Avoiding Controversy

bar1tweetbar2facebookbar3mailbar4

first backarchiverandomnext latest

October 22nd, 2008

Avoiding Controversy

TimThis was one of those weeks where Ray and I had a difference of opinion on how the joke should be framed. Ray actually did BOTH versions of the comic, which are both good in my opinion, but we went with the above version after a small poll of friends indicated their preference. The other version can be found here. I’m not going to say which version was my favorite, so you’ll have to guess! Also, long-time readers may notice that our Sony spokesman has really moved up in the world! Do you know where he’s from?


55 Comments

  1. Tacos says:

    I think Tim prefers the version that’s up, since he runs the site and this one is the main one. I dunno, I couldn’t say which one. However, I think its pretty obvious that the alternate version will end up coming true though, just like the “Sex-box” ordeal.

    Oo, and first

  2. CKcheeseboy says:

    I think I like this one better, too. Partially because (not knowing any details about the game) I can’t tell in the second one whether a player is making that or Sony.

    And I’m a little disappointed…that’s the logo from last week! I think that would be the first time you’ve repeated (not counting the plain logo). Don’t break the streak!

    And that’s the [spoiler]guy from Best Buy and that other store[/spoiler]right?

  3. fde says:

    LOLNCGWTFOMGBBQD00DZ!

  4. sheppy says:

    OOooooooo, where do I have to preorder to get that download voucher? WHERE!?!?

  5. Tim says:

    CKCheeseboy,
    Yes you’ve got it right about the spokesman, also, Ray DID do 2 comics last night, so the logo had to take a backseat, but if you beg and plead enough I’m sure he’ll get a new one up tonight.

  6. Tacos says:

    CKCheeseboy,
    Yes you’ve got it right about the spokesman, also, Ray DID do 2 comics last night, so the logo had to take a backseat, but if you beg and plead enough I’m sure he’ll get a new one up tonight.

    Honestly, this one works just fine with this comic. An extra logo would be nice, but at the end of the day a casual reader probably wouldn’t realize it was last weeks.

  7. DrOswald says:

    I like it, bit the joke was a little obvious.

  8. I’m not sure which version I like better. The alternate is funny because it’s true (in that players will be doing this), the actual one is funny because it would never happen.

    Where’s Indiana Sackboy when you need him?!?

  9. MetaRidleyR27 says:

    Heh, pretty clever comic guys! I don’t really know what the thing they were apologizing was about. Wasn’t it something about lyrics that offended Muslims or something? I think you guys mentioned it in the podcast, but I was talking to someone. And I like the first one more, although they’re both good.

  10. roadjcat says:

    NCG!

    The past few comics have been very clever, but this is the first in a while that’s made me laugh. Good job!

  11. steve-ohs says:

    hahaha, great! I do like this version more! Yay for awesome comics!

  12. That Guy says:

    Hmmm they’re both good but I think I like the other version.

  13. Lozaiah says:

    Heh, pretty clever comic guys! I don’t really know what the thing they were apologizing was about. Wasn’t it something about lyrics that offended Muslims or something? I think you guys mentioned it in the podcast, but I was talking to someone. And I like the first one more, although they’re both good.

    Touche! Personally, I prefer this one.. It’s more to the point.

    And yes, the issue was that the lyrics of the song featured phrases and such from the Qu’ran (Koran), the “Holy Bible” of Islam. Many Muslims found it offensive, although I think the excuse was that it was supposed to get people interested in Islam.

  14. shadowkid92 says:

    i dont think this comic came as a surprise considering the podcast. but it had a little bit of everything, i laughed but don‘t give sega ideas…

  15. D3vin says:

    Ray DID do 2 comics last night, so the logo had to take a backseat

    Technically one and a half, The first panels were exactly the same (exept for text) and all he did was copy and paste the Adolf Sackler onto the black background.

    I can do logos, As seen in my two previous guest comics, I can hold my own in that department.

  16. Ray says:

    Technically one and a half, The first panels were exactly the same (exept for text) and all he did was copy and paste the Adolf Sackler onto the black background.

    Actually, the black background version was done first, and I ended up creating a lot more extra artwork for the alternate version.

    Hey Tim, you should put up a poll asking for people to vote on which one is their favorite, and a second poll asking which one of us was behind the different versions.

  17. MetaRidleyR27 says:

    I might as well get this out of the way now. The Hitler Sackboy is actually kind of cute. *brings up flame shield?*

  18. Anon says:

    Hey, your on TSSZ!

    http://www.tssznews.com/2008/10/22/web-comic-parodies-sonic-in-littlebigplanet-2/

    but, they hate you guys.

    Bittersweet, huh Ray, hated by your Sonic brotheren?

    Oh, and everyone knows that Sackboy the Hedgehog is the best.

  19. Roto13 says:

    Hey, your on TSSZ!
    http://www.tssznews.com/2008/10/22/web-comic-parodies-sonic-in-littlebigplanet-2/
    but, they hate you guys.
    Bittersweet, huh Ray, hated by your Sonic brotheren?
    Oh, and everyone knows that Sackboy the Hedgehog is the best.

    Ha ha, wow. That’s like fanboy city right there.

  20. Ray says:

    Hey, your on TSSZ! http://www.tssznews.com/2008/10/22/web-comic-parodies-sonic-in-littlebigplanet-2/ but, they hate you guys.Bittersweet, huh Ray, hated by your Sonic brotheren?Oh, and everyone knows that Sackboy the Hedgehog is the best.

    That is awesome. I got a serious kick out of their comments. Maybe I should post something…

  21. Anon says:

    yes, a blitzkrieg of 2pstart loyal…

  22. MetaRidleyR27 says:

    I’m intrigued to see where this goes now that Ray has responded.

  23. CKcheeseboy says:

    Ray DID do 2 comics last night, so the logo had to take a backseat

    Technically one and a half, The first panels were exactly the same (exept for text) and all he did was copy and paste the Adolf Sackler onto the black background.

    That’s what I was going to say. Even with adding the background in the second version, it’s still around the average panel number for these comics.

    You could even just make a logo where Tim and Ray have Hitler mustaches, and at least it’d be new. 😛

  24. D3vin says:

    You could even just make a logo where Tim and Ray have Hitler mustaches, and at least it’d be new.

    not serious comment under spoiler tag.
    [spoiler]Or better yet, the Nazi flag, but with the Tim and Ray in it, Doing that salute thing…[/spoiler]

    Man you will be getting tons of hate mail if you did that 😉

  25. boozeathon says:

    nice. i wonder how long it will be until stuff like that starts popping up and being censored to keep parents, religious folks, and media nuts happy.

  26. Saturn2888 says:

    Oh man, every time I look at this one, even w/o reading it, I still laugh at just seeing Hitler there w/ the Download icon.

  27. Saturn2888 says:

    Oh man, every time I look at this one, even w/o reading it, I still laugh at just seeing Hitler there w/ the Download icon.

    Dang it! I had 1 second left on my edit and hit save, and it didn’t save it and got rid of all my text! How to say this again… While I knew why, in general terms, I think the first fun is funnier, it never really occurred to me. Here’s the breakdown.

    The first one really hits home. It shows that Sony is taking something out that’s not really offensive at all and shouldn’t have been the cause of creating a huge landfill of supposedly bad discs. But besides the fact that it’s just a funny, subtle joke in the second panel, the message here is showing that Sony has no clue what offensive is, “look, we’ll even include Hitler for free!” Or another way to look at it, there’s an overall theme of racism and prejudice. If some pro Koran lyrics are offensive, why not just state it clearly for everyone, you also hate the Jews and anyone that’s not got the the blue eyes ‘n blond hair. See what I mean? There’s just so much meaning with only two panels here.

    The second idea is lacking. It also has that second panel describing a joke within itself even without the text, but all that is saying is that people are jerks. If including the upper panel as well, it is showing that even though Sony says it’s getting rid of the quote “offensive lyrics”, that doesn’t mean they can stop other people from making highly offensive content which anyone can see or hear. The point on this one is saying “why get rids of a problem when none exists when there’s going to be a bigger problem that’s completely unmanageable?”

    Obviously that message isn’t hitting home as hard as the one that was officially posted. And that’s the thing, the first one is that much better because even on the surface, it’s not lambasting the consumer, it’s getting at the company who is the problem here in the first place. Yeah, people can be jerks, but what does that have to do with Sony? That has to do with gamers, but nothing to do with the fact that Sony’s gotten rid of something not even offensive, and as in the official joke, in order to include something now highly offensive.

    I hope that all makes sense. Since there were two of them, I felt like I finally figured out how to go deep down into the message of them both.

    My guess is, Ray made the first one and Tim wanted the second one. Why? Less art on the first one. LOL! jk jk. Ha ha ha.

  28. Rokai says:

    Ein, zwei, Polizei, drei, vier, Grenadier
    This is the first thing that popped into my mind seeing this.

    Anyway really awesome comic, I can’t wait to see the final showdown beetween Hitler and Sonic.

  29. Gadoink says:

    aha you changed the logo now
    nice one

  30. D3vin says:

    aha you changed the logo now
    nice one

    *Looks at the logo*
    So, let me get this strait, You play as a giant start button? You should of gone the extra mile and made 2P START! logo Sackboys or something. but it does compliment the extra version of the comic though.

  31. CKcheeseboy says:

    Hey, new logo! I like this one.

    So, let me get this strait, You play as a giant start button?

    Wait…that’s seriously supposed to be a Start button, isn’t it…I completely thought it was just a random circular background behind them until just now…wow…

  32. D3vin says:

    Yup, a start button like on the arcade machines, You know your old when you know about those things 😉

  33. Zhinker says:

    Wait…that’s seriously supposed to be a Start button, isn’t it…I completely thought it was just a random circular background behind them until just now…wow…

    I always wondered why you guys had an upside down plate in the logo

  34. MacDude55 says:

    The Sony guy is the GameStop employee from the strip where the boy is handing in Crackdown for a nickel.

  35. EBCanada says:

    I dont know, kind of looks like your Gamestore employee dude from a while back,

    Love the comic tho

  36. Gadoink says:

    Wait…that’s seriously supposed to be a Start button, isn’t it…I completely thought it was just a random circular background behind them until just now…wow…

    Wow. Just wow. The site is called 2PSTART after all…

  37. sheppy says:

    @Kevin.

    A few differences. Like, for example, the Dutch political comic scandal and riot and violence that ensued. That was over a political comic. Sony has a hard enough time avoid controversy as is. Take Burnout Paradise. When it launched, some idiot mooned another person using the vision cam. This became a huge scandal for PS3 despite the fact that it could have just as easily happened on 360 or PC. Disappeared a couple weeks later.

    Meanwhile, this is an E rated game focusing on family friendly and the fact that lyrics state “All souls on Earth shall perish” isn’t exactly in synch with family friendliness. Also, everyone is acting like this is the first game to do it. Ocarina of Time was the first, delaying in Japan because some Quran quotes found their way into the original Gurado theme. Call of Duty 4, Postal 2, Shadows Hearts Covenant. I’m sure more made music edits when this issue was discovered. Sony was the only one to get this close to the wire.

    Also, you ARE aware plastic melts and can be reused, yes? In fact, 98% of the bluray disc, like CDs and DVDs, is useless and there just to help you handle the media. They could EASILY remove the data and label layers and salvage the plastic.

  38. D3vin says:

    @Kevin.
    Also, you ARE aware plastic melts and can be reused, yes? In fact, 98% of the bluray disc, like CDs and DVDs, is useless and there just to help you handle the media. They could EASILY remove the data and label layers and salvage the plastic.

    Uh oh.. I smell a Public service announcement coming on…

    Why throw away useless disks when you can melt them down and turn them into something new? Remember folks, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle!
    THE POWER IS YOURS!!(Go Captain Planet!)

  39. sheppy says:

    Captain Planet was a socialist.

  40. D3vin says:

    Captain Planet was a socialist.

    Sigh, must you always be a moment ruiner? First my StarFox topic, now this? Please stop.

  41. CKcheeseboy says:

    Wait…that’s seriously supposed to be a Start button, isn’t it…I completely thought it was just a random circular background behind them until just now…wow…

    Wow. Just wow. The site is called 2PSTART after all…

    Yeah, but the logo doesn’t HAVE to include every part of the name. Burger King’s logo doesn’t have anything king related in it.

  42. Gadoink says:

    Wait…that’s seriously supposed to be a Start button, isn’t it…I completely thought it was just a random circular background behind them until just now…wow…

    Wow. Just wow. The site is called 2PSTART after all…

    Yeah, but the logo doesn’t HAVE to include every part of the name. Burger King’s logo doesn’t have anything king related in it.

    Sure, sure, but it’s mascot is The King.

  43. CKcheeseboy says:

    Wait…that’s seriously supposed to be a Start button, isn’t it…I completely thought it was just a random circular background behind them until just now…wow…

    Wow. Just wow. The site is called 2PSTART after all…

    Yeah, but the logo doesn’t HAVE to include every part of the name. Burger King’s logo doesn’t have anything king related in it.

    Sure, sure, but it’s mascot is The King.

    Fine, Penny Arcade. Where’s the penny? 😛

  44. Aubrey says:

    this will be too awesome. If hitler was available.

  45. Grey Acumen says:

    The alternate one is funnier based on how realistic the attitude is. SOMEBODY will put something offensive up, just cause they can.

    however the one that is up now has much better comedic timing. having it as a pure image, it gives it more impact as it is placed entirely on that instant that the image is seen. When you add the text to that last frame, you’re inclined to read the text and the impact is spread out over that entire time you read, hence it isn’t felt as strongly.

  46. I never noticed before that Ray’s signature has a little frowny face in it. How appropriate for the comic. Still, why is it a sad face? That’s a kind of strange way to sign things.

  47. Ray says:

    I never noticed before that Ray’s signature has a little frowny face in it. How appropriate for the comic. Still, why is it a sad face? That’s a kind of strange way to sign things.

    It’s actually my symbol (pictured left within my gravatar). It’s not actually a frowny face, but after ten years or so I still couldn’t tell you what it actually is, as it’s just a symbol….

  48. Gadoink says:

    Wait…that’s seriously supposed to be a Start button, isn’t it…I completely thought it was just a random circular background behind them until just now…wow…

    Wow. Just wow. The site is called 2PSTART after all…

    Yeah, but the logo doesn’t HAVE to include every part of the name. Burger King’s logo doesn’t have anything king related in it.

    Sure, sure, but it’s mascot is The King.

    Fine, Penny Arcade. Where’s the penny?

    did you know there was a thing CALLED a ‘penny arcade’? that’s what the name is based of off, me thinks.

  49. CKcheeseboy says:

    did you know there was a thing CALLED a ‘penny arcade’? that’s what the name is based of off, me thinks.

    Yes, but their LOGO still has nothing to do with pennies, arcades, or penny arcades. Their logo simply says “Penny Arcade”, which is what I had thought of the 2P Start! logo all along.

  50. Leif Coleman says:

    Hopefully none of the other sackboys are Jewish… ;_;

  51. Gadoink says:

    Hopefully none of the other sackboys are Jewish… ;_;

    Sackboy Holocaust!

  52. chriskatching says:

    Hey, your on TSSZ! http://www.tssznews.com/2008/10/22/web-comic-parodies-sonic-in-littlebigplanet-2/ but, they hate you guys.Bittersweet, huh Ray, hated by your Sonic brotheren?Oh, and everyone knows that Sackboy the Hedgehog is the best.

    That is awesome. I got a serious kick out of their comments. Maybe I should post something…

    HAHHAA OMG I just read that!!! Thats hilarious… and was that really you? Nm it is it links to the current comic… hahaha

  53. Pfaca says:

    Hilarious!!!

97 queries. 0.516 seconds