Bias Documented - Blue Tracker

#1 - Aug. 17, 2011, 8:05 p.m.

The debate over Blizzard liking Horde better than Alliance or Alliance over Horde has raged for years. However, I inadvertantly discovered proof of their actual bias.

I was reading over the downloadable PDF file. "Beginners Guide" and found their descriptions of the two factions. As you look at them here, consider the positive emphasis on one side and the emphasis on all the bad of the other. It is quite interesting and I think should clear up the actual bias.

Horde: Though their ways are sometimes brutal and warlike, some of the leaders of the Horde exemplify honor and courage. The various races of the Horde have struggled to free themselves from demonic tyranny, a mindless plague, and countless wars.
(Emphasis is mine)
So the Horde exemplify honor and courage, and have struggled to free themselves from tyranny, though sometimes they are brutal and warlike.

Alliance: The Alliance gives the appearance of being on the side of righteousness and many of its leaders are good people. However, they are also the source of hypocrisy and considerable lawlessness. The destruction left behind by the Gnome's scientific mistakes, Dwarven Civil Wars, and Human misconduct have scarred much of the Eastern Kingdoms.

So the Alliance only gives the appearence of being on the side of righteousness. It has many good people as leaders, but the Horde exemplify honor and courge. The Alliance is the source of hypocrisy and have left a wave of lawless destruction behind them. In fact, Humans have scarred the Eastern Kingdoms.

You decide: You are a new player wanting to pick a faction, who do you think Blizzard favors in this selection process? Who would you want to associate with?

Honorable, courageous people who have struggled against tyranny and injustice.

or

Lawless hyprocrites who have left a trail of destruction behind themselves that has scarred the world.

Now, please note that I am not saying this is not true, only that it looks like the Horde Public Relations department got to write page 23. (Or at the very least, Blood Elves were involved.)

You Decide.

Zarhym

Community Manager

#21 - Aug. 17, 2011, 8:24 p.m.

08/17/2011 01:07 PMPosted by Blackriver
I think the idea is more to let people know that the stereotypical "bad guys" aren't always the bad guys and the stereotypical "good guys" may not always be good guys.

This is well said. Many games out there tend to have a "good/honorable" faction and an "evil/dark" faction. We've strayed from that formula after evolving the Horde and Alliance stories through Warcraft I-III and World of Warcraft.

The point is there is moral ambiguity on both sides, even while, at a glance, the Horde would appear more savage and the Alliance would appear as the more traditional good guys. We like having more character depth than that. We like fusing both factions with moral and political ambiguities. Both the Horde and Alliance have seen moments of triumph, as well as moments of disgrace.

Their destinies, however, are not written in stone. Only time will tell how the actions of their leaders will be judged. But one thing is certain, neither faction is one dimensional in terms of their actions, ambitions, and morals.