Early today, Blizzard Entertainment’s Chris Metzen announced that he would finally be retiring, to spend time with his family.
Coming off the release of World of Warcraft’s newest expansion, Legion, Metzen gave the reader a peek into his history with the company and what Blizzard and himself were able to accomplish just this year for the franchise.
Twenty three years ago, a young Metzen applied for job in a studio called Chaos Studios. Over the years their success would lead the studio re-branding itself into a name I’m sure you’re all familiar with: Blizzard Entertainment.
Metzen started off doing illustrations for a game titled Justice League Task Force and over time his artwork and designs began to be used more and more in Blizzard’s games. It wasn’t until Blizzard announced a new IP called Diablo that Metzen would move for the first time into a role that would allow him to shape the universe that the game would take place in, but it wouldn’t be the last.
Starting in 2002 with the release of Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos, Metzen moved into a creative director position for the game and would continue to hold that position for the remainder of his time with the company. He was the man whose hand molded and made World of Warcraft as we know it into the biggest and most popular MMORPG of all time. For that, Chris Metzen has undoubtedly earned himself the title of “legend.”
He said that he was proud of everything that he has done and what the World of Warcraft team have done, but feels it’s time for him to go home to and spend some more time with his wife.
To many of us, Warcraft 3 and later World of Warcraft had huge impacts on our childhood and adolescence, and Metzen played no small part in that. If anyone in this industry has earned themselves the right to retire (or at least a break) it would be him.
Go enjoy yourself Warchief, and always remember Lok’tar ogar!
Image Source: Gamespot
Minuteworld92
September 12, 2016 at 9:39 pmliterally who?
Brandon Orselli
September 12, 2016 at 9:46 pmFIGHT ME IRL DUDE
Grampy_Bone
September 12, 2016 at 9:47 pmHe did all the awesome illustrations in the old Blizzard game manuals. Does anybody remember game manuals?
Jumanji Joe
September 12, 2016 at 9:52 pmI’m torn about this. He created and “borrowed” elements that made warcraft lore what it is today both bad and good.
brainiac7
September 12, 2016 at 10:23 pmHis art in those manuals was awesome. I really miss the days you bought a game and got a thick manual full of concept art, lore, and details on how to play the damn game. And of course great throne reading!
Also reminds me of how much I miss RTS games. Once that was all that was released now almost none are around. And really almost 15 years since Warcraft 3 was released and no sequels? Shame on you Blizzard.
scemar
September 12, 2016 at 10:31 pmlok tar
I’ll remember him mostly for his voice acting, it’s very memorable, top tier stuff
also for that cringe worthy GEEK IS moment but I wish I could forget that one
big loss for blizzard but the warcraft franchise is pretty much an undead cow at this point, there won’t be a WC4 and they only put minimum effort into wow to keep the subs, so it’s not like he would have had much to do anyway
Guy Dudebro
September 12, 2016 at 11:08 pmMetzen’s Warcraft II art is part of what immersed me in that game so much as a youngster. Seriously, there was amazing stuff in there. I think his designs really shaped the game’s brutal world. Wasn’t a big fan of WC3 onwards.
AR7777
September 12, 2016 at 11:10 pmYou’re just like me, I’d spend hours reading the manuals, looking for details in drawings and stuff like that.
Diablo 1, SC Broodwar and Warcraft 2 are few of the games I have permanently installed in my computer and reinstall after every format.
Madbrainbox
September 12, 2016 at 11:11 pmLegend indeed.Maybe he’ll come back in a few years with a fresh perspective.
scemar
September 12, 2016 at 11:21 pmI miss them, and their smell
AR7777
September 12, 2016 at 11:26 pmI wish at least in collectors edition of today’s games they did a proper game manual.
I took pictures of Chris Metzen art from WC2 and SC manuals (both seem A4 size pages) and also the Bloodborne “manual” for comparison.
Here’s a rundown on the number of pages in some Blizzard manuals and also some modern stuff
Warcraft I – 64 pages
Warcraft 2 Tides of Darkness – 88 pages
Starcraft – 96 pages
Bloodborne – 2 pages The order ad on page 1 and Until Dawn ad on page 2.
Akiba’s Trip – 24 pages (the most I’ve seen on a PS4 game)
I noticed that the chinese/english games I have from Asia also have some big manuals. Leading me to consider maybe in Asia and Japan they still make them properly.
Demon’s Souls – 58 pages (Chinese only manual)
Final Fantasy XIII – 78 pages (half English half Chinese manual)
Final Fantasy XIII-2 – 86 pages (half English half Chinese manual)
It’d be nice if some guys here who import Japanese and Chinese/Korean games could share some info on the manuals the games they bought have.
Mr0303
September 13, 2016 at 3:09 amHe made some great contributions to gaming. May he enjoy his well deserved retirement.
Madbrainbox
September 13, 2016 at 3:15 amThey’ll most likely announce W4 this year or the next.It’s the perfect time to do it.
Madbrainbox
September 13, 2016 at 3:18 amBroodwar eh?Remember this quote?
“It may not be tomorrow, darlin’. It may not even happen with an army at
my back. But rest assured: I’m the man who’s going to kill you some
day. I’ll be seein’ you.”
Lex
September 13, 2016 at 3:37 amThe reason given is a standard “jumped before I was pushed” line. I wonder if things are really that rosy at Blizzard?
Tubsiwub
September 13, 2016 at 4:27 amHis art was fantastic and the perfect amount of creative. Awesome job.
AR7777
September 13, 2016 at 4:27 amThen SC2 came out, Raynor loves Kerrigan and he wants to save her.
wtf blizzard
Madbrainbox
September 13, 2016 at 4:47 amCarbot said it best.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntR2g8L6y7Y
totenglocke
September 13, 2016 at 5:03 amHe’s 42, it’s not like he’s been working for an eternity.
Immahnoob
September 13, 2016 at 6:20 amYou guys are forgetting one important thing in all of this…
He found a way to make her human again.
Smug
September 13, 2016 at 6:47 amChris “MUH CORRUPTION” Metzen was a shitty writer though.
Smug
September 13, 2016 at 6:52 amhttps://puu.sh/r9H2w/5372a1f692.png
Doc Hammer
September 13, 2016 at 7:50 amIn before he comes back 3 expansions later corrupted by evil and more powerful than ever before.
Call me, Blizzard.
brainiac7
September 13, 2016 at 8:27 amI have heard rumors of Warcraft 4 but its more that its taken as long as it has, we should be on W6 by now! I wish Blizzard had done more with that RTS Warcraft/Starcraft and Diablo franchises. I’m standing her waiting for Blizzard to take my money all they got to do is deliver something.
Madbrainbox
September 13, 2016 at 8:30 amSame here.That’s why I hope I am right and they will,indeed,deliver a W4 soon.
Grampy_Bone
September 13, 2016 at 7:21 pmStarcraft and Fallout 2 are my two favorite manuals ever. Still re-read them from time to time.