Slashdot Mirror
Ask Gabe and Tycho of Penny Arcade
If you're a gamer or a fan of online comics, you've likely already heard of Penny Arcade. Mike "Gabe" Krahulik and Jerry "Tycho" Holkins have been writing and drawing their comic for almost exactly six years under the PA name and in that time they've grown into something of a representative voice for the gaming community. An honesty in dealing with the delays, hype, and frustrations of being a gamer has made their comic into a shared experience for dorks the world over. Recently they've been involved with their games-for-kids charity Child's Play, contract work for game-specific comics, and efforts to improve the grammar of forum posters. They've kindly agreed to answer our questions, so ask away. One question per comment, please. We'll send the best on to the gents and post their responses as soon as we have them.
Shitcock?
How do you type with boxing gloves on?
My question is very simple: What tools do you use (both physical and digital) to create your comics?
:)
I'm a long-time reader and have always wondered
Disconnect and self-destruct, one bullet at a time.
Do you pay the guy who links to your comics in almost every article posted on Slashdot? Is there are referal program I can sign up for?
What, in your opinion, is the best internet comic strip other than PennyArcade, and why?
--- Ãther SPOON!
How long does it take for a strip to be born?
So, who's got the watch these days?
--saint
a representative voice for the gaming community
To say nothing of the juice machine community.
It's not offtopic, dumbass. It's orthogonal.
slashdotted?
the characters in the comic don't look like you guys?
It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
how much of your personal life does Penny-Arcade consume? On that note, great job, I love your strip.
JediLuke
-Do or Do Not, There is no Try
Over the years, your opinions on various video games have grown to be respected in internet circles, and how games are portrayed in your comic and writeups has an effect on whether or not your fans will buy them.
Me question is: have any game designers/publishers ever approached you and offered kickbacks for positive reviews, and if so, how do you usually deal with the situation?
You can mod your friends, you can mod your nose, but you can't mod your friend's nose.
It being that link to your site that was on Slashdot forever.
Slashdot linking to PA, and presumably PA will be linking back to Slashdot at some point...
For you comic book geeks in the audience, this is sort of like those old "What would happen if the Unstoppable Juggernaut met the Unmovable Blob?", or "Who's faster, Superman or the Flash?" questions.
I've met some webcomic artists who were everblown with an ego problem, but you guys seem to be fairly level. What makes other artists scream "I AM THE KING OF THE INTERNET!"
Were there any earlier print or web comics that influenced you?
Please list the meds used to come up with that one.
No doubt it's nearly impossible to predict where technology is going to go in the far future, but perhaps the near future (say, within five years or so) is somewhat more predictable. Where do you two see gaming in general going within the next five years? MMO's becoming even more mainstream? Some kind of VR control schema becoming usable? Heck, nothing really changing at all?
"We are the Dyslexia of Borg. Your ass will be laminated. Futility is resistant."
and which would fuck the others mother first.
but... looks like penny arcade is slowing to a crawl, I can see the smoke already billowing up!
How long does a comic's creation usually take -- and how much time does that leave for other stuff? It seems web comic creation for a living would be the best, most easy of lives ... if one can reach the superhero status of PA. Isn't it so?
Was Penny Arcade the first, regularly produced gaming webcomic? I read approximately 20 webcomics on a daily basis, and many of them are dedicated to gaming humor or frustration. Were you guys the first, and if so or if not, who or what inspired you?
How do you feel about becoming a big name, one of the things you dispise most? How do you feel about becoming something you have stated hatred to? This is not meant as a flamebait and I await an answer.
Those poor bastards, they have us surrounded. Now we can fire at them in all directions!
Alright, here's an opportunity for you to confess -- you both still spend 90% of your online gaming time playing Counterstrike and Warcraft 2, and you're running a Voodoo 3 card, right? :)
John Maynard Keynes: "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do?"
A question for both of you: Name the console and three of its games that you would take to that mythical desert isle.
Just curious: Are there any webcomics you read?
Irritable, left-wing and possibly humorous bumper stickers and t-shirts
What are your favorite comics and which comic(s)/artist(s) have been the most influential in your style when drawing PA?
Penny arcade was one of the first major places that mentioned homestarrunner, so I think he'll get the joke.
What was your inspiration for creating the Fruit Fucker 2000?
Please dont answer grass, hash, or shrooms...
Business \Busi"ness\, n.;
A scam in which all people involved perceive as beneficial...
Jerry's bought a house, Mike's had a baby boy. How has becoming bona-fide adults changed your lives, and do you find your priorities changing away from drawing comics and playing games.
Bonus Question: What advice would you give to geeks looking to in some way ensare geek grrls?
A: Not enough Wang in it.
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
It would be very funny if PA, the second largest generator of the Slashdot effect, was itself slashdotted :P Being taught a lesson by the master, I suppose
Playing poker with a joker and some Uno cards
You guys absolutely roasted the original Halo, then gradually grew to like it. You've said you've met with Bungie since then. Were the meetings amicable?
How far does the collaboration between you two go?
Does Tycho usually come up with the text/idea for the comic, then Gabe does the art as a separate process or is it more of a collaborative venture?
Also I stronly suspect that your ideas are born of late night mescalin and tequila induced "adventures". Am I correct?
[C]
Or is there a chance for a new wave if independent developers breaking free from the EAs of the world?
P.S. I loved the Headcrabs expression in the second panel! Brilliant!Free Mac Mini Yeah, it's
Being the HUGE fan that I am, I purchased your book as soon as it came out.
Is there any chance for a second book coming out any time soon?
Steven V>
I patented screwing your mom. But it got revoked for "prior art."
Are there any plans for a new collection of your works?
For the lack of "OMG LOOK AT MY KIDDIE" posts.
:)
For once in my life, someone had a child, and they are still the same person afterwards, or at least seem to be.
So, yeah, thank you for not plastering baby pics everywhere, and harping about how wonderful it is each time your baby takes a dump.
no
Over the years Penny Arcade's been running, you've poked fun at just about every machine to have been launched or speculated at. But which machine was your absolute favourite? If you had to pick just one platform, which would it be, and why?
And tomorrow the stock exchange will be the human race
Out of all the comics you've done, which one is your all time top favourite, and why?
Obviously, this is for both of you.
How do you spend your free time outside of gaming?
And on that note, what do you and your spouses do for fun (outside of the apartment)?
Thank you Mario! But our princess is in another castle!
Testimonial and tutorial.
Why did you choose to use animated personas that look nothing like you do in real life?
What is the craziest merchandising idea that you have (or a company has) come up with, regarding your PA characters? Plush dolls? Pez dispensers?
Perhaps you don't remember, but sometime during E3 (perhaps it was around then; I don't remember exactly) I think Tycho briefly mentioned he read PvP. I know he made a jab at them in one of the comics (again, it was published sometime around E3), so that lead me to believe that he reads it, or at least knows the creators.
Well, is she?
How did you decide to start writing Penny Arcade?
As you get older and as PA's popularity increases to more of a mainstream level (thanks to the great job you did on last year's Childplay), are you starting to feel the pressures of self-censorship? I mean, how many news anchors could reference the good work you do with Childsplay without giving a "Within that site, there be fruitfuckers" warning?
Are you becoming too popular to maintain your riske side?
There are 01 types of people in this world. Those that understand binary, and me.
-Phixxr
ungggghhhh
Is PA the best job you two can imagine? What are the best and worst aspects? Name a best and worst moment of your PA career. What other interests might you pursue?
Gabe
Which one of your comics is your personal favourite?
One of the things that makes PA so valuable to me is that it shoots from the hip, the heart, and the gut. You guys are perfectly happy being fanboys for games that you love, while skewering those you hate.
I know PA isn't journalism, but it's not Nintendo Power either. That said, how do you balance your desire to be honest with the needs of running a business?
--- Where's my car, and why are these grass stains on my pants?
Are there any plans for the Tetris Movie coming out soon?
If so, do you get royalties for it?
/^[A-Z0-9._%+-]+@[A-Z0-9.-]+\.[A-Z]{2,4}$/i
Guys,
At the last SAGE-AU conference in Brisbane we had J.D. Frazer ("Illiad") as guest of honor.
At dinner J.D. spoke of the difficulties he faced in the early years attempting to make a living from comics - the insanely difficult process of being "sydicated" into newspapers, working out a revenue model for a web-based comic when he realised syndication was too restrictive, and generally attempting to make a living doing something he loved.
With PA and UF being roughly as popular as each other these days and thus (hopefully!) both providing decent incomes, I'd like to hear how you guys coped with "the early years" and how you faced some of what seem to be the common difficulties such as the syndication process, creating a viable revenue model and dealing with early set backs.
Janie took my gun...
I understand Penny Arcade is now the sole source of full-time employment for both of you. Presumably this wasn't always so and you both had "real" jobs to pay the bills. At what point did each of you cease to labor for The Man and start devoting your time exclusively to Penny Arcade?
Never approach a vast undertaking with a half-vast plan.
How do you guys feel about the downloading of ROMs for older systems (NES, Genesis, SNES etc)? I'm not talking about piracy of modern games, just long-since-discontinued systems. Given that Nintendo (for example) will not be making any money off of the original Super Mario 3 any more, do you think it's acceptable to download that game, so it can be played on a computer?
"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one " -Albert Einstein
The post is a reference to this Penny Arcade strip.
I'm sure "SlashdotMedia" will improve on all the wonders that Dice Holdings blessed us all with
How come you guys disrespect your east coast readers so much? I mean, you cancelled on our Otakon and you only came here once ever. At a very bad time to a not easy to get to convention. Then you have PAX, which is like the best thing ever, all the way on the other side of the country.
What will you do to make up for the lack of love for the east coast? If I don't like your answer I'm going to come to PAX2 with water from the Atlantic Ocean and drench both of you with it. Seriously, watch out.
The GeekNights podcast is going strong. Listen!
In a newspost by Tycho, which I cannot seem to find anymore, Tycho mentioned that your original reviews of Halo, in which playing the game was akin to crucifying your genitilia, was sort of embarassing upon actually meeting the Bungie crew.
So what I am curious about, is that it seems to me as if as your friendship with the developers increases, it becomes more difficult to express your true viewpoints of the games that you review. Since Microsoft and Bungie treat Penny Arcade with such high regard, it's very difficult to produce the comics of old that genuinely criticized the console and its games.
To what extent does Penny Arcade plan to take this? I realize that it would not be on any gamers to-do list to pass up a chance at exclusive happenings going on in your area... but I also know from news posts of old that Penny-Arcade does not ever wish to "sell out", and just repeat blindly the big kudos to every popular game out there. (Such as IGN or Gamespy). Is there any thought given to a situation like this?
Do any of your readers report being aroused by the Fruit Fucker? Has anyone written in about the delightfully erotic noises it makes when assaulting fruits? I ask because a... uh... friend of mine is like this, and he... uh... is curious is anyone else is similarly afflicted... I mean affected.
In Soviet Russia jokes are formulaic and decidedly non-humorous.
Penny Arcade is funny, but I found myself somewhat turned off to it after reading your game industry commentary for a while. Initially this was simply because while I thought PA was well-done and witty, the associated commentary from the authors was less so. Then it got to where I was disagreeing with you enough that I lost interest in the comic. It's kinda like finding out someone in a band whose music you like has some personal habits or beliefs that put you off. It shouldn't affect what you think of the music, but it naturally does. Do you see the commentary as an integral part of your web presence?
In Soviet Russia, gaming community represents YOU.
(By the way, Penny-Arcade seems slashdotted. Hilarity ensues.)
"All you have to do is be fragile and grateful. So stay the underdog." Chuck Palahniuk, Choke
How has the news that Natalie is going to appear nude in the upcoming film, "Closer" affected you? Be specific.
Why are you guys such big assholes? I shake my fist at you!!! ;)
I'm not trolling or planting flamebait. I'm serious. Back when I was in highschool (in the 80s you little pantywaists), I had a friend and we agreed that our brand of humor was that we hold nothing sacred. we used to feel that this was a good thing and it seems that you guys use the same method in your toons. However, as I've matured, I find that sometimes you need to respect certain things simply because no matter how much you think you understand them, you may not. There were many things we didn't undestand because of our youthful inexperience. Oh sure... we were sophisticated in our thoughts when compared to our peer group, but there were many things we needed to learn. The thing about you two is that you don't seem to have learned these things somewhere along the way.
Another example. I am currently an administrator that maintains VMS, Unix, Linux, and Windows boxes as well as Cisco equipment. Back when I first started working with computers (only 1994) I was a DOS/Windows 3.1 user. After spending some time using my system, I was pretty secure in my knowledge of how it worked. I was also pretty confident that Unix was going to die soon since that's what all the "gods" on Usenet's Microsoft news groups were saying. Who needs a CLI anymore when you've got a GUI? I was convinced I was right. Who in their right mind would ever use a CLI if they had the option of going with a GUI? Not only was I convinced of my position, but I had hundreds of thousands of other users who backed me up. Eventually, Windows began to grate on my nerves and by the time I'd graduated to NT4, I decided to give Linux a try. Within about two years of that plunge (somewhere in 1997) I realized the power of CLI. Today, I have no problem standing up and saying that I was wrong about my earlier statements because I know better now. However, I get the feeling that unless someone tells you guys that sometimes YOU'RE WRONG, you aren't ever going to get to that point.
So think about it. Some of your strips are funny. Some are embarassing. And still others are just plain wrong. Why do you feel you can get away with being assholes? I would hazard to guess it's because you have legions of fans who can see just as far and as clearly as you do (in front of your face and with the haze of a smoke filled room). But this is your chance to answer the question: Why are you such assholes?
You guys seem really close. Who is the pitcher and who is the catcher?
does it feel being an industry spokesperson?
I think the "Read More" link is not actually a link until there has been a response.
http://mail.rochester.edu/~dr002j/pics/contraband_ comic.jpg
Strawberry Shortcake?
Perhaps the best artwork ever on PA, and the best supressed non-porn artwork anywhere.
STEAM STEAM LOL
Do you get somewhat frustrated at attacks on your motivations for child's play? I mean... Your encouraging us to give toys to sick children for chrissake!
~D
This sig has been enciphered with a one-time pad. It could say almost anything.
What is the weirdest thing that has happend or that you recived cence you started penny-arcade? -Jay
How the heck are you guys making a living! You clearly get the opportunity to try a heck of a lot of games, and you spend time drawing your comic - writing your editorials - going to conventions - and drawing more stuff (I've noticed you've drawn comics for a number of games, in addition to the desktops/etc.).
Where's the money coming from, certainly not just web advertisements... If you have professional careers, how has your head not exploded among it all?
(troll) Is it just corporate knockbacks? (/troll)
cyn, free software and *nix operating systems enthusiast.
A little while back, PA had a run-in with American Greetings over the use of the copyrighted and trademarked likeness of Strawberry Shortcake in what was obviously a (protected) work of parody.
American Greetings got called Nazis, but American McGee's Strawberry Shortcake is still missing from the PA archives.
What are the reprecussions of the Strawberry Shortcake debacle? If you had it to do over again, either the strip, or your interactions with American Greetings, would you have done anything different?
Does Gabe really hang things from his wang?
Anyone who has surfed enough web comics knows that there are a quite a few comics that seem to be PA Wannabes in some fashion. What do you guys really feel about people who blatantly copy the the style or look/feel of your comic? Does it piss you off, or do you simply accept imitators as a price of being one of the most popular comics online?
Oh, and on a totally separate note, there have been some jabs thrown between you guys and Scott Kurtz. Is it all in good fun, or is is there actually some sort of animocity going on?
"You spoony bard!" -Tellah
Now that the first generation of gamers as we know them are starting to have children how do you think future generations will be affected by having "gamers" as parents?
For example will it be as simple as:
"Dad I thought the PS5 was a gift for me?!?"
or as strange as:
"Who would want to play video games? That's something my parents would want to do.
I discovered Penny-Arcade around the time of the infamous strawberry shortcake debacle. As I went through the old strips gradually working my way towards present day I noticed a huge increase in the quality of the artwork. So here is my question: What would you attribute the noticeable improvement in art and design to? Just the fact that you are doing this everyday and getting better at it? Or did you pursue some formal education?
-nt-
Does anyone else think that Mike naming his son Gabe, after a slightly deranged lunatic, is really really creapy?
I don't want to draw any parrells, but would you name your child Osama?
Bugs are just features that have been fixed.
When I first started reading PA, it was a comic strip about Gabe and a Squirrel sitting on a bench. After that, there was the worlds first taste of the conflict between Red Vs. Blue (although I think they were Tribes characters, not Halo).
What was the motivation to change to the now familiar format of Gabe vs Tycho at home and at play? Was it art imitating life, or just a natural progression from simple strips to more complex storylines (the dreaded Continuity!)?
Are there any current gaming trends that you wish would lose momentum and disappear.
Are there any trends you hope take hold in the future.
affected your visitor count?
- inky
Would you please reply to these questions in the form of PA comic strips? Thanks.
After playing through some of the best games this year for the PC and consoles, what game do you think deserves to be the overall game of the year for 2005?
Occasionally, press releases come out touting the large sums of money the game industry is generating (i.e. more than movies, tv, etc.). This has led to considerable conglomeration and corporatization of the industry. I point to EA as a prime example. My question is, what are the effects of this? Are quick buck liscensed movie games dumbing down the gaming audience? Are innovative ideas being stifled becuase they are considered too risky? Is Valve's Steam direct-to-consumer system a way for the small publisher to save itself?
At one time, both of you made a promise regarding the sidebar ads on your website. You said something along the lines of "all our ads will be minimal, and not heavily flash animated". Looking at your site now, this is definitely not the case. Why the change in policy?
Sorry, I meant 2004....unless if you have the power to already predict next year's GOTY. :-)
I guess it's more concise than "really close to being almost perfectly identical but different"
/checks own post for errors
What was that about the grammar of forum posters?
What doesn't kill you only delays the inevitable
Are you trying to tell me that man-bitch is your definition of a model-quality skank?
Having seen numerous Penny Arcade comics poking at other comics, have you had any odd personal interaction with the creators of those comics? What's the weirdest thing to happen as a part of your lampooning, aside from Carlton Cards' reaction?
Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
I understand your first PAX (Penny Arcade Expo) game convention was a huge success. Why did you do it? What's coming up for next year? Are you planning to expand to other cities? How can you top this year's Omegathon prize package?
Now that Gabe (Mike Krahulik) is raising his own portable consumer, how's it fitting in with with all the P-A responsibilities? I note a marked decrease in Gabe's contributions, understandable in the circumstances, but what does the future hold for P-A, in terms of adjustments?
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
I seem to remember at one point one of you mentioned the possibility of a program, animated or otherwise.
Are you still entertaining the possibility of jumping to other media? For what it's worth, Too Damn Late is an excellent title for a late night talk show.
"Inattention makes clowns of us all" -Bean
How do balance playing games, life, work, and in Gabe's case, the new baby... uh... Gabe... ?
Informatus Technologicus
I would definitely love to have an East Coast style get together sponsored by the PA crew. Its not like the east coast isn't full of venues for you guys to come over.
There are tons of comic cons, shit loads of fans and a bunch of state of the art convention centers for you guys to hit up. This question needs to be modded up.
Half-Life 2 is coming out tomorrow, and I wanted to ask if you all thought about the weight of Halo 2 versus Half-Life 2, in terms of community strength, mods (if Halo 2 goes PC, which is likely), and which one do you all think will have the larger impact on the gamer community? I think many people are believeing this is the first big battle of PC vs. Console in which the console community can start beliveing that they can be major contenders in the war for gamers. Thoughts?
Hi Guys. Love the strip.
Do either of you have any professional-geek backgrounds? Or are you merely game enthusiasts with a penchant for making comics?
Ok I know this is probably the kind of question you answer all day long, but I thought I'd ask anyways as I'm sure there are members of the slashdot community that are interested in the answer:
What's it take to get you to look at my indie / small design team game? I've always enjoyed your "game round up" posts and wondered how the little guy gets in, or is this an invitation only kind of event? And I'm not trying to infer that you would make a dishonest review with this following question, only that I understand your time is probably stretched thin, so... What kind of bribe is required to ensure coverage? Bottles of liquor, prostitutes, free hardware?
I am disrespectful to dirt! Can you see that I am serious?!
This is for both of you, What are your favorite non-webcomics? You know, the ones that get delivered every sunday with the rest of the newspaper.
And if so, do you have any powers? Do you use them for good, or for awesome?
SAILING MISHAP
Any good story behind the choice of Gabe and Tycho for pennames/gamertags/screennames/whatever you want to call them? Side question: Why is it always Gabe and Tycho and never Tycho and Gabe?
#include <signature.h>
Will your server recover from the slashdotting you seem to have gotten?
Y'all have managed to do what certain syndicated cartoonists still think is impossible: Turn a web-only strip into a money-maker. So imagine you're talking to someone who is just starting out:
1. What do you feel are the key elements to having a successful web comic?
2. Do you feel that the barrier to entry is higher, lower or about the same today as they were when you started?
Well, do you?
Slashdot!
larflarflarflarplarpLARP sphincter
This is a bit of a rant, but mostly: Why does Tycho effuse the English language like so many unwanted copies of Daikatana?
;) (Jus' jokin'))
(
I often find his commentary interesting, however the constant deluge of excessive vocabulary is a bit too much for my taste.
)
This isn't meant to troll, it's an honest question: Are you like this in real life? Or is it simply an inside joke of sorts, between you and Gabe?
(I actually like Gabe's posts.. Maybe it's his layman command of the English language.. But go figure; "Artists".
- - - -
KickingDragon
Got Wang?
Hey guys. I can (and do) email you whenever the idea strikes my fancy, since your email addresses are public, and you actually answer once in a while, but why don't I use this public forum as a means to address you instead?
I have a two-part question:
1) Will you have my babies? Granted you're both male and so am I so there's probably not a lot we can actually do on the procreation side of things but given a scientific breakthrough that may arrive at any time, would you be interested in raising the kids of a nearly complete stranger alongside your own?
2) As a follow-up question I would like to know: how many web comic artists are as completely batshit nuts as Scott Kurtz?
We know your opinion of 'mindless' forums, but do you consider any forums (specifically, you own) good places to share views?
As the wikipedia article on Penny Arcade, your characters/alter-egos full names are Tycho Brahe, after (so we assume) the danish astronomer, and Jonathan Gabriel, who'se only reference I can find in google is a gay male porn star (no, I'm not joking, google "Johnathan Gabriel" yourself)
Although there are probably a million better questions that could be asked, I'm pretty interested by this little bit of trivia, so I would like to know: How did you come up with these names, and why?
The "Insert Quote Here" line is almost as predictable as inserting an actual quote.
I don't understand why this comic is so popular.
I never found this comic funny at all, mainly nonsensical or cliched jokes with poor art. It's unoriginal and boring, and entirely gaming related... which means the jokes are usually from the collective consciousness of gamers. It's not even serialized, it's a one-shot strip.
I think there are much better web-comics.
end trolling.
Why did you choose the name of an obscure (well, compared to the big boys) Danish astronomer, Tycho Brahe, as a name for a PA character?
Can you make a comic where Fruit Fucker and Div have some sort of homoerotic encounter? Or maybe one where they go out drinking and get in a bar fight with the Punctuation guys.
Seriously, though, at least once a week you make (completely correct) jokes about how bad the journalism is in gaming mags: IGN saying a game is great and giving it a low score, Gamestop saying a game sucks and giving it a high score, etc; do the authors or editors of those mags ever write you angry letters about it or *gasp* ask for your help in making their criticisms more customer oriented?
IANAL, but I play one on
They've made more than one jab at it. But that's probably because they've also said that PVP is at it's best when it pisses people off. It's just payment in kind really.
...to defy convention and make Penny Arcade not funny?
On a related note, what kind of offers have you received from mainstream (and not-so-mainstream) publications?
Linux, you magnificent bastard, I read the fucking manual!
I want to know if the "Flesh Pikmin" someone sent them a photo of actually had a leaf in the top. I asked them via email, but you never get a response from those guys. :-(
If you were to depict a typical Slashdoter in your comic, how would that character be? (not only physically)
Slashdot Sig. version 0.1alpha. Use at your own risk.
dear gabe and tyco why do you pick on how people in forums write grammar? its not like were writting essays or anything so please just leave us alone cause its not you're business. dont you have anything better to do lol :P first post.
I mean, to make your own strip seem funny by comparison?
I think the title says it all.
In responce to your comic about duck cocks, I sent you an e-mail linking to several sites about duck cocks (which clearly illustrated the answer to the orange-or-not question)
Ever since, any e-mails I have sent to an @penny-arcade.com address have bounced!
So my question is: if you didnt want people sending you various duck-cock related sites, why did you start asking questions about duck-cocks? It just seems like an information request to me, when someone asks a question..
-- 'The' Lord and Master Bitman On High, Master Of All
Gabe, this is more directed at you since you've already reproduced but feel free to chime in (as we all know you will) at any time, Tycho. What, if any impact, has becoming a parent had on your work? I don't mean in that, now I have something to live for so I should be responsible crap; save that for VH1's Behind the Music. Are you losing sleep over the fact that when Gabe the Younger hits double digits, realizes his genitalia has more than one use and becomes biologically predisposed towards angst-rideen hate of his parents, he might pull gems from news posts on your own site as proof positive that you're wrong and an asshole to boot? Tycho, you've got it even worse b/c your the one servin' about 70% of the commentary in newsposts. You should just get the big V now man; you're kids are going to have a field day with your archived posts.
Despite your distaste for dreaded continuity, do you think longer-format web comics will ever achive the popularity of strip-based comics like yours? Is a longer, more plot-driven narrative too much work for too little payoff? Do three hypens exceed the quota for a question?
What question are you most tired of being asked and if not immediatly obvious, why?
Can you guys explain why your site was getting so much more traffic this time last year as opposed to this year?
I can take a guess at outside sources linking to Penny Arcade and your first Child's Play, but that doesn't seem to account for the steady slide that's being going on this year.
Thanks for the strip, by the way!
I know that Jeff K thinks very highly of you guys and your strip, as evidenced here.
How do you two feel about the adorable, non-haxoring peaceful little fellow?
Is MS Paint a bitch to use?
...efforts to improve the grammar of forum posters.
How does waging a hopeless battle feel?
tasks(723) drafts(105) languages(484) examples(29106)
What game have you, personally, spent the most hours played?
I couldn't think of anything witty to say, so...you're stuck with this.
Guys, we know that Gabe and Tycho look nothing like you, but how close is the resemblance between your signigicant others and their cartoon representations, and do they like themselves in strip?
What's more powerful, a slashdotting, or a wanging?
What about the current brou-ha-ha that is boiling up over at EA? They allegedly treat their employees about as well as slaves. Maybe "slaves" is a little harsh. More like child laborers during the industrial revolution. I've been waiting to see some poignant tearing in to Electronic Arts, but so far, PA's been mute on the subject. What gives fellas? What's your take on the reports? Are we going to see it in comic form?
In the past it has been asserted that the ads run on your site are only ones for games that you approve of. Have you found that game companies come to you with offers that you have to refuse because the games are not good enough? With houses and kids and other real life expenses, do you think your model of advertising only what you believe in will continue to provide you with the income necessary to support the increasing family of Penny Arcade? Keep it up guys, and make some trips out to the East Coast!
I'm not Gabe or Tycho, but here's a hint for college-aged geek guys: Female medical students.
I myself am a computer nerd. My fiancee is a med student. Her four best female med student friends consistently date computer nerds. Also, this isn't a case of two groups of people... none of us guys knew each other until we met through our girlfriends. Go figure.
There's no question that you guys are funny and talented, however I'm sure that there are lots of other comics out there that you've seen that have been in your leaque in terms of quality and content, yet never seem to reach the same popularity.
What would be the most important thing - outside of actual comic and newspost quality - to creating a popular web comic? Were there any specific promotional avenues you took that made Penny Arcade into the success that it is?
Specifically, who's going to be replying to these questions - Gabe & Tycho, or Mike & Jerry?
For that matter - how significant is the difference between them?
fortune -o
In your honest opinions, based on your past experiences with Penny Arcade and your hopes and aspirations for the future, where do you two see your webcomic going from here? Will there be Gabe and Tycho action figures on the shelves of Toys'R'Us? What about an animated series on Saturday mornings? And how about Fruit Fuckers on sale at Sears? Just how big do you expect your franchise to grow -- and on that note, how much longer do you think you're going to keep it running?
I've recently quit playing console-based online games due to the foul, vocal nature of many players - the traditional flaming between teams on FPS's for instance. I'm one for swearing at my television myself, but the kicker for me was hearing an eight year old unleash a string of profanities towards me with disturbing proficiency. With America's all too common bouts over obscenity and censorship, many sides exist on the issue. Government controls, such as laws banning the sale or possession of games to minors is an option. Many people would tell parents to be more mindful of what their children play and discipline them more appropriately. My question is... what would you have said back to that eight year old?
// This line is just a rumor, please disregard.
Whats a Craptacualr?
When are you going to bring back Juicer 2000?
This is a perfectly valid question.
Have you meta-moderated recently?
Have you ever considered trying an animated form of Penny Arcade? It seems that your brand of humor makes particular use of precise timing, and while you tend to be successfull at conveying that through comic strip panels, the formula could translate to animation quite well.
:)
As an animation student myself, I of course have no particular stake in the matter
Yup...
Does HomeLAN (the people who host Penny Arcade for the unattained) ever get angry at you guys if Penny Arcade readers clog up their servers, like right now?
Where do babies come from?
I think you should stop thinking. You obviously can't handle it.
After your comic spoofing Strawberrry Shortcake (that ho), funning with American McGee's Alice, American greetings took the crap-road and sent a C and D letter, and then we never really learned what happened. So, what happened next, and why can't we still see the comic you did?
Do you have many legal problems? By taking such an agressive and often non-flattering approach I'm sure you've pissed off your share of sue-happy gaming companies. How did the lawsuit with American Greetings end?
You seem to think everyone's favorite comic is PA.... which it's certainly not. I feel they've gotten lazier with their jokes (relying more on cliches and overdone punchlines) since they started making those pretty backgrounds. Sure they do funny strips sometimes, but only occasionally do I actually laugh at PA anymore.
IMO, the funniest strip today is Real Life, while artistically, I'd have to go for the likes of Mac Hall or Applegeeks.
I've got more mod points and GMail invi
...here.
Whaddya mean, "but that's another webcomic"?
You cannot apply a technological solution to a sociological problem. (Edwards' Law)
Blah blah blah motivation blah blah inspiration blah blah millions blah blah blah blah fame blah blah?
If so, blah blah blah piece of blah blah blah repercussions?
In other words, what question do you never get asked but wish you got asked? An employer asked me this at an interview, and I had a really good answer, which I wouldn't have been able to give if he hadn't asked such an open question. I bet you have a really good answer (and question) too.
Everything seemed to be going so nice
'till the end of all beings punched right through the ice
Currently you only publish your comics on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Have you ever considered publishing a daily strip?
You've Slashdotted Penny Arcade. You will get your comeuppance.
" Nintendo still makes money off of Super Mario 3, just like Disney still makes money off of Fantasia."
And they will be able to do so for the next 70 years, +20 years each time Disney's Mickey Mouse copyrights are about to expire.
My opinion? They've made their money - time for me to play. I'd need a serious arguement as to how it is *immoral* for me to ignore the artifical monopoly barrier (called copyright) with respect to ROMs.
Just had to agree with the parent.
Do you guys make a decent living off of the comic?
Roughly how much do you each make?
Is being a webcartoonist a viable career option?
Do you see what you're doing now as something which can be sustained for a long time? Do you have any contingency plans?
Schnapple
I was wondering why I couldn't get to the PA forums for the past hour or so...
You guys obviously do a lot of online gaming and its a great way to hang out with your friends. However, most online gaming is player vs. player. It may be team-based, but it's almost always against humans.
That's great, and a lot of fun, but I'm an older gamer and don't have the spare hours to hone my skills against some teenager with unlimited time. or grind away at an MMORPG. I also don't live so close to my friends anymore. I just want to be able to hop online with some friends and play a game together, against the machines, just as if we were all sitting together playing and chatting.
Very few games offer this and, when promised, it always seems to get cancelled late in development. What do you think about this and can you, in your inimitable style, lambaste the industry about it on my behalf (and on behalf of the plenty-of-discretionary-spending-power, limited-free-time time market I represent)?
When is the Fruit Fucker 2000 going to find love? Will he find it in a field somewhere in a Florida orange farm, or will it be some kind of mechanoid marriage with the Borg? Or perpahps something else entirely different?
Where do you get your pants?
Ifnot ; Any plans in the future to make one ? (with animation I'm aiming at an animated movie)
Q: What is your annual income, and what makes up that income(ads, freelance projects, donations, book sales...)?
-==- Buy a Mac and leave me alone!
It's hard to think that a webcomic could do so well. Having been a faithful reader of yours for the past 3 years (including having my fiance send me your comics while I was in Iraq), I can see that you guys somehow made lemonade out of what a normal business person would call lemons. Since there are a plethora of gaming review pages out there, what are the percentages of how you make your money? Do you make it mostly from the website? Reviews? PA store? conventions?
War isn't about who's right. It's about who's left.
Mike, when your son gets to the age he can click a mouse, will you be mortified when he comes across Penny Arcade?
You guys love games. How did it make you feel to find that Cardboard Tube Samurai got a reference in Hitman: Contracts? Have you found any other PA references in games, manuals, etc that you weren't expecting? How's it feel?
To what lengths do you go to keep PA and Child's Play separate? Have any of the hospitals looked at Penny Arcade and questioned whether they should get involved with Child's Play?
The rule is one question per post, so I am putting this one in a separate post:
Child's Play has been a substantial success. You were successful not only in doing a good thing for the Seattle Children's Hospital, but at also directly challenging at least one media know-it-all's perceptions about gamers. Have you recognized that this success means that you wield a tremendous amount of power both within the niche-world of gamers and in the "rest of the world"? Have you considered other ways that you can harness this power to either help others or positively influence the rest of the world's ideas about gamers?
Yet people gobble your crap up like sheep!?
Well, we was the pictures, but I want to know how she's doing!
I mean you seemgly try to incorporate daily life with the comics, but try to ignore girlfriends/wives/babies/family.
Specifically: Hows the child doing?
What do you really think of the Phantom? Vapourware-to-be? Market disaster waiting to happen? The largest game console known to mankind?*
* Other than T-ReXBox. Obviously.
Both of you guys.. top five all time games.
Gabe also put a Skull plush doll in the crib with his son (Little Gabe? Real Gabe? Gabe The Short?) while he was in the hospital. From reading both comics, I think they enjoy the rivalry and are friendly.
--
lds
In the recent article about Penny Arcade in the Seattle Times (I think it was the Seattle Times), you made mention that you did not plan on doing PA "forever". Then, on a news post on the PA site, Tycho tried to make it clear that you are not just "grooming PA to sell it to some big company" (quotes, but I'm paraphrasing). How would you classify your business: drawing comics and ads for games companies or publishing a regular web comic? At what point does the independent ad agency bit conflict with or replace the webcomic?
MOD PARENT UP
I patented screwing your mom. But it got revoked for "prior art."
You've dominated the mindshare of many a gamer, you've started a very successful charitable endeavor and you've started what can be considered a successful gaming con.
What is next? Write a book? Columns in a major magazine? A Penny Arcade cartoon?
btw, Props to you for keeping politics off your site. It has turned me away from so many others. I come to PA to read about games, and you understand that. Thanks.
I think the solution they take is to play a lot with known groups of people, where they can be a lot more sure of having an experience not marred by some random senseless chatterbox.
They must to some dgree play against random strangers though as every so often they have comics based on the acts of random humanity in online games.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
...my tiny self-centered world...
Will you guys be my friend?
BlackNova Traders
In your humble opinions, what is the overall effect of the wankers who sit online all day clicking the refresh button at gaming news sites in an obsessive compulsive fashion? That is, there are people out there who sit and wait for companies to distribute little snippets of info about upcoming games, and these people collect, rape, and consume all of this information in a matter of minutes, spewing out their morbid little opinions and creating an overall image for a game before it's even released. They do the job that the marketing folk at the company should do basically. While some pass this off as word of mouth, a great deal of it is far beyond the common word of mouth idea, and entire legions of people are influenced by the opinion of these people; and, there is no doubt in my mind that the developers probably read their fair share of the opinion pieces as well, which could result in a rushed game, a delayed game, or the overall failure of a game/device due to bad internet hype. Or, am I just too cynnical and put too little faith into the masses?
Do you have any suggestions for those of us who plan on starting our own webcomics?
How about a Catsby and Twisp spinoff (I know, more of it will dull it, but I still want it), or an animated spinoff of the main comic? I know three panel random comics don't translate to motion pictures well, but Azumanga Daioh has managed well by just doing collections of 5 minute shorts crammed into an episode. They tend to look like there's a bit of continuity, but I'm sure you could fix (break) that.
Do you see PA as being strictly for entertainment purposes (i.e., a good laugh), or more of a means to communicate your views on the failings of our society?
How come this is so much better than Penny Arcade?
Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
but some other services that grow out of PA and it's cultus are USA only. Have you ever thought about the fact that's just a wee lil' bit ungrateful ( not that i don't see why , but the feeling remains )
Have you ever been approached by a publisher or had the thoughts of releasing a coffee-table book?
and I love that, even when it's brutal honesty. You guys both seem to have your favorite game-types and game-styles, so it amazes me to a certain extent that you both remain consistently honest. I am curious as to how you remain so honest in your assessment of upcoming and current titles. I mean obviously you want some promising titles to fulfill your expectations, but if they don't you tell it like it is.
I thnik u r teh ghey fagort$
Why do you keep relying on swear words, gay bashing, sex, and references to male genitalia for cheap punch lines and easy humor?
I haven't read PA in ages, but after a while it seemed as if the above was the only way you could get any laughs. It is as if the formula is: add a bunch of random swear words, throw in a game/console/company, say or imply that Gabe is gay, and/or constantly have him referring to his penis. Or it involves making fun of someone else's alleged sexual orientation, sexual problems, and saying they are into bestiality.
Is it your choice to do this, or dose your audience limit you to this kind of humor?
most people don't live like kings
Alright, suppose it IS bigger than a breadbox, it IS a person, and it is neither Bat- nor Spider-Man... so who the hell is it, then!?
Does having a pretty famous webcomic help you get chicks/guys/free hookers/fembots? Cos if it does I'm going to start drawing one, watch out Tycho and Gabe! Also, love your comic :)
mmmm...fembots
When the creativity starts to dry up, would you rather ride out the decline [garfield] or end in the top of your game [bloom county ignoring opus]?
What is the best pie?
PLEASE GOD TELL ME ALREADY!!!
/. readers, the Blue Spark Challenge was a made up race type mentioned ever so tantalizingly in regards to Mario Kart Double Dash.
I'd look up the URL for the news post I'm referencing, but your poor beloved archive is already slash-toast.
FYI
BTW: You guys have the kind of satiric talent that would shine in any genre, and in the field of video game criticism its like staring at a goddamn supernova. I barely even play games anymore and I still check your posts daily. Thanks for your work.
What are your opinions on the Squidi.net incident?
Do you plan to follow the footsteps of Scott Kurtz, and allow newspapers or magazines to publish your strips without syndicalization?
What do you think about this move?
--
Wiki de Ciencia Ficcion y Fantasia
From the sometimes adult nature of the strips, it's clear that you're probably not easily offended. However, especially as a new parent, what role do you feel censorship should play in video gaming?
Misery loves company. Online misery loves unsuspecting random strangers.
Putting penny-arcade on the front page. It's slashdotted! Now where can I get my scathing gaming humor!
I apologize for the crass nature of the question!
But you guys are living what is essentially the dream life of a gamer - using your writing talents and artistic talents to make a living talking about games. Millions of schlubs all over the world run websites; but you guys managed to produce a website that's better than 99.9999% or more of them and make money doing it. It's not an understatement to say that you're quite an inspiration to those of us who would love to make a living doing that sort of thing. So I can't help but be a little curious about exactly what kinds of financial success it's brought.
(And whether you answer the question or not... I wish you more success in the future both with loved ones and your business)
OtakuBooty.com: Smart, funny, sexy nerds.
Going from some of the other comments, people seem to think you have it pretty easy doing the comic now, and even if that is the case, I'm sure it wasn't at the start. However, you've almost always managed to have the strip up, on time, and with news to go with it. Many other comics (PVP, for example) are chronically late and in a real job, they would be fired. How hard is it to be on time, everytime with the comic? How many hours a week would you say the comic, running the web site, the associated events, and such takes? Is it more than a standard 40-hour job, as I imagine it could be?
Does anyone here know of MC Frontalot? Just wondering because no one I've talked to does. Also, just to let you know: the website is http://frontalot.com/.
Nerdcore Hiphop and the remix are great. Also, Pennyarcade Theme I suppose might connect to the post.
Pat
When are you going to update your website? I still get errors sometimes when I load it up saying junk about *.php3 documents (!).. Are you still using PHP3?? For that matter, who designs your website, and when will they update the look?
in girum imus nocte et consumimur igni
R U GOING 2 DO ANOTHER B00K!!!!!!?????
I'd be surprised if they DID get kickbacks. Honestly people. Let's throw a little game theory into it. If it got leaked out that any video game company paid off a webcomic to trash competitors, the press would be all over it. Perhaps that won't change the sales of the game, but it would rattle up those that invest in that company and it would also lead to slew of side effects including law suits. It's not worth the risk. Chances are the gaming community will or will not buy the game regardless; the review of a single webcomic won't increase their sales enough to risk such an act.
The first book was part of a 5 year deal they signed with a guy who ran off to Alaska with all the money and is apparently refusing to let them publish more books from the first 5 years of PA. It's in legal hell.
They seemed hopeful to have it worked out soon and also to get books out for year 6 and up.
No sig for you!!
Being technology and society (a limited portion of society) pundits, why do you feel it is that people nowadays in the younger age brackets care more about television, games, fashion, trendy music, cars, and "getting with guys / chicks" than they do about politics, foreign policy, and other people dying by the millions in countries they will never visit? It would be simple and trite to say that it is because these things are too far away for them to care about, but quite simply anyone who has enough brain cells to get through high school math is smart enough to care about these things, yet they make a concious decision not to. What do you think needs to be done to help get people out of their self-imposed, meaningless and utterly worthless little social shells? PS: Yes, I was bullied in school. :)
I like to place meaningful quotes in my sig, so people will know that I know what meaningful quotes are.
If, for 24hrs., you were Gods over this planet, ala Black & White, what would your avatars be, and what would you do with your allotted time of godhood?
If you can't beat them, embrace and extend them.
What's your secret to getting girls?
What exactly is the favicon.ico supposed to be? Any special meaning there?
I enjoyed PA's commentaries about about proper etiquette so far. Since you've already addressed the "M$" isssue, any chance you can address the incredibly juvenile practice of people posting Microsoft related messages with a picture of Bill Gates as a borg?
Where's Penny Arcade: Year Two?
Although Megatokyo sometimes loses the threads of their subplots. They had Seraphim tied to a post for six months.
The half-serious version:
Despite having nearly gotten into virtual fisticuffs with Scott Kurtz, amongst other artists, you guys still seem to maintain quite a bit of respect for each other. Do you view the little rivalries as "side quests" for your bigger endeavors, as serious competition, or as just a way to use some of those great insults you've been sitting around thinking about?
The more humorous version:
How many different other webcomics and/or their artists can you insult in a single sentence?
Libertarians somehow believe that private businesses should be stronger than governments but weaker than individuals.
Is Mike Krahulik really Stephen Silver, or is he just a shameless rip-off artist?
So, Jerry "Tycho" Holkins, ever wanted the Tycho nickname on Slashdot?
Impersonating Tycho from Penny Arcade since before there was a PA.
Scott Kurtz of PvP has made a bit of a buzz in the last few months about his desire to give away PvP for free in various newspapers across the US. Without necessarily directly commenting on his decision, how do you guys feel about web comics making the leap to print? More specifically, do you see this *ever* happening for PA?
Condemnant quod non intellegunt.
What do you think the Triple XBox was?
This darkspur, which as we know was not forged by man, wars apparently with a lightspur across time for dominion over all, or beer; I'm not sure about the last bit.
Anyway, what is the origin of the spur's and will we be seeing them again in the future?
err!
jak.
no text
Relatively recently you guys have started producing comics for videogames to use as a means of promotion. Is this something you pitched to the game companies or is did they approach you? Are they part of the larger plan to earn a living from your writing and art or is it just something fun to do (not that those two are entirely seperate categories)?
http://www.popularculturegaming.com -- my blog about the culture of videogame players
Where can I order one?
How has it affected your time spent with making comics/working. Since many gamers spend an enormous amount just gaming, do you see any problems in the future trying to maintain a gamer's lifestyle with a baby?
Gabe has stated his appreciation of Diesel Sweeties. And it updates every weekday!!
You guys must have a godawful ammount of stuff hooked up to your TV. How do you intergrate it all? Is is STILL a case of "It's simple.... Set the TV to AV2 and the Sterio to Aux1 and the ... I love you honey?"
Their Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory states:
Another entirely appropriate name for it would be: The Fundamental Theorem of Slashdot.Do you guys remember that guy at E3 in 2003 who brought a bunch of scrap paper for you to sign but only got one for him and his brother? Probably not but I still make fun of my brother for it! "Have fun with your paper!" Well my friends always get a good laugh that my brother was pwned by the PA guys. Now make a comic to further ridicule him!! Yeah, so it is 2004 but I'm lazy.
Aside from your ever-popular PAX conventions and selling PA paraphernalia, where else do you two get the income to fund your non-stop gaming machine? In other words, what do you guys do for day-jobs?
Overrated? I clicked the link--great stuff. Mod this back up!
I'd suggest you don't use Slashdot as your only news source, or you will suffer permanent brain damage.
I'm a long-time fan of PA, and I noticed both of you are married. Do you have any advice for your fellow gamers on how to find mates?
Arguing about vi versus Emacs is like arguing whether it's better to make fire by rubbing sticks or banging rocks.
Your characters are beloved for your/their slicing wit and honesty, usually resulting in the most dead on funny demolition of your opponent. In these parody massacres, after the ink has dried and the war rant spent, does that little voice ever creep into your console warrior dreams and suggest maybe you were too hard on the 'ol boys? How often do you edit either your strip or rant content after it's first stated finished?
Hey guys, I'm a fellow artist still struggling with ideas and technique.
One thing that has always impressed me about you two is the way (technical fowlups aside) you've never missed an update. I'm wondering how you mustered that kind of dedication in the early days? Didn't you doubt your concept your writing or your art? Was the affection of a few lonely Tribes players enough to sustain you? When did you make the plunge into trying to support yourselves off of your work? Who quit their job first. I should stop tacking on extra questions?
I hope you get to a question this far down the forum , and I'd just like to say that even though I haven't played a game other than Freecell and Nethack in the past 5 years, I still love your stuff. Good comedy writing is near universal.
In Capitalist America, bank robs you!
What are some examples of print comics that have inspired your comic-stripping ways in both good and bad ways? As in, are there strips you admire and/or despise that have, either way, pushed you to make a comic strip in your own way, without the regulation or, for that matter, PAY of a print comic?
in trying to take on a Child's Play-type endeavor?
Not that you'll shutter P-A anytime soon, of course; I have no doubt that Penny-Arcade will go on undaunted for centuries. (That is, long after the world has destroyed itself with nuclear weapons, leaving the only surviving creatures---cockroaches---to continue writing and drawing the strip, which they will rename "Metamorphosis".)
But you guys are too talented to be confined to just one creative outlet. I'm glad to see Gabe scanning his sketchbooks, and we've seen a few short comic-book-style tie-ins with various videogame releases (for which we are all grateful, because we know it pays the bills). But, you see, these are crumbs, scraps, minutiae, errata ... compared to the Next Big Thing From Jerry And Mike.
Which is ... what, exactly? (Is it Automata?) Maybe you don't have it all planned out yet ... but what would you LIKE to be doing with your irrepressible talent (and your pioneering webcomix careers)?
[Oh, and if you're looking to revisit the glory days of CW anytime soon, my friends and I have a standing weekly Quake 1 lagfest; you're welcome to join in. Q1 is a classic. Just shoot me an email. :) ]
If you didn't answer this in a news post...
Did you buy HL2 over steam? Why / why not?
The ultimate network admin tool needs HELP!
Ok how do you manage to think up this stuff, I mean come on some of it is pretty out there with the pixies! OH! So what flavour pixie dust do you prefer?
How do you feel the next Xbox is going to affect the PC industry? Microsoft is obviously trying to steal developers, and with the dumbing down of possibly great games (Deus Ex: Invisible War and Halo) this is having a negative affect in my eyes.
/. password, I'm biodeo.
Can't remember my
How can PA be sucessful and good, while UF is sucessful and terrible?
Where's the love?
Hate 1, Hate 2, Hate 3
http://www.narnarnar.com
It might not seem like the most key element that goes into a game, but I find it to be one of the most enjoyable. I'm wondering which games you guys think have the best music. Thanks for taking the time to answer questions.
Why is Penny Arcade so popular when your comics are no funnier than random words strung together?
Slashdot: providing anti-social weirdos a soapbox, since 1997.
Move over Furries. Welcome to the dawn of Fruities!
Do you know how fucking creepy these posts are? It's even more disturbing that the gradnparent was MODED UP...
Did you base his character on someone you know?
Or is he just a representation of Apple and the stereotype of a Mac user?
Bored? Visit my exciting counter page!
Scroll down from here my child.
Boxers, Briefs, Bikini, or Bare and why?
-m
Who owns the rights to that URL and why am I not allowed in their site? IIRC isn't Penny Arcade the psuedonym for some half-assed performance-artist/stripper?
When will Penny Arcade be funny?
How can UF be sucessful and good, while PA is sucessful and terrible?
My question is this: "Many game companies now recognize your website as a bit of a gaming review site (or at least you've tricked them into thinking that). What sorts of things have they given/done for you all, and have they affected the way you see yourselves as gamers?"
Don't sweat the petty things. Don't pet the sweaty things. --Stephen J. Simmons
It occurs to me that, since the "what _____ would you bring to a desert island" question has been posed so many times over the years, that the conceptual desert island is now so well stocked with just about every possible _____ as to be a veritable shangri-la of great books, games, music, popular celebrities, beautiful women, and of course, mountains of great food.
I would even go so far as to say it probably has the highest standard of living, lowest taxes, and is neutral in all wars, despite having a stronger defense than all other nations combined, simply by virtue of the fact that people perpetually keep sending them random items of the highest quality, which they can then turn around and sell on eBay. Just ask yourself, how many gun enthusiasts idly wonder, "What assault rifle would you want on a desert island?" How about dictators thinking "What weapon of mass destruction?" You see? They have everything.
Happiness is relative, Based upon the way we live.
Tycho (I think) indicated in a news post not so long ago that he hoped for Penny Arcade to outlast the involvement of either of you. What value do you believe the brand would have without its two mainstays? Did the Doggett and Reyes debacle teach you nothing?
1 2 3
.... you were ordered, by law to never touch a console/computer or draw a comic ever again.
What would become of your lives?
Command attempted to use minibuffer while in minibuffer
If you could get in a time machine, travel back 6 years and sit down with your past selves for a beer do you think you could get your past selves to believe that this little cartoon project has turned into the monster that it is?
When is the PAX DvD coming out ? And where can we buy it when it does ?
>|<*:=
Depending on when you read this, if Valve still hasn't "released" Half-Life 2, how many Valve employee's are you likely to assault?
Which game has kept you up the most nights and the most total hours (hours without sleep, starting when the game was started)?
- I wonder if nuclear physists will have to rename the term used for the decay of radio active materials from half-life to something else?
Div the drunken dvd player is a personal hero of mine. Who or what was the inspiration for him?
"On a scale of 1 to 10. I'm sooo drunk."
I don't know how to live, but I've got a lot of toys.
when you pulled that definition of satire out of your ass? =)
satire you use someone's art to make fun of a third party.
However, your legal point is essentially valid.
It's not offtopic, dumbass. It's orthogonal.
Have you seen it? If not, why not?
There are some of us who are working on our own comics, so what would really be helpful is to know what made yours a success?
So do you guys really have girlfriends, and are they really as hot as they appear in the comic?
My beliefs do not require that you agree with them.
Guys, how do you feel about all the people on slashdot who have no life, and are answering all of the questions for you?
Have you ever thought about creating a comic book ?
... for instance.
Examples
1. A collection of your most popular comic strips
2. An adventure of Gabe and Tycho (open topic). We know how duos are popular in comics Ex.: asterix & obelix or lucky luke & the daltons
3. Something unrelated to PA but nonetheless cool such as a sci-fi comic book
The reason I'm asking is that I'm not exactly into mugs or shirts and I think it'd make a nice addition to your store.
If you look like your passport photo, you're too ill to travel. - Will Kommen
Penny Arcade and PvP have taken a few shots at each other over the years -- some playful jabs, some that seemed less than benign. Now be honest: what's really going on between you guys and Scott?
"Times have not become more violent. They have just become more televised."
-Marilyn Manson
Will you ever do another strip featuring Lord Kernow?
For many gamers, PA fills the role of the gamer buddy who's always got both the latest game and a well-aligned opinion on it. Have gaming studios approached you for your opinion on their works in progress, and if they did would you offer it?
Yes, my only tool is a hammer. And you're starting to look like a nail.
What's the best way for me, or anyone for that matter, to make a guest appearance in one of your comics?
I gotta get myself some more Slashdot accounts so I can start modding my comments +5, too.
I like to place meaningful quotes in my sig, so people will know that I know what meaningful quotes are.
In more than a few of your strips, you've made references to some games from near the dawn of home videogaming. What are the oldest videogames you remember loving (or hating) and getting hooked on?
seven two six five
seven four six one seven
two six four two e
Some of the PA characters such as BatJew, Safety Monkey, and your significant others have been based on real people. Others such as Charles are completely fictitious. I have to ask though, is either Div or the FF2000 based on anyone you know in real life? And if so... are they available for appearances?
Yes, my only tool is a hammer. And you're starting to look like a nail.
BETTAR:a rthanpenn yarcaded/index.htm
b ettarthan pa/index.htm
http://www.somethingawful.com/jeffk/bett
AND MUCH BETTAR:
http://www.somethingawful.com/jeffk/much
The second one has pictures 3 comics in.
You once mentioned in a news post that at some point you accidentally sold the rights to PA. Could you make up an amusing anecdote loosely based on this premise?
Try out fish, the friendly interactive shell.
What's your favorite Pocky?
nt
Penny arcade sucks. Why don't you just redirect your web site to achewood?
Wtf happened to Batjew?
The advice column w/ Kara was gold.
Then he disappeared and his site went balls up.
SafetyMonkey still does some good for teh intarnat from time to time. Any plans on working with him again?
Is Charles based on a real person?
I can, and here's a hint:
It ain't Duke Nukem Forever
Veteran, Bermuda Triangle Expeditionary Force, 1992-1951
From an artist's perspective and from someone who is (or seems very much to be) outside of the linux love-fest, what do you think of the various free tools(both in current usablility and/or distance from usability) for doing art, or arting? ie. the GIMP, Sodipodi, Kontour, Xfig, Inkscape
George II -- Spreading Freedom and American values, one bomb at a time.
Do your respective parents read PA? I would think they are less than thrilled about the language and images. P.S. My mom loves Penny Arcard =D
Of course when I read about this wonderful game that I'd somehow never heard of, I hit up Google, but came up with absolutely nothing. I actually emailed Tycho about it but never got a response. So what's the story behind it?
The community cartoon project, it was hilarious and I remember you guys doing at least the starter strip. Maybe even a few of the others. It just seemed to fade away.
Sorry I know I'm coming in WAAAAAY late on this one but I loved that project.
What is your favorite video game now, and why?
"Instant gratification takes too long." - Carrie Fisher
Having just recently "switched" to using a Mac, I would like to know if Charles will be returning anytime soon. I really need more of that Apple-using/Gabe-hating attitude.
P.S. Is he single?
Have you ever thought you include too many needless panels? As it appears, the comic would be funnier if you drop the last panel, take the dialogue from the first panel and make it the caption to the second panel, and then add in more funny faces?
So which of you is the punctuation nazi?
I ask because I am one myself, although i have relaxed my standards somewhat regarding capitalisation. I feel it's mostly unnecessary, except for readability. And when you're helping your uncle jack off a horse.
The all-too-common "your" instead of "you're" still makes me want to strangle people though.
Your momma.