List of references (Sniper)
Books and Comics
My Brilliant Career
Achievement: My Brilliant Career
My Brilliant Career is a 1901 novel by Miles Franklin. It is the first of many novels by Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin (1879–1954), one of the major Australian writers of her time. It was written while she was still a teenager, as a romance to amuse her friends. Franklin submitted the manuscript to Henry Lawson who contributed a preface and took it to his own publishers in Edinburgh. The popularity of the novel in Australia and the perceived closeness of many of the characters to her own family and circumstances as small farmers in New South Wales near Goulburn caused Franklin a great deal of distress and led her to withdrawing the novel from publication until after her death.
Games
Team Fortress Classic
The bobble-head on the Sniper's dash in Meet the Sniper is a caricature of the Civilian as he appears in the original Team Fortress Classic.
History and Politics
Robin Hood
Achievement: Robbin’ Hood
Robin Hood is an archetypal figure in English folklore, whose story originates from medieval times, but who remains significant in popular culture where he is known for "stealing from the rich and giving to the poor" and fighting against injustice and tyranny. He is famed for his use of the bow and arrow, a reference to the Sniper's Huntsman longbow.
In-Jokes
Headshot Icon
The warning sign at the beginning of Meet the Sniper bears the in-game icon for a headshot.
Jarate
Jarate was first seen as a background object in Meet the Sniper, after which it was turned into an unlockable secondary weapon for the Sniper class.
Meet the Sniper
Achievement: Not a Crazed Gunman, Dad
A reference to the Sniper's dad's description of his son's job in Meet the Sniper.
Music
God Save the Queen
| “ | God save the queen!
— The Sniper
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One of the Sniper's lines during his submachine gun taunt, "God Save the Queen", or "God Save the King", is an anthem used in a number of Commonwealth realms. It is the national anthem of the United Kingdom, one of the two national anthems of the Cayman Islands and New Zealand (since 1977) and the royal anthem of Australia (since 1984), Canada (since 1980), the Isle of Man, Belize, Jamaica, and Tuvalu.
Magnum Force Theme
The music that plays throughout the Meet the Sniper would appear to be a homage to the Magnum Force theme, the second in the Dirty Harry movies. The video itself carries a strong early 70's theme.
William Tell Overture
Achievement: William Tell Overkill
The William Tell Overture is the overture to the opera William Tell, composed by Gioachino Rossini. There has been repeated use (and sometimes parody) of this overture in the popular media, most famously for being the theme music for the Lone Ranger radio and television shows, and it is quoted by Dmitri Shostakovich in his Symphony No. 15. William Tell was the last of Rossini's 39 operas, after which he went into semi-retirement, although he continued to compose cantatas, sacred music, and secular vocal music. The character William Tell is known for hitting an apple balanced on the head of his son with an arrow.
Organizations
Greyhound Lines
The bus that drives by at the end of Meet the Sniper has 'BLUDOG' on the side, a reference to the real life Greyhound Lines bus service. This also seems to indicate the video takes place in the US and not in Australia.
Sayings and Phrases
"Be polite. Be efficient. Have a plan to kill everyone you meet."
Achievements: Be Polite / Be Efficient / Have a Plan / Kill Everyone You Meet
The Sniper's "standards" are very similar to those of the United State Marine Corps: "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet." The achievements are a reference to said standards given in Meet the Sniper.
"Boom, Headshot"
| “ | Boom, headshot.
— The Sniper
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” |
The phrase "Boom, headshot." may well be a reference to the catchphrase of the character 'FPS Doug' in the online comedy series Pure Pwnage.
"FOAD"
The Billboard in the opening shot of Meet the Sniper and behind the Sniper in the pay phone scenes reads "FOAD: Camping Fun, All year round!" This is both a reference to the 'camping' style of gameplay Snipers employ and the internet initialism FOAD (Fuck Off And Die), often aimed at Snipers in various online games by disgruntled players.
Sport
Australian Rules Football
Achievement: Australian Rules
Australian rules football is a football variant played between two teams of 18 players outdoors on large oval-shaped grass fields (often modified cricket fields), with a ball in the shape of a prolate spheroid. It is also commonly referred to as Australian rules, Aussie rules, football, footy or AFL (although AFL is actually the name of the elite national league, not the sport).
TV and Film
Crocodile Dundee
| “ | Now this, is a knife!
— The Sniper
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” |
The Sniper's lines "Now this, is a knife!" references a popular scene in the film Crocodile Dundee. The trophy belt hat is also likely a reference to the hat worn by main character Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee, who popularised the 'rugged bushman' Australian stereotype.
Enemy at the Gates
Achievement: Enemy at the Gate
Enemy at the Gates is a 2001 war film directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, starring Jude Law, Joseph Fiennes and Ed Harris set during the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II.
The film's title is taken from William Craig's 1973 nonfiction book Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad, which describes the events surrounding the Battle of Stalingrad from 1942–1943. It is based on a duel mentioned in the book that developed between Soviet sniper Vasily Grigoryevich Zaytsev and his German rival, Major Erwin König, as they stalk each other during the battle. The movie is also partially based on the book War of the Rats.
Kenny
The general theme of Meet the Sniper may be a reference to the movie Kenny, which is based off the life of an Australian plumber. Similarities between the two include the fact that they are being interviewed in their car for a good portion of their videos, their parents do not approve of the line of work, they are both Australian, as well as similarly spoken lines.
Looney Tunes
| “ | What's up Doc?! Hehehe!!
— The Sniper
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” |
This line, sometimes said upon dominating a Medic, is character Bugs Bunny's signature catch phrase.
Star Wars
Achievement: Trust Your Feelings
A reference to Obi-Wan's line "Trust your feelings, Luke." in Star Wars as Luke takes his critical shot at the Death Star.
The Dark Knight
| “ | I'm gonna cut a smile into ya!
Click to listen
— The Sniper
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This response is a reference to a line by the Joker from The Dark Knight: "Wanna know how I got these scars? My father was...a drinker. And a fiend. And one night he goes off crazier than usual. Mommy gets the kitchen knife to defend herself; he doesn't like that. Not...one...bit. So, me watching, he takes the knife to her, laughing while he does it. He turns to me and he says, "Why so serious?" He comes at me with the knife, "Why so serious?!" He sticks the blade in my mouth, "Let's put a smile on that face!".
Charles Atlas
The comic in which the Sniper learns Jarate is a reference to an old comic ad by Charles Atlas, a developer of bodybuilding techniques.
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| Charles Atlas | TF2 Jarate Comic |
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