[[Noob]]", he can log in with the sword and give it to the battling boys' characters online. The executives then eventually, though reluctantly give Randy the sword, initially stating that, "We can't trust the ''Sword of a Thousand Truths'' to a n00b!" Eventually logging onto a Warcraft demo at [[Best Buy]], Randy gives Stan the weapon, but Randy's character is mortally wounded by the griefer in the process. Angered, Stan attacks the griefer with the sword, completely draining his mana, leaving him unable to use his shields. Taking advantage of Jenkins' weakness, Kenny shoots him with his bow followed by Kyle hitting him with a fire spell. He falls to the ground and Cartman crushes his head, moments before Randy's character finally dies.<ref name="Make Love, Not Warcraft">''[[South Park]]''."Make Love, Not Warcraft".[[October 4]], [[2006]]</ref>
Determined to help the boys slay the griefer, the executives decide to give the boys the ''Sword of a Thousand Truths'', a weapon so powerful that it was removed from the game and stored on a [[gigabyte|1 GB]] [[USB flash drive]]. Unaware of the executives' plan however, the boys have already initiated what becomes a seventeen-hour battle against the griefer. The executives arrive at Stan's house with the flash drive, unaware that the boys are actually at Cartman's house. Randy tells the executives that he can log in with the sword and give it to the boys' characters online. Eventually logging onto a demo of the game at a [[Best Buy]], Randy gives Stan the weapon, but Randy's character is killed by the griefer in the process. Enraged, Stan attacks the griefer with the sword, draining his shields and mana spells, allowing Kyle and Kenny to attack with effect. Cartman approaches him and proceeds to [[Pwn|smash the griefer's character's head with a hammer]]. Numerous ''World of Warcraft'' players celebrate the griefer's defeat, praising the boys as heroes. As Stan contemplates what they do now, Cartman states, "Now we can finally play the game." With Cartman making suggestions to boost their characters, the boys begin playing the game as they originally intended.

As the ''World of Warcraft'' players celebrate his demise, Cartman declares that the boys can now "finally play the game".<ref name="Make Love, Not Warcraft">''[[South Park]]''."Make Love, Not Warcraft".[[October 4]], [[2006]]</ref>

[[Image:South Park WoW computer lab.jpg|thumb|right|Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny playing World of Warcraft in the computer lab.]]


==Production==
==Production==
⚫
[[File:South Park machinima.jpg|thumb|[[Machinima]] was used extensively in "Make Love, Not Warcraft". Here, Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny's characters stand above the slain griefer.]]
The episode uses [[machinima]] in many of its scenes to create a better emulation of the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://internetgames.about.com/b/a/257546.htm|title=World of Warcraft Meets "South Park"|author=Dave Spohn|work=internetgames.about.com|accessdate=2006-11-12|date=2006-10-1}}</ref> It was originally scheduled to air as episode #145, but was later delayed because of difficulties in creating the machinima.<ref name=Interview>{{cite web|url=http://www.machinima.com/article.php?article=459|title="Make Love, Not Warcraft" interview|date=2006-11-15|publisher=[[machinima.com]]|accessdate=2006-11-19}}</ref>
The episode uses [[machinima]] in many of its scenes to create a better emulation of the game. It was originally scheduled to air as the 145th episode, but it was delayed because of difficulties in creating the machinima.<ref name="machinima_interview">{{cite web|url=http://www.machinima.com/article.php?article=459|title="Make Love, Not Warcraft" interview|date=2006-11-15|publisher=[[machinima.com]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519205936/http://www.machinima.com/article.php?article=459 |archive-date=2007-05-19 |access-date=2012-01-31}}</ref>


===Collaboration===
===Collaboration===
The South Park creators collaborated with [[Blizzard Entertainment]], the company that created the ''[[Warcraft universe|Warcraft]]'', ''[[StarCraft]]'', and ''[[Diablo (video game)|Diablo]]'' franchises, to craft the machinima used in the episode. They stated in their commentary for the episode they were completely shocked that the company was on board to help them out. The machinima scenes were created using shots of the in-game footage, and re-creation of the characters in [[Maya (software)|Maya]], with Blizzard Entertainment providing their own character models and computers to test with.<ref name=Interview /> Blizzard also gave the producers permission to use the alpha server of the expansion pack ''[[World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade]]'' to shoot the scenes on.<ref name=Interview /> [[Michael Morhaime]], president and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment, issued a statement over the collaboration:
''South Park'' creators [[Trey Parker]] and [[Matt Stone]] collaborated with [[Blizzard Entertainment]] to craft the machinima used in the episode. They stated in their commentary for the episode that they were completely shocked that the company was on board to help them out. The machinima scenes were created using shots of the in-game footage, and re-creation of the characters in [[Maya (software)|Maya]], with Blizzard Entertainment providing their own character models and computers to test with. Blizzard also gave the producers permission to use the alpha server of the expansion pack ''[[World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade]]'' on which to shoot the scenes.<ref name="machinima_interview"/> [[Michael Morhaime]], president and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment, issued a statement over the collaboration:


<blockquote>We were excited to hear that the creators of 'South Park' were interested in featuring World of Warcraft in the opening of their new season, and we really enjoyed collaborating with them to make this happen. We're looking forward to sharing the experience with our employees and our players as well when the season debuts this week.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blizzard.com/press/061002.shtml|title=South Park celebrates 10 groundbraking seasons!!!|work=blizzard.com|accessdate=2006-11-04}}</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>"We were excited to hear that the creators of ''South Park'' were interested in featuring ''World of Warcraft'' in the opening of their new season, and we really enjoyed collaborating with them to make this happen. We're looking forward to sharing the experience with our employees and our players as well when the season debuts this week."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blizzard.com/press/061002.shtml |title=South Park celebrates 10 groundbreaking seasons!!! |work=[[blizzard.com]] |access-date=2006-11-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020203250/http://www.blizzard.com/press/061002.shtml |archive-date=2006-10-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref></blockquote>


As a reference to the episode, certain ''South Park'' Season 10 DVDs include a 14-day free trial for ''World of Warcraft''. This did not affect the UK release of this season in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3161790 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028190638/http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3161790 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-10-28 |title=South Park DVD to Pack World of Warcraft Trial |author=Hayward, Andrew |website=[[1UP.com]] |date=2007-08-07 |access-date=2008-01-27 }}</ref>
However, the animation in the episode is modified from the gameplay of ''World of Warcraft'', and contains elements that do not exist in the game: talking animations, controlled [[non-player character|NPCs]], Humans in the Hunter character class{{ref label|Hunter|III|}}, and increased gore.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[World of Warcraft]]|developer=[[Blizzard Entertainment]]|publisher=[[Vivendi Universal]]}}</ref><ref name="Make Love, Not Warcraft">''[[South Park]]''."Make Love, Not Warcraft".[[October 4]], [[2006]]</ref>


Since the airing of the episode, the fictitious Sword of a Thousand Truths was featured in the ''[[World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade]]'' beta test as a reward to the game's arena system, although it did not have the same capabilities as in the episode.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/13/blizzard-confirms-the-sword-of-a-thousand-truths-is-real/|title=The Sword of a Thousand Truths in Burning Crusade Beta|publisher=Joystiq|first=Alexander|last=Sliwinski|date=2006-10-13|access-date=2008-06-06|archive-date=2008-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201011930/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/13/blizzard-confirms-the-sword-of-a-thousand-truths-is-real|url-status=live}}</ref>
As a reference to the episode, certain ''South Park'' Season 10 DVDs include a 14-day free trial for the ''World of Warcraft''.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3161790| title=
South Park DVD to Pack World of Warcraft Trial| author=Hayward, Andrew| publisher=[[1UP.com]]| date=2007-08-07| accessdate=2008-01-27}}</ref>


The episode features the song "[[Live to Win]]" by [[Kiss (band)|KISS]] vocalist [[Paul Stanley]].
Since the airing of the episode, it was planned that the fictitious Sword of a Thousand Truths used in the episode would be added as a part of ''[[World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade]]'', although it would not have the same capabilities as in the show. This did not happen upon the release of the Burning Crusade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pro-g.co.uk/news/13-10-2006-3828-1.html|title=The Sword of a Thousand Truths is in Burning Crusade|publisher=Pro-G|author=James Orry|date=2006-10-13|accessdate=2007-08-27}}</ref>


===Time===
===Production length===
Although the planning of the episode and data-collecting began on [[September 1]], [[2006]], the actual production of the machinima was done in five "shooting" days, the first being [[September 20]], [[2006]], which lasted about 3-5 hours, and the last being [[October 3]], [[2006]].<ref name=Interview /> The regular ''South Park'' animation was created simultaneously, with all the other non-machinima episodes of the series routinely finishing within 12 hours of their airing as well.<ref name=Interview />
Although the planning of the episode and data-collecting began on September 1, 2006, the actual production of the machinima was done in five "shooting" days, the first being September 20, 2006, which lasted about 3–5 hours, and the last being October 3, 2006, the day before the episode aired.<ref name="machinima_interview" /> The regular ''South Park'' animation was created simultaneously, with all the other non-machinima episodes of the series routinely finishing within 12 hours of their airing as well.<ref name="machinima_interview" /><ref name="commentary">{{Cite AV media | people = Parker, Trey; Stone, Matt | chapter = Audio commentary for "Make Love, Not Warcraft" | title = South Park – The Complete Tenth Season | year = 2007 | medium = DVD | publisher = Paramount Home Entertainment}}</ref>


Parker was deeply unhappy with the episode the day before its broadcast, telling the show's producers, "I've lost it. I don't know how to do this anymore." He begged executive producer [[Anne Garefino]] to call Comedy Central and inform them that the show would not air, remarking, "I don't want the ''South Park'' legacy to be ruined, and this show is going to ruin it, because it's so bad." Parker went home unable to sleep and was surprised the following day that the episode was so well received.<ref name="ind">{{cite news|title=The classic episode South Park's creator Trey Parker begged not to be aired|date=February 9, 2016|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/the-classic-episode-south-parks-creator-trey-parker-begged-not-to-be-aired-a6862726.html|work=[[The Independent]]|author=Clarisse Loughrey|access-date=March 21, 2016|archive-date=March 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313212450/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/the-classic-episode-south-parks-creator-trey-parker-begged-not-to-be-aired-a6862726.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
⚫
==Reception==
The episode received generally high review ratings. [[IGN]], a multimedia news and reviews website, reviewed the episode and gave it an overall rating of 9.3, labeling it as "one of the funniest episodes ever produced".<ref name=IGN>{{cite web|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/737/737420p1.html|title=South Park: "Make Love, Not Warcraft" review|work=tv.ign.com|author=Dan Iverson|date=2006-10-05|accessdate=2006-11-13}}</ref>


===Reciprocation===
The original television airing of the episode drew 3.4 million viewers, most between the ages of 18 and 49.<ref name="TV_notes">TV/Radio notes, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, [[October 12]], [[2006]]</ref> This popularity made the episode Comedy Central's highest-rated midseason premiere since the year 2000.<ref name="TV_notes" /> However, the highest ratings for the tenth season belong to the season's premiere, "[[The Return of Chef]]", which drew more than 3.5 million viewers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/chefs-grisly-exit-is-a-south-park-hit/2006/03/24/1143083957683.html|title=Chef's grisly exit is a South Park hit|work=smh.com.au|author=Reuters|date=2006-03-24|accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref>
In patch 3.0.2, preceding the release of the ''World of Warcraft'' expansion pack, ''[[World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King|Wrath of the Lich King]]'', Blizzard included a "Make Love, Not Warcraft" PvP achievement, gained by using the "hug" emote on a dead enemy before they release their spirit.<ref name="WOTLK">{{cite web|url= http://www.wowpedia.org/Make_Love,_Not_Warcraft|title= Make Love, Not Warcraft achievement|access-date= 2010-11-04|work= Wowpedia|publisher= [[Curse Inc.]]|archive-date= 2011-05-31|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110531125252/http://www.wowpedia.org/Make_Love,_Not_Warcraft|url-status= live}}</ref>


The then-fictitious video game played by Butters in this episode, ''[[Hello Kitty]] Island Adventure'', was referenced in a 2008 [[April Fools' Day]] joke by the official [[Sanrio]] blog. This blog post announced an "Island Adventure" expansion to the MMORPG ''[[Hello Kitty Online]]'', which consisted of a shrinking of the game world to a single desert island, the introduction of a race of foul-mouthed creatures, and PvP based on the power struggle between Hello Kitty and Badtz-Maru.<ref name="hkislandadventure">{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2008-04-01-breaking-news-hello-kitty-island-adventures-expansion-announced.html|title=Breaking News: Hello Kitty Island Adventures expansion announced!|publisher=Engadget|author=Whitcomb, Daniel|access-date=2023-07-07|date=2008-04-01|archive-date=2023-07-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707163304/https://www.engadget.com/2008-04-01-breaking-news-hello-kitty-island-adventures-expansion-announced.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2023, the video game ''[[Hello Kitty Island Adventure]]'' was announced for [[Apple Arcade]], and was released on July 28, 2023. Zack Zwiezen from ''[[Kotaku]]'' noted the similarities between the name of the game Butters' played, and the title of the upcoming video game.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zwiezen |first1=Zack |title=New Hello Kitty Game Is Basically Animal Crossing, A Deadly Combo |url=https://kotaku.com/hello-kitty-animal-crossing-life-sim-cozy-apple-arcade-1850582725 |website=Kotaku |date=27 June 2023 |access-date=7 July 2023 |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707163304/https://kotaku.com/hello-kitty-animal-crossing-life-sim-cozy-apple-arcade-1850582725 |url-status=live }}</ref> During a press preview of ''Hello Kitty Island Adventure'', Jill Koch, the senior vice president of Sanrio's marketing, sales and business development, stated that Sanrio and the game has "no tie-in or affiliation with ''South Park''".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Parrish |first1=Ash |title=Hello Kitty Island Adventure is real but has nothing to do with South Park |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/14/23794366/hello-kitty-island-adventure-apple-sunblink |website=The Verge |access-date=23 August 2023 |date=2023-07-14 |archive-date=2023-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823172838/https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/14/23794366/hello-kitty-island-adventure-apple-sunblink |url-status=live }}</ref>
In the May 2007 UK poll [[List of South Park episodes#Paramount Comedy's Top 10 Episodes|Paramount Comedy's Top 10 Episodes]], this episode was ranked number 1.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} That year it also obtained the [[Primetime Emmy Award]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour)|Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour)]].<ref name="Emmys2007">{{cite web| url=http://www.emmys.tv/awards/2007pt/nominations_crtv.php?action=search_db | date=2007-09-8 | accessdate=2008-01-09 | title=2007 Primetime Emmy® Awards nominations | publisher = [[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]] }}</ref>


Also, in the Wrath of the Lich King remake of the Naxxramas raid instance, a sword called Slayer of the Lifeless was added, bearing the flavour text "Foretold by Salzman", as a reference to Salzman from accounting and a weapon capable of killing that which has no life. The model of the weapon is the same as the one used for the Sword of a Thousand Truths.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wowhead.com/item=39344/slayer-of-the-lifeless/|title=Wowhead - Slayer of the Lifeless|access-date=2014-04-25|archive-date=2014-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426234836/http://www.wowhead.com/item=39344/slayer-of-the-lifeless/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Notes==

<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
The ''United in Stormwind'' expansion of ''[[Hearthstone]]'' added "Elwynn Boar" and "Sword of a Thousand Truths" cards with abilities referencing the events of the episode.<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Card Revealed for United in Stormwind by Sway Bae - Elwynn Boar & Sword of a Thousand Truths|url=https://outof.cards/hearthstone/3388-new-card-revealed-for-united-in-stormwind-by-sway-bae-elwynn-boar-sword-of-a-thousand-truths|access-date=2021-07-21|website=Out of Cards|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721180919/https://outof.cards/hearthstone/3388-new-card-revealed-for-united-in-stormwind-by-sway-bae-elwynn-boar-sword-of-a-thousand-truths|url-status=live}}</ref>
#{{note|Jenkins}} Although never named within the episode, the official FAQ of the show states that the renegade is named Jenkins, probably after [[Leeroy Jenkins]], an [[List of Internet phenomena|Internet phenomenon]] character from the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southparkstudios.com/show/faq/faq_archives.php?year=2006&month=10|title=South Park official FAQ|work=southparkstudios.com|accessdate=2007-12-20}}</ref>

#{{note|Montage_scene}} "[[Live to Win]]", the title track from [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]] vocalist [[Paul Stanley]]'s [[Live to Win|solo album]], is played in the background during this. The episode, however, was aired over two weeks before the release of the album.{{Fact|date=January 2008}}
⚫
==Reception==
#{{note|Hunter}} Stan's father Randy claims to have a "level 2 hunter," although his character is shown as a human with a shield on his back. In ''World of Warcraft'' the [[World of warcraft#Classes|hunter class]] can neither be human nor use a shield.<ref name="WoWHunter">{{cite web| url=http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/hunter/ | accessdate=2008-01-09 | title=The Hunter | work = [[World of Warcraft|www.worldofwarcraft.com]] }}</ref></div>
"Make Love, Not Warcraft" received critical acclaim. ''[[IGN]]'' gave it an overall rating of 9.3, labeling it as "one of the funniest episodes ever produced".<ref name=IGN>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/10/05/south-park-make-love-not-warcraft-review|title=South Park: "Make Love, Not Warcraft" review|work=IGN|first=Dan|last=Iverson|date=2006-10-05|access-date=2021-10-24|archive-date=2021-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024203519/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/10/05/south-park-make-love-not-warcraft-review|url-status=live}}</ref> The original television airing of the episode drew 3.4 million viewers, most between the ages of 18 and 49. This popularity made the episode Comedy Central's highest-rated midseason premiere since the year 2000.<ref name="TV_notes">TV/Radio notes, ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]'', October 12, 2006</ref> However, the highest ratings for the tenth season belong to the season's premiere, "[[The Return of Chef]]", which drew more than 3.5 million viewers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/chefs-grisly-exit-is-a-south-park-hit/2006/03/24/1143083957683.html|title=Chef's grisly exit is a South Park hit|work=smh.com.au|agency=Reuters|date=2006-03-24|access-date=2006-11-14|archive-date=2012-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104065122/http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/chefs-grisly-exit-is-a-south-park-hit/2006/03/24/1143083957683.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2007, this episode won the [[Primetime Emmy Award]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour)|Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour)]].<ref name="Emmys2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.tv/awards/2007pt/nominations_crtv.php?action=search_db |date=2007-09-08 |access-date=2007-01-09 |title=2007 Primetime Emmy Awards nominations |publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917174713/http://www.emmys.tv/awards/2007pt/nominations_crtv.php?action=search_db |archive-date=2009-09-17 }}</ref> Fans voted the episode into 1st place in a major 2011 ''South Park'' voting held under the "Year of the Fan" iTunes promotion.<ref name="yotf_itunes">{{Cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/tv-season/south-park-year-of-the-fan/id458641356 |title=South Park: Year of the Fan |publisher=[[iTunes Store]] |year=2011 |access-date=January 6, 2012 |archive-date=March 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313050503/https://itunes.apple.com/tv-season/south-park-year-of-the-fan/id458641356 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Home media==
"Make Love, Not Warcraft", along with the thirteen other episodes from ''South Park''{{'}}s tenth season, was released on a three-disc DVD set in the United States on August 21, 2007. The set includes brief audio commentaries by series co-creators [[Trey Parker]] and [[Matt Stone]] for each episode.<ref>{{cite web |title=South Park: The Complete Tenth Season DVD Review |website=[[IGN]] |date=November 22, 2006 |last=Iverson |first=Dan |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/11/23/south-park-season-10-review |access-date=April 30, 2017 |archive-date=April 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425060037/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/11/23/south-park-season-10-review |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|United States|Colorado|Television|Cartoon|Humor}}
*[[South Park (Park County, Colorado)]]
*[[South Park City]]
{{clear}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
<div class="references-small">
<references/>
</div>


==External links==
==External links==
{{sister project links|South Park|auto=yes}}
{{wikiquote|South Park#Make_Love.2C_Not_Warcraft_.5B10.8.5D|Make Love, Not Warcraft}}
* [http://www.southparkstudios.com/show/display_episode.php?season=10&id1=1008&id2=151 Official information on the episode]
* [https://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/hk2x6r/south-park-make-love-not-warcraft-season-10-ep-8 "Make Love, Not Warcraft"] Full episode at South Park Studios
* {{IMDb episode|0850173}}
* [http://www.blizzard.com/press/061002.shtml Blizzard press release regarding the episode]


{{South Park episodes|10|state=expanded}}
{{Episode navigation|parent=[[List of South Park episodes|''South Park'' episodes]]|prev=[[Tsst]]|next=[[Mystery of the Urinal Deuce]] }}
{{EmmyAward AnimationLessThanHour 2001–2025}}
{{Warcraft universe}}


⚫
[[Category:Machinima works]]
{{World of Warcraft}}
⚫
[[Category:South Park season 10 episodes]]

⚫
[[Category:Machinima productions]]
⚫
[[Category:South Park episodes: Season 10]]
[[Category:World of Warcraft]]
[[Category:World of Warcraft]]
[[Category:Massively multiplayer online role-playing games in fiction]]

[[Category:Television episodes about cyberbullying]]
[[fr:Make Love, Not Warcraft]]
[[Category:Television episodes about virtual reality]]
[[nl:Make Love, Not Warcraft]]
[[Category:Television episodes about video games]]
[[ru:Занимайтесь любовью, а не Warcraft'ом]]
[[Category:Emmy Award–winning episodes]]

Latest revision as of 03:16, 4 January 2025

"Make Love, Not Warcraft"
South Park episode
Episode no.Season 10
Episode 8
Directed byTrey Parker
Written byTrey Parker
Featured music"Live to Win"
by Paul Stanley
Production code1008
Original air dateOctober 4, 2006 (2006-10-04)
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Tsst" 		Next →
"Mystery of the Urinal Deuce"
South Park season 10
List of episodes

"Make Love, Not Warcraft" is the eighth episode in the tenth season of the American animated television series South Park.[1] The 147th episode overall, it first aired on Comedy Central in the United States on October 4, 2006. In the episode, named in a play on words after the 1960s counterculture slogan "Make love, not war", Cartman, Kyle, Stan, and Kenny enjoy playing the popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft. When a high-level player goes around killing other players in the game, they start playing the game every day to try to stop him. The episode was written and directed by series co-creator Trey Parker. In 2015, he and co-creator Matt Stone listed it as their third-favorite episode of the series.

Despite worries from Trey Parker near the end of production, the episode went on to receive critical acclaim, with critics praising its lampooning of nerd culture and use of machinima, and is considered by many fans and critics as one of the best episodes of the series. The episode additionally went on to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (for programming less than one hour), becoming the first machinima work to win an Emmy.[2]

Plot

[edit]

A griefer repeatedly kills Cartman, Kyle, Stan, and Kenny's characters in the online game World of Warcraft. Stan's father, Randy, becomes interested in the game, but his character is quickly killed by the griefer; the griefer in reality is a middle-aged obese man whom Blizzard employees deem has "no life". The boys phone their annoyance to Blizzard, but the company executives cannot remove the griefer from the game because his ridiculously high level blocks any attempts to do so.

Cartman gathers all the kids of South Park and convinces them all to log in at the same time in order to execute a retaliatory attack on the griefer. However, once the battle begins, the griefer summons giant scorpions and easily dispatches the kids' characters. This causes everyone to lose hope and stop playing. Butters Stotch quits to play Hello Kitty Island Adventure, a then-fictional game that eventually a real game released in 2023 would be titled. Cartman, convinces Stan, Kyle, and Kenny to keep playing, and calculates exactly how much time it would take for the four of them to gain as many experience points as the griefer. For the next two months, the boys play the game for 21 hours a day, killing low-level boars in the game's forests to gain experience points. In the process, the boys become lazy, long-haired, morbidly obese, and acne-ridden. The boys' characters earn experience points so quickly that the Blizzard executives, who have also been monitoring the griefer, take notice and believe they might have a chance.

Determined to help the boys slay the griefer, the executives decide to give the boys the Sword of a Thousand Truths, a weapon so powerful that it was removed from the game and stored on a 1 GB USB flash drive. Unaware of the executives' plan however, the boys have already initiated what becomes a seventeen-hour battle against the griefer. The executives arrive at Stan's house with the flash drive, unaware that the boys are actually at Cartman's house. Randy tells the executives that he can log in with the sword and give it to the boys' characters online. Eventually logging onto a demo of the game at a Best Buy, Randy gives Stan the weapon, but Randy's character is killed by the griefer in the process. Enraged, Stan attacks the griefer with the sword, draining his shields and mana spells, allowing Kyle and Kenny to attack with effect. Cartman approaches him and proceeds to smash the griefer's character's head with a hammer. Numerous World of Warcraft players celebrate the griefer's defeat, praising the boys as heroes. As Stan contemplates what they do now, Cartman states, "Now we can finally play the game." With Cartman making suggestions to boost their characters, the boys begin playing the game as they originally intended.

Production

[edit]
Machinima was used extensively in "Make Love, Not Warcraft". Here, Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny's characters stand above the slain griefer.

The episode uses machinima in many of its scenes to create a better emulation of the game. It was originally scheduled to air as the 145th episode, but it was delayed because of difficulties in creating the machinima.[3]

Collaboration

[edit]

South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone collaborated with Blizzard Entertainment to craft the machinima used in the episode. They stated in their commentary for the episode that they were completely shocked that the company was on board to help them out. The machinima scenes were created using shots of the in-game footage, and re-creation of the characters in Maya, with Blizzard Entertainment providing their own character models and computers to test with. Blizzard also gave the producers permission to use the alpha server of the expansion pack World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade on which to shoot the scenes.[3] Michael Morhaime, president and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment, issued a statement over the collaboration:

"We were excited to hear that the creators of South Park were interested in featuring World of Warcraft in the opening of their new season, and we really enjoyed collaborating with them to make this happen. We're looking forward to sharing the experience with our employees and our players as well when the season debuts this week."[4]

As a reference to the episode, certain South Park Season 10 DVDs include a 14-day free trial for World of Warcraft. This did not affect the UK release of this season in 2009.[5]

Since the airing of the episode, the fictitious Sword of a Thousand Truths was featured in the World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade beta test as a reward to the game's arena system, although it did not have the same capabilities as in the episode.[6]

The episode features the song "Live to Win" by KISS vocalist Paul Stanley.

Production length

[edit]

Although the planning of the episode and data-collecting began on September 1, 2006, the actual production of the machinima was done in five "shooting" days, the first being September 20, 2006, which lasted about 3–5 hours, and the last being October 3, 2006, the day before the episode aired.[3] The regular South Park animation was created simultaneously, with all the other non-machinima episodes of the series routinely finishing within 12 hours of their airing as well.[3][7]

Parker was deeply unhappy with the episode the day before its broadcast, telling the show's producers, "I've lost it. I don't know how to do this anymore." He begged executive producer Anne Garefino to call Comedy Central and inform them that the show would not air, remarking, "I don't want the South Park legacy to be ruined, and this show is going to ruin it, because it's so bad." Parker went home unable to sleep and was surprised the following day that the episode was so well received.[8]

Reciprocation

[edit]

In patch 3.0.2, preceding the release of the World of Warcraft expansion pack, Wrath of the Lich King, Blizzard included a "Make Love, Not Warcraft" PvP achievement, gained by using the "hug" emote on a dead enemy before they release their spirit.[9]

The then-fictitious video game played by Butters in this episode, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, was referenced in a 2008 April Fools' Day joke by the official Sanrio blog. This blog post announced an "Island Adventure" expansion to the MMORPG Hello Kitty Online, which consisted of a shrinking of the game world to a single desert island, the introduction of a race of foul-mouthed creatures, and PvP based on the power struggle between Hello Kitty and Badtz-Maru.[10] In 2023, the video game Hello Kitty Island Adventure was announced for Apple Arcade, and was released on July 28, 2023. Zack Zwiezen from Kotaku noted the similarities between the name of the game Butters' played, and the title of the upcoming video game.[11] During a press preview of Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Jill Koch, the senior vice president of Sanrio's marketing, sales and business development, stated that Sanrio and the game has "no tie-in or affiliation with South Park".[12]

Also, in the Wrath of the Lich King remake of the Naxxramas raid instance, a sword called Slayer of the Lifeless was added, bearing the flavour text "Foretold by Salzman", as a reference to Salzman from accounting and a weapon capable of killing that which has no life. The model of the weapon is the same as the one used for the Sword of a Thousand Truths.[13]

The United in Stormwind expansion of Hearthstone added "Elwynn Boar" and "Sword of a Thousand Truths" cards with abilities referencing the events of the episode.[14]

Reception

[edit]

"Make Love, Not Warcraft" received critical acclaim. IGN gave it an overall rating of 9.3, labeling it as "one of the funniest episodes ever produced".[15] The original television airing of the episode drew 3.4 million viewers, most between the ages of 18 and 49. This popularity made the episode Comedy Central's highest-rated midseason premiere since the year 2000.[16] However, the highest ratings for the tenth season belong to the season's premiere, "The Return of Chef", which drew more than 3.5 million viewers.[17] In 2007, this episode won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour).[18] Fans voted the episode into 1st place in a major 2011 South Park voting held under the "Year of the Fan" iTunes promotion.[19]

Home media

[edit]

"Make Love, Not Warcraft", along with the thirteen other episodes from South Park's tenth season, was released on a three-disc DVD set in the United States on August 21, 2007. The set includes brief audio commentaries by series co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone for each episode.[20]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "South Park Season 10 Episodes". Comedy Central. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  2. ^ Records, Guinness World (2008). Guinness World Records 2017 Gamer's Edition. Guinness World Records. ISBN 978-1-910561-41-6. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d ""Make Love, Not Warcraft" interview". machinima.com. November 15, 2006. Archived from the original on May 19, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  4. ^ "South Park celebrates 10 groundbreaking seasons!!!". blizzard.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2006. Retrieved November 4, 2006.
  5. ^ Hayward, Andrew (August 7, 2007). "South Park DVD to Pack World of Warcraft Trial". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2007. Retrieved January 27, 2008.
  6. ^ Sliwinski, Alexander (October 13, 2006). "The Sword of a Thousand Truths in Burning Crusade Beta". Joystiq. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved June 6, 2008.
  7. ^ Parker, Trey; Stone, Matt (2007). "Audio commentary for "Make Love, Not Warcraft"". South Park – The Complete Tenth Season (DVD). Paramount Home Entertainment.
  8. ^ Clarisse Loughrey (February 9, 2016). "The classic episode South Park's creator Trey Parker begged not to be aired". The Independent. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  9. ^ "Make Love, Not Warcraft achievement". Wowpedia. Curse Inc. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  10. ^ Whitcomb, Daniel (April 1, 2008). "Breaking News: Hello Kitty Island Adventures expansion announced!". Engadget. Archived from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  11. ^ Zwiezen, Zack (June 27, 2023). "New Hello Kitty Game Is Basically Animal Crossing, A Deadly Combo". Kotaku. Archived from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  12. ^ Parrish, Ash (July 14, 2023). "Hello Kitty Island Adventure is real but has nothing to do with South Park". The Verge. Archived from the original on August 23, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  13. ^ "Wowhead - Slayer of the Lifeless". Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  14. ^ "New Card Revealed for United in Stormwind by Sway Bae - Elwynn Boar & Sword of a Thousand Truths". Out of Cards. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  15. ^ Iverson, Dan (October 5, 2006). "South Park: "Make Love, Not Warcraft" review". IGN. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  16. ^ TV/Radio notes, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 12, 2006
  17. ^ "Chef's grisly exit is a South Park hit". smh.com.au. Reuters. March 24, 2006. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2006.
  18. ^ "2007 Primetime Emmy Awards nominations". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. September 8, 2007. Archived from the original on September 17, 2009. Retrieved January 9, 2007.
  19. ^ "South Park: Year of the Fan". iTunes Store. 2011. Archived from the original on March 13, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
  20. ^ Iverson, Dan (November 22, 2006). "South Park: The Complete Tenth Season DVD Review". IGN. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Make_Love,_Not_Warcraft&oldid=1267213265"