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Penny-Arcade Videogame Announced 129

Posted by Zonk from the free-radioactive-scorpion-with-every-box dept.
MaryAlan writes "Penny-Arcade has announced that they're going to be making a game, partnering with Hothead games to create titles featuring the characters of the comic. The games will be released in episodes several times a year, digitally downloaded, and will play on Windows, OS X, and Linux, with an eye on consoles somewhere down the road. The first game is to be called Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness. There's also talk of the possibility they'll be released on Steam." From the Kotaku article: "'We're really excited to be working with Hothead Games on our first electronic adventure,' said writer Jerry 'Tycho' Holkins. 'From the moment we laid eyes on them, it was clear they had the technical and creative chops to execute our grim vision. Now that we have pooled our strengths, our dark work may truly begin.'" Yay! Dark works!
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Penny-Arcade Videogame Announced More

Penny-Arcade Videogame Announced

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  • Yay, I found this secret fruit blending device (Score:5, Funny)

    by CrazyJim1 ( 809850 ) on Friday August 25, 2006 @01:59PM (#15979995) Journal
    Wait, no. No, get it away. Ahhh, stop that! Can't get image out of my head. Must drill brain out!

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by irablum ( 914844 )
      Favorite kitchen appliance ever!
    • They'd better put that in there somewhere...

      • umm, RTFA? (Score:3, Informative)

        by Phil Urich ( 841393 )
        I mean, I know that this is /. but seriously, it's right near the start there (and this isn't some crappy corporate page that's annoying to have to browse through even).

        The episodic game, which will feature many fan favorites from the Penny Arcade universe (including the Fruit Fucker), will be delivered in monthly installments.
        • Sorry, my work blocks anything having to do with "gaming." It really sucks...
        • How are you supposed to promote a game character whose name is probably the most infamous naughty word in standard American English?

          Moreover, and this one kinda depends on how prominent Fruit Fucker is in the game, how will the public handle the fact that a "cartoon video game" actually contains such an adult theme? Cartoons and video games are, after all, for children and only children!

  • At last! (Score:5, Funny)

    by Golias ( 176380 ) on Friday August 25, 2006 @02:00PM (#15979999)
    There will finally be a new game release which Gabe and Tycho won't bitch about.

    • Re:At last! (Score:5, Funny)

      by legoburner ( 702695 ) on Friday August 25, 2006 @02:01PM (#15980015) Homepage Journal
      I wouldn't bet on that.
      • I await the strip in which they are sitting at the computer playing as themselves. Does that qualify for an out of body experience?

      • Re:At last! (Score:4, Informative)

        by zenhkim ( 962487 ) on Friday August 25, 2006 @06:48PM (#15982430) Journal
        >> [Golias] There will finally be a new game release which Gabe and Tycho won't bitch about.
        >
        > I wouldn't bet on that.

        Me neither. :) You could say that Penny Arcade wouldn't be Penny Arcade if Gabe and Tycho weren't bitching about *something* regarding their games. I can imagine them testplaying the first release of Penny Arcade: The Game -- "Dude, I do *not* look like that! And what's with giving me that silly walk??" "What the fuck?! No Cardboard Tube Samurai?? How can they NOT fucking give me the option of turning into Cardboard Tube Samurai?!? FUCK!! Fuck, fucking fucked-up fuck fucker... FUUUCK!!!!!!!"

        Even the incredibly unique PS2 title "Ico" didn't escape criticism: the first time Gabe tried the game, he apparently tripped so heavily on the beautiful graphics that he froze into a smiling statue on the couch; later on we see Gabe driven up the wall by Yorda's inability to understand that WANDERING OFF GETS HER IN TROUBLE -- that and her attempts to communicate in a language unknown to anyone. ("Yeah, yeah, whatever. I don't speak 'crazy bitch'!")
      • Score: +1, Oh Snap!

    • Re: (Score:2, Informative)

      by knardi ( 974311 )
      > There will finally be a new game release which Gabe and Tycho won't bitch about.

      As they are fond of reminding their readers, they tend to not make comics about the games that they play that they like, because (to quote Tycho) "the muse is reticent." In other words, just because their comics are often critical doesn't mean that they hate all games.
    • There will finally be a new game release which Gabe and Tycho won't bitch about.

      Surely you're joking ....
    • You ain't kiddin'.
      http://www.newevolution.net/nc17/sa_penny.jpg [newevolution.net]
    • I sense they will be jumping the shark with this video game.
  • I wont hold my breath. I'm still waiting for the next installment of their regularly scheduled podcast......

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by knardi ( 974311 )
      > I wont hold my breath. I'm still waiting for the next installment of their regularly scheduled podcast......

      You conveniently fail to recognize that their comics have been consistently on time, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, for over 7 years.

      • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

        by ConsumerOfMany ( 942944 )
        my girlfriend/wife and I had sex regularly for more than 7 years. Doesn't mean that it continued like that :) Past performance isn't always an indicator of future returns......
      • Mind you, I'm not complaining about the fantastic FREE entertainment they provide me, but I think "consistently on time, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, for over 7 years." is a bit of a stretch. I seem to recall many a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday that did not have a new comic up "on time". In fact, I have seen the dark days where I could not read a new Penny Arcade until the following Tuesday, Thursday, or even Saturday. Thank God for the archive! That always calms the jitters right down...

      • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

        by LoveGoblin ( 972821 )
        Also that they said they probably weren't going to be doing any more podcasts (at least, not regular ones) because they didn't like how they were turning out. So he's holding his breath because he wasn't paying attention. :)

    • Re:Episodes a few times a year......... (Score:4, Funny)

      by ConsumerOfMany ( 942944 ) on Friday August 25, 2006 @02:10PM (#15980088)
      since 6/20/06 that is. They made 4/5, 4/12/ 4/20, got me hooked, then made 6/20 then nothing. ALmost like they are operating on some sort of Log scale.....

    • I do believe they said they would continue the podcast regularly after PAX. Saying something about being too aware of the mic in the room and the pressure to be funny.

      Would quote, but site's taking a bit of a pounding right now. It was in a recent post.

    • If you had bothered to actually read their website [penny-arcade.com], you would know that they had decided to stop making them with any sort of regularity.
  • I can't wait for the Cardboard Tube Samurai episode. I think PA is hillarious, and I hope this joint venture will be as good as they think it will. I have faith but there's always the chance for failure. I guess we wait for the next couple years and see.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by ackthpt ( 218170 ) *

      I can't wait for the Cardboard Tube Samurai episode.

      IIRC someone already did some soft of amature CTS game.

      I think PA is hillarious,

      I'm finding them a bit less funny than they once were and a bit more full of themselves. Childs Play is a nice gesture, though, and PAX is good, considering what seems to be happening recently to E3.

      and I hope this joint venture will be as good as they think it will. I have faith but there's always the chance for failure.

      No failure will attract more attention th

    • I doubt there will be a Strawberry Shortcake episode. If there was, I'm sure Jack Thompson's head would explode.

    • Re:Woot, CTS! (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Jim Hall ( 2985 ) on Friday August 25, 2006 @02:36PM (#15980295) Homepage

      I've actually been holding out for a professionally-produced game based on the cardboard-tube Samurai. I emailed Tycho about it one day: Cardboard Tube Samurai Wii! For me, it's the killer game that would convince me to buy the Wii. Imagine: using the wiimote to deliver smackdowns against enemy samurai and ninjas. And pig sidekick mini-missions. :-)

      Sure, Gabe & Tycho would have to sell out to make this game. But only a tiny bit. And I hear that part of your soul grows back after a while.

      -jh

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by KDR_11k ( 778916 )
        Also it would solve all problems of the "what happens if your sword hits something it cannot penetrate?" variety.
      • I've actually been holding out for a professionally-produced game based on the cardboard-tube Samurai.

        Isn't that what YouTube is for??

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by HoboMaster ( 639861 )
      Forget all that... I want Catsby and Twisp! That would be one crazy fun game.

  • Wait a minute (Score:2, Interesting)

    by eieken ( 635333 )
    Do you think they would give their own game a scathing review if it sucks? :)
  • Can't wait to play Frank, the EB Games store clerk [penny-arcade.com] and his lovely assistant, Mabel. It's time to clean up the mall!

  • I hope they do this right (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Weird Dave ( 224717 ) on Friday August 25, 2006 @02:05PM (#15980053) Homepage
    I want a level where you have to punch a baby [penny-arcade.com].

  • OK (Score:5, Funny)

    by giorgiofr ( 887762 ) on Friday August 25, 2006 @02:06PM (#15980058)
    I'll buy it but ONLY if this speech is in the intro http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/04/10 [penny-arcade.com].
    • YES TO THAT! i loved that one, the first time i saw it. if anything, it needs to be in the game somewhere. i don't care where, as long as i get to see it.

  • Oh the joys..... (Score:3, Funny)

    by Churla ( 936633 ) on Friday August 25, 2006 @02:09PM (#15980081)
    They just had a story arc which screams for a cheap shoot-em-up.

    I do agree that unlocking the FF2000 character should be a priority or epic proportions.

  • I'm a big PA fan, and I have high hopes for this. Who better to put together a game than the guys who have made a tidy living off pointing out the industry's faults?

    I'm sure they know full well how huge a hit their gamer cred would take if their own game turned out lousy, so they're pretty much putting their livelihoods on the line for this.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by EraseEraseMe ( 167638 )
      Yes, because historically critics turn out far better craft than those that they criticize.

      See Roger Ebert.
    • I bet if their game sucked, they'd be the first to admit it, probably even admitting fault, and apologizing profusely, in their constant self-deprecating manner, and all would remain the same.

      OTOH, if it's successful... I can't imagine how that would change things for them. Could be good and bad.

  • Thank you, Gabe and Tycho! Even Ctrl Alt Del [slashdot.org] is happy to put the Linux user in a closet.

    It's a surprise, but a welcome one.
    • It just means that it'll be a Flash game. And they probably assume Flash 9 will have been released by then.
      • And where did you get that? I see no mention of Flash on their page. The other two games mentioned are full 3D games for the PS2, and Flash currently does neither 3D nor PS2.

        What makes you think it will be Flash?

      • Clearly your comment suggests you know very little about the capabilities of Linux and the state of Linux gaming - or you're just being a troll.

        For your information, Flash is often ported to Linux a fair time after it's written for Windows so the likelihood of this game being Flash 9 is slim to none since there will probably not be a Linux port of Flash 9 by that time. Also, there [unrealtournament.com] are [bioware.com] several [doom3.com] games [quake4game.com] that look and play better in Linux using OpenGL than they do in Windows on the same hardware. I would expe

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Skye16 ( 685048 )
          Look and play better? That's a stretch. Quake 4 looks much worse in Linux than windows. Not that it much matters, as virtually every game you listed is utter shit. With the exception of NWN, but I can't replay that game one more time or my eyes will explode.

          I realize you think you just made an awesome point, but until you can run every major game that comes out for windows, Linux is just not a viable alternative for me. Maybe for someone who games every couple of days or weeks for an hour or two, and
  • it's super intelligent web comics meets Tekkken 3! MMMmmm, it smells like money.

    Now the only question is, what'll be worse, the GBA platformer or the Xbox beat 'em up?
  • Let's just hope the gameplay is more fun, than the comics are funny.
    • Wouldn't take much. My guess is that PA is more popular for there battles with J. Thompson than for actually being witty or interesting in their comics. Hey maybe they should cut HIM a check for $10k. :)
    • Different strokes for different folks I guess. I find Penny Arcade to be absolutely hilarious.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by Soygen ( 911358 )
        Hey, I won't hate on anyone for having a differing opinion, but I can't think of a comic that has consistently failed to make me laugh anywhere near as often(which would be every time) as PA. ;)

  • Digital (Score:3, Funny)

    by th1ckasabr1ck ( 752151 ) on Friday August 25, 2006 @02:16PM (#15980132)
    Digitally downloaded? I was hoping to grab it through my analog connection.

  • I don't know how well it would succeed (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Parallax Blue ( 836836 ) on Friday August 25, 2006 @02:17PM (#15980149)
    ...as a video game. Considering the comic is famous (or infamous, if you're Jack Thompson) for its focus on video games, how well would that work when made into a video game itself? It'll be interesting to see what sort of game it is.

    There's also the issue of living up to expectations. Penny Arcade has a huge following, so if their video game is a flop, it's not going to look good and they'll catch some flak as a result. In addition, I expect this game to be very hyped simply because PA is so widely read, and that could contribute to any unreasonable expectations being formed about how good this game will be.

    In short, there are pitfalls here that they will have to overcome. The question is whether or not they'll succeed.

    -Parallax
    • I don't expect a failed video game to be a problem for Penny Arcade.

      This could just be a set up for a series of comics about failed and poorly thought out video game tie-ins.

      Keep in mind that Penny Arcade has too much self deprecating humor for the failure of the video game to be a problem.

      Based on the first game title, I'd suspect they EXPECT the game to be terrible.
      • You could be correct if you subscribe to the notion that "any publicity is good publicity as long as they get your name right." However, are the production costs and time spent developing the game really worth it just to get material for a couple of PA comics? IMHO, not really. PA doesn't seem to lack for material as it is constantly generated by the video games they discuss on the site and the companies that make said video games.

        The title, far from being an indicator that they expect it to fail, actually

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by doublem ( 118724 )
          Ultimately, we won't know anything until the game is out, or we at least have a demo. Screen shots won;t tell us much, because they could deliberately go for a "The developers phoned it in" look regardless of the game play.

          I'm keeping in mind that it's the game company footing the bill for developing the game. This could very well be a case of the developers approaching PA and the Pa guys responding with "What the Hell, it's not going to cost us anything."

          The main point I was trying to get at, is that in

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by ClamIAm ( 926466 )
      Somehow I don't think that they would make a game without being sure that it doesn't suck.

      And while it's true that a lot of their comics focus on actual games, there's a ton of stuff in the "PA Universe" that would be a lot of fun if made into a game.

  • Penny-arcade invading your entire house. (Score:3, Insightful)

    by DeeDob ( 966086 ) on Friday August 25, 2006 @02:22PM (#15980182)
    First it was in the form of a seemingly harmless online comic...

    Then i found out they invaded the marketplace of my 360...

    Then they came to invade my gaming table in the form of a Penny-Arcade card game...

    Now they'll take over my mouse and keyboard!!!

    Oh the humanity! is there no end? Will somebody please think of the children?
  • I'll only play them if I can play as the Fruit Fucker!
    • Definitely, Fruit Fucker and.....

      Grimm Shado with his two wands, Hurt and Burn. I mean two wands, that's just awesome, and his cyber-enhanced triple wand claws. What? That's not their character. Man, this game is going to suck.

  • On a Mac? (Score:5, Funny)

    by rmjohnso ( 891555 ) on Friday August 25, 2006 @02:27PM (#15980223)
    Don't they always abuse the mythical Mac gamers? I can see the ending of each episode...

    "Congrats on beating the game! You still smell like patchouli!!"

    http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/08/11 [penny-arcade.com]
    • Not always ... after all, there was a stretch of comics where Gabe switched [penny-arcade.com]. In perhaps more ways than one.

      But I agree with their general point, it's just always good clean fun to pick on Artie MacStrawman [crazyapplerumors.com].
  • I love PA, I bought their book and the gamerpics for the 360 but I am very afraid of Episodic content in games.

    I am willing to give this a try but with one hand hovering over the panic button.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Khyber ( 864651 )
      I am willing to give this a try but with one hand hovering over the panic button.

      God knows where your other hand is resting...

      Sorry, you left yourself wide open for that one. ;)

  • hey (Score:1)

    by SP33doh ( 930735 )
    there's 2.5 more hours till pax starts, what is this?
  • I'll bite.

    But will it run on Linux?
  • I personally can't wait for this. I am a huge fan of PA and the comics are hilarious. I wonder if you need to play video games in the game to advance your rank or something.
  • Theyare close to 5 months late on this announcement.

    Although i Love their comics, i wonder how this could possibly evolve into a fun game?

    RTS? RPG? or....

    MMORPG? FU&K YAH!

  • Penny arcade grows bigger. Supernova inevitable. (Score:4, Insightful)

    by kinglink ( 195330 ) on Friday August 25, 2006 @03:07PM (#15980585)
    To me this is sounding like Futurama or simpsons. Why do I hear "side scrolling" in the back of my mind.

    Penny arcade has definatly grown too big, their comics are funny at times but they get into storylines and try to develop characters and that's not what drew the fans in, in the first place. Their Dead Rising was interesting at first but has gotten lame. what could have been a decent week cartoon turned into almost three times as long and the humor was only in the first comic.

    Two or three years down the line after a failed tv pilot, I've the feeling it's all going to collapse in on them. They'll still be popular but they'll be focusing on the comic and not all these other diversions.

  • Don't want to contradict the poster but... (Score:3, Insightful)

    by rubeon ( 301850 ) on Friday August 25, 2006 @03:10PM (#15980608) Homepage
    "Run on Windows, OS X, and Linux" is pretty much the opposite of "they'll be released on Steam".

  • Obligatory (Score:2, Funny)

    by JimMelton ( 798516 )
    I hear Jack Thompson will make a guest appearance as a Mac gamer...
  • One suspects that they scrutinized their contract well, after the book debacle... but I hope they read the fine print.

    There is the concern about the entire Penny Arcade license, but focusing on just the game I hope they have full creative control. If they don't it's possible they won't like they game one iota and not want it to hit the shelves. If they don't have full veto powers, then the publisher will tell PA they have invested money, won't invest anymore and it's time to risk a return and then promp

  • You can't have a Penny Arcade game without wang.
  • It should have some funny game action in the form of tons of minigames but, each of these minigames must be preceded by an enormous back-story. :)

    For those who don't know: The leading newspost is considered to be part of the comic so much so that, occassionally, the comic might not make any sense without it. Sometimes those posts can go on for what seems to be forever.

  • Dark Works (Score:2, Funny)

    by Grimmstail ( 467196 )
    As opposed to Dork Warks, the sounds uttered by socially inept chocobos.

  • I love Penny Arcade, I really do... But so far this is only hype.

    Also, I hope that the rumors about being able to play as the Cardboard Tube Samuri in one of the episodes is true!

  • but but but (Score:3, Funny)

    by toren ( 202921 ) on Friday August 25, 2006 @06:48PM (#15982433)
    How on earth can the first Penny-Arcade video game not be called Wang Commander?

    I mean, it practically writes itself.
  • I mean, it has background and everything. At least I assume so, I don't read that crap. Comic and blog are enough for me. But the Elemenstor thing has a story at least; P/A itself doesn't. Game is released, P/A makes fun of game, sometimes a little of the game's reality leaks into P/A's.

    What's this game gonna be like, every level starts with the release of a new fake game? Maybe it'll be the game equivalant of 'Scary Movie'.
  • Much of penny arcades humor is based on parody and satire of either popculture or videogames. To maintain this humor in a for profit video game, would they need to gain permission from those copyright holders?

    Than again, I am sure that there are plenty of characters and ideas they can use which they do not get anywhere near that problem.

    END COMMUNICATION

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