Blog Review: Penny Arcade (2)
(note: When provided links to specific comic strips, please click the “news” tab underneath to view the associated blog postings)
Penny Arcade is a different kind of web log in that it has its origins as a comic strip. While this still serves as the central focus of the site, it has incorporated over the years an awareness of gaming culture and a commentary thereof, much like how South Park’s storylines now relate to some event or persona in popular culture. Reflecting this trend, certain updates began to be accompanied by blog postings from Tycho or Gabe (the main characters of the comic, representing site founders Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik, respectively) Whether they’re discussing Activision’s takeover of Blizzard or Gamespot’s firing of an employee due to a conflict of interest between honest game reviewing and advertiser’s interests, each and every comic and blog posting is relevant in some fashion to the happenings and goings-on in the video game industry. One could very well argue that since this awakening the blog postings serve as the inspiration for the comics rather than the other way around (an argument i adhere to). Chicken-and-egg aside, the point is that Penny Arcade possesses an awareness and a proficiency thereof that few other web sites or industry commentators wield.
Penny Arcade updates roughly three times a week (sometimes more, sometimes less depending on what’s happening in the industry, the author’s lives, or even if they feel like it). Tycho and Gabe, while today commentators of arguable influence in the industry, have no formal ties to it aside from reviewing games so as to authentically advertise on their site (they will not promote a game they do not sincerely feel is worthwhile). Their role in the industry, then, is both unique and hard to categorize – as far as “scholarship” in the gaming industry goes, they could be said to be both eminent and baseless; Eminent in that as constant viewers of and commentators on the industry they are supremely poised to render insight and advice regarding it, and baseless in that all such commentary is in the realm of pure opinion. If I had to categorize them, I would say they fall under a scholar-professional hybrid. Their work is by no means academic as their research falls more under personal opinion and experience than under bookish learnings and they profess an insightful understanding of the gaming culture (all of their commentary, while opinion, is poignant). It is interesting then that such a broad audience listens to them – everyone from casual web surfers to hardcore gamers and industry execs are fans, or at least readers, of the site. Is it because the comics are amusing? Is it because the tongue-in-cheek humor of the posts is relevant and on-topic? I would say a bit of both, though surely the fact that the site commentary is wise regarding industry activity plays no small role in its popularity.
This blog will feed my work in that it will serve as one of the prime sources of my reflections. Penny Arcade possesses a prime intelligence when it comes to video game culture and i would do well to listen to what it has to say. PA has at many times served as the voice for what many have thought regarding various goings-on in the gaming world. My site will differ in that while Penny Arcade addresses specific events and activities in the gaming community, I will be addressing the industry as a whole, and not just the industry but the self-awareness of the players in that industry (i.e. the actions and reactions of we gamers and consumers).
1 comment.
Pageflake Tour @ The Cake Is A Lie
Hosted by 