f13.net

Linkage (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002014618_pennyarcade25.html)

Having only read it when linked to from here, I knew very little about PA. Like the fact that they are 10 miles away from me, or that there is a Exposition this weekend about a mile from my apartment. Small world!

BTW- the comic today is pretty funny. I may have to break down and start reading it more often.

It sounds to me like you should go to PAX if you can. HALO 2 will be shown, the guys who make Red vs. Blue will be there, they'll also be showing Matrix Online. I'd go if I was in the area.

Heh, that one didn't even produce a chuckle for me. They haven't been funny lately, IMO.  Somehow all of the adulation they get has gone to their head and short circuited their ability to produce humorous material.

Still I read them every MWF, and sometimes actually enjoy it.  Pound for pound I still like PVP a bit better. With them I'm not sure if Gabe and Tycho correspond to their real life personnas, where as with PVP it's easy to see where Kurtz draws the line between creator and creation.

PA at one time had "it", somewhere they lost "it".  I don't know what this "it" is, but if I could bottle it, I'm sure I'd make enough money to buy a deluxe carwash every Sunday.

I'm surprised 15 minutes can be stretched out this long.

They jumped the shark at fruit fucker.

Part 1 (http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2003-06-04&res=l)
Part 2 (http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2003-06-06&res=l)
Part 3 (http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2003-06-09&res=l)
Part 4 (http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2003-06-11&res=l)

Edit: In other news, Stronbad's 110th Email (http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail110.html) is easily one of his funniest. Particularly if you have small children or toddlers living at your house.

I still think PA's funny. Not every time, mind you, but I thought the one about Gabe and his wife in the car was damn funny.

BECAUSE THAT COULD BE ME. Not right now, of course, but it could be. One day.

Heh.
I haven't found PA funny for...  well, almost never. But you're right, that could have been me in that car.
Actually my 3 year old girl could have been named Oscar, because it was the price I demanded my wife pay for going into labour during the Oscars... it proved to be false labour and the show was shitty anyway, but it's the principle of the thing.

They've never been FUNNY funny, just ANGRY funny. It's an aquired taste. You could perhaps jump over to their arch-nemesis (http://www.pvponline.com) or some other comic (http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com) if you want funny.

They're a bit too ass-kissing regarding Microsoft and the XBox, though.

Now that I know they are local, that makes a bit more sense. Their offices are about 20 minutes from Bill G's estate, putting them well within goon squad reach.

On a slightly more serious note- being local, it would be easy for MS to invite them to beta testing or give them all sorts of graft, which might change their opinions. Not saying they are on the take, just that they are probably exposed to more of Microsoft's 'good' side then folks in other parts of the country. The MS hate is much less evident around here, likely because we get to see the good they do  for our tax revenues =) Plus, most of us have friends who have either retired young and rich or are currently working for MS (and being handsomely compensated for it)- both, in my case.

They've had their share of luvin' for Nintendo. And don't forget how much fun they made of the X-Box when it first got released, especially the one about the giant controller.

They aren't "paragons of virtue" so much as they just seem to be gamers who are easily swayed by teh shiney. Especially teh fre shiney.

Whose North American HQ, of course, is about a minute from Microsoft's main campus. It IS all about the graft! =)

Penny Arcade is one of my favorites, but it doesn't even compare to PvP or Ctrl-Alt-Del, or even Real Life.

How does that explain sprite being in the comics and not Starbucks. (Or is Starbucks about to release a new line of fruitfruckers drinks?)

I took it out of my bookmarksd about 2 months ago, and havn't missed it.  Power gone to thier heads and all that.

Penny Arcade I find funny when they are making topical comments on gaming like here (http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2004-08-20) or here (http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2004-08-11). The rest of the time they seem to think that being vulgar (http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2004-06-09) and "shocking" (http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2004-07-12) equates to being funny which might be true for their younger audience (http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2004-07-23) but doesn't appeal to me.

PVP seems to have drifted away from the gaming focus it used to have and is mostly just telling character stories now, similar to how MegaTokyo has changed. Every once in a while PVP will have a good gaming story line like the CoH (http://www.pvponline.com/archive.php3?archive=20040531) one.

So what's left for the game angle? VGCats?

Penny Arcade makes me laugh about once a year.  This is 2004's (http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2004-06-18).

They are pretty great guys for organizing that children's hospital donation, though.

My favorite one from 2004 was from back in February. Where he tried to provoke that Infinium Labs CEO (who's name I've completely forgotten). But that's what I get for posting at 5:45AM. Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. Braaaaaaaaaaaaaains.

My favorite strongbad email is still his childrens book one.  That one just kills me.  Other favorites are the techno one, and the end of the amusement park one where he is giving homestar the river rapids tour... "Don't forget to experience the fury of... our giftshop".

I visit that site all the time hoping for updates.  The emails are still hilarious as they trickle in.  The only thing I don't like is Teen Girl Squad.  I understand the concept and the point, but it is just TOO painful for me.

VG cats is still pretty amusing, and it's better drawn to boot.

I also particularly like the techno Strongbad email. However, I like the guitar one.

"Man, if I had a nickel for every email I get, I would throw them at people in the food court. From the railing. Like up above."