Zero Punctuation: Webcomics

[Arbitrary13]

I've been wondering... people tend to get on CAD's case for using a lot of copy/paste set pieces for creating characters. I see a lot of other webcomics do this to greater or lesser extents (and, really, is it substantially different than the pose sheets that traditional comic artists and animators use?).

Then I remember that this is on the Zero Punctuation site and, more importantly, Yahtzee himself has made quite a few complaints about how Tim Buckley's art style in his comic has not evolved over the years. With that in mind, does anyone imagine that ZP's art style is going to evolve? It seems to be firmly locked into its deliberately simplistic format. Personally, I think it's brilliant, which I wouldn't say about the style used for CAD (should be noted that Buckley can draw far better than his comic suggests), but suppose this feature is still going strong 5 years from now. I can only wonder when an even more vitriolic upstart will appear to say "Zero Punctuation? It's been the same pill-shaped copy/paste art since day one. How can anyone consider that relevant or laudable?"

 

[Lord_Seth]

Even if I believed that CAD was the greatest slight against the English language and art ever concocted in the halls of mediocrity, I would still hold Mr. Buckley in a far higher esteem than you lot. I will always praise the person who tries and fails over the mindless masses that ridicule him for his failure. That failure can be taken for what it is and be criticized , such as Yahtzee did with CAD's drama debaucles, but the most wretched people on this Earth are those who engage in such a hypocrisy as to think less of a man for his failures.

In fairness, some of the criticism at him has nothing to do with his comic. Much of it comes from the fact he comes across as an egomaniac OUTSIDE of the comic.

 

[Evilducks]

Even if I believed that CAD was the greatest slight against the English language and art ever concocted in the halls of mediocrity, I would still hold Mr. Buckley in a far higher esteem than you lot. I will always praise the person who tries and fails over the mindless masses that ridicule him for his failure. That failure can be taken for what it is and be criticized , such as Yahtzee did with CAD's drama debaucles, but the most wretched people on this Earth are those who engage in such a hypocrisy as to think less of a man for his failures.

Considering what made Buckley popular was essentially trolling games, I don't think it really is much different than what posters are doing here. Last time I checked Buckley doesn't create the games he seems to enjoy mocking. Sure, he does it with colorful pictures, but it really isn't any different than what is happening here.

I'm trying and am succeeding at the things I want to do in life and I choose to mock things I have no desire to do. You're stating the same tired argument that Buckley likes to use: "Lets see you do better." I don't have to be great at something to recognize when something else is bad.

 

[Salad Is Murder]

RE: Lord_Seth

But that's a big part of the problem; it's almost impossible to seperate artist from creation at this point...especially given the self-insertion of Ethan as Buckley.

 

[versino]

everyone keeps saying CAD and that just sounds silly, since to me CAD means computer aided design so i'm a bit lost here, someone tell what you think it stands for so me and my technical terms can go play.

Ctrl+Alt+Del, a webcomic.

oh right, well i guess it makes sense, thank you kindly

 

[LordMonty]

What I like is Penny Arcade, PvPonline, The Adventures of Dr McNinja and Looking For Group

Except for PvP, I agree completely. Dr McNinja is the best thing ever. ("Yeah...you're adorable. You've inspired me. I'm gonna paint an adorable little bunny rabbit on the wall right now. With your adorable blood.")

Yea probaly a fair call on PvP I feel it struggles to be a gaming related comic as the story seems to drive it forward more so than any relation to games, although the 'ding level up' and Diablo 3 bits in the last few comics have been amusing for me.

 

[eggdog14]

Sooooo. . . .

I was aware he was satiring Ctrl-Alt-Del, but unaware that the "miscarriage" side-story-thing was actually REAL. (i've read maybe one comic from there until now)

After the startling realization that this sequence ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE, i am appalled.

Seriously WTF? it goes from "harr harr harr you're taking my shift at BB bc my baby is coming" bullshit (not funny but acceptable) to "the girl" crying in bed after a horrible tragedy?

Then it hamhandedly tries to return to making "jokes" which just comes off as sarcastic and cold.

THAT IS NOT OKAY.

I always heard that Tim Buckley was kindof a tool but jesus motherfucking christ that is dumb.

 

[Radelaide]

Was anyone else offended by the "miscarriage" thing? I know Yahtzee gets paid to slag things off, but some things are better left alone.

 

[Radelaide]

And I agree with eggdog14, TB is a tool.

 

[thebobmaster_v1legacy]

I've said it it before: Tim Buckley is a tool, immature, jerk, whatever. But giving that as a reason that CAD sucks is the same as saying GNR sucks because Axl Rose is a jerk.

 

[Moggeh]

Thank god someone mentioned XKCD.

 

[Friendly_Neighborhood_Misanthrope]

I've said it it before: Tim Buckley is a tool, immature, jerk, whatever. But giving that as a reason that CAD sucks is the same as saying GNR sucks because Axl Rose is a jerk.

/agree. I don't care what kind of prick he is, if his comic is good (which it is, not saying its the best, but its funny and fairly well done) I honestly don't give a shit what kind of person he is.

 

[deplorable]

genius as always

Gu Comics > awful, all they do is make a poop joke or have the same two characters in the exact same pose talking rubbish, or worse the old zapper mmo gag which was never funny.

CAD > has sucked recently, the humour just isn't as good as it once was.

Penny Arcade, LFG (and LICD), VG Cats, Schlock Mercenary and Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal are great webcomics [occassionally Extralife, but thats mostly only good for the weird youtube links etc]

Gu Comics are the worst though... seriously, how did they ever get popular...

one thing about Yatz, he's always honest (about himself too)

 

[TheCountBlackMetal]

Awesome review as always very witty,

I love the way he mentioned there being too many ads in his videos in one of the speech bubbles the sign of a good sense of humor,

TheCount

 

[Kovash86]

Oh, god...when I read you say that everzing is good in someone's opinion, I think I puked a little in my mouth, I've seen enough intar-wubz to know the true horrors available, which can be summed up in the internet rules seen here:http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=rules+of+the+internet

Jesus fucking christ, how the hell does "I feel this particular medium is more about opinion than some things" turn into "Evarything iz up 2 opinion DUR"?

Because everything is, hence it is a logical part of the progression of this argument...speaking of getting off topic, Versino in this particular situation it is simply easier to type CAD instead of ctrl+alt+del. I have also worked on CAD programs and I can understand your confusion, it's no big deal just relax and take a deep breath everything will be ok.

 

[A-wel Cruiz]

Getting off the "Yahtzee sucks/CAD sucks!" train for just a second, would anyone else buy that Gears of War "put one foot forward" shirt if Yahtzee offered it?

 

[Lord_Seth]

By the way, on the subject of bad gaming comics, I invite everyone to read Powerup Comics [http://www.drunkduck.com/Powerup_Comics/].

After reading that, you may think "Wow, this is terrible. Why would anyone make that? Why would anyone like that?"
The answer: Its badness is on purpose. The authors are DELIBERATELY trying to make a terrible gaming comic. That's why it's flat-out hilarious.

 

[Kovash86]

Was anyone else offended by the "miscarriage" thing? I know Yahtzee gets paid to slag things off, but some things are better left alone.

I don't mind being made aware of it, but the fact that it happened I do have a problem with, that is brilliant writing right up there with revealing that Spider-Man is Peter Parker, killing Captain America, and creating a clone of Thor(the Norse god of the storm, destined to end the Norse apocalypse also known as Ragnarok.) and putting Ultron parts in his brain, much story is explained in the spoiler

Spoiler

for those of you who don't know anything about Marvel Ultron is an evil robot bent on destroying all humans except the Wasp because it loves her....oh yeah and it turned Iron Man into a girl for about 6 issues, this thing was created by Ant-Man when he went crazy, he was trying to prove he was better than the Avengers. Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic of the Fantastic Four) and Hank Pym (Ant-Man, he became slightly more sane later) cloned Thor and put the Ultron bits in his brain to control him, big surprise when he kills Giant Man.

 

[Mr. Smiles]

I've said it it before: Tim Buckley is a tool, immature, jerk, whatever. But giving that as a reason that CAD sucks is the same as saying GNR sucks because Axl Rose is a jerk.

There is one major difference between Axl Rose and Tim Buckley, that being that Axl has talent. Yes, he's a bigoted, cop-biting, douchebag, but he can write music like nobody's business. The same can NOT be said about Buckley. Buckley sucks as an artist (as has already been pointed out) and can't write webcomic script to save his life. That coupled with the fact that he's an egotistical doucher outside of his comic makes him a no talent dick, as opposed to Axl who is a talented dick.

 

[Luthorcrow]

CAD and Penny Arcade are what you get in the waiting room to Hell. How anyone can waste precious moments of their lives reading that dreck. These comics are on the level of Garfield or Family Circus. Not funny, not clever.