Leeroy Jenkins: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 17:38, 13 October 2008

Leeroy Jenkins, sometimes mis-spelled Leroy Jenkins and often elongated with numerous additional letters, is an Internet phenomenon named for a character created by player Ben Schultz in Blizzard Entertainment's popular MMORPG, World of Warcraft. The character has become popular thanks to a machinima video of the game that circulated around the Internet. The phenomenon has since spread beyond the boundaries of the gaming community into other online and mainstream media.

Origin

This Internet phenomenon started with the release of a video clip online to the World of Warcraft forums. The video was released by the World of Warcraft Alliance player guild "Pals for Life" on the Laughing Skull PvP realm. It features a group of players discussing a detailed battle strategy for an area known as the Blackrock Spire while one of their number, Leeroy, is away from his computer. Their plan is ruined when Leeroy returns and, ignorant of the strategy, immediately charges headlong into battle shouting his own name as a battle cry. His subsequent actions ruin the meticulous plan and the encounter ends in failure for the group. His response to the other players' reactions, "at least I have chicken", was also much parodied.

The August 2005 issue of PC Gamer UK featured an article on the video, titled "The Ballad of Leeroy Jenkins". According to the article, the video was designed as a negative commentary on the kind of "nerd-guilds" that meticulously and statistically plan out raids with all the seriousness of actual military tactics. Leeroy is in fact the hero of the piece, acting against the geekiness of his guild.^[1]

Merchandise

File:Leeroy card.jpg

A Leeroy Jenkins trading card. Artwork by Mike Krahulik.

The character's popularity resulted in his inclusion in the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game. Reflecting the video in which he appears, Leeroy is a detriment to the rest of the player's team, exhausting them for the current and following turns. For gameplay reasons, his effects are not entirely negative: although no one else can attack, Leeroy can attack instantly should the player repeat Leeroy's famous shout, and his attack is unusually high compared to the cost of playing him, though his health is such that opponents should deal with him easily on subsequent turns.^[2] Upper Deck Entertainment has plans in cooperation with Blizzard Entertainment to release a World of Warcraft Miniatures game in late 2008, which will include a Leeroy Jenkins figurine. ^[3]

In popular culture

File:Leeroy Jenkins Jeopardy clue.jpg

Jeopardy! clue to World of Warcraft question mentioning Leeroy Jenkins. Aired on November 16, 2005.

Leeroy Jenkins was mentioned as part of a clue on the November 16, 2005 episode of the game show Jeopardy! as part of their college week tournament, though no contestant rang in.^[4]

The South Park episode "Make Love, Not Warcraft", was a parody of the World of Warcraft series as a whole, with the episode's antagonist a griefer named Jenkins.^[5]^[6]

References

^ Pearson, Craig (August, 2005). "The Ballad of Leeroy Jenkins". PC Gamer UK. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ "World of Warcraft Trading Card Game Preview: Leeroy Jenkins". August 14, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ World of Warcraft Minis
^ (2006-11-18.) "Guerilla gaming." Guardian Unlimited (news website). Mentions the Jeopardy question without specific details. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
^ Ross Miller (2006-10-02). "South Park: make love, not Warcraft (update 1)". Joystiq. Retrieved 2006-11-12.
^ "South Park official FAQ". southparkstudios.com. Retrieved 2007-12-20.

External links

Leeroy Jenkins - YouTube
Leeroy Jenkins, interviewed by Veronica Belmont at Blizzcon 07.
The Legend of Leeroy Jenkins, article at Denver Westword News
Leeroy Jenkins World of Warcraft Stat Page
Leeroy Jenkins Tribute Site

[PCGamerUK-1] Pearson, Craig (August, 2005). "The Ballad of Leeroy Jenkins". PC Gamer UK. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[2] "World of Warcraft Trading Card Game Preview: Leeroy Jenkins". August 14, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[3] World of Warcraft Minis

[4] (2006-11-18.) "Guerilla gaming." Guardian Unlimited (news website). Mentions the Jeopardy question without specific details. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.

[5] Ross Miller (2006-10-02). "South Park: make love, not Warcraft (update 1)". Joystiq. Retrieved 2006-11-12.

[6] "South Park official FAQ". southparkstudios.com. Retrieved 2007-12-20.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{otherpeople|Leroy Jenkins}}
-[[Image:Ben Shultz Leeroy Jenkins.jpg|thumb|Ben Schultz: Player that created Leeroy Jenkins.]]
+[[Image:Ben Shultz Leeroy Jenkins.jpg|thumb|Ben Schultz: Player who created Leeroy Jenkins.]]
 '''Leeroy Jenkins''', sometimes mis-spelled '''Leroy Jenkins''' and often elongated with numerous additional letters, is an [[List of Internet phenomena|Internet phenomenon]] named for a character created  by player Ben Schultz in [[Blizzard Entertainment]]'s popular [[MMORPG]], ''[[World of Warcraft]]''. The character has become popular thanks to a [[machinima|machinima video]] of the game that circulated around the [[Internet]]. The phenomenon has since spread beyond the boundaries of the [[gaming community]] into other online and [[mass media|mainstream media]].