First Art of new Penny Arcade game: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness

I before E, except after C, and in the cases of a few words: neighbours, their. And "leisure".

I had always assumed that the game's name was in reference to Larry's clothing, not his bachelor pad!

Looks like I have a new wallpaper!

"Me fail english? That's unpossible!" is a Simpsons quote isn't it?

"and we tend to always root for the underdog."

Ooohhh, so thats why you keep dissin' on the PS3. ;)

"I'm coming" is a reference to PA's Fruit F***er and Wii ad crossover.

I hope they don't embarass themselves with this release. I greatly support the indie development scene, but two overly-opinionated writers that have slowly lost a lot of creativity and originality in the past few years does not sound like a great start for a production process as highly demanding of technical competence as that of software development.

I strongly disagree that Gabe and Tycho have "lost their creativity and originality" in recent years. Their stuff seems as strong as ever...and if Tycho is writing the script for a game, it's going to be awesomely hilarious. By the way, "On the rain-slick: Precipice of Darkness" might be the coolest name for a video game ever.

I also strongly disagree that they've lost any creative talent over the years. If anything, they've gotten better and better. Go look at year one compared to now, the art has gotten slicker, the jokes more cutting edge, and the flow just seems to flow more. Plus, they're generally right on the mark with a lot of their opinions, they go about them in a humourous fashion, and they give quite a bit back to the community at large.

As far as webcomic artists go, I dont think I would have wanted to see a game come from anyone else.

Hmmm... don't like the poster, other than the title, it doesn't seem to be a parody.

@Komrade: "Plus, they're generally right on the mark with a lot of their opinions, they go about them in a humourous fashion, and they give quite a bit back to the community at large."

Right on the mark according to who? The people who agree with them or follow their word blindly? Talk about an unsubstantiable claim.

I do believe Tycho's getting more arrogant. In one post he talks about how he and Gabe don't pander to their audience or summat, saying that they just do what they do. A week or so later with Annarchy he talks about how it's total fan-service. I don't think he's changed his opinion or anything, but he does just sort of say whatever he feels like it. And when he's as long-winded as he is, it comes off as pompous.

I actually prefer Gabe. His insight is actually better, by and large. Like admitting that Jack Thompson sounded like the most intelligent on the G4 segment- that took a lot of guts (as oppossed to Scott Ramsomoor or however it's spelled).

As for originality- look at the most recent comic. Jim loses a roll and just walks away. That's not funny. And look at the Claw Shrimp comic from four years back. You all tell me which one is more clever.

Is it just me or is that a Pac-Man ghost in the poster?

you know, the roll for initiative was great. it was a nod to the tabletop rpgs and their stupidity at times. how a simple roll of the dice can nullify an entire attack. plus, the old skool zombie that used to live wit them a bunch of years back came out of nowhere for a guest appearance. you dont like it, fine. but wawt are you doin for the gaming community?

Just for note: the fruit *^^*er and wii crossover is found here: http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2005/09/21

"As for originality- look at the most recent comic. Jim loses a roll and just walks away. That's not funny. And look at the Claw Shrimp comic from four years back. You all tell me which one is more clever."

Just like any writer, when you've been doing it for years, every now and then, you're going to make something that isn't funny/creative/interesting/etc. I think there's just a lot of people who don't like Penny Arcade because too many people like them. It's cool to hate what's cool, ad nauseum.

Miniboss: Keep tellin' it like it is, man. I'm not afraid to admit that like any artist, Gabe and Tycho have hits and misses, but both the hits and misses are what I remember them for. And hit or miss, I'm still looking forward to this game.
And to everyone else: If you didn't find the roll for initiative joke funny, that may very well be because you are not from that circle of nerds. Get over it. It's not Gabe or Tycho's fault you're too arrogant/stupid/ignorant/whatever to see the humor in something, and even if you do see it and still find it to be unfunny, that's no reason to get all anal about a writer 'losing their touch.'

I really hope the game is true PA, warts'n'all and not one of those pretentious flights of fancy that have spotted the strips. Yes, the art is still top-whack but Tycho does tend to disappear up his own ass from time to time.

What I find interesting is how much crap Tim Buckley got for the CAD animation. I wonder how much crap PA will get for this game, especially as animation is, well, easier.

Good lord- because I don't find something funny I don't get it? I hate it? For the record, Penny Arcade has been my home page for years (ever since The GIA went down, actually). Their's is the first comic I check for updates M/W/F.

And yes, I get the comic too. I've played tabletops and I know what it's like to have powerful characters roll critical misses against weak enemies. I know what the satisfaction of rolling a natural twenty on important rolls.

It's just that.... read it. It's not clever. The "What're the chances?" "About one in twenty" thing made me giggle, but it just ends on nothing. It's like a comic where one person says "Man, the Wii is a stupid name," another responds with "You're gamer. Shouldn't the games be what matter?" and the first says "Oh yeah, you're right."

Truth be told, I have the utmost respect for Penny Arcade. They are successful and have used their success to better others (Child's Play), given back to their fans (PAX), and have never (as far as I've seen) had a "me too" attitude (unlike several other web cartoonists).

I'm just sorry, but I don't think they're as funny or as clever as they used to be.

@Classic: "but wawt are you doin for the gaming community?"

Actually, I - and most of the people here - are funding it. I put food into the mouths of the people who produce this stuff. Thus, I'd say I (as a consumer) represent the most important and pivotal part of the gaming community.

My problem with Penny Arcade is, sometimes they go through periods of several comics that are about themselves, with nothing to do with the game industry.

So what's this game going to be about: Will it be about the game industry, revealing the inner politics of the game publishers? Or, will it be about Gabe and Tycho just being generic *ssholes?

Personally, I think random crap is cool. I discovered Penny Arcade about two or three years back, and I found it really, really stupid. Now I look back and think, "Wow, that was clever."

So either a) I've gotten dumber, or b) I just got more open-minded. I had a third option, too, but I completely forgot about it by the time I got to this paragraph.

Anyway, the game seems like a really out-of-the-blue idea. But "Penny Arcade Adventures"? Oh well, at least we know it'll be at least slightly funny.

If not filled with italicized words of . . . large proportions.

I remember when Pretentious Arcade was funny, oh those were the days.

On topic: Of course they need the long, drawn out, "I'm smarter than you" title that only a windbag like Tycho would enjoy. Everybody is just going to call it "The Penny Arcade Game" anyways, and if they don't they deserve a smack.

"Hey dude, 'On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness' comes out in five days!"

SMACK!