WoW Is A Rip-off Of ‘Warhammer Online’; NOT The Other Way Around!
For some time now, I’ve been planning to write a post on this topic. This discussion thread on mmorpg.com nudged me into finally doing it.
I’ve been a gamer since the earliest days of anything that can properly be called “gaming.” My first video game was Pong. My first computer was a TRS-80. My first role-playing game was “blue book” D&D. My first anime was Macross. I’m the original paleogamer.
I played all the great Games Workshop games; Warhammer Fantasy Battle, Warhammer 40,000, Space Hulk, Blood Bowl, and Talisman. Chaos Marauders is one of the greatest games of all time, and I still play it.
I’ve also followed the efforts of the Blizzard folks, who have yet to release a bad game. Lost Vikings 1 & 2, Warcraft 1-3, StarCraft, Diablo 1&2, and World of Warcraft. Hell, I even played StarCraft: Ghost at Blizzcon.
That said, I can assure all you young Padawan gamer n00bs that Warcraft is a direct and obvious rip-off of Warhammer. I have been informed by a reliable source that in the beginning, this was intentional — Blizzard and Games Workshop had an abortive relationship. But much if not most of the look, feel, and characterization of the Warcraft universe was at least inspired by the Warhammer universe.
Am I criticizing Blizzard in saying this? Nah. It’s really not a big deal. It’s all just a rip-off of Tolkien anyway. And Blizzard has certainly developed the Warcraft franchise into its own original, massive creative endeavor. The two legendaria have evolved in different directions; the Warcraft universe features serious storylines intermixed with light comedy and anachronisms, while Warhammer is noted for dark comedy in a grim and gritty world. At this point, saying that Azeroth is a ripoff of the World of Warhammer is just sniping.
What’s annoying is when uneducated howards, munchkins, n00bs and trolls complain that Warhammer Online rips off World of Warcraft. You know, because WoW was published first. Let’s ignore the fact that each game is part of a legacy of games.
They also complain that WOAR’s control scheme mimicks the WoW interface. No god, I should hope so! WoW has the best interface of any MMO I’ve played to date. Please, MMO publishers, steal WoW’s interface. I’m begging you.
In conclusion, WoW is a great game, indeed my favorite game of the moment. But it’s a rip-off of Warhammer. And I am very much looking forward to Warhammer Online.
Amen brother.
Like…are you serious? You ever look at or play Warcraft 3? Or any of the Warcrafts that span back almost if not a decade if I’m not wrong. Warhammer’s orc would HAVE to be a ripoff of the Warcraft Orc. Being as the orc design for Warcraft has never changed, merely looks better as time progesees.
The person to comment 2nd is a complete fool. Are you aware how far Warhammer goes back? Before there was any hope of making a game like Warcraft, I can tell ya that. But, I love WoW even if I can’t stand playing it so I don’t really mind.
If you think Warhammer is a rip off of WoW why don’t you do some research. Warhammer has been a board game since D&D ages almost, before computers was popular. just because they haven’t put a game out you think they rip them off…. thats like saying I look like my younger brother … when in fact i was here first so he looks like me.
Do your research before you go gripping about something.
Warhammer Fantasy was launched in 1983, where as Warhammmer 40k was launched in 1987.
The earliest record of Warhammer Fantasy Orks I could find dates back to 1993; however I am positive they are much older.
Warcraft: Humans and Orcs was released in 1994.
I mostly follow 40k; I do enjoy both, however.
Very nice article! Well done. I completely agree with your conclusion.
Ps: Is it possible to say that the Terran (SC) Marine is NOT a rip off of the classic Space Marine? I think not. Just more proof that Blizzard games, namely starcraft and warcraft, are highly inspired by the creations of GamesWorkshop.
Im glad you made this blog, im so god damn sick of noob wow-kids that thinks warhammer is a ripoff warcraft,starcraft
[...] the demo, I felt the game looks and feels a great deal like World of Warcraft, which at this stage in the evolution of the MMORPG is praise rather than a criticism. But it’s [...]
Great article. I was painting Space Wolf armies before Starcraft was even conceived so I’m pretty confident about who stole who’s art
However gotta call you on this one -
“It’s all just a rip-off of Tolkien anyway.”
Would have been worth mentioning that Tolkien stole it all from folk lore, just so people realise these ideas are actually thousands of years old…
So the progression of theft should read – Blizzard ripped off Warhammer, who ripped off Tolkien, who ripped off folk lore/ancient legends.
Tolkien indeed was inspired, and took directly from, legends and myths.
However, he arranged them in a new way that had never been done before. He unwittingly invented what we call “High Fantasy,” and all its offshoots.
So writers in that genre really are aping Tolkien, and not his source material.
Warhammer online, one of the most anticipated games – hopefully the wait will end soon, thumbs crossed.
Until then you can watch some warhammer online videos at http://warhammeronline.tv
Warcraft was originally pitched as a WARHAMMER game. After the license fell through they just changed some names, made a few more, then came out with this hugely popular mmo.
Hee Hee Warhammer is celebrating its 25th anniversary. I’m sure Warcraft doesn’t come close. Though both are amazing games, the board game and the computer games.
Warcraft series were Warhammer rip-offs, starcraft was Warhammer 40k rip-off, “Diablo” was a “Crusader no regret” rip-off, “Lost Vikings” was a “Lemmings” rip-off. I think that Blizzard made a lot of good games, but do they have any original ideas?
To the guy saying “like… are you serious” and then referring to Warcraft 3… are YOU serious!? Warhammer Fantasy dates back to the late 80s you dolt.
Warcraft is an obvious ripoff/inspiration of Warhammer. That said the Warcraft games were great works of art, but calling Warhammer online a ripoff of WoW makes you look like a noob.
Whatever , I love all that games.
Wow, OP I didn’t know people like you were this dumb in comparing 25+ franchise to a medicore which is WoW. Plus, the War Orc V.s. the Warcraft orc just sealed the deal on your ignorance and rehetoric concerning Warhammer. Sure hope people like you aren’t in the game so I won’t be hearing your complaining on unofficial forums while my alter ego bashes some Empire skulls, than making them out of trophies to wear in battle giving the casual player something to stare in freight at.
Liberal: WTF? You’re accusing me of saying the exact opposite of what I said.
Read the fucking post.
nice read, i was originally going to write something like this but now i don’t have to! ha.
sadly i can see this falling swiftly to keyboard warriors and trolls. good work though.
ha never heard about this before but it made me think.. it is a ripoff indeed
I’m not really sure if it’s a rip off, but way to get emotions boiling!!!
Well, as long as I have fun playing the game, I don’t care who rips off who.
wow, i just realized this, so wow ripped off warhammer…huh.
Starcraft Zerg = Warhammer 40K Tyrannid
Whatever !! They are all incredibly fun to play so “can’t we all just get along?”
That was unfair to call WoW as a ripoff. One of President Obama’s trustees is a Shaman on level 70 of WoW and WoW is a ripoff?
That was unfair to call WoW as a ripoff. One of President Obama’s trustees is a Shaman on level 70 of WoW and WoW is a ripoff?
Um… I don’t see your point. This may be because you don’t have one…
We can all say what we wanna say about these games, IMO both are great games, this whole rip-off bs is stupid. Warcraft was simply inspired by Warhammer as in any other subject movies and games of today were inspired from one thing or another. Blizzard is the one carrying the torch right now because of larger success, but we will see what and how Warhammer Online progresses. All in all if the game is fun then you have nothing to complain about ….really pointless.
Are you all actually that dumb?
Warcraft did NOT rip off Warhammer, neither was it the other way round. They both are influenced by Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit, both books by Tolkein.
The game WAR, however, does rip some things off of WoW, for example the UI and a few other things.
In conclusion: the IDEAS behind Warcraft and Warhammer are both from Tolkein, not each other, but the game WAR does rip a few things off from WoW.
I just enjoy playing WoW period.
Windows Registry Guide
If you really think about it, most things are a ripoff of something else. There are very few completely original ideas anymore.
um … warcraft has been around since like 1994… I had the original Warcraft .. matter of fact I still have its very large players manual that has all the introductions to the classes of Warcraft. Warhammer seems like a rip off of Warcraft because a lot of people probably know Warcraft has been around since 1994… I do not recall ever seeing Warhammer back then.. if there was warhammer back then point me to the game please I would like to see it.. because I never had seen it.. and if they HAD worked together than its Warhammer’s fault for not breaking the Idea out first.. I did not play WoW then go to warcraft I went from Warcraft to WoW.. so I been playing a loonggg time.. xD
Wow. That’s amazing. You don’t remember seeing Warhammer, therefore it didn’t exist. Solipsist much?
Warhammer Fantasy Battle was first published in 1983. If I remember my arithmetic correctly, that’s BEFORE 1994, when “Warcraft: Orcs & Humans” hit stores.
OOohohh and the Idea of elves and dark elves and Orcs or “ogres” have been been around for YEARS… so really the character types them selves do not really belong to anyone.. These Ideas been around since as I noticed as early as the 14 or 1500s possibly even earlier.
oh and I never said it never existed.. i just said i want to see it.. perhaps cause i wanted to try the game xD.. geez spazz much..
Elves and ogres have been parts of European myth for, at the very minimum, 2000 years. Tolkien invented Orcs.
Which avoids the central issue. The similarities between the Warhammer and Warcraft franchises go far beyond elves and ogres.
“if they HAD worked together than its Warhammer’s fault for not breaking the Idea out first…”
Why was there a Warcraft MMO years before a Warhammer MMO? Maybe because Blizzard is a large, successful video game company? While Games Workshop is a small, British miniatures maker that struggles to stay in business?
true :F.. I still plan on possibly trying the game .. I love wargames ::drools:: I even like Risk.. Its so unfortunate they did help create the concept and never got noticed for it.. Or well not enough to get noticed obviously..
I am not trying to say any one is better than the other.. One thing I do know is that never judge a game before you play it.
I am sorry to have ruffled feathers.. as I had not meant to.. I only state what I information I had. That’s why I am open to learn. :p
As so should everyone else..
No ruffling! Having heated arguments over trivial matters is what the Internet is all about!
sure seems like it lol
…”Warhammer Online” rips off “World of Warcraft.”…
He says it doesn’t, but, yeah, it actually does. World of Warcraft was announced before Warhammer Online. This is obviously just someone trying to seem like they know a lot, but obviously, they don’t. Plus, Wow has been in the makings for many, many, many years.
World of Warcraft was announced before Warhammer Online.
What in the world does that have to do with anything? That’s like saying because “Operation Kid Brother” was announced before “Quantum of Solace,” then it’s not a James Bond ripoff.
Warcraft and Warhammer are franchises. They began in 1994 and 1983, respectively. End of story.
Great blog; too bad not everyone actually read it before commenting… Nice to see there are still some Table top/RPG relics out there (my first RPG was Gamma World).
I never realized Warcraft Orc vs Humans started life as a Warhammer property. I always figured ‘craft was intended as a tribute of ‘hammer strictly based on the similar artistic aesthetic employed. The ‘craft mythos is fairly distinctive though.
I’ve always kind of hoped they would drop some demon/undead units into Starcraft ala Chaos Marines. That would be sweet.
Ooooh I love this post and all its comments! ^_^ Makes you think about all the stealing and origins of ideas.
I was thinking Warhammer was early 90′s also, but was surprised to see 1983! I guess it was before I was born anyway, so had no idea it started so early.
Great post, thanks ^_^
HAY, Because I wasn’t alive in 1983, that means Warcraft came first OKAYZ?
I like how people still try to argue that Warcraft inspired Warhammer and not the other way around. The Minis have been around forever and a day, and they inspired the 3D models for WAR. If Warhammer were just a series of novels, say…then I would understand people whining about Warhammer stealing from Warcraft.
I think it’s hard for people to separate the table top games from WAR for some reason. I really don’t understand why.
Oh, and who decided that Orcs were green? GWTHANKYOUVERYMUCH.
who cares??
I don’t know. Who cares about someone who bothers to read a blog post, and then leaves a two-word comment?
Tolkien did 100 % of creating a new world and story.
Games workshop borrowed 10% from Tolkien did 90% of creating a new world and story. But added more on top of that 100% because Warhammer world is by far lager then that of Tolkien and it dwarves the Warcraft world. Warhammer gave the orcs and elves faces in 3D models. Something Tolkien didn’t do. Tolkien described a painting. Games Works made the actual painting. And Blizzard took it all.
Blizzard did 90% ripping the others off and did 10% creating something of their own.
Thats the difference. WOW stole complete artwork from Warhammer and lots of their stories such as that of Malekith the Witchking who now is Arthas the Lichking.
Its nowadays youth who are less creative and can’t make things of their own.
All they can do is using their daddies computer to play stupid computer games. And fucking up their school and social lives. They are becoming mindless drones. And Blizzard is a puppeteer.
If Blizzard throwing them a bone they fight for it and forget about other things. They talk WOW they dream WOW their only friends are pixels.
Read a book or go out and see the world and study hard and learn something. And have loads of fun.
Sorry for my English. I am Dutch.
Peace!
Rakarth is right, and stop bitching about “they stole this UI” there isnt really a great deal you can change wiith UI’s most games that style have the same, play the older games and BOOM same UI as they do now, Blizzard probably stole their UI of a man in a wheel chair before they pushed him down the stairs and kicked a three legged puppy and murdered some old folk?
Hey my first computer was a TRS-80, too! Games technically have really changed, but the object of the game hasn’t changed much over the years. It’s like a story or a movie… the author pens it the way he wants and you either love it or hate it (re UI’s). Damon