History AscendedMeme / VideoGames

*** The Leeroy Jenkins video was honored in [[http://wow.gamepedia.com/TCG_Heroes_of_Azeroth/198 a card of the man]] in the ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' TCG, a figure in the collectible miniatures game, an achievement in ''Wrath of the Lich King'' with a title to go with it, a legendary card in ''VideoGame/HearthstoneHeroesOfWarcraft'', and finally appeared as an NPC in ''Warlords of Draenor'', still going after the same piece of gear.

*** This even got referenced in rival MMORPG Videogame/{{EverQuest II}}. Some dinosaur mobs in that game have an ability called Tail Swipe, and if you examine the effect after getting hit by it, the description is "That's a 50 DKP minus!"

* Speaking of Creator/{{Valve|Software}}, it looks like [[http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=247 this]] Webcomic/VGCats strip about ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'' [[http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/9812/91301104.jpg just got real.]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}'':
** The "The cake is a lie" meme and the numerous references to cake in ''Videogame/{{Portal}}'' meant that ''Creator/ValveSoftware'', reluctant as they were, just couldn't get away without including at least one reference to cake in ''Videogame/{{Portal 2}}'', which came in the form of a sign on the [[spoiler:fake]] door leading to [[spoiler:the battle with [=GLaDOS=]]]: "[=GLaDOS=] Emergency Shutdown and Cake Dispenser. Keep Unlocked."
** The incident when [[spoiler:[=GLaDOS=] gets attached to a potato battery]] got dubbed "[=PotatOS=]" [[FanNickname by the fans]]. The official soundtrack album ''[[http://store.steampowered.com/app/323180 Portal 2: Songs to Test By]]'' ended up with a track titled "[=PotatOS Lament=]". The developer commentary also refers to potato [=GLaDOS=] by this name.

*** There's also Alamo, of [[FauxToGuide "Alamo teechs u 2 play DURID!"]] fame, who [[http://wow.gamepedia.com/TCG_Drums_of_War/156 also got a card named after him in the TCG]]. Similarly, [[http://wow.gamepedia.com/Kralnor Kralnor]] made several appearances, including [[http://wow.gamepedia.com/TCG_Through_the_Dark_Portal/220 his own card.]]

*** This even got referenced in rival MMORPG Videogame/{{EverQuest II}}. Some dinosaur mobs in that game have an ability called Tail Swipe, and if you examine the effect after getting hit by it, the description is "That's a 50 DKP minus!"
** There's also Alamo, of [[FauxToGuide "Alamo teechs u 2 play DURID!"]] fame, who [[http://wow.gamepedia.com/TCG_Drums_of_War/156 also got a card named after him in the TCG]].
*** Similarly, [[http://wow.gamepedia.com/Kralnor Kralnor]] made several appearances, including [[http://wow.gamepedia.com/TCG_Through_the_Dark_Portal/220 his own card.]]

*** And, of course, Blizzard just had to reference it in Illidan's trailer for ''Legion'':

** Hogger, a level 11 mob infamous for being hard to kill (because he was for many players the first elite mob they fought), was upgraded to a dungeon boss in ''Cataclysm''. The quest that has you kill him apparently includes the line "No one can destroy him". He also makes appearances in Hearthstone as a tutorial boss and Legendary minion.
** Ragnaros' infamous "Too soon! You have awakened me too soon!" line is used by Zepik the Gorloc Hunter, one of your Wolvar liaisons in Scholazar Basin. Zepik says other adventurers have told him stories of their exploits, which is how he heard the line (and some other well-known boss quotes).
** The Ragnar-Os meme (a joke cover for a cereal themed after the raid boss Ragnaros) has been acknowledged by Blizzard with a raid achievement called "Ragnar-Os".
** Gamon was sort of a reverse Hogger; famous for getting killed all the time for no reason (he was the only NPC in Orgrimmar to be attackable, and had to be weak to not cause trouble). Like Hogger, he got beefed up in ''Cataclysm''... becoming a ''level 85 Elite'' that required a large group to kill. Gamon TookALevelInBadass after taking all those beatings...
*** And as of the final patch of ''Mists'', Gamon is now a level 90 elite with as much health as some raid bosses, has a voice actor and character, and was trained by [[spoiler:and canonically lands the killing blow on]] General Nazgrim. Fans have managed to make a one-off NPC go from a joke to a ''major lore character''.
** A level 80 orc hunter, Tednug, and his pet Scratchfever, wander the road between Orgrimmar and Razor Hill. They are characters in the player-written forum game ''FanFic/YouAwakenInRazorHill''. Tednug is a contraction of the character's actual name, Tednugent, presumably for copyright reasons.
** Creator/ChuckNorris' MemeticBadass status was immortalized in a "What's your game?" television ad which states that VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft has over ten million players...''because Chuck Norris allows them to live!'' He is seen giving roundhouse kicks to dozens of players, punching the [[KrakenAndLeviathan Whale Shark]][[note]]which has millions of HP and requires a raid group to kill, OR kiting for 20-30 minutes in content-appropriate gear[[/note]] and fighting in the Barrens[[note]]So-called "Barrens chat" consisted of a great deal of inane babble from bored players, with Website/ChuckNorrisFacts being one of the most prevalent running themes[[/note]].
** A running joke about paladins in vanilla was that their [=PvP=] strategy consisted solely of the "bubble-hearth" - popping Divine Shield (often called a "bubble" among the fandom) making them immune to damage and using their Hearthstone to teleport to safety. Blizzard later added the Glyph of Righteous Retreat, which lets them hearth in half the time when bubbled. (This was done specifically to ''allow'' bubble-hearthing, as the duration of Divine Shield had been reduced to be shorter than the cast time for the Hearthstone normally is.)
*** This gets referenced ''again'' in ''VideoGame/HearthstoneHeroesOfWarcraft''. In the prologue of Knights of the Frozen Throne, when overwhelmed by a Death Knight Jaina, upon his HP reaching 0, he ends the fight by, you guessed it, bubble-hearthing.
** The Confession glyph causes players to "confess" pre-set lines, mostly things players should not do but often do such as annoying others with Leap of Faith.
** In the first few years when leveling was a slow, difficult process it was common practice for players to celebrate by saying "Ding!" in the zone or guild chat. Bloodlord Mandokir gains a level when he kills players and has a chance of yelling "Ding!" For added amusement, that dungeon's final boss yells back "Ey! Gratz mon!"
** Rhonin's "Citizens of Dalaran..." speech has been a source of frequent mockery by players for [[WelcomeToCorneria how often he says it]] (during ''Wrath'' it was quite rare, but later the quest could be done solo and it happened all the time). The Legion expansion, which brought Dalaran back as the main hub, gave this a nod: in an early cutscene, Khadgar shouts out a speech in Dalaran, opening with "Citizens of Azeroth!". Fortunately his speech is shorter than Rhonin's, and contained in the cutscene, so the only person who hears it is the one doing the quest. When the expac was in Beta, there were also plans for a new Dalaran-based reputation called the ''Citizens of Dalaran'', though unfortunately it ended up being scrapped.
** The "Chuck Norris facts" inspired memes about High Overlord Saurfang's legendary badassery have endured for years. In Legion prelaunch, Saurfang became the racial leader of the orcs, and as such is now the objective a [=PvP=] achievement for Alliance players. However, where other racial leader achievements call for the leader's death at the player's hands, Saurfang's achievement requires the player to "damage [him] until he humors you by pretending to die".
** The Pandaren Nomi became infamous in ''Legion'' due to his work orders. He would take cooking ingredients and attempt to discover higher rank recipes for the player but usually returned nothing but burned food that was worthless. Blizzard eventually had him start producing ''Slightly'' Burnt Food (Rank 2). In a stress test event Nomi was renamed ''Firelord'' Nomi, buffed to raid boss levels, and given an array of fire attacks.
*** Nomi appears in ''Hearthstone'' where his card art depicts him holding a tray of burned food while a massive plume of fire erupts from a stove behind him. His special ability is summoning Greasefire Elementals.
** After ''Mists of Pandaria'', fans started speculating that Jaina Proudmoore has been replaced by a Dreadlord due to abruptly pulling a 180 personality from a compassionate peace lover into a Horde-hating warmonger, while justified, she sometimes go too far and becomes unrecognizable to her iconic personality, which was preserved in ''VideoGame/HeroesOfTheStorm''. And eventually, that game gave Jaina a Dreadlord skin.
** In the Eye of Azshara instance seagulls were generally agreed to be the most dangerous enemy due to their disorient ability causing tanks to lose aggro, allowing bosses to kill other players. The event banner for the Legion Dungeon events was eventually modified to show a player being attacked by seagulls while other players were fighting one of the bosses. The Brawler's Guild also saw the addition of "a Seagull", a large and very angry seagull boss with the "Fury of Gull'dan" buff.
** In the ''Battle for Azeroth'' opening cinematic, a random troll shaman was shown using impresive fire and lightning magic against the Alliance. Fans latched on to this character and dubbed him "Zappyboi". The troll would be revealed as a minor lore character Zekhan who formed a close relationship with Saurfang. In the ''Shadows Rising'' novel, the loa Bwonsamdi calls Zekhan "Zappy Boy", to the troll's confusion.

** After the reign of Patron Warrior, Grim Patron's infamous "EVERYONE, GET IN HERE!" quote was ascended three times. First, they added a chance for the Innkeeper to say the line upon opening the game. Shortly after, it became the name of the daily quest for playing three Tavern Brawls. In ''Rastakhan's Rumble'', they added Arena Patron, which has a similar effect and quotes.
** After the devs released Ice Rager, a strictly better version of the memetically useless Magma Rager, parts of the community - either jokingly or in earnest - cried PowerCreep. Two sets later, Blizzard released [[BackwardsName Am'gam Rager]], which has Magma Rager's stats in reverse and the flavour text "Peerc Rewop". Later on they released a ''class'' card called Shadow Rager, with the flavour text "WE WENT THERE."

*** This was referenced in pretty much every Blizzard game since. In ''[=StarCraft=]'', a cheat to skip a level instantly in campaign mode was "there is no cow level". In ''Hearthstone'', you can access the Secret Cow Level through an EasterEgg during the Dark Wanderer tavern brawl. In ''[=WoW=]'', they added a Secret Cow Level to celebrate ''Diablo'''s 20th anniversary.

*** When Deathwing actually was added, they reused the clawed door ''again'', although the meme worked to their advantage since most people just assumed it was something related to D.Va. Also, the appearance of [[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/399424650762911747/648606766602518537/unknown.png one of Deathwing's abilities is based on the door]].

** Probably the most famous of these is Ermac. A counter in ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombat MK1]]'''s option menu, right under "Reptile Battles," listed the number of "Ermacs" -- short for "error macros" -- that have appeared, leading players to [[UrbanLegendOfZelda speculate]] about the existence of a hidden fighter named "Ermac." ''VideoGame/MortalKombat2'' deliberately fueled similar speculation by showing a counter for "Kano Transformations," which never happened in that game. When ''Ultimate [=MK3=]'' was released, Ermac was made into an unlockable character. He's made frequent appearances since then.

** Sonic has never been known by the original Sonic Team members as "Mr. Needlemouse", but instead simply as Mr. Hedgehog. That was a fan mistranslating the “Mr. ハリネズミ” on one of Naoto Ooshima's sketches for Sonic's design word by word but it stuck, leading to the nickname being used in official media multiple times. In 2020, an annoyed Yuji Naka [[https://twitter.com/SonicJPNews/status/1353289643693895680 finally realized this]] upon taking Sega's promotional trivia test about their games.

* During the presentation of ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'' at [=E3=] 2019, an attendee shouted "You're breathtaking!" at Creator/KeanuReeves, prompting him to respond "No, ''you're'' breathtaking!". When the achievement list for the game was accidentally revealed on GOG, it turned out that finding all of Johnny Silverhand's memorabilia nets you an achievement called "Breathtaking". Also, the game's Photo Mode allows the option to have V do a pose also called "Breathtaking" where they point their finger in the same fashion Keanu did.

* In ''VideoGame/MakaiToshiSaGa'', a glitch made the Saw weapon work on enemies much stronger than the player, resulting in you being able to cut the final boss in half with a chainsaw, which became a meme. In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'', the FinalBoss has no ContractualBossImmunity to Vanille's "Death" ability, and WordOfGod states that this was done ''on purpose'' specifically to homage this.

*** ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'':

* During the presentation of ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'' at [=E3=] 2019, an attendee shouted "You're breathtaking!" at Creator/KeanuReeves, prompting him to respond "No, ''you're'' breathtaking!". When the achievement list for the game was accidentally revealed on GOG, it turned out that finding all of Johnny Silverhand's memorabilia nets you an achievement called "Breathtaking".

*** ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'':
** The Leeroy Jenkins video was honored in [[http://wow.gamepedia.com/TCG_Heroes_of_Azeroth/198 a card of the man]] in the ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' TCG, a figure in the collectible miniatures game, an achievement in ''Wrath of the Lich King'' with a title to go with it, a legendary card in ''VideoGame/HearthstoneHeroesOfWarcraft'', and finally appeared as an NPC in ''Warlords of Draenor'', still going after the same piece of gear.
** When Onyxia got revamped for 80, the new achievements included "More [=DOTs=]!" and "Many whelps! Handle it!", which are orders shouted to the heavens in the popular [[https://youtu.be/HtvIYRrgZ04 Onyxia Wipe Video]]. Onyxia also has a card in Hearthstone, one that spawns enough whelps to ''reach the minion limit''. The Raid Leader card also has dialogue referencing the video.
*** This even got referenced in rival MMORPG Videogame/{{EverQuest II}}. Some dinosaur mobs in that game have an ability called Tail Swipe, and if you examine the effect after getting hit by it, the description is "That's a 50 DKP minus!"

*** Similarly, [[http://wow.gamepedia.com/Kralnor Kralnor]] made several appearances, including [[http://wow.gamepedia.com/TCG_Through_the_Dark_Portal/220 his own card.]]
*** Thorim's introduction speech became memetic, specifically his way of saying "in the mountains". A later boss has a line to mock this when he kills a player.

*** Kael'Thas' "Tempest Keep was merely a setback" greeting quickly became a meme for any recurring boss. When you encounter a whole trio of those in Icecrown Citadel (former blood elves, no less), Valanar, the boss of a Borean tundra quest, declares that "Naxxanar was merely a setback". In ''Cataclysm'', the Hogger boss in the Stormwind Stockades also makes reference to this meme, yelling "Forest just setback!" on aggro. Maar in ''VideoGame/StarcraftII'' also says "Merely a temporary setback" after being defeated.
** To lesser extent, Illidan's "YOU ARE NOT PREPARED!" If you talk to him in the past while wielding his signature legendary weapons, he will comment "You seem prepared." It's since more become more or less his CatchPhrase, despite Illidan initially only saying it ''once'' in ''World of Warcraft'' and never at all in ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} III''. The battlemaster at Valhallas will also yell "YOU WERE NOT PREPARED!" if you wiped in one of the encounters.
*** And, of course, Blizzard just had to reference it in Illidan's trailer for ''Legion'':

*** Drahga Shadowburner yells "You should have come better prepared!" when killing players and "By fire be... burned!" when summoning adds.
** Since Death Knights like to use a macro for Death Grip with a yell of [[Franchise/MortalKombat GET OVER HERE!]], they added that line for Nefarian's call for Death Knights where he copied that ability.

*** Ragnaros' infamous "Too soon! You have awakened me too soon!" line is used by Zepik the Gorloc Hunter, one of your Wolvar liaisons in Scholazar Basin. Zepik says other adventurers have told him stories of their exploits, which is how he heard the line (and some other well-known boss quotes).

** ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'':

*** The Leeroy Jenkins video was honored in [[http://wow.gamepedia.com/TCG_Heroes_of_Azeroth/198 a card of the man]] in the ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' TCG, a figure in the collectible miniatures game, an achievement in ''Wrath of the Lich King'' with a title to go with it, a legendary card in ''VideoGame/HearthstoneHeroesOfWarcraft'', and finally appeared as an NPC in ''Warlords of Draenor'', still going after the same piece of gear.
*** When Onyxia got revamped for 80, the new achievements included "More [=DOTs=]!" and "Many whelps! Handle it!", which are orders shouted to the heavens in the popular [[https://youtu.be/HtvIYRrgZ04 Onyxia Wipe Video]]. Onyxia also has a card in Hearthstone, one that spawns enough whelps to ''reach the minion limit''. The Raid Leader card also has dialogue referencing the video.

*** There's also Alamo, of [[FauxToGuide "Alamo teechs u 2 play DURID!"]] fame, who [[http://wow.gamepedia.com/TCG_Drums_of_War/156 also got a card named after him in the TCG]].

*** To lesser extent, Illidan's "YOU ARE NOT PREPARED!" If you talk to him in the past while wielding his signature legendary weapons, he will comment "You seem prepared." It's since more become more or less his CatchPhrase, despite Illidan initially only saying it ''once'' in ''World of Warcraft'' and never at all in ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} III''. The battlemaster at Valhallas will also yell "YOU WERE NOT PREPARED!" if you wiped in one of the encounters.

----> '''Illidan:''' Now... YOU! ARE! PREPARED!

*** Since Death Knights like to use a macro for Death Grip with a yell of [[Franchise/MortalKombat GET OVER HERE!]], they added that line for Nefarian's call for Death Knights where he copied that ability.
*** Hogger, a level 11 mob infamous for being hard to kill (because he was for many players the first elite mob they fought), was upgraded to a dungeon boss in ''Cataclysm''. The quest that has you kill him apparently includes the line "No one can destroy him". He also makes appearances in Hearthstone as a tutorial boss and Legendary minion.

*** The Ragnar-Os meme (a joke cover for a cereal themed after the raid boss Ragnaros) has been acknowledged by Blizzard with a raid achievement called "Ragnar-Os".
*** Gamon was sort of a reverse Hogger; famous for getting killed all the time for no reason (he was the only NPC in Orgrimmar to be attackable, and had to be weak to not cause trouble). Like Hogger, he got beefed up in ''Cataclysm''... becoming a ''level 85 Elite'' that required a large group to kill. Gamon TookALevelInBadass after taking all those beatings...

*** A level 80 orc hunter, Tednug, and his pet Scratchfever, wander the road between Orgrimmar and Razor Hill. They are characters in the player-written forum game ''FanFic/YouAwakenInRazorHill''. Tednug is a contraction of the character's actual name, Tednugent, presumably for copyright reasons.
*** Creator/ChuckNorris' MemeticBadass status was immortalized in a "What's your game?" television ad which states that VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft has over ten million players...''because Chuck Norris allows them to live!'' He is seen giving roundhouse kicks to dozens of players, punching the [[KrakenAndLeviathan Whale Shark]][[note]]which has millions of HP and requires a raid group to kill, OR kiting for 20-30 minutes in content-appropriate gear[[/note]] and fighting in the Barrens[[note]]So-called "Barrens chat" consisted of a great deal of inane babble from bored players, with Website/ChuckNorrisFacts being one of the most prevalent running themes[[/note]].
*** A running joke about paladins in vanilla was that their [=PvP=] strategy consisted solely of the "bubble-hearth" - popping Divine Shield (often called a "bubble" among the fandom) making them immune to damage and using their Hearthstone to teleport to safety. Blizzard later added the Glyph of Righteous Retreat, which lets them hearth in half the time when bubbled. (This was done specifically to ''allow'' bubble-hearthing, as the duration of Divine Shield had been reduced to be shorter than the cast time for the Hearthstone normally is.)

*** The Confession glyph causes players to "confess" pre-set lines, mostly things players should not do but often do such as annoying others with Leap of Faith.
*** In the first few years when leveling was a slow, difficult process it was common practice for players to celebrate by saying "Ding!" in the zone or guild chat. Bloodlord Mandokir gains a level when he kills players and has a chance of yelling "Ding!" For added amusement, another boss yells back congratulations.
*** Rhonin's "Citizens of Dalaran..." speech has been a source of frequent mockery by players for [[WelcomeToCorneria how often he says it]] (during ''Wrath'' it was quite rare, but later the quest could be done solo and it happened all the time). The Legion expansion, which brought Dalaran back as the main hub, gave this a nod: in an early cutscene, Khadgar shouts out a speech in Dalaran, opening with "Citizens of Azeroth!". Fortunately his speech is shorter than Rhonin's, and contained in the cutscene, so the only person who hears it is the one doing the quest. When the expac was in Beta, there were also plans for a new Dalaran-based reputation called the ''Citizens of Dalaran'', though unfortunately it ended up being scrapped.
*** The "Chuck Norris facts" inspired memes about High Overlord Saurfang's legendary badassery have endured for years. In Legion prelaunch, Saurfang became the racial leader of the orcs, and as such is now the objective a [=PvP=] achievement for Alliance players. However, where other racial leader achievements call for the leader's death at the player's hands, Saurfang's achievement requires the player to "damage [him] until he humors you by pretending to die".
*** The Pandaren Nomi became infamous in ''Legion'' due to his work orders. He would take cooking ingredients and attempt to discover higher rank recipes for the player but usually returned nothing but burned food that was worthless. Blizzard eventually had him start producing ''Slightly'' Burnt Food (Rank 2). In a stress test event Nomi was renamed ''Firelord'' Nomi, buffed to raid boss levels, and given an array of fire attacks.

*** After ''Mists of Pandaria'', fans started speculating that Jaina Proudmoore has been replaced by a Dreadlord due to abruptly pulling a 180 personality from a compassionate peace lover into a Horde-hating warmonger, while justified, she sometimes go too far and becomes unrecognizable to her iconic personality, which was preserved in ''VideoGame/HeroesOfTheStorm''. And eventually, that game gave Jaina a Dreadlord skin.
*** In the Eye of Azshara instance seagulls were generally agreed to be the most dangerous enemy due to their disorient ability causing tanks to lose aggro, allowing bosses to kill other players. The event banner for the Legion Dungeon events was eventually modified to show a player being attacked by seagulls while other players were fighting one of the bosses. The Brawler's Guild also saw the addition of "a Seagull", a large and very angry seagull boss with the "Fury of Gull'dan" buff.
*** In the ''Battle for Azeroth'' opening cinematic, a random troll shaman was shown using impresive fire and lightning magic against the Alliance. Fans latched on to this character and dubbed him "Zappyboi". The troll would be revealed as a minor lore character Zekhan who formed a close relationship with Saurfang. In the ''Shadows Rising'' novel, the loa Bwonsamdi calls Zekhan "Zappy Boy", to the troll's confusion.

*** After the reign of Patron Warrior, Grim Patron's infamous "EVERYONE, GET IN HERE!" quote was ascended three times. First, they added a chance for the Innkeeper to say the line upon opening the game. Shortly after, it became the name of the daily quest for playing three Tavern Brawls. In ''Rastakhan's Rumble'', they added Arena Patron, which has a similar effect and quotes.
*** After the devs released Ice Rager, a strictly better version of the memetically useless Magma Rager, parts of the community - either jokingly or in earnest - cried PowerCreep. Two sets later, Blizzard released [[BackwardsName Am'gam Rager]], which has Magma Rager's stats in reverse and the flavour text "Peerc Rewop". Later on they released a ''class'' card called Shadow Rager, with the flavour text "WE WENT THERE."

* After the widespread memes about how {{UsefulNotes/Xbox Series X|AndS}} is shaped like a fridge, Microsoft announced the creation of an XBOX Series X-shaped fridge, through [[https://twitter.com/xbox/status/1321496994754428928?s=21 a giveaway event on Twitter.]]

* One of the most infamous bosses in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne'' was Mot, who could potentially spam [[ExtraTurn Beast Eye]], [[StatusBuff Makakaja]], and [[NonElemental Megidolaon]] -- and infamously, unlike ''every other enemy'' with Beast Eye, Mot was on a pure AIRoulette and could use it any number of times a turn. In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIVApocalypse'', DLC adds an expansion to the BrutalBonusLevel where you can fight Mots with a variation of the same three skills.

* In ''[[VideoGame/ItadakiStreet Fortune Street]]'', when a computer-controlled VideoGame/DonkeyKong lands on a particularly expensive space, one of his possible response lines is "It's on like Donkey Kong!"

* The ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' series often gets flack for the modern games [[OnlySixFaces using nothing but the same Toad model for NPCs]]. ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheOrigamiKing'' addresses this and turns it into a ''plot point''. [[spoiler:The antagonist of the game, King Olly, was created by a Toad craftsman, but ran away from home after finding a message on the back of his head that he mistook for an insult. But because every Toad had the same face, he kept seeing his creator no matter where he went, and his anger built up until he became the tyrant he is during the rest of the game.]]

* The ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' series often gets flack for the modern games [[OnlySixFaces using nothing but the same Toad model for NPCs]]. ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheOrigamiKing'' addresses this and turns it into a ''plot point''. [[spoiler:The antagonist of the game, King Olly, was created by a Toad craftsman, but ran away from home after finding a message on the back of his head that he mistook for an insult. But because every Toad had the same face, he kept seeing his creator no matter where he went, and his anger built up until he became the tyrant he is during the rest of the game.]]
* After the widespread memes about how UsefulNotes/{{XBOX}} Series X is shaped like a fridge, Microsoft announced the creation of an XBOX Series X-shaped fridge, through [[https://twitter.com/xbox/status/1321496994754428928?s=21 a giveaway event on Twitter.]]

* The ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' series often gets flack for the modern games [[OnlySixFaces using nothing but the same Toad model for NPCs]]. ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheOrigamiKing'' addresses this and turns it into a ''plot point''. [[spoiler:The antagonist of the game, King Olly, was created by a Toad craftsman, but ran away from home after finding a message on the back of his head that he mistook for an insult. But because every Toad had the same face, he kept seeing his creator no matter where he went, and his anger built up until he became the tyrant he is during the rest of the game.]]

*** This gets referenced ''again'' in ''VideoGame/HearthstoneHeroesOfWarcraft''. In the prologue of Knights of the Frozen Throne, when overwhelmed by a Death Knight Jaina, upon his HP reaching 0, he ends the fight by, you guessed it, bubble-hearthing.

*** This gets referenced ''again'' in ''VideoGame/HearthstoneHeroesofWarcraft''. In the prologue of Knights of the Frozen Throne, when overwhelmed by a Death Knight Jaina, upon his HP reaching 0, he ends the fight by, you guessed it, bubble-hearthing.