'South Park' Creators in Web Deal

wunderhorn1 writes "Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of South Park, have agreed to do "39 short cartoons" for Macromedia, Inc.'s Shockwave.com. According the the New York Times article, Parker and Stone will "receive equity of less than 10 percent in Shockwave.com," which will apparently be run as a subsidiary of Macromedia. "

Comments

Offtopic Question:

[Rabbins]

Who is doing the female vouces on South Park now?

will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[apocalypse_now]

the first, the funniest, the best.

I hope they don't cop out and forgo violence, nudity, and foul language.
--
Matt Singerman

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Anonymous Coward]

Typical. Mindless Christian-bashing to get a few cheap laughs is considered "funniest" and "the best." Though I guess this is the type of trash that people gravitate towards when they're looking for "violence, nudity, and foul language."

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[cheese63]

absolutely.

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Wah]

This is the stuff I gravitate to when I need a laugh. Sorry but if you didn't see the South Park Christmas musical you missed some seriously funny stuff. Christ and Santa singing Christmas songs in the first person, priceless.

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Anonymous Coward]

Nice strawman. I see you chose not to address the original point. South Park is nothing more than one big Christian-bashing jamboree. The Lord is portrayed as having a bumbling talk show called "Jesus and Friends." A piece of human excrement is used as the mascot for Christmas. Satan is portrayed as being an affable character that is liked by the townspeople. They had an Easter show where they crucified the fat kid on a cross, for crying out loud! And it goes on and on to sickening proportions.

I don't think that it's the government's business to censor things, but if we were going to start cracking down on some of the garbage that passes as "entertainment" these days, this is the exactly the type of thing that should be looked at. I don't hate Parker, Stone, or anybody else who finds humor in visciously attacking Christians. I pity them. Just as I pity people who claim to be fans of this show.

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Anonymous Coward]

i don't think that it's the government's business to censor things, but if we were going to start cracking down on some of the garbage that passes as "entertainment" these days, this is the exactly the type of thing that should be looked at

"Well, I don't hate black people, but..."

exact same categorization that has been used as an excuse by christians over the past two millenia.

You find it sickening? THEN DON'T WATCH IT. You DO have the option of chaning the channels. I guess, like so many christians, you cannot truly tolerate an opinion that is different from yours. That is why you would be in favor of doing something you find distasteful -- censoring a TV show -- because, deep down, you are as intolerant as every other christian bigot who has tried to hold other peoples back over the years.

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[AugstWest]

but if we were going to start cracking down on some of the garbage that passes as "entertainment" these days

Exactly who is "we," and why are we cracking down? And at exactly what point in your life did you decide that religion precludes humor? I mean, noone in the world is allowed to make jokes about your personal religion?

What is it about so many religious people that makes them so completely self-righteous?

And really, what exactly is it about Jesus that is supposed to relate to this pagan festival? It certainly has absolutely nothing to do with his birthday. Christmas is a hell of a lot older than Jesus, and his real birthday is a lot closer to Easter than it is to Christmas.

See, the joke with Jesus battling Satan is that it's a parable. You've studied the bible, you understand those. Christmas is an ancient pagan ritual which the Christians adopted in an effort to convert the pagans -- they came into northern Europe saying, "You have a spring festival and a winter festival? What luck, they happen to fall exactly on the days of the birth and death of the deity we worship. How convenient."

What exactly do eggs have to do with Easter? Nothing. They're symbols of fertility, the symbols of the pagan spring festival. What exactly do pine trees and gifts and Santa Claus have to do with Jesus? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

So the next time you're going on about, or listening to someone going on about, how the fetivities and commercialization are ruining Jesus' birthday, remember that the festivities were there first. Jesus was tacked on later.

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Carnak]

And the whole time I thought Anonymous Coward was an actual user. But now that I've gotten my username, I see. Dude, here's a tip. LIGHTEN UP! So what if someone says Jesus Christ is a hoax? Does it change your belief in God? If not, like some other respondents have said, CHANGE THE CHANNEL. I love that you immediately go to the censorship card, and use the word "we." Who is this we? It certainly doesn't include me... South Park is the funniest thing to come to the boob tube (among other medias) in a heck of a long time, maybe since Hee Haw...

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Mr. Slippery]

Satan is portrayed as being an affable character that is liked by the townspeople.

Actually, in the episode where Jesus and Satan have the boxing match, Satan rips off the whole town by taking a dive. Not very affable. Besides, even if he was, don't we all know that evil may sometimes wear a pleasant face?

It's also one of the best meditations on the nature of evil I've ever seen - "I'm going to bet on Satan, 'cause evil's stronger than good! (Time passes.) Hey, Satan ripped me off! That's, uh, like, evil..."

Just as I pity people who claim to be fans of this show.

Fine, and we pity you as a brainwashed dupe of organized religion. Shall we throw a pity party for each other?

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Coign]

Yeah!!! Go back to San Fransico with all the other Jews!!!!

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Anonymous Coward]

All right, all right, all right ..

I didn't really mean to say that South Park should be censored because of its content. After all I pointed out that I don't think the government should be censoring things anyway. All I really meant was that it's things like this that sometimes make me reconsider my stance. But I still don't advocate it. So fine, I'll change the channel, sorry if I offended anybody by pointing fingers at the epitome of moral decay in the formerly-Christian civilized world. Keep on watching if you want.

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Anonymous Coward]

the epitome of moral decay in the formerly-Christian civilized world

You know, nothing makes me laugh like christians who think that, if it weren't for their religion, the world would go to hell in a handbasket. Consier this: an overwhelming majority of Americans believe in god (90+%) and also pray daily (85%). Yet, despite these overwhelming numbers, you claim that America is going through a severe moral decay because of a lack of religion!

I am an atheits. Do you think that this makes me an immoral person? I think it is wrong to murder, steal, rape, hurt, harass, and jaywalk. I have strong moral beliefs. Do you honestly think that religion is necessary for morality?

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Anonymous Coward]

I'll probably regret taking this bait, but what if I *do* think that religion is necessary for morality? You claim that you think it's wrong to murder and all that, and that's all well and good, but if you honestly don't believe in God (which I find very hard to believe) then you've got nobody to answer to, and you don't have any accountability for your actions. In the final analysis, it is my opinion (note opinion) that belief in and obedience to God is necessary to be truly moral. Without it you can only have a *semblance* of morality, which is not the same thing. Unless you live your life with the understanding that your actions *do* have final consequences, I don't see how true morality can be acheived. Just my opinion. This is off topic anyway.

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Anonymous Coward]

but if you honestly don't believe in God (which I find very hard to believe)

up yours for shitting on my beliefs, to start with.

then you've got nobody to answer to, and you don't have any accountability for your actions

Yes I do. My family. My friends. The law. Myself. I hold myself personally accountable for my actions. And even if I didn't, I would not be able to face my family or friends after committing a crime.

belief in and obedience to God is necessary to be truly moral

And it is a known fact that many people, from the Crusaders to Hitler, used their religion as a justification for their horrifying actions.

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Otto]

I'll probably regret taking this bait

Me too, but I can never let these things go. :-)

what if I *do* think that religion is necessary for morality?

Well, for starters, you'd be wrong.

You claim that you think it's wrong to murder and all that, and that's all well and good, but if you honestly don't believe in God (which I find very hard to believe) then you've got nobody to answer to, and you don't have any accountability for your actions.

Let's take that one bit at a time, shall we?

I'm an atheist also. A pretty outspoken one as many slashdotters will testify. You say you fnd it hard to believe that a person can not believe in god? Boy are you an idiot then. The majority of the WORLD does not believe in your god, for starters. Christians, as a whole (catholics, baptists, the whole lot), form less than a third of the world population.

Second, you claim that by not believing in an afterlife, or a god, or some such nonsense, I have no reason to have any morals whatsoever. What's your basis for that? I kill a man, I go to jail. Simple. Easy. Or perhaps his friends kill me. There are always consequences. But consequences aside, have you no personal sense of ethics? Do you not know right from wrong unless your god tells you so? If your god told you killing is good, would you do it? After all, he controls right and wrong in your mind, right?
If you can't tell the difference between right and wrong, have an ethical position, without a strawman to hold up and say "I know this is wrong because god says so," then you are a sheep. A follower. No mind of your own. Your god is your crutch.

In the final analysis, it is my opinion (note opinion) that belief in and obedience to God is necessary to be truly moral. Without it you can only have a *semblance* of morality, which is not the same thing. Unless you live your life with the understanding that your actions *do* have final consequences, I don't see how true morality can be acheived.

Morals, like ethics, are a personal thing. Everyone has their own sense of morals. However, you are using the term like there is some absolute set of morals that all people should follow, all the time. This is obviously wrong. What may be correct in one circumstance would be hideously wrong in another. What may be wrong for you to do may be right for the person standing beside you to do. Circumstance alters situations. It is wrong to kill, unless it's self defense, or there a war going on, or something else. There's unlimited possiblities, man. Life is not simple.


Just my opinion. This is off topic anyway.

---

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[cornell2007]

Well, since everyone else is off topic... listen i am a christian (catholic, actualy), and it ticks me off when people go on an atheist bashing fest. Why? because i know an atheist who is constantly badgered by a super-evangelical christian, when the athiest is actually a lot more generous, while the other guy is a jerk. thats just what i got to say, so it wont be christians vs. atheists

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Wah]

I guess, like so many christians, you cannot truly tolerate an opinion that is different from yours.

it's built in to the dogma, perhaps you've seen some of these before.

Exodus 20:
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

"Love 'em if they love Me, if they don't, they are inherently evil and worthy of destruction." - God (paraphrased)

Of course, a better place for this discusion would be here

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Randym]

What is it about so many religious people that makes them so completely self-righteous?

IMHO, it is precisely the fear of being proved wrong. So their self-righteousness is merely a defense against that terrible possibility. Of course, they spin it as "I am NOT wrong -- but more right than you could ever be!" They have not learned St. Paul's lesson: "Perfect love casteth out fear.", for still they fear. Have pity.

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, if you went and watched it, it slammed the entire Christmas culture, on the Religious and ... 'Presents' side (how the hell else do you describe Santa in one word besides presents??)

And in the end.. The hero was a figure skater. Not Santa or Jesus =)

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Anonymous Coward]

Commandment 5 violates the Declaration of Human Rights.

God should be tried for crimes againt humanity.

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[spectecjr]

well then tell us His birthday so we can move the christmas celebration mr. know-it-all. >And really, what exactly is it about Jesus that is supposed to relate to this pagan festival? It certainly has absolutely nothing to do with his birthday. mr. clueless. tsk tsk. u dont know what ur talking about. i bet ur an atheist. pls do further studies b4 bshing others religion.

Well, specifically it was a Pagan festival initially. When the Christians moved into England (and other countries that observed the same religious festivals), they decided to take this festival of Fertility (there's a reason for the mistletoe you know) and turn it into another fertility festival - the birth of Christ. This was because it was easier to do it that way (and have the two religious festivals running in parallel) than to outright ban the pagan festival.

Think of it as dual-boot, but for religions. You run both for a while, until you've phased over to the new one completely.

Same thing happened with Easter - the Christian festivals took over the pre-existing symbolism of pagan festivals (easter eggs, et al), tamed it down and took it for itself.

To be precise, we're talking about the two equinoxes here pretty much...

Simon

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Field Marshall Stack]

Dude, but it was like a really good scam. And the South Park citizens deserved it, so there you go. It's good to be evil sometimes!
--
"HORSE."

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[phygelus]

Well, it may be insightful, but it's wrong.

The traditional date for the birth of Jesus is January 6---and many if not most orthodox catholics observe Christmas then.

The December 25 date was an adaptation *to* a *roman* holiday, not an adaptation *of* a northern european one.

Similarly, Easter derives from *jewish* observances of Passover (orthodox christians observe it the same week, western christians are only off because of calendar reform) and has had pre-christian northern european traditions adapted *to* it. Passover and Easter are calculated on a lunar calendar, so though even though they happen in the spring, they generally don't fall on the spring equinox.

One poster below says "to be precise, we're talking about the two equinoxes here pretty much..." which is flatly wrong too. December 25th falls just after the winter *solstice*.

And um, what you've just managed to inform us all is that christianity is a highly syncretic tradition, which most serious christians know already. Get over yourself, it can't be that much fun bickering with ignorant fundamentalists about this kind of thing, especially when you're both just making things up as you go along.

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Anonymous Coward]

85% of Americans pray daily?

Bullshit.

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Jabberwok]

Isn't 'making things up as you go along' the fun part of being syncretic?
:-)

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Jabberwok]

for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me

I don't know about y'all, but it has always bothered me that an omniscient, omnipresent and all-powerful God would be jealous , or even needy of our puny affection.
If it's so important to God that we love him, why not hard-wire it so?
I know, I know... (sigh) ...Free Will.
Well then, why the omnious threat against the all-too fallible and temptable creations, huh?
God seems kinda unfair and cranky. Maybe he'd be happier if he used better software.

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Jabberwok]

...but what if I *do* think that religion is necessary for morality? You claim that you think it's wrong to murder and all that, and that's all well and good, but if you honestly don't believe in God (which I find very hard to believe) then you've got nobody to answer to, and you don't have any accountability for your actions.

I don't mean to slam you, but this is a really narrow viewpoint. There are whole religions that are Godless (like Buddhism and Taoism, for instance), yet often these have stricter moral codes than Christianity.

Accountability is entirely personal. Certainly you have heard a Christian lie before. The Religion does not make the person moral. Though religions do usually teach moral codes, it is not their primary function. The primary function of a religion is spirituality. It is usually believed that higher spirituality cannot be achieved without morality. It is a stepping stone on the path.

Being moral does not make you spiritual. If you are not spiritual, you are not necessarily immoral.

Make sense?


--Socrates is a man. All men are mortal. Therefore, all men are Socrates.

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Le douanier]

Easter is supposed to be closer to Christ's death since in the Bible it is when he is killed.

Xmas is even older than Pagan cults (also Pagan cults probably indirectly derived these cults from there), it goes as far as Babylon. If you read the Genesis their is a part about the "first" King of what was to be called Babylon, Nimrod (in fact I think his father was the first King). When he died his mother made a cult saying that his soul was living in the tree that didn't die (i.e. Xmas tree still have their needle in winter, they sort of "don't die" during winter).

But of course the Catholic religion (and most Christians inspired religions for that matter) have incorpored a lot of pagan cults, even the trinity can be found in some other form in other religions (Antic Greece, Egypt and even India).

Anyway all dates of Catholic celebrations are wrong because of the calendar, not the difference between Orthodox and Catholic calendar, but the difference between Solar revolution based and Lunar revolution based calendar. The Bible following a Lunar calendar any feast that has fixed dates in this calendar can't have fixed dates in a Solar calendar.

Oh, BTW where is Xmas mentioned in the Bible?

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[phygelus]

>Oh, BTW where is Xmas mentioned in the Bible? Christmas is part of the christian tradition, which is more than just the bible.

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Buggernut]

Satan is portrayed as being an
affable character that is liked by the townspeople.

Well, isn't it about time somebody balanced things and put a positive light on him for a change, since you Christians never cease to villify him, and blame him for all the evil in the world and for all your problems?

Newton's Third Law has it that for every force, there's an equal and opposite counterforce. If Christians can have their share of shows and influences in the popular media, then its counterbalancing influences should have their place in it too.

Maybe you should reanalyze your own beliefs and religious principles, and clue in on the possibility that the root of all the Christian-bashing in contemporary popular youth culture may be in a backlash to all the Christian fundamentalism, intolerance, and oppression that gets shoved into the faces of the poor kids.

Re:will they include a remake of jesus vs. santa?

[Buggernut]

It's amazing how so many religious zombies cannot tell apart morality from obedience to god, or conscience from fear of god.

Correct URL

[Serk]

I'm sure any idiot could figure it out, but just to make sure here's the correct, working URL:

Shockwave.com

Offtopic correction to offtopic question

[Rabbins]

errr..... "voices", not vouces.

thank you.

Re:Offtopic correction to offtopic question

[_vapor]

Oh, thanks for this useful correction. I had no idea that he actually meant "voices" even though he typed "vouces". That was really helpful.

Re:Offtopic correction to offtopic question

[Rabbins]

Thanks for the useful comment :)

south park deal

[Anonymous Coward]

as usual, the makers of a popular cartoon have forgotten one of the most important principles of their industry: You can't tell which way the train went just by looking at the tracks...

Microsoft involvement?

[technos]

...will be viewable using Macromedia's Flash software, which the company says is already on 200 million computers.

What, did they get it in the bundle of useless plug-ins included with IE?

Re:Microsoft involvement?

[apocalypse_now]

yes.
--
Matt Singerman

Re:Microsoft involvement?

[technos]

Allrighty then.. I'm going to form a company to make a competing plug-in, and then haul Macromedia into court. I'll say that Macromedia made an exclusive deal with Microsoft to distribute their product, and since Microsoft was illegally using its O/S monopoly to corner the browser market Macromedia directly liable for the prohibitive cost of entry for my plug-in.

Any of the screwed-up courts here in the US will give me a pile.

Re:Microsoft involvement?

[Pope]

Considering that Flash has been shipping included with Netscape for quite a while, don't go bitching about MS just because you automatically think of them :P

Pope

Re:Microsoft involvement?

[Wah]

.... screwed-up courts here in the US will give me a pile of dogshit for wasting their time.

Re:Microsoft involvement?

[Anonymous Coward]

The cool thing is, it won't even have to be a very good plug-in.

In fact, if it's mediocre all the better.

Stuff that in your Ralph Nader Operating System.

Re:Microsoft involvement?

[AugstWest]

bahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaa

Re:Microsoft involvement?

[NMerriam]

In 4 sentences you've managed to make just about every flaw in logic discovered since the time of Plato...

Re:Microsoft involvement?

[technos]

Folks! Joke! Sarcasm! HAHA! Definitly not as funny as the Grits Guy, and possibly not as apparent (seeing as how everyone missed the real point like a MX missile.). I suppose I should really try to stay away from the humor, though. I'm never funny until I'm drunk, and even then I only think I am.

Re:Microsoft involvement?

[NMerriam]

I'm never funny until I'm drunk, and even then I only think I am

Yeah, but the point of being drunk is that it doesn't matter if it's all in your head!

As long as you don't get into any fights...

Re:Microsoft involvement?

[technos]

200 Million is how many copies of Internet Explorer Microsoft claimed were installed during the Antitrust trial!

Just because I mention the useless plug-in pack included with IE doesn't make it a automatic 'M$' bash!

I know now what Katz felt like after those 'Disney' articles

Re:Microsoft involvement?

[Anonymous Coward]

I wonder how many of those were a result of reinstalling windows?

Look out Kenny it's a trap!!!

[BlackHat]

10% in a MP3 knock off.
[I know there is more to it than that,just poking fun.]

Shockwave ideal

[Hard_Code]

It seems that Shockwave would be ideal for South Park animation, since SouthPark is low-detail, large, solid-color geometric shapes moving around.

Re:Shockwave ideal

[Shaheen]

Kinda weird how South Park is done on Alias|Wavefront, isn't it?

Actually, Parker and Stone took a few weeks to perfect the "construction paper and glue" effect from the original Spirit of Christmas video with a professional tool like Alias.

Re:Shockwave ideal

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, would it be too hard to chuck in some AI and have a computer generate the whole thing - scripts and all?

Parker and Stone get to push the line back more

[_J_]

Considering they find TV restrictive I bet that their online animations will be similar in content and vulgarity to the South Park movie. I don't know if this is good or bad but I know I'll be entertained. Western Civilization might be falling but it's a nice ride.

IMHO as per.
J:)

Newgrounds?

[Lachrymite]

I know that Tom Fulp, the guy who runs Newgrounds was going to meet with the South Park guys due to some involvement with the Troma people. Newgrounds is basically a lot of Flash stuff... I wonder if he is involved at all.

nits to pick

[freakho]

In the latest examples of how Hollywood is trying to turn the Internet into an entertainment venue..

Macromedia approached them, and MM is most definitely not hollywood. But that's a nitpick.

What's more interesting is what M&T say about the technology just now becoming good enough for them to work with it, and the article cites Flash as the intended media. Flash has been around for a bit, IIRC.

Re:nits to pick

[passion]

"What's more interesting is what M&T say about the technology just now becoming good enough for them to work with it,"

In other words, the money is just now becoming good enough for them to play with it...

...but wait a minute - haven't they been using Director all along?

Re:nits to pick

[freakho]

Exactamundo, mi compadre. I dunno about Director, but did you notice the number of random and obvious here-one-cut gone-the-next photoshop textures in the movie? Hilarious.

Re:nits to pick

[Pope]

NOPE.
They use Alias|Wavefront packages for the show and movie, most notably PowerAnimator and Composer.
PowerAnimator rocks, IMO. I've used it for a while, and the modelling tools are second to none.
Pixar uses it to make their models, then animates in something else, then uses RenderMan for output.

Pope

Are these new or what?

[Yosemite Sue]

South Park clips in Shockwave have been available at Shockwave.com for a while now ... Anyone know what the deal was before? Is this current deal for brand new SPs that won't be shown on TV or what?

YS

And they didn't want my South Park game?!?

[Darby]

HeHe

I actually wrote a backgammon game for macintosh with southpark characters and sound.

It's free. If you want it email me

doug at zerolimits dot com
---CONFLICT!!---

Re:And they didn't want my South Park game?!?

[Potatoswatter]

c'mon! upload it to files.com or something and post a link!

Hey!

[Anonymous Coward]

Moderators suck...

I wanna know the answer to this question too.
Anyone?

10% ?!?!?!

[m.o]

Is it just me, or is 10% of the company a "little" bit too much for several short cartoons?!?!

Re:10% ?!?!?!

[cheese63]

it's stock in shockwave.com, not macromedia

Re:10% ?!?!?!

[m.o]

Yeah, I know, but it is still A LOT - the same article says that shockwave.com just got $44M in funding, so I would assume that's about 30% of the company or so... Even if it's 100%, that's still a lot!

Re:10% ?!?!?!

[RedX]

Yes, does seem like alot on the surface. But shockwave.com sure did get alot of publicity today with this deal alone. Before today, how many of you had actually visited shockwave.com? And you can bet that there are a ton of SP fans that will be regularly check shockwave.com to check for new material that probably would have never visited shockwave.com. How much would shockwave.com be worth without the publicity and content generated with this deal? I'm betting they'll capitalize on this and more than make up the 10% they gave up.

Re:10% ?!?!?!

[AugstWest]

Well, it's "less than 10%" if you read carefully. Which doesn't necessarily mean even 9%.

It's kinda like getting busted with "Less than an ounce" of marijuana...

repeatedly fails to excite.

[gnarphlager]

The creator of Ren and Stimpy, John Icanneverrememberhowtospellhislastnamebutitstartsw ithaK has been running his Spumco website for a couple years now. Though not quite for the same reasons. He did it to push the envelope and have the freedom to create what he wanted to (after MTV networks turned Ren and Stimpy into a joke of itself. Compare the first seasons to the latter ones).

However, Parker and Stone are NOT exactly motivated by creativity here. It's a total money grab situation. They say "we've had offers before", and if one thing they've ALWAYS known how to merchandise thier product. They knew they could get a hefty sum rather than going out on thier own like Spumco. 10% of Shockwave is a nice pile of dimes. They're not making cartoons; they're making commercials. They sell Macromedia's software (which I do generally like; Fireworks is an excellent tool), and they sell thier own tv series. It's not like they're giving that up (John K. doesn't do tv very often anymore . . . occasionally, but from what I understand he doesn't WANT another regular series).

And if that fails, they still have movies (which I'll admit was funnier than the tv show, but still bored me after the first fifteen minutes).

Re:repeatedly fails to excite.

[dboyles]

However, Parker and Stone are NOT exactly motivated by creativity here. It's a total money grab situation. They say "we've had offers before", and if one thing they've ALWAYS known how to merchandise thier product. They knew they could get a hefty sum rather than going out on thier own like Spumco.

Since when is selling your product a Bad Thing? Here you have a couple of guys who can write funny material (imho). They're approached by a company (be it comedy central or macromedia) who wants to pay them to write this material. Do comedy central and macromedia have a creative interest in south park? No, they want viewers, and south park can bring it to them.

As soon as something starts making money, everybody seems to jump on the "sellout" bandwagon. If you ask me, the quality (read: funniness) of south park has not dropped. I'm sure Parker and Stone still have creative interest in their product, they just want to market it.

Re:repeatedly fails to excite.

[Anonymous Coward]

If you ask me, the quality (read: funniness) of south park has not dropped.

How could it?

(rimshot)

Re:repeatedly fails to excite.

[Hermie The Drill]

The "Money Grab" is true Americanism!

They have been in it for the money ever since the first pirate short.

The fact that there is still folks out there who like SP and would buy their product is fine.

Personally I will wait until I can view it on iCraveTV.

Strange move for Macromedia.

[NomadYarg]

This is a strange move for Macromedia, as someone else mentioned, South Park is very crappy looking animation. Why would they want to demonstrate what you can do with Shockwave with something that is supposed to be very collage like. The most important thing in South Park is the sound, that's what makes it funny! No one went to the South Park movie to see next generation "Toy Story 2" graphics, so why would anyone goto shockwave.com to see something unamazing visually. They should stick to showing off Shockwave's ability to do flashy and fast websites. But hey if what the South Park gang can come up with something funny for http://www.Shockwave.com then I'm all for it!

Re:Strange move for Macromedia.

[demachina]

Flash is a vector based animation tool. It is ideally suited to displaying flat 2D animation with modest download times for the poor souls still stuck with 56K modems. South Parks animation style is ideally suited to the tools around which shockwave.com is focused.

For shockwave to show something flashy, 3D and Toy Story like would mean a bunch of big movie file downloads which don't work very well unless you have high speed net access. I wager they will offer higher quality content but not untile high speed net access is more widely available.

Re:OPEN SOURCE ENTERTAINMENT

[Anonymous Coward]

grits boy is better qualified to answer that one.

--open source xxxx man

Re:OPEN SOURCE ENTERTAINMENT

[cheese63]

how dare you moderators mark this down.. this is quality posting. the person who posted that had to take at least 5 minutes of their time to make it up. it should be 2, Funny. you bastards.

censorship?

[Haven]

Will they allow cursing in the short cartoons?

Re:censorship?

[Haven]

I know in the article the creators said they would have freedom, but what will macromedia do?

But Macromedia doesn't support Linux...

[Anonymous Coward]

Why put it on Slashdot if it is a Windows-only
article? I don't get it.

Please explain.

Re:But Macromedia doesn't support Linux...

[JohnG]

Macromedia DOES support Linux. The Flash player has been available for Linux for a long time. The shockwave player isn't however.

Re:But Macromedia doesn't support Linux...

[Lachrymite]

I believe there are Linux Flash players now. I'm pretty sure it's Intel only though, my friend's Alpha still can't do Flash stuff. Also, I heard somebody mention a Java applet that runs Flash... I don't have any details on that though.

Re:But Macromedia doesn't support Linux...

[Anonymous Coward]

So that Flash 4 plugin I use everyday on Linux must be all in my imagination ??

Re:But Macromedia doesn't support Linux...

[Anonymous Coward]

Well macromedia does support Linux partially: they provide a flash player. However I can't get into the site because I don't have director - so I can't access the southparkt movies even though I could view them.... Anyone know a solution for that?

SouthPark

[Anonymous Coward]

SouthPark has no place in the internet! For months and years now it has brainwashed our hapless children into doing unspeakable crimes!

I feel that the introduction of SouthPark onto the internet (already saturated with pornography and evils) will make our children that much suseptiple to their heart's of darkness!

Act now! Please stop this. THEY ARE GOING TO KILL THE CHILDREN! http://www.lds.org can protect you all, go there!

Re:SouthPark

[spectecjr]

SouthPark has no place in the internet! For months and years now it has brainwashed our hapless children into doing unspeakable crimes!
I feel that the introduction of SouthPark onto the internet (already saturated with pornography and evils) will make our children that much suseptiple to their heart's of darkness!

The world has been saturated with pornography for many many many years. One man's pornography is another man's erotica. One man's erotica is another's proof that God exists (that is, there is beauty in the world).

Your children should not be watching SouthPark anyway. Any adult who allows their children to watch that show is irresponsible. I'd say that kids should be at least 14 years old before watching it - and that's with parental discretion.

Act now! Please stop this. THEY ARE GOING TO KILL THE CHILDREN!

Really? Why? How come? I mean, it's a fucking cartoon . It is NOT FOR CHILDREN . It is FOR ADULTS ONLY . Use your brain and please take this opportunity to make the world a better place by taking responsibility for your own children by not letting them see it!!!

They're not old enough. You have the remote. You control the horizontal. You control the vertical. Just turn the fucking channel! Are you powerless? Are you going to turn another screaming skrikey brat who expects everything their way onto the planet? Yet another kid who can't interact socially with the rest of the world because you let them do whatever the hell they liked and expected THE GOVT. to fix it?

Please, grow up. Stop playing at being a parent.

http://www.lds.org can protect you all, go there!

Ummm... I know a few members of the LDS church who are Southpark fans. Go figure.

Just please, do this one thing for me:

Buy a clue and take responsibility for your kids upbringing. If not you, who the hell do you expect to do it?

Simon

Re:SouthPark

[DukeofURL]

"For months and years now it has brainwashed our hapless children into doing unspeakable crimes!" What?, there is only one answer for this. I must use a quote from Cartman aka fat boy on SP "God Dammit".

Re:SouthPark

[delmoi]

SouthPark has no place in the internet! For months and years now it has brainwashed our hapless children into doing unspeakable crimes!

Well, this is somewhat beside the point, but southpark has been available online for quite some time now, usualy in realmedia format though, and I don't want to rape my computer by puting on another viral application that feels the need to rape windows and reassociate every single filetype with itself... (quicktime is bad enough, I can't view png files on the net normaly anymore when its installed...)

Re:SouthPark

[Anonymous Coward]

Buy a clue and take responsibility for your kids upbringing. If not you, who the hell do you expect to do it?

Buy a clue and try to recognize sarcasm when you see it...

Re:SouthPark

[spectecjr]

Buy a clue and try to recognize sarcasm when you see it...

1. Looks like I'm not the only person who didn't recognize this as sarcasm.
2. If it was meant to be sarcastic, why did it read *EXACTLY* like the person was serious?
3. Sarcasm doesn't necessarily work well in text. Inflection helps. Or an emoticon.

Re:SouthPark

[Anonymous Coward]

did you just get on the internet yesterday? did cmdrtaco ever put that AOL ban thing together?

Re:SouthPark

[Wah]

it's actually a pretty good parody of the tirade against Terrence and Phillip in the South Park Movie, but a wild guess says you missed that one too, :-)

Re:SouthPark

[Anonymous Coward]

did you just get on the internet yesterday? did cmdrtaco ever put that AOL ban thing together?

No, but I'd wager that you did, asshole. Betcha don't know your arse from your SMTP socket.

Simon

STILL no Linux Shockwave player!!!

[fluffhead]

From the Macromedia website at http://www.macromedia.com/support/ shockwave/svt/ when you try to install Shockwave (i.e. Director, NOT Flash)....

You chose "Other" platform because you are not on Windows or Macintosh.

Currently, Macromedia has not made any announcements regarding versions of Shockwave Player for OS/2 or other platforms. Please stay tuned to this site for updated information about other platforms.

Please see Guide to Shockwave Player browser and platform compatibility for more information about which browsers and platforms are supported.

If you would like to log your request that Shockwave Player support platforms other than Windows and Macintosh, then please send us your feedback.

Well - go to it /. !!! P.S. be nice, no flames, etc.

#include "disclaim.h"
"All the best people in life seem to like LINUX." - Steve Wozniak

Why this is cool

[BrotherPope]

This deal has the potential to break Hollywood's grip on what gets seen on TV. How's that, you ask? Read the frickin' article I tell you...

This is not South Park on Shockwave.com. That has been done already. This is a new Parker/Stone series, done in 2-5 minute bursts, created with Flash. Shockwave.com is willing to give these two pretty much total creative control in return for their names with an option to sell.

Something new from Trey and Matt, with a guarantee of more vulgarity than South Park, is a way to pull in thousands if not millions of viewers to Shockwave.com. They can pretty much count on getting everyone who has watched South Park at Shockwave.com to check out the new series. South Park viewers have always been very net savvy. Remember South Park on Realplayer? Hell, a lot of you are probably still watching South Park that way. People who are willing to watch a 'pirate' copy of South Park in grainy Realplayer quality are probably going to be willing to watch this new series at least once.

And what if people keep coming back? Shockwave.com serves up more ads and makes more 'money'. The real cash here comes from Shockwave.com's option to sell the series to Hollywood if it takes off. Hollywood gets a proven series with a quantifiable following. Shockwave gets Hollywood Dollars. Trey and Matt get to swear as much as they want. Win-Win-Win

check out www.canniballovers.com/kam

[Anonymous Coward]

my friend has been doing matt and trey related flash stuff for a while now! she even got recognized as shocked site of the day last year or something. i know matt and trey appreciate her work. i hope she gets some credit or gets to work on these cartoons!

Re:OPEN SOURCE ENTERTAINMENT

[Anonymous Coward]

forget about it. every -1 those little bitch slave moderators gives me makes me that much harder. it's like having them right here with their hand down my pants. every -1 is another stroke, baby.

It's "News for Nerds", not Linux users

[edremy]

It's not Windows only: the Mac has a Shockwave player as well.

In any case, since when do all nerds use Linux? Personally, I use NT, Mac and Linux as needed.

Flash? Not included with Netscape/Linux...

[Anonymous Coward]

So therefore it isn't shipping with Netscape.

This isn't a Windows web site, so please don't
spout out Windows software information... it is
irrelevant.

It's still Parker

[Anonymous Coward]

It's still Parker

Re:It's still Parker

[Anonymous Coward]

No it's not. I'm wrong.

Moderate this UP!

[Anonymous Coward]

Come on - This has more insight that most of the other posts!

+2 Funny

Shockwave and Non-x86 Linux

[john_boy]

I've never missed the Shockwave and Flash plugins for Netscape before -- I'm running Linux on a PowerPC which, like all other non-x86 chips, is not supported by Macromedia on the Linux side.

But gee, it's the guys who brought us Orgazmo. Now I wanna see the neat Flash cartoons. I'll be emailing them at customerservice@macromedia.com, and sending a polite note to
Macromedia, Inc.
600 Townsend St, Ste 310W
San Francisco, CA 94103

I urge anyone else who is unable to use Flash and Shockwave to do the same -- I imagine they could make the port rather easily, already having an x86 version, but don't see the demand yet.

John

Yes, but...why?

[SnakeEyes]

What I'd like to know is "why?"
Why this and why now?

If ever South Park was a hot commodity, it was about 2 years ago before they managed to piss off most of their die-hard fans with the whole Terrance and Phillip debacle (remember that episode? It was *supposed* to be the "who is Cartman's Father" episode).

Certainly this is odd timing what with the dismal display of the South Park movie, which grossed *far* less than most predictions...and even failed to be all that funny.
Did anybody think all of the anal-rape jokes were even remotely funny or necessary?

It just seems like an odd move for shockwave since the South Park creators have never really been able to do anything right outside of the occasional funny South Park episode. (Remember Orgazmo or Baseketball?)
I rest my case.

Re:Yes, but...why?

[Myddrin]

If ever South Park was a hot commodity, it was about 2 years ago before they managed to piss off most of their die-hard fans with the whole Terrance and Phillip debacle (remember that episode? It was *supposed* to be the "who is Cartman's Father" episode).

Speak for yourself. I (and most of my SP watching friends) laughed our asses off. Very reminsicient of a certain Mr. Kaufmann....

BTW, do you happen to have proof that they are no longer "hot"? Slipping ratings? Lack of merchandising? Seems to me that the SP christmas ornaments argue against you!
Certainly this is odd timing what with the dismal display of the South Park movie, which grossed *far* less than most predictions...and even failed to be all that funny.

Again speak for yourself.

Did anybody think all of the anal-rape jokes were even remotely funny or necessary?

If you are watching a show/movie that is know and marketed as being offensive, you should not be suprised if it sometimes offends you.

(Remember Orgazmo or Baseketball?)
Hmmm... both of which I personally found to be very funny. See my point immediately above.

*smack* Troll.

[Robert S Gormley]

Neither is it a Linux website.

Re:*smack* Troll.

[Anonymous Coward]

It's certainly a free software website, and has been since it started.

Re:*smack* Troll.

[Robert S Gormley]

Actually, it has been a "news for nerds" site, since conception. "Free software" is just something that some 'nerds' are interested in.

The clothes do not maketh the man.

Spumco.

[IanCarlson]

I'm also pretty sure John K. doesn't do any T.V. *series*. I think there is a Spumco animation on Nickelodean.

I was a huge fan of Ren & Stimpy until when it was on MTV, and could get away with damn near anything. But Viacom holds Nick to a higher standard ("Ha!") and they lobotimized the show.

I saw a *really* neat-o Spumco animation on MTV a couple of days ago. The video for Bjork's "I Miss You", is definately Ren & Stimpy -esque.

But I don't think we should count out some future Spumco genius. They did it once, they can do it again. And, I for one would love another animation that I could sit on the couch and watch without feeling too stupid, and right now, South Park sure isn't giving me that.

tacked on?

[Anonymous Coward]

Jesus was tacked on later.

Is that supposed to be a pun? ;-)

I agree!

[astyanax]

Im serious moderator types, these things are probably the funniest things Ive read in quite some time! That other poster who gets into the hot grits in one's panties is going a bit too far, but I think this ACs posts, while a bit off topic, are freakin hillarious!

Is it possible to be >0 and marked Offtopic? How about 1, Funny?

Moderate em up!!!

Re:I agree!

[slimharpo99]

Definitely. This open source natalie portman guy
cracks me up :)

hot new internet company

[Anonymous Coward]

It doesn't take much more than a few short cartoons today to create a "hot new internet company" that will be worth billions in the stock market.

OPEN SOURCE NATALIE PORTMAN NOW!

[Anonymous Coward]

I keep hearing people say it, but I still haven't seen the frickin source so where is it?!@# OPEN SOURCE NATALIE PORTMAN NOW!

The open src Drew Barrymore sucked. Prolly cuz the original wasn't veyr good to begin with.

Re:OPEN SOURCE NATALIE PORTMAN NOW!

[Nastard]

what the hell are you talking about ? :)

A terminally humour-impaired Christian reviews SP

[psychonaut]

South Park is nothing more than one big Christian-bashing jamboree. The Lord is portrayed as having a bumbling talk show called "Jesus and Friends." A piece of human excrement is used as the mascot for Christmas. Satan is portrayed as being an affable character that is liked by the townspeople. They had an Easter show where they crucified the fat kid on a cross, for crying out loud! And it goes on and on to sickening proportions.

I know where this guy gets his material: the Christian Childcare Action Project's Review of Southpark . Here are a couple juicy tidbits:

*South Park* is another movie straight from the smoking pits of Hell.

*South Park* is an *incredibly dangerous* movie for those who do not understand or are developing an understanding of the Gospel ....... INCREDIBLY dangerous.

Satan is portrayed as the homosexual lover of Saddam Hussein and is portrayed as a sensitive, loving and caring being. Hussein waves his disembodied male member around. And it was not a cardboard drawing like most other images of the movie -- it was of photographic resolution. The most foul of the foul words was clearly spoken *by the children* at least 131 times and many other times in a muffled or garbled way. The three/four letter word vocabulary was used at least 119 times. God's name in vain was used 11 times without the four letter expletive and 6 times with it. And many times the child characters were saying things like "What's the big deal" (about the foul language). "Suck my --", "Let's ([homo]sexual intercourse)", and repeated questions about a female private organ were but a very few of the vulgar expressions used by the kids.

Follow the above-provided link for the complete review...

Regards,

damn, you ask a simple question...

[apocalypse_now]

All I did was wonder aloud if they would include a simple video clip, and you all go and get your panties in a bunch... Sheesh.
--
Matt Singerman

Re:damn, you ask a simple question...

[Anonymous Coward]

Sorry, dude, but sometimes a late-afternoon troll is a great way to relieve tension. :)

prostitution

[dermond]

on the one hand i am not surprised: the flash crap has the image of being
only a tool for stupid corporations that have no idea of what the internet is
all about. pretty flash animations without content. just the opposite of what
the web was meant to be. so i can see how desperately the macromedia people
are searching for something that is young and kewl.

on the other hand i am realey disappointed that the southpark people are
selling their souls for big $$$. this is prostitution.

Its worse than a %&$#ing religion.

[Anonymous Coward]

Not everything has to do with Linux. Its worse than a %&$#ing religion.

Re:A terminally humour-impaired Christian reviews

[cheese63]

Hahaha, South Park Movie got a worse score than Natural Born Killers! Natural Born Killers was a *really* good movie too, I should go see Southpark...

Re:A terminally humour-impaired Christian reviews

[aenea]

My favorite was the review for Blair Witch:

"One hundred thirty eight uses of the most foul of the foul words. *The Blair Witch Project* actually beat *South Park:BLU* in use of the most foul of the foul words. Also were 71 uses of other three/four letter foul words PLUS 17 uses of God's name in vain, 6 of which were with the foul letter expletive and 3 of which were vain use of the name of our Savior."

The image of some guy sitting in a theatre making little check marks everytime some let slip with the most foul of the foul words just makes me laugh.

Remember Stick-figure theatre

[Anonymous Coward]

Stick figure theatre from MTV's liquid telivision would be great if they were remade in a suitable format. Can't anyone give that team contract for weekly web shorts. That would be great, cartoons are so stale...

slashdot=people magazine?

[Anonymous Coward]

This is not "news for nerds", nor is it "news that matters". Just more promo for stupid hollywood crap. Of course, South Park IS a lot more entertaining than other crap that gets a ton of slashdot promo, like the most worthless comic in print or on the web, User Friendly.

Already??

[Dodgie]

Aren't there already south park cartoons on the Shock site? Maybe I'm getting confused with Real's site...

Santa Bashing is the real tragedy!

[Jabberwok]

The worst thing about South Park is all the Santa bashing going on!
A little Jesus-bashing and the whole Fundamentalist world freaks out, but who sticks up for Santa?!!?!
Wasn't he good to you last Christmas?
Really, you all should be ashamed.

It's Kricfalusi (no text)

[Johnboy]

see subject

Re:A terminally humour-impaired Christian reviews

[Lee Cremeans]

For extra added fun, go read their review of American Pie. It states right at the beginning that the reviewer walked out after just 44 minutes.

Now I know that these reviews are intended for people to see what movies their kids shouldn't watch, but for some films (South Park comes to mind), they treat them as if they were so awful that NO ONE should see them at all.

-lee

Re: the "pray daily" B.S.

[bobv_picus_com]

Probably from a poll.

Pollster

Excuse me sir, but would you like to take a poll concerning your religion?

Atheist

Get lost, man.

P.

And how about you, sir?

Member of the "Moral Majority"

Why certainly!

P.

Do you believe in God? If so, how often do you pray to Him?

M.M.M. (Hmm... better "vote" the "right" way!)

Of course I believe in God. Doesn't everybody?
And I pray at least three times a day.

(Good food, good meat, good God, let's eat!)

Traditions

[Anonymous Coward]

"Christmas is part of the christian tradition, which is more than just the bible."

You should read what the guy who gave the name to this family of religions thought about traditions, especially those that were using religion for the sole aim to make money.

Re:A terminally humour-impaired Christian reviews

[psychonaut]

For once, I agree with the CAP review... I also walked out of American Pie, and a lot sooner than 44 minutes in. That movie has absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever. I think it was desperately trying to outdo the outrageously funny Something About Mary, but the filmmakers just didn't quite get the point. Gross != funny. Vulgar != funny. Predictable most certainly != funny. Mary's "where'd the semen go?" joke was hilarious because of the frenetic buildup and completely unexpected result. Pie's semen joke was simply in bad taste -- it was pretty easy to see from the beginning that it would end up in the mouth of some careless jock.

Regards,