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Trenches comic: Tuesday Oct. 4, 2011
Bogey
I'm back, baby!Santa Monica, CAModerator Mod Emeritus
I'm back, baby!Santa Monica, CAModerator Mod Emeritus
No... wait... go back over there... dammit.
09/29/2011 - Anonymous
After being part of the mobile test team for a year, my hard work paid off and I was assigned to test a REAL game for our Japanese parent company. I was excited to dig in since the game was part of a franchise I loved, and after doing a fair bit of research on the title, I arrived at work bright and early, ready to test.
I entered the room I was assigned to and closed the door behind me, eager to play, but when I turned around I found nothing but a TV and a DVD player. No PC. No Console. No controllers. No nothing.
It turned out the parent company wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea of passing around playable builds, so their level of paranoia had reached new heights. For the next few weeks, I was to “test” this game … by watching pre-recorded footage of the developer playing the game.
Not awesome!
Bogey on
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Also, same story alert! :O
We get to read the same thing over and over again, just like the testers.
Following this new comic with anticipation.
Overall I really like the character design so far, the main character is very well executed, feeling believable and original.
The Test lead character here is a bit weaker, feeling too similar to the actor Judah Friedlander and I also think the light-blue color choice for the edge of the shirt creates a glow/blur effect that's a bit uncomfortable to look at.
Are you kidding. I read everything in his voice.
God damn it.
By the way I'm going to second this "goddamn it" even though it's a fabulous idea.
I shall now be reading all Trenches stories in his voice.
1. Am I the only one who would have liked Mr. Test Lead to have introduced himself by giving a name to go with his title? It seems weird that he gave his job description before even his name. We can assume from nega-Isaac's unfinished "pleased to meet you" that they were not actually introduced while nega-Isaac was deciding who to get fired.
2. "Judas" doesn't seem like an apt password to me. It implies the betrayal of a colleague or friend, of which John was neither. You can't really betray someone you don't know.
3. Does this imply that John was Jesus to these folk? If so, all the more reason for his return later to square off against nega-Isaac.
1 - he's not introducing himself as a friend. He's a coworker, and he's introducing himself as such.
2 - Judas just has negative connotations re: backstabbing. He got a job at someone else' expense. Doesn't matter if he knew them or not.
3 - No, it implies he was a friend. Their friend got fired, they are mad.
I for one get the whole not giving his name thing. He obviously doesn't like Isaac very much from the beginning. He's not going to go over to him and give him a hug and say nice to meet you.
Also, am I the only one who thought that after the blood on the hands strip everyone was going to stop being serious and bust out laughing, and be like "We're so glad that guy is gone he was such a dick"?
What DRX said. :^:
I want to see how Isaac manages to turn this around. If ever, that is.
Yes, I agree, Judas has negative connotations re: backstabbing. But he (nega-Isaac) did not stab John in the back because he didn't even know John. You can't stab someone in the back that you haven't even met yet. Getting someone else's job at their expense is not back stabbing unless you know the person and work against their knowledge to take it from them. "Back stabbing" implies a personal connection between the stabber and the stabbee.
They don't seem mad, actually. More like put out. Like Nega-Isaac is a nuisance instead of some dick who got their friend and colleague fired. If they were mad, I doubt they'd even be talking to him.
Oh. Just say Coach McGurk. jesus. I can't believe I didn't know his real name. My girlfriend refuses to watch Archer because she can't take the character seriously, due to always picturing McGurk.
The test lead is pissed at Isaac, hence he didn't introduce himself.
"I'm your Drill Sgt, now shut up and move."
I think you may be severely over-analyzing this.
Plus, there is that slim chance of moving on up in the industry.
It's an appealing job, despite the horror stories; I saw an application for Guitar Hero III testers once. The required skills included "able to 5* Hangar 18 in Guitar Hero II on Hard difficulty"
Any job application that requires skill in Guitar Hero is an appealing one.
Not to split hairs, but that actually is what they do. They form up the company, and whoever is the most senior DS will address the recruits and identify each drill sergeant. Granted, it's more identifying your superiors than introductions, but still, they do actually give you names (well, last names, anyway).
Oh and push-ups. They also give you lots and lots of push-ups.
On a more on-topic note, the story is up. I actually don't find the interview process too ridiculous.
Also, the test lead seems to have inverted himself about his y axis for the last panel.
I think our reasoning that the "test lead" did not give Isaac his name is BECAUSE it's so odd. He didn't honor him with the courtesy of an introduction. Almost like "you don't need to know my name because I'm not your friend and you're not a person. I'm your boss and you are subordinate." kind of thing.
Somewhere in Japan, someone is making a nut-kicking-based arcade game.
And some poor Japanese guy is tasked with testing that motherfucker.
your = belonging to you
their = belonging to them
there = not here
they're = they are
Don't explain it! You don't know how deep that rabbit hole goes!!
your = belonging to you
their = belonging to them
there = not here
they're = they are
A year from now.
I think that not doing the gag a week format is a fine idea, allowing the creators to shoot for more depth in the story and humor and it's an admirable endeavor. I just don't think it's working in a webcomic format. I echo the words of youngfrey
it is. Updating bi-weekly set up is tricky, I'd really prefer something like a monthly update or weekly six panel to actually buying it in full issued comic form. I assume the problem is with a revenue model based on ads and drawing in that bi-weekly readership you really can't monotize it without subscription or sale, both notoriously bad at making an income on the intarwebs. That, or as creators your experimenting with a new medium, could be either or.
Anyway, that's my two cents. I know I'll end up reading it bi-weekly when it's available regardless and I'm sure I'll enjoy.
The STL knows Nega-Isaac is not a person. The question now is, who is STL really that he's aware of the truth behind Nega-Isaac?!?! And what will Nega-Isaac do to manipulate the situation to remove this dangerous individual from his path to vengeance? I'm totally feeling the Profit vibe now. I'm a bit of a fan of antagonist as the main character scenarios. Also, crafty manipulators.