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The August 2005 issue of ''[[PC Gamer|PC Gamer UK]]'' featured an article on the video, titled "The Ballad of Leeroy Jenkins". The article took the position that 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]]. They added that they felt Leeroy is in fact the hero of the piece, acting against the [[geek]]iness of his guild.<ref name = "PCGamerUK">{{cite news |title=The Ballad of Leeroy Jenkins |publisher= [[PC Gamer UK]]| first= Craig |last= Pearson |date= August, 2005}}</ref>
The August 2005 issue of ''[[PC Gamer|PC Gamer UK]]'' featured an article on the video, titled "The Ballad of Leeroy Jenkins". The article took the position that 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]]. They added that they felt Leeroy is in fact the hero of the piece, acting against the [[geek]]iness of his guild.<ref name = "PCGamerUK">{{cite news |title=The Ballad of Leeroy Jenkins |publisher= [[PC Gamer UK]]| first= Craig |last= Pearson |date= August, 2005}}</ref>


Blizzard eventually paid tribute to Leeroy within World of Warcraft itself, creating an [[Achievement (video gaming)|achievement]] "Leeeeeeeeeeeeeroy!", which awards the title of "Jenkins" to players who kill 50 of the rookery whelps from the video within 15 seconds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/10/14/snag-five-easy-achievements/|title=Five easy achievements you can snag right now|author=Amanda Miller|work=WoWInsider|accessdate=2008-10-16|date=2008-10-14}}</ref> <!-- not the best cite, but better than nothing... -->
Blizzard eventually paid tribute to Leeroy within World of Warcraft itself, creating an [[Achievement (video gaming)|achievement]] "Leeeeeeeeeeeeeroy!", which awards the title of "Jenkinz" to players who kill 50 of the rookery whelps from the video within 15 seconds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/10/14/snag-five-easy-achievements/|title=Five easy achievements you can snag right now|author=Amanda Miller|work=WoWInsider|accessdate=2008-10-16|date=2008-10-14}}</ref> <!-- not the best cite, but better than nothing... -->


Leeroy Jenkins went mainstream when he 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.<ref>(2006-11-18.) [http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguide/games/story/0,,1949503,00.html "Guerilla gaming."] ''Guardian Unlimited'' (news website). Mentions the Jeopardy question without specific details. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.</ref> The meme spread further in 2009, when the ''[[Armed Forces Journal]]'' published an article titled "Let's Do This!: Leeroy Jenkins and the American Way of Advising". The article, by Capt. Robert M Chamberlain, links Jenkins to the American approach to advising Iraq.<ref>{{cite web|title = Let's Do This! Leeroy Jenkins and the American way of advising | first = Robert| last = Chamberlain| url = http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/2009/06/4036672/ | date = June 19, 2009 | accessdate = 2009-06-19}}</ref>
Leeroy Jenkins went mainstream when he 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.<ref>(2006-11-18.) [http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguide/games/story/0,,1949503,00.html "Guerilla gaming."] ''Guardian Unlimited'' (news website). Mentions the Jeopardy question without specific details. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.</ref> The meme spread further in 2009, when the ''[[Armed Forces Journal]]'' published an article titled "Let's Do This!: Leeroy Jenkins and the American Way of Advising". The article, by Capt. Robert M Chamberlain, links Jenkins to the American approach to advising Iraq.<ref>{{cite web|title = Let's Do This! Leeroy Jenkins and the American way of advising | first = Robert| last = Chamberlain| url = http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/2009/06/4036672/ | date = June 19, 2009 | accessdate = 2009-06-19}}</ref>

Revision as of 08:11, 9 August 2012

For other people named Leroy Jenkins, see Leroy Jenkins (disambiguation).
Ben Schulz, creator of Leeroy Jenkins at BlizzCon 2007

Leeroy Jenkins, sometimes misspelled Leroy Jenkins and often elongated with numerous additional letters, is an Internet meme named for a player character created by Ben Schulz in Blizzard Entertainment's MMORPG, World of Warcraft. The character became popular due to a 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.

Video

The video was released by the World of Warcraft player guild "PALS FOR LIFE". It features a group of players discussing a detailed battle strategy for the next encounter while one of their party members, 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 in a stylized battle cry. His companions rush to help, but Leeroy's actions ruin the meticulous plan, and all of the group members are killed.

The Internet phenomenon started with the release of the video clip to the World of Warcraft game forum in a thread titled "UBRS (vid) ROOKERY OVERPOWERED! blue please.", which jokingly presented the video in a serious context.[1] The thread requested that other players provide help with strategy and that Blizzard reduce the difficulty of the encounter. The video spread as an internet meme, and Leeroy's response to the other players' chastisements, "at least I have chicken", was also much parodied.

When asked about his actions in the video by National Public Radio, Ben Schulz said the players "were drinking 40s and just yelling at each other."[2] The video was staged but was based on a real event that happened to them.[3]

Merchandise

The character's popularity resulted in his inclusion in the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game released on October 25, 2006 with art by Mike Krahulik.[4] 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. However, his health is such that opponents should deal with him easily on subsequent turns.[5] Upper Deck Entertainment released a World of Warcraft Miniatures game in late 2008, which included a Leeroy Jenkins figurine. As a reference to Leeroy's famous claim, the figure is seen holding a chicken leg in his left hand.[6]

Reaction

The August 2005 issue of PC Gamer UK featured an article on the video, titled "The Ballad of Leeroy Jenkins". The article took the position that 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. They added that they felt Leeroy is in fact the hero of the piece, acting against the geekiness of his guild.[7]

Blizzard eventually paid tribute to Leeroy within World of Warcraft itself, creating an achievement "Leeeeeeeeeeeeeroy!", which awards the title of "Jenkinz" to players who kill 50 of the rookery whelps from the video within 15 seconds.[8]

Leeroy Jenkins went mainstream when he 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.[9] The meme spread further in 2009, when the Armed Forces Journal published an article titled "Let's Do This!: Leeroy Jenkins and the American Way of Advising". The article, by Capt. Robert M Chamberlain, links Jenkins to the American approach to advising Iraq.[10]

Tanner Higgin, doctoral candidate at the University of California, Riverside uses the Leeroy Jenkins video and subsequent discourse to "teach game analysis, more specifically the analysis of gamic race".[11]

The Leeroy meme has been referenced in many TV shows and films, including Psych[12][13] and Jon Stewart's The Daily Show.[14][15]

References

  1. ^ "WoW BlueTracker: UBRS (vid) ROOKERY OVERPOWERED! blue please". May 10, 2005. Retrieved September 18, 2009. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  2. ^ "My ROFLCon Weekend: Breakfast with Tron Guy". The Bryant Park Project. National Public Radio.
  3. ^ Joel Warner. "The Legend of Leeroy Jenkins".
  4. ^ "Leeroy Jenkins". p. World of Warcraft Trading Card Game Database. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
  5. ^ "World of Warcraft Minis Checklist (Alliance specs & attributes". 27 January 2009. Retrieved 08 March 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  6. ^ "Leeroy Jenkins". p. World of Warcraft Miniatures Game Checklist. Retrieved 08 March 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ^ Pearson, Craig (August, 2005). "The Ballad of Leeroy Jenkins". PC Gamer UK. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Amanda Miller (2008-10-14). "Five easy achievements you can snag right now". WoWInsider. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  9. ^ (2006-11-18.) "Guerilla gaming." Guardian Unlimited (news website). Mentions the Jeopardy question without specific details. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
  10. ^ Chamberlain, Robert (June 19, 2009). "Let's Do This! Leeroy Jenkins and the American way of advising". Retrieved 2009-06-19.
  11. ^ Higgin, Tanner (September 17, 2009). "How I Use Leeroy Jenkins to Teach Race in Videogames". p. MediaCommons.
  12. ^ Contact Brian Crecente: Comment Facebook Twitter (2011-10-25). "Leeroy Jenkins, Yes That Leeroy Jenkins Gets a Prime Time Name Check". Kotaku.com. Retrieved 2012-06-12. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  13. ^ "Last Night Gus". USA Network. Retrieved 2012-06-12.
  14. ^ ""The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"". Season 17. Episode 70. 07 March 2012. 07:45 minutes in. Comedy Central. {{cite episode}}: Check |episodelink= value (help); Check |serieslink= value (help); Check date values in: |airdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |seriesno= (help); External link in |episodelink= and |serieslink= (help); Missing or empty |series= (help); Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ ""The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"". Season 17. Episode 70 (in Old Norse). 07 March 2012. 07:53 minutes in. Comedy Central. Hulu.com. {{cite episode}}: Check |episodelink= value (help); Check |serieslink= value (help); Check date values in: |airdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |seriesno= (help); External link in |episodelink= and |serieslink= (help); Missing or empty |series= (help); Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)


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