I will never be completely sure of it, but I like to think that the “Deep-Toads” of Lord of the Rings Online’s Moria are a sly reference to the awesome Hypnotoad of Futurama (ALL HAIL THE HYPNOTOAD). I mean, c’mon: They’re huge frogs that toss mesmerizing spirals at you in a way that is unlike how normal amphibians operate.
I really wouldn’t be surprised if it was a reference, because mischievous and sometimes-bored developers are forever tossing in such pop culture nuggets into characters, mobs, and especially quest titles into their games (as a side note: have you ever considered how many quest title names have been created for your MMO? It boggles the mind.).
Assuming that you don’t have a sour puckered reflex against such instances, what’s your favorite pop culture reference in an MMORPG? Bonus question: Did you ever fully realize the truth of one of these references only after a long time of being exposed to it?