The opinions expressed in the image below aren't meant to be taken seriously...
Gaming comics. They're everywhere, and arguably the most successful webcomic today, Penny-Arcade, belongs in that category. Are there fresh approaches to this sort of humor? I hope so, as I might be (fingers crossed) starting up a new one as a payin' gig soon (more on that as it develops). When I get more direction from the higher ups, I'll be able to better figure out how to either avoid or improve upon some of the standard formats:
- The two guys playing games. Penny-Arcade has this sewn up, and it has enough imitators to fight both sides of The Clone Wars. I wouldn't mind being able to draw like them, though.
- The meta-game. I crown The Order of the Stick as the reigning champ in this arena. Non-gamer characters in a fantasy world that the characters know works like a game is so well done here that I couldn't even begin to equal it.
- The gaming table. Knights of the Dinner Table (and other tables, actually) rules the roost on the long-form, and I hope FFN doesn't seem like a knock-off as I try to get the guys out once in a while (fresh air's good for ya, I hear).
- Straight-up gaming world, sometimes with comedy. That was Nodwick, pretty much. In the comic book, I think I only mentioned a game stat once (a body piercing being a +2 weapon, if memory serves). Another great example is Goblins. Besides, if I know this client, mentioning some things game-ish is probably required.
This doesn't completely discount the setups above; if I wind up concocting something in those areas, I've just got to put a new or different spin on it. Plus, I'm hoping to have a discussion with one of the editors involved, so I'll have more guidance by then. It's always fun rolling up new characters, right? In fact... Hmmm... Could it be that easy?
COMIC CHARACTER SHEET
Wit: This stat represents how likely the character is to deliver some intelligent contribution to a conversation. A high wit can result in long monologues which could turn off readers, even though they're well-crafted and would pass muster with any English teacher.
Punch: This measures the ability to give a closing joke or comedy beat to a situation. Combined with a good Wit score, a character could find him/herself closing nearly every strip or page in a given comic.
Craft: Can a character build or produce props? A good Craft score means the character can build or repair things for comedic effect or just owns or has access to a lot of stuff. Low Craft characters are often just reactionaries to 'the latest invention' scenarios or 'look what I got at Best Buy' setups.
Physical: How prominent any visual attributes that define the character are. Stick figures would be low Physicals, where as nearly everyone drawn by Phil Foglio possesses a high score. However, in both cases, the scores must be considered as relative to the rest of the cast; if everyone else is a 3 and you're a 4, you've still won the beauty pageant.
Drama: On the low end of things, this character largely remains out of interactions that involve emotional attachments. This doesn't preclude them from being married, as many can attest to. On the other end of the spectrum lies an Anime romantic lead on Extacy standing on a balcony in the wind, staring off into the sunset.
Charisma: Because every character sheet needs a dump stat. Mostly, this would be how likable the character is meant to be, regardless of whether they're mean, nice, evil, heroic, or whatever. This also guides how Wit and Punch would be used: as a parting shot, defusing or encouraging a disastrous idea, etc. Evil Wit/Punch seems to produce more popular quotes for some reason.
Merch: Would you want to wear this character's image on a t-shirt? The Merch score is a complicated affair, often a calculated stat resulting from all the others above, the phase of the moon, and at least three shoe sizes. If this stat is arrived at first and the others derived from it, then usually the endeavor is doomed to failure. Rare cases, like Michael Bay's 'Transformers' show that it's quite possible to work backwards and still succeed against all reason.
I may have to refine that idea further. It has some odd appeal, doesn't it? :)
Back in 'the real world,' I need to know if I should be proud of my kid or not. At the age of one, he's had two colds thus far, and he's almost over his latest bout with respiratory distress. Yesterday, he twice (once for me, once for Cristi) intentionally covered one nostril and cleared out his sinuses via the other with a sound not unlike a balloon deflating. Thusly, we can conclude that (1) he actually notices and dislikes his nose being stopped up and (2) he's found a way (though messy) of solving the dilemma. While this might be a breakthrough of epic proportions, combining him with tissue reminds me of a certain sit-com, and Josh seems to like using my shirt, anyway. Black shirts don't conceal everything, I'll have you know.
I just wanted to toss that out there in case I come to a con and look like I was attacked by something from 'Ghostbusters III.' Anyway:
- Those autonomous quadrotor robots are back. Now the madmen behind them are teaching them how to build monuments to their hive-mind from the bones of their conquered human foes. Or something like that.
- Some have complained about the "uncanny valley" effect on faces in video games. Rockstar Games may be climbing out of said valley with some new techniques and technology.
- Flooding in Australia is driven home with a canoe trip through a McDonald's. Also, the music track selection gets two waterlogged thumbs up.
- Secrecy apparently wasn't an issue in 1880's Eden, Ohio. Though I guess if the authorities came by, he could just vanish, right?
- In case you know anyone using two spaces after each sentence, they should know they're wrong to do so and should feel bad. In my experience, I hate it when someone ping-pongs back and forth between using two or one. Thank goodness for 'find " " -> replace " ".'
- I'm not a skeptic about this kind of thing in principle; I figure we'll get it eventually. In the meantime, here's your latest news about an attempt to bring back the woolly mammoth. I'm guessing this will figure into the plot for "Ice Age 5."
- I know it's from 2008, and if the movie's bad, I don't want to know. The trailer for Captain Berlin vs. Hitler has outdone the original "Castle Wolfenstein" for "best mechanized Hitler ever," in my opinion.
- Not Always Right is a painful and often humorous blog of clueless or otherwise oddball customers and the strange things they say or do.
- Tesla is a game where you are the famous genius of electricity defending his lightning-producing tower from aerial and ground assault. Upgrade your ability to zap opponents into ash by turning enemies into cash.
- A humorous look at crafting in Minecraft vs. Team Fortress 2. Of course, it's hard to put a price on a good hat, as any Jägermonster will tell you.
- Speaking of Minecraft, never trust free cake.
- Before anyone gets upset about exposing young minds to things they're not ready for, read this next page informing us about Voltron boxer shorts, as there's nothing even remotely sordid in the description or presentation to clue anyone in as to why they might be inappropriate. That said, go Voltron force.
- Superhero movies by the numbers. Also, superhero movie posters from an alternate universe.
- This is a simple yet addictive game called Man in Gap. Rather than going to the clothing store of the same name, this game has you looking for where the floor and ceiling will leave a space for your stickman to survive as they crash together.