I might make myself unpopular by this, but I just have to let it out.
I don't understand why Penny Arcade is so hugely popular.
Let's take this strip (http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/6/22/), for example.
Could anyone explain to me what's supposed to be funny about it? Or at least what the heck it is about? (No, this is not taken out of a storyline, it's a stand-alone strip.)
Dunno. All I know is, xkcd rules!
Quote from: Tom S. Fox on July 04, 2009, 01:30:02 AM
I might make myself unpopular by this, but I just have to let it out.
I don't understand why Penny Arcade is so hugely popular.
Let's take this strip (http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/6/22/), for example.
Could anyone explain to me what's supposed to be funny about it? Or at least what the heck it is about? (No, this is not taken out of a storyline, it's a stand-alone strip.)
to answer your question, yes. =P
I'll admit, some of their comics are difficult to understand without reading the newsposts or understand the context, but I find it to be an enjoyable look at geek culture and humor. The above comic was about Gabe's foray into Dungeons and Dragons, a game which Tycho is quite a seasoned player of and takes a little too seriously.
Edit: I find this to be a better example. http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/6/19/
Still not very funny.
Let me post one of my favorite web comics:
(http://www.homeonthestrange.com/comics/2007/2007-05-23.png)
(http://www.homeonthestrange.com/comics/2007/2007-05-25.png)
Quote from: MrBogosity on July 04, 2009, 09:39:32 AM
Dunno. All I know is, xkcd rules!
You are right, that it does!
Quote from: MrBogosity on July 04, 2009, 01:08:24 PM
Still not very funny
I'm glad somebody agrees with me.
I guess it's a generational/gamer thing.
QuoteI'll admit, some of their comics are difficult to understand without reading the newsposts or understand the context
That's where they make their mistake. They violate the "It's not funny if you have to explain it" rule all too often.
They do have plenty of classics but they need to cut with the "in" jokes. That's really hurting them.
Well, xkcd does comics like that, the difference is once you explain it it's STILL funny!
This reminds me of something Mark Twain said: Explaining a joke is like dissecting a frog: you understand it better, but the frog dies in the process.
Quote from: MrBogosity on July 04, 2009, 08:15:28 PM
Well, xkcd does comics like that, the difference is once you explain it it's STILL funny!
I haven't read more than a few comics of it. Got an example?
Usually, that sort of joke is the type where you tell it, your audience looks confused and you go on to explain it. Everyone says "Oh, that's pretty clever I guess" but you don't get a laugh because you didn't tell the joke properly in the first place.
"Jesus fanfic"
Priceless. XD
Quote from: Lord T Hawkeye on July 04, 2009, 07:23:18 PM
That's where they make their mistake. They violate the "It's not funny if you have to explain it" rule all too often.
They do have plenty of classics but they need to cut with the "in" jokes. That's really hurting them.
Thing is, though, to me and the majority of my friends, they aren't in-jokes. We know what the context is and such, as we're following the same news events they're discussing. I didn't need to look at the news post to know what "Prototype" was about and such.
Wait a minute, Tom. Aren't you the one who posted the Ctrl+Alt+Del comic in the "Michael Jackson Just Died Today" thread?
*sigh* Yes, that was me. So?
I found a penny arcade comic we can all get behind. =P
(http://art.penny-arcade.com/photos/215165830_esoB6-L-2.jpg)
Uuuh, threat necromany...messy business.
Penny Arcade does have dry spells and not all comics can pump out winners constantly. There's always a few turds. But compared to say VG Cats which is overly campy, Penny Arcade is usually easy to follow even for someone who just dabbles in gaming. I've played D&D less than 10 times in my life and when I don't understand a joke it doesn't ruin the punchline for me. Penny Arcade doesn't do a lot of story arcs either: If you're a new reader, there's usually no need to know what happened in the previous comic(s). They'll number their "parts" accordingly too, so if you jumped into part 3 in a story arc you'll know.
My favorite has become Something Positive because it has the right blend of humor for me. Many of its comics are non-gaming humor and stuff that happens in the outside world. The only thing is it is notorious for story arcs. I still don't get a lot of the inside jokes because I haven't read every single previous comic.
(http://somethingpositive.net/arch/sp02142004.gif)
Penny Arcade has never cascaded into sappy drama threads or endless self-indulgent Mary Sue stroking like some other web comics I can name. I've never had to see one of their characters deal with a pregnancy scare or marriage, so that's good. I can't say I've laughed at every comic, but they've been more funny than not.
Quote from: AHPMB on February 22, 2010, 01:37:28 PM
Penny Arcade has never cascaded into sappy drama threads or endless self-indulgent Mary Sue stroking like some other web comics I can name. I've never had to see one of their characters deal with a pregnancy scare or marriage, so that's good. I can't say I've laughed at every comic, but they've been more funny than not.
Ctrl+Alt+Del and Buckley are considered the anti-christ by the guys at Penny Arcade :)
Not only them... *cough*Yahtzee*cough*
I have no idea how XKCD maintains its quality; this is the biggest laugh I've had in a long time:
(http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/trimester.png)
Quote from: valvatica on February 22, 2010, 01:41:19 PM
Ctrl+Alt+Del and Buckley are considered the anti-christ by the guys at Penny Arcade :)
I thought that was just a bit of an exaggeration in order to poke fun at each other.
Personally, I read both, but I prefer penny Arcade. Mainly because they remind me of me and my friend. I and can oftentimes find a comic that closely mirrors a conversation/experience I've had with my friend.
Like this one:
(http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2002/20021028h.gif)
And one that's just plain funny (came out right after the ipod was released):
(http://art.penny-arcade.com/photos/215222676_3sDUq-L-2.jpg)
Here's another one.
(http://art.penny-arcade.com/photos/500985946_59iTt-L-2.jpg)
Quote from: MrBogosity on July 04, 2009, 09:39:32 AM
Dunno. All I know is, xkcd rules!
Agreed. I like xkcd
way more than I like Penny Arcade. In fact, I don't even like Penny Arcade. (I mean, a couple were probably funny, but it's not something I think is hilarious or read often.)
Quote from: MrBogosity on July 04, 2009, 09:39:32 AM
Dunno. All I know is, xkcd rules!
My current favorite would be Cyanide and Happiness.
Quote from: surhotchaperchlorome on February 27, 2010, 12:34:31 PM
My current favorite would be Cyanide and Happiness.
Ahh, the story of my life.
Quote from: MrBogosity on July 04, 2009, 09:39:32 AMDunno. All I know is, xkcd rules!
(http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/penny_arcade.jpg)
(http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/penny_arcade_parody.png)
*Bows*
Both of the above are XKCD parodies of Penny Arcade, I thank you.
Eh, I like them both... wait did'nt I already say that?
No. No you didn't. :P
Just found another good one: Doghouse Diaries http://www.thedoghousediaries.com
(http://www.thedoghousediaries.com/comics/uncategorized/2010-04-09-ec52529.png)