[TRENCHES] Tuesday, April 14, 2015 - Antisocial Networking

Geth

Antisocial Networking
http://trenchescomic.com/comic/post/antisocial-networking

That’s all you needed?

Anonymous

I was working on a AAA Xbox 360 title, and testing in my own little room on a 3DTV. Also in the room was an old 480i TV as well, so I got tasked with the SD-TV test pass as well. The IT guy insisted that none of us lowly testers touch anything ever, but he was gone. Me being the honest soul I am, I pinged my lead and said “Hey, I’m done with the SD pass and ready to go back to 3D, but [IT guy] is gone. Can I just switch back myself?”

His response: “No, ping [Full-time boss that oversees many test teams].”

So I did. She came in and asked what I needed, and I explained it to her. “Please remove the component cable from the back of the devkit, and plug in the HDMI.” I walked her through it step by step. In the time it took to ping my lead, the boss, and walk her through it, I could have done it myself 15 times, but doing that myself could have gotten me fired.

gbrooks

I get how Trenches has followed a "seasons" paradigm. I feel that the recent strips have been deleted scenes from previous seasons. I'm having trouble following any kind of storyline, which is tough because these characters have been set up with backstories and personalities and motivations. I love PA, which has so few recurring storylines or even repeating themes, but Trenches is different and without an ongoing story I'm just losing interest.

Sterica

A quick recap:

• Before Trenches, Isaac is some kind of developer, but fucks up and is blacklisted or something.
• Isaac gets a job at some game company as a tester.
• Stuff happens, notably a botched MMO launch where Cora rats on her (and Isaac's) company's wrongdoing.
• Q quits his current job as test lead to form his own development company. Most of the cast comes along with the promise of better work.
• Turns out they're just there as testers again and in fairly shoddy conditions.
• Q gets Cora her father (a GRRM sort of author) to allow them to make games based on his books. They take a lot of creative liberties to bounce back from an accidental launch, and this upsets Cora's dad until he realizes writing tripe is easy money.
• Gwen suggests some ambitious idea that bankrupts the company.
• The new company is bought up by an EA type corporation, presumably because they still have the lucrative IP.
• But everyone is given the switcheroo, with Q, Isaac, and everyone else being sent back to Q&A positions for this new company.
• Current season begins.

Daimar

What is this, Lost?

Morgan Blackpowder

Far be it from me to debate a mod, but I think gbrooks's point is that where you have the bullet point "Current season begins" is where he's having trouble finding the story. Since that bullet point, it's just been non-linear content which would have easily been placed anywhere previously in the storyline you've outlined.

Sterica

I wasn't arguing anything, but rather helping people get back up to speed on the comic.

Comics taking breaks to write out and start a buffer for the next "season" or story arc is becoming increasingly popular (Broodhollow is probably one people around here are aware of). I understand this means people can forget where the current story is, but the archives are always right there if you need to get a refresher.

zepherin

Morgan Blackpowder wrote: »

Far be it from me to debate a mod, but I think gbrooks's point is that where you have the bullet point "Current season begins" is where he's having trouble finding the story. Since that bullet point, it's just been non-linear content which would have easily been placed anywhere previously in the storyline you've outlined.

Honestly I think that they should just keep to the non-linear content. This comic gave me a good laugh, and this is really the direction things should go. Give me a laugh, don't get caught up in convoluted plot lines, maybe push a story if only to change scenes and bring in new characters without retcon, but just give the laughs.

Isaac the K

Lurking for years, joined just to post this:

Anyone else notice how the supervisor #ninjasmoked Isaac's mom?

The implications there are... disturbing...

And entertaining.

forty

Oh, I thought he #ninjasmoked Issac's mom, whoever that is.

Morgan Blackpowder

zepherin wrote: »

Honestly I think that they should just keep to the non-linear content. This comic gave me a good laugh, and this is really the direction things should go. Give me a laugh, don't get caught up in convoluted plot lines, maybe push a story if only to change scenes and bring in new characters without retcon, but just give the laughs.

I would normally agree with you that those are good web comics, the kind that give you a good laugh and move on, but when Gabe talked about making this comic, he specifically stated he wanted a comic with a story rather than a series of one shots. This format goes against the wishes of one of the original creators.

zepherin

Morgan Blackpowder wrote: »

zepherin wrote: »

Honestly I think that they should just keep to the non-linear content. This comic gave me a good laugh, and this is really the direction things should go. Give me a laugh, don't get caught up in convoluted plot lines, maybe push a story if only to change scenes and bring in new characters without retcon, but just give the laughs.

I would normally agree with you that those are good web comics, the kind that give you a good laugh and move on, but when Gabe talked about making this comic, he specifically stated he wanted a comic with a story rather than a series of one shots. This format goes against the wishes of one of the original creators.

Fair enough, but I would like to counter, that Gabe handed the reins over a few times.

Tube

I'm sure if Mike has a problem with the way that The Trenches is proceeding he is capable of expressing it to the writer without your assistance.