Blizzard and Make-A-Wish give child ultimate WoW experience
by Ross Miller 
{ May 22nd 2007 at 10:55PM }
Ezra, an avid World of Warcraft fan with a heart-wrenching backstory, told Make-A-Wish that he wanted to visit Blizzard to see if they would make a character for him. Blizzard obliged, and not only did Ezra create his character (Ahab Wheathoof, pictured), they recorded his voice for the character and also let him add his dog Kyle to the game, in addition to creating a very unique (and very powerful) flaming crossbow for his now maxed-out character.
All in all, Ezra spent seven hours with the Blizzard staff as was reportedly very thrilled and equally exhausted. Kudos to Blizzard for granting for this boy what was his biggest wish.
[Via WoW Insider]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Aberu @ May 22nd 2007 10:59PM
"Dying child" might sound a bit presumptious to people who have been close to those who have survived/died from terminal diseases.
jay @ May 22nd 2007 11:01PM
Christ that's good.
jay @ May 22nd 2007 11:01PM
Christ that's good.
jay @ May 22nd 2007 11:01PM
I had to say that twice.
Ken @ May 22nd 2007 11:02PM
Wow, that's seriously heart warming news. Kudos to Blizzard. That's awesome!
Heliophage @ May 22nd 2007 11:04PM
That is very sweet. Kudos!
I am slightly ashamed, though, that my first thought was "Aww, no link to the crossbow?"
OhJustSomeRandomGuy @ May 22nd 2007 11:04PM
Aberu: I'm in total agreement, the original article says the kid's facing intensive treatment, not death.
He's not terminal, he's just really sick. Best wishes to the kid, cancer sucks.
kingofwale @ May 22nd 2007 11:05PM
LMAO
WoW has a ESRB rating of Teen (13 and above)
Just so glad to see they are actually following the LAW!
God knows what the FCC might do. ;)
The_aNew @ May 22nd 2007 11:41PM
simply put, that some great stuff there Blizzard! *claps* ^ ^
DWells55 @ May 22nd 2007 11:10PM
@ kingofwale: Maybe instead of commenting about a law that doesn't exist, you could extend some sympathy to this poor child. Christ, some people need to grow up.
Best wishes to this boy and much respect to Blizzard for granting his wish.
Travis @ May 22nd 2007 11:11PM
That's definately admirable...
zach @ May 22nd 2007 11:13PM
ESRB is as much law as the pirates code.
They're more like, guidelines.
kingofwale @ May 22nd 2007 11:14PM
>Maybe instead of commenting about a law that doesn't exist,
lol, are you saying a law doesn't exists?
I'm sure words like "Family Entertainment Protection Act" "Truth in Video Game Rating Act" "Video Game Decency Act" are just words I just made up right?
or are you saying Entertainment Software Rating Board could care LESS what you do with it?
I do feel the compassion, but let's do it with something more law bidding please.
Craigo @ May 22nd 2007 11:17PM
12: None of those "laws" are actually laws.
robothouse @ May 22nd 2007 11:18PM
Ummm...he's saying that the Teen rating is like the PG-13 rating. There is no actual law against buying and playing the game. Its only M and AO that have the "strict" laws.
Jameson @ May 22nd 2007 11:20PM
Family Entertainment Protection Act: Fines sellers of games to minors, not the makers. Besides, it never passed.
Truth in Video Game Rating Act: Requires ESRB to play through the entire game before rating it. Never passed.
Video Game Decency Act: Again, more representative ratings. Never passed.
Try again, moron. Learn the constitution while you're at it, too.
Aberu @ May 22nd 2007 11:22PM
Please ignore the people that shit on the post in the future. Things like this require some sort of courtesy.
kingofwale @ May 22nd 2007 11:23PM
>12: None of those "laws" are actually laws.
True, but you don't just ditching ESRB ratings like that.
Heck, Sony pulled off MGS games off the shelves and delayed the release for weeks because they didn't have the ESRB tagging on the game disc (even though it's on the box).
I wonder how the Board will feel about this. in one side, Blizzard abid the rating system by having it on its products, on the other hand, it goes and violate the rating itself.
So it's like "no, the retail stores are not allowed to sell it to ya, but heck, we can do whatever we want". quite the double standard, no?
What is Internet @ May 22nd 2007 11:28PM
ESRB ratings ought to be ditched though. Whatever happened to the First Amendment?
KapsLocked @ May 22nd 2007 11:30PM
KoW, if the parents of the kid allow him to play WoW, it's up to them.
Craigo @ May 22nd 2007 11:32PM
18: You either don't understand the First Amendment, the rating system, or both. They in no way infringe upon free speech.
kingofwale @ May 22nd 2007 11:31PM
>Please ignore the people that shit on the post in the future.
must feel like a real man to be able to curse, no?
As for the record, nobody feels as bad as me for the situation this poor kid is in. but rules are rules. you go by it so idiots like Thompson don't come and sue you and bring down the gaming community.
for all we know, this could be ONE thing that ruin games for us.
Tweak @ May 22nd 2007 11:33PM
All the law bullshit aside...
Kudos.
Craigo @ May 22nd 2007 11:35PM
20: Even Jack Thompson isn't stupid enough to stir up shit against a 10-year old cancer patient. And if he is that stupid, this caper will fall apart quicker than any other. The kid's a sympathetic figure, and a huge obstacle for haters to work around.
A similar case - this past Super Bowl, several churches staged public gatherings to watch the game without NFL permission. But the league never sued, because they know that the churches are far mre sympathetic in the public eye than themselves.
Jameson @ May 22nd 2007 11:35PM
kingofwale, please, go drown yourself in your own putrid ignorance.
Blizzard is not responsible for "enforcing" any sort of rating. It is a guideline for the retail chains, and in no way constitutes a law. Blizzard didn't "abide" by anything. They accepted a rating, sure, because without one, their products will never hit store shelves. Doesn't mean they have to like it, enforce it, abide by it, or any other magical fantasy word you're able to pull out of your arse.
Simply, the ratings are a marketing tool.
Get over your self-righteous self, and wake up.
Chrysee @ May 22nd 2007 11:36PM
Awesome, the kid plays Horde.
Adam Maras @ May 22nd 2007 11:37PM
kingofwale: I don't know any way to tell you this politely, but you're wrong. There are are retail regulations and such, but there's no law anywhere (in the U.S., at least) that states that children under the suggested ESRB-rated age of a game cannot play that game. That's why it's a suggestion, not a rule.
DJ Amireh @ May 22nd 2007 11:37PM
Blizzard has a heart!
>you go by it so idiots like Thompson don't come and sue you and bring down the gaming community.
Don't live in fear...
DOWN @ May 22nd 2007 11:37PM
Unbelievable. No matter the topic, there's always some sanctimonious prick ready to share an uninformed opinion.
The ESRB ratings below AO are just guidelines; "T" is a note to parents that the material "may be suitable for children 13 and up." That's it. It's up to the parents if the kid gets to play the game, and somehow, I'll bet this child's parents were all too happy to see this particular wish granted.
Some of you people suck.
Good looking out, Blizzard.
ez054098 @ May 22nd 2007 11:40PM
Good job Blizzard
kingofwale @ May 22nd 2007 11:40PM
>Don't live in fear...
yeah, go against him, so just so we can give him MORE chance to show his ugly face on TV.
let's leave the whole 'sympathy' crap behind please. rule is rule, that kid can probably get away with any crime but it doesn't make it a right thing to do.
if it was for Mario or Pokemon or ANY game, then great, Kudo. but do we have to go through this rule again? I can almost watch Hilary Clinton laughing in her sleep.
KiwiLord @ May 22nd 2007 11:42PM
You failed Kingofwale. Give it up. Your spelling and grammar need work by the way. Trolling aside, It's good to see stories like these once and a while. The Less "Evil politician want SMASH GAMES! RAAAWR," the better.
Craigo @ May 22nd 2007 11:43PM
And in between smacking down stupidity - good on you, Blizzard. And I hope the kid pulls through.
Tweak @ May 22nd 2007 11:43PM
A couple of links that may help:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESRB
"The ESRB applies ratings to games based on their content, similar to the motion picture rating systems used in many countries. Their aim is to aid consumers in determining a game's content and suitability. A game's rating is displayed on its box, the media, in advertisements and on game web sites.
The rating system is voluntary, although senators Joe Lieberman and Hillary Clinton have been pushing for harsher video game regulations, and companies do not have to submit a game for rating before selling it. However, most game publishers in the United States use the system.
The rating has two parts: rating symbols and content descriptors. The rating symbols are usually found on the lower right or the lower left hand corner on the front of the box, they suggest what age group the game is best suited for. The content descriptors are found on the back of the box, usually in the lower left or right hand corner, they describe particular content elements that may be of interest or concern."
http://www.esrb.org/index-js.jsp
"The ESRB is a non-profit, self-regulatory body that independently assigns ratings, enforces advertising guidelines, and helps ensure responsible online privacy practices for the interactive entertainment software industry."
Right there, in black-and-white.
Stop the effing bickering, grow a pair, and get over yourselves.
Kudos to Blizzard for allowing this to happen.
Heliophage @ May 22nd 2007 11:43PM
@15
What about the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (effective after 2000)? It becomes a violation of the requirements in the Privacy Policy for a child under the age of 13 to give away information over the internet, something that Xanga was fined a million dollars for violating last year.
Certainly, this is under the assumption that Blizzard doesn't have written parental consent on behalf of the child, which isn't fair to assume. They may have granted consent for registrations.
However, that is the 13+ law that Blizzard must abide by. It's incorrect to say that there are no laws on the subject.
kingofwale @ May 22nd 2007 11:44PM
>Trolling aside, It's good to see stories like these once and a while.
I'm sorry, but are YOU the best person to tell me that spelling and grammar need work???
Megaqwerty @ May 22nd 2007 11:46PM
Rather than ranting about the stupidity of ratings and such:
Wow, if Blizzard was answering my wishes, I think I would have asked for certain, special game instead of a hacked character, but, hey, whatever floats his boat.
Neil @ May 22nd 2007 11:50PM
This is a good story....I'm happy Blizzard did this for Ezra and I hope somehow he might make a recovery.
Negativecool @ May 23rd 2007 12:19AM
Tweak > kingofwale
Jameson > kingofwale
kingofwale -
It isn't illegal for a BABY to play this game, thus Blizzard shouldn't be weary that they are breaking any rules by allowing this "dying" boy to play it. The points you make are infantile. Should a parent be arrested for bringing their kid to see a movie rated "R"? YOU and only YOU are thinking yes because you are a MORON! You are also clearly irrational, so any response to me by you will be thrown in the "idiot isn't worth my time pile".
Take a psych class, educate yourself on the subject. Only then will you realize your mental/ethical development is severely retarded. Evidence by saying shit like "rule is rule" (terrible grammar by the way)...which reminds me take an ethics class too if you think a guideline has FAR more weight than the wish of a boy who may DIE!
Which brings me to why I wanted to post (until certain shitbags made me go on a tangent). My heart goes out to the boy, hope he pulls through. And I'm impressed by Blizzard's willingness to help. This reminds of of Insomniac's work on Extreme Home Makeover.
Tuatara @ May 23rd 2007 12:38AM
All petty ESRB arguing aside, did anyone notice they misspelled the character's name?
"(Ahab Wheatroof, pictured)"
In the picture it clearly says "Wheathoof" so one of the two is wrong. I assume the article since "hoof" seems more appropriate here than "roof".
Vidikron @ May 23rd 2007 12:38AM
Wow... lots of stupid comments in here. First, you have people trying to claim that a child with a brain tumor isn't terminal... then the comments break out in a debate about game ratings. All in a thread about Blizzard working with a charity to help a very sick kid. WTF!?!?
Oh well, kudos to Blizzard for this good deed.
waves @ May 23rd 2007 12:50AM
Wow, kingofwale. Just wow.
George @ May 23rd 2007 5:55PM
Why the hell did the comments turn into B.S.? Blizzard did something great and all some people want to talk about are ESRB ratings.
Joker's Wraith @ May 23rd 2007 12:54AM
@kingofwale:
I highly doubt they'd let the kid get away with a crime. The difference between this and the way you're thinking things could happen, is--this isn't harming anyone. It made the kid content with his life--at least for now, without harming anybody, and everyone involved was more than happy to give the sick kid some peace of mind.
If Jack Thompson, or anybody else for that matter, brings up a negative view of this and uses it in their "crusade" against gamers, then they'll just be destroying themselves. No doubt you saw how people reacted when Jack immediately blamed video games for the Virginia Tech crisis. If Jack says anything, he'll just be hurting himself, not us gamers.
I see your point in your argument, but I wouldn't be afraid of things having a negative impact. If anything, it shows a developer of the gaming industry having compassion for a kid rather than corrupting him.
danthecetman @ May 23rd 2007 12:53AM
that is the LAMEST ASS WISH EVER! what a waste of a wish! seriously, he should have wished for surgery to remove the brain tumor! why waste it on something that wont matter when he's dead! he'll be remembered as the kid who was dying of a brain tumor and went to the world of warcraft (lame ass game by the way) and got a "super powerful crossbow thingy!"
Seriously, this is some more bullshit.
Rubang B @ May 23rd 2007 12:56AM
Kingofwale's dumb. Blizzard is awesome. Ahab Wheathoof is the most awesomest.
Dave @ May 23rd 2007 1:07AM
That's so sad. I don't know if I'm choked up because the kid is dying or because he knows so little about the world that his dying wish has to do with WoW. I'm glad he's happy, though--and it was really nice of the team to help him out.
danthecetman @ May 23rd 2007 11:32PM
I'm with KoW ALL THE WAY!!!
Exodus @ May 23rd 2007 1:37AM
A nice heart warming story to remind us to be human.
As for KingofWale. Right now, in this moment that you continue to post in this thread. You become an even bigger waste of skin, not a douche bag, but just a complete pile of useless insignificant shit.
KiwiLord @ May 23rd 2007 1:48AM
Yes, kingofwales, I am actually. Here is your post at #30. Corrections are in parenthesis.
yeah (should be caps, like this "Yeah"), go against him, (