8-Bit Theater gets screwed

[Vidihawk]

http://stc.aftervision.com/Screw.php?screw=87

I have to point out, though, they usually at least mention popularity. I think that would've changed their score somewhat.

[VA_Ninja]

I've never even heard of this thing before. Why the hell should we care what their score is?

[ChaosMage]

I'm a little disappointed with that review. They seem to have a problem with reading. It makes me highly suspicious of their view on the medium over all. Oh, and the review format irritates the hell out of me, but thats really not relevant. They seem to have a problem with Brian being an edited Megaman...even though he almost never appears, and when it does its for a gag and not for anything story relevant. They also seem to assume that Large Cast == r0x0r s70r)(. (thats excellent story for those who don't speak 1337). Again, I am suspicious.

[Regulus Tera]

Heh, it was funny, and merciless, although I was expecting them to wait a little more to screw 8 bit. ^_^

To ChaosMage:

SYNOPSIS (too fancy of a word for you?)
Screw These Comics is beyond an ordinary review site. It's a review site that tries to do the complete opposite of what other review sites do. Screw These Comics mocks comics and demoralizes comic authors not for the pleasure of it, but to entertain, to pursuade, and to teach. Screw These Comics finds what's wrong with sprite comics and bashes it, so authors would learn how NOT to make a comic.

^^^Found here. (http://stc.aftervision.com/index.php?stc=about)

[Loyal]

I wouldn't pay it much heed. Given the general behaviour of... well, everyone who was "reviewing" it, it was clearly something meant either as a joke, or simply not to be taken lightly.

~ARF

[CHICAGO¤lollie]

Heh, it made me laugh. Like Neko TS quoted from the site, they do this stuff to entertain. Read it with South Park in mind. EvilNes has Cartman's voice written all over him. :D

[Arlia Janet]

They also seem to assume that Large Cast == r0x0r s70r)


"==" Ummm. Someone uses C++ a little too much doesn't he? ;)

[Sky Warrior Bob]

Is it just me, or does it seem like these people only read the first few comics, and claimed to read up to the very latest? I mean, a lot of their complaints fit with the earlier comics, but not at all with the later ones.

I mean, early on, its true that the comic mostly depended on just poses available from the original FF1-3j games. Nowadays, there's at least 20+ extra poses, and Brian has access to a whole bunch of sprite characters that most people haven't seen.

The low image quality complaint only really applies to the first 25-30 comics & after that, things start to really improve. Backgrounds in addition have come a long way since there comic's early conception.

The plot dragged a lot in the early comics, I'll agree. But after the first year & a half, I'd complain that the plot is moving too fast.

All the rest of their complaints seem to focus on their distaste for reading and/or having long periods of character development.

SWK

[Nugan]

Someone needs to tell them that all of thier gags are really really old.

Also, as someone above said, thier formatting is annoying, and thier reviews are poorly weighted.

I'm not saying any of this to defend 8BT (which they gave a fairly high score to). I'm saying this because thier site sucks.

[Anotherperson]

I'm pretty sure that it's meant as a joke, either that or the reviewers are very young.

[sethosayher]

Bah. The review was alright. I still think 8-bit deserved Higher. And the weighting system was kind of week.

I guess we have no choice but to send black mage to Hadoken their asses!

:bmage:
"You don't mess with the Mages."

[Skyshot]

Some guy with a website thinks I suck. Darn :P

I don't think Brian will be too crushed by this review.

As for my comments on it:

Characters - 6
PRO: Memorable personalities. Secondary characters not bad.
CON: Overall, it's the same characters over and over again. Let's not forget Mr. Author!

I had to laugh when I read that. I mean, duh? You expected a fresh load of characters in each comic?

Also, you notice that this review complains about the running gags, one of the best parts of 8-bit humor? And have you ever actually seen a running gag get old in 8BT? Brian knows how to spread them out, and does so excellently.

Furthermore, their comments on "characters" and "backgrounds" sound like they deserve a 7 or 8, rather than 6's. They probably lowered them down a notch so they could "screw" 8BT.

Finally, you notice they never actually say where they've seen the "better" effects? I hate people like that. Back up your statements!

Done.

[Klyco]

Is it just me, or does it seem like these people only read the first few comics, and claimed to read up to the very latest? I mean, a lot of their complaints fit with the earlier comics, but not at all with the later ones.
SWK

I agree with you on this. It seems to me that during comic 504, the guy who enjoyed it must of edited this to appear it was just made by adding 2005 in it and other current things.

[Sky Warrior Bob]

Yes, it is a joke. But after you scroll past & ignore all their stupid banter, I think their final critcisms are supposed to be legitimate. The thing is, much of what they say doesn't seem right & can only be applied to the early comics.

SWK

[Chargos]

I'd kinda like to know why this matters so much to everyone? Yea, we like 8-bit, but that doesn't mean we should flame and bash any reviewer that bashes the comic. So what if they didn't like it, it shows they have no taste, hell, they probably still watch shows like Barny and Teletubbies for entertainment, and most likely say Anime has crappy animation values. Judging by how they misspelled Hadoken, they obviously don't pay much attention to details of comics they review. And I have a question...aren't sprite comics by nature, essentially the same sprites over and over again? Just wondering.

[Nestea]

I admit, I didn't put much effort on the 8BT screw. Probably should have... will probably redo. Don't know. You all bring up some valid points, yet I think most of you are pissed because I gave it a "low" score.

I'll clear up some things. First of all, it's not a joke. Second of all, I DID read all of the comics. Third of all, Chargos, it is "Hadouken". Apparently, you don't pay much attention to the actual Street Fighter games. Fourth of all, I've had some personal problems these past few weeks, probably messed me up a little. And finally... I appreciate all of your efforts to defend 8-Bit Theater. It's much better than when people defended Reploid Hunter Iris, in which they acted like morons.

I'll probably fix a few things up. I have nothing against 8-Bit Theater personally... in fact, it's a good comic.

[UrbanSpaceman]

I actually think that, if you disregard the jokes for a moment, this was a fairly accurate, even-handed review. Whilst I don't agree on a couple of issues (I would have given a higher score on the "characters" and "backgrounds" sections), the final scores were a reasonable representation of 8BT's strengths and weaknesses, and they never try and present opinion as unassailable truth, as some reviewers can.

[Red Apprentice]

No offense to Nestea, the rest of the STC crew, or any of the other posters, but I really can't understand why anybody here cares what some group of random people with a website think of 8BT. We went through basically this same thing a month or so ago when some other site dissed the comic. Really, why do we give a crap? We like 8BT, some other people don't. What's the difference? Why are we getting all worked up? To be fair, people don't seem to be as upset over this review as they were over the other one...

[Wetflame]

I hate the Mr. Author thing. He only appears in the first few comics. They DID mention the running gags, but then againn there were some of those even earlier on.

[Nestea]

No offense to Nestea, the rest of the STC crew, or any of the other posters, but I really can't understand why anybody here cares what some group of random people with a website think of 8BT. We went through basically this same thing a month or so ago when some other site dissed the comic. Really, why do we give a crap? We like 8BT, some other people don't. What's the difference? Why are we getting all worked up? To be fair, people don't seem to be as upset over this review as they were over the other one...

That's because I don't hate 8-Bit Theater. And I have more experience with reviewing comics, as my other 87 reviews prove.

[Chargos]

Third of all, Chargos, it is "Hadouken". Apparently, you don't pay much attention to the actual Street Fighter games.
Thats probably true, never payed much attention to the Street Fighter games, I preferred Mortal Kombat. I was referring to the spelling used in episode 7, Black Mage shouts 'HADOKEN!' and I believe it was spelled as such to avoid copyright infringement. I also believe that Brian pulled the spelling from another language, he made mention of the reason for the name of the attack in another thread.

[Red Apprentice]

I also believe that Brian pulled the spelling from another language, he made mention of the reason for the name of the attack in another thread.

Wasn't it in the thread about the third 8-Bit Chronicles (http://nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=041127) episode? I can't find that thread now for some reason... :(

[Vidihawk]

That's because I don't hate 8-Bit Theater. And I have more experience with reviewing comics, as my other 87 reviews prove.

So... doing something a lot means you're good at it? I wonder how many comics with more than 89 strips got less than a 4 on your screws.

[ronny]

I think is an interesting review. Don't be the "Brian knows everything" kind of people. There's nothing perfect.

But it's true that some of their points were not really clever. Anyway, I agree like in a 60% of what they said, and I give a +1 to their overall score.

Let's face it. Sometimes they were right.

[sethosayher]

I don't think Brian will be too crushed by this review.

As for my comments on it:



I had to laugh when I read that. I mean, duh? You expected a fresh load of characters in each comic?

Also, you notice that this review complains about the running gags, one of the best parts of 8-bit humor? And have you ever actually seen a running gag get old in 8BT? Brian knows how to spread them out, and does so excellently.

Furthermore, their comments on "characters" and "backgrounds" sound like they deserve a 7 or 8, rather than 6's. They probably lowered them down a notch so they could "screw" 8BT.

Finally, you notice they never actually say where they've seen the "better" effects? I hate people like that. Back up your statements!

Done.

I LOVE the running gags! Crazy reviewers.

[Irathus]

I don't think STC review of 8-Bit Theater was unjust. I think it was pretty fair overall on their review, of course I haven't read any other reviews.

Sprites/Backgrounds - Grouped together because it's just out the comic is. The backgrounds change and I love how they look. I love the sprites. I mean they are great. I just how love the eyes get beedie or how they turn around and stuff. I love out. That said I can see how people wouldn't like how it is down. If they didn't like how the sprites are down that is their opinion. I love the animation in some animes and other people can't stand them.

Story - The story only dragged on in the very beginning. After that I think the story moved along at a pretty fair pace. Plus there are always those random comics that have nothing to do with anything. I'm not talking about guest comics, but the 8-bit Chronicles, that didn't have anything to do with anything. It's a break from the ordinary. Or the conversation of batman vs doom, just great. Disappointed it got a 7.

Characters - I don't get it. I mean that characters are basically the same. Fighter is dumb but the most (I can't spell the word I'm looking for but it means able to perform assigned tasks well or something like that. compatent). Black mage kills stuff...but's always great about how he kills it. I mean I like how the characters are done, but they really don't change overall. The change in the personalities would change the comic so much though.

Humor - I can't see how it only got an 8. At least 9. There are few comics that aren't as funny as the rest but other are just amazing. The comics where they are burning all of the Dwarf Kingdom. Or recently with gravity slain now we can fly. Just great comics. King Steve and the election, come on.
I don't think Brian over uses running gags. I mean Thief leading the party and then jumping back leaving black mage in front is one of my favorites. If you notice black mage has stopped killing fighter as much and the rest of the beloved Light wars. Recently sword-chucks have came into the picture and it like put an end to a running gag.

Spelling - 10. Very few mistakes in all the comics and those are quickly corrected. I guess it could be like a 9 since 10 would mean it's perfect. I don't understand with "Too much text". Wow. When I read that credibility dropped a lot. It's like going to forums and seeing a post that is like 2 - 3 paragraphs and the next 10 responses is "too long didn't read". My opinion.


Well thats my thoughts on the review. I'm not sure why it seemed like a low review (it could be good based on other reviews, you know maybe they don't give good reviews to any comic). Just my thoughts.

[Kurosen]

Yeah, I found the "negatives" a bit odd. They were things most people cite as their reasons for liking 8BT. If I didn't know better, I'd say the reviewer was just looking for faults to bash something that's popular.

The review format grates on my nerves (I give it a 4!) but it was quite balanced so that was cool.

In any case, if the worst thing my comic does is have running gags with lots of text, I can live with that :P

[MasterTonberry]

I like our 8-bit just the way it is.