Penny Arcade - Comic - Aftermarket

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Penny Arcade - Comic - Aftermarket

Videogaming-related online strip by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins. Includes news and commentary.

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poipoigirl

Its Gabe, he'll say something regrettable eventually.

Skull2185

I like Gabe in panel 2. It's nice to have a reminder of what a sweet simpleton he is.

The Ninth Guardian

This game is sooo good, and so addictive. But Gabe has a point, if it weren't Star Wars, it wouldn't be nearly as appealing. Also, it was released around the same time as Star Trek: Attack Wing. While X-Wing had beautifully detailed and painted miniatures, the ST ones looked like extruded plastic turds.

Both are great games (or so I've heard about Attack Wing), but I have never seen anyone play the Star Trek game, and this past Saturday I attended an X-Wing tournament with 112 players. That's how far 'aesthetics' get you.

Ivan Hunger

Vorthos and Melvin.

FriendFive

Finally, they did a strip about something I am in to. Seems like there is a resurgence in interest in the game. Scott Kutz did a couple of strips about the game this past week.

YoungFrey

This feels like the Tycho version of the Tearaway strip, Badfeel.

islington

Killing it with the hands! the last two strips have had really awesome hands, I'm not sure why they jumped out at me this time, but I had to point them out they're so good.

Kagera

poipoigirl wrote: »

Its Gabe, he'll say something regrettable eventually.

Or he already has but Tycho's rage is so vast it's taking a while to process.

Inquisitor

The Ninth Guardian wrote: »

This game is sooo good, and so addictive. But Gabe has a point, if it weren't Star Wars, it wouldn't be nearly as appealing. Also, it was released around the same time as Star Trek: Attack Wing. While X-Wing had beautifully detailed and painted miniatures, the ST ones looked like extruded plastic turds.

Both are great games (or so I've heard about Attack Wing), but I have never seen anyone play the Star Trek game, and this past Saturday I attended an X-Wing tournament with 112 players. That's how far 'aesthetics' get you.

X-Wing also plays better than Attack Win, so it wins on both the aesthetics front, the gameplay front, and, especially post Force Awakens, the general popularity front. It's not really a contest.

Unknown

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donavannj

The Ninth Guardian wrote: »

This game is sooo good, and so addictive. But Gabe has a point, if it weren't Star Wars, it wouldn't be nearly as appealing. Also, it was released around the same time as Star Trek: Attack Wing. While X-Wing had beautifully detailed and painted miniatures, the ST ones looked like extruded plastic turds.

Both are great games (or so I've heard about Attack Wing), but I have never seen anyone play the Star Trek game, and this past Saturday I attended an X-Wing tournament with 112 players. That's how far 'aesthetics' get you.

Part of that is better brand recognition and exposure. More people in general are Star Wars fans and many don't see it as being as nerdy as being into Star Trek.

Though I do agree that aesthetics are a big factor, too, as this type of game is extremely expensive to start playing, and sticker shock would definitely strike someone not used to the prices of tabletop gaming in general.

Quid

Middle panel Tycho is exactly how I feel when I find an optimal build in a strategy or tactics game.

CharlesMabe

Isn't Tycho the asshole who criticized Gabriel's kids for LARPing? Eh, who needs imagination and roleplaying? We don't play classic RPGs for THAT! You know, they made a movie about people like Tycho. It's called "The Gamers: Dorkness Rising". It's a pretty hilarious D&D film.

YoungFrey

CharlesMabe wrote: »

Isn't Tycho the asshole who criticized Gabriel's kids for LARPing? Eh, who needs imagination and roleplaying? We don't play classic RPGs for THAT! You know, they made a movie about people like Tycho. It's called "The Gamers: Dorkness Rising". It's a pretty hilarious D&D film.

Exact opposite. Tycho encouraged Gabe's son Gabe<sic> to LARP when Gabe told him it was bad.

knitdan

Also there's a meta commentary about how for Gabe the art is the most important thing and for Tycho it's all about the writing and the mechanics.

They're (jokingly I hope) shitting all over each other's contribution to the partnership, and it's ground they've covered before but I still enjoy it.

Lucascraft

Tycho writes:
Gabriel allowed me to have what I wanted most in this strip, even though the entire production is an attempt to shame him, by having Tycho slobber on a card. It was a moist indulgence that is deeply appreciated.

This is a fantastic sentence. Also, it entirely summarizes the genesis of this strip.

jothki

Looks like someone has never played Orks.

Ravelle

I watched the tutorial on that board game and I kinda want it now, it looks amazing.

Unknown

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Djiem

I dunno if I find the aesthetics to be just as important as the mechanics, but they definitely matter.

shadowysea07

the image just did not go with the text for #2

Rail Virus

As always the humor is spot on, love listening to them brainstorm this stuff, but it seems like the art has gotten more 'loose' than it used to be, almost like it should have been in the transitional period of '09-'11.

PLA

shadowysea07 wrote: »

the image just did not go with the text for #2

Sweet numbers?