literary supperiority of sprite comics?

talse · 10-27-2004, 05:26 PM

earlier today i was talking to a friend about how if i were an english teacher i'd tell my students to watch homestarrunner until they could find 10 gramatical errors made by the characters. thigs got me thinking about the possibility of webcomics as educational tools, as example of good comedy literature.
and as i thougt about, a lot of comics i read were funny, but only 2 really stood out as shining examples of comedy literature, 8-bit theater and bob and george. this got me thinking, does a sprite comic have an inherrent advantage over actually drawn comics to be well written? sure comics like Penny arcade and snafu are hilarious, but their not connected. in fact, i don't think i have a hand drawn comic thats got continuity, and funny.

comments?

VA_Ninja · 10-27-2004, 05:49 PM

It's sometimes harder to weave a story into a comic. Mainly because one that goes on for a while would require people who have just read it to go back and re-read all the previous episodes. With things like 8BT which currently has 475 comics, this can be overwhelming. Whereas ones such as VG Cats can be enjoyed entirely from the get-go.

I don't think the type of art actualy has anything to do with the story. However, more attention to art = less attention to story. Brian has been able to balance these two quite well, whereas others fall flat.

The Dark Mage · 10-27-2004, 05:58 PM

I have always thought that the more importance placed on graphics... the less put on storyline

talse · 10-27-2004, 06:32 PM

i do not intend to insult brian in any manner of form or verbosity, but art as defined by most standards doesn't exsist in 8-bit theater, with exceptions to the comic were theif back stabbed the zombie orc and when black mage did that creepy googly finger thing a LOOOOONG time ago. i'm talking about which is funnier, but which is actually a piece of literature, and i think that sprite comics have an actual inherent tendency to this. as such, um, sprite=teh funny?
like if you were gonna say, read something and find examples of fore shadowing, comedic past tense and premptive defibulation (possibly useful?) would you look at mega tokyo, vgcats, or 8-bit theater. 8-bit of course.

evileeyore · 10-27-2004, 06:39 PM

Dude?

Are you forgetting, overlooking, or simply not aware of the non-sprite based comedic comics with long-lasting plotlines?

Sluggy Freelance
Order of the Stick
College Roommates from Hell
Schlock Mercenary
Something Positive
RPGWorld
Commander Kitty
Sexy Losers

And those are just the ones I happen to read. I am sure there are others.

BTW My breakdown of "goodness" based soley on the ones presented... right now goes thusly:

Oots, 8BT, Sluggy, Sexy Losers, and Schlock are all on par.

CRfH, S*P, RPGWorld come in next, with Kitty trailing.

My two cents--EvilE

[EDIT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by talse

i'm talking about which is funnier, but which is actually a piece of literature, and i think that sprite comics have an actual inherent tendency to this. as such, um, sprite=teh funny?
like if you were gonna say, read something and find examples of fore shadowing, comedic past tense and premptive defibulation (possibly useful?) would you look at mega tokyo, vgcats, or 8-bit theater. 8-bit of course.

You would also find such in the comics I listed.

Whatever "premptive defibulation", I'm sure the others have it too.

But don't quote me on that
[/EDIT]

! · 10-27-2004, 06:44 PM

I'd like to see you make something as high quality as 8bit.

It's a hell of a lot harder than it seems, and seeing as how splashing a few blots of gold paint on a black canvas is considered art by the San Francisco Art Museum, I'd have to say that yes, it is art. Art with a plot and comedic intent, but art nonetheless. I would know from experience how hard it is to do sprite comics, it's hard enough to get it to the low quality of my The Adventures of the Blue Mage comics.

As defined by dictionary.com, art is, "The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty, specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium."

Sprite comics = skillfully arranging sprites to imitate motion, emotion, and parody or imitate situations presented in other modern forms of media and/or the real world.

Tofu.

Skyshot · 10-27-2004, 06:55 PM

You know, I really wish people would stop dissing sprite comics.

I have a few in mind I'd like to create some time, once I flesh them out, so this is vaguely personal.

Why sprite comics? Because I really, really, REALLY cannot draw. As in, I'd be too embarassed to post an example of how badly I draw. Hence, sprites.

I know why this hatred exists; to quote someone giving advice at Bob and George: "Too many spritecomics out there look like they were made by retarded monkeys." I've even seen an example of a few, myself.

"!" has a point there. I've already tried working with some sprites, and with such little artistic ability, it is pretty hard. I intend to compensate with plot, characters, humor, etc...

And despite how many VG Cats fans there are, Scott Ramsoomair needs to be smacked for his line attacking sprite comics. He wouldn't be half so popular if he had half his artistic ability and had to stick with sprites himself; there's more to a comic than artwork.

You can find more on this at http://www.fortunasaga.com , an excellent sprite comic whose creator shares my point of view.

Thus ranted, I'm off to cool off or something.

talse · 10-27-2004, 07:40 PM

i'm not saying sprites are bad! but that they have an inherent benefit that is not present in hand drawn comics. either that or it's the people that can write really well that end up going with sprite because writing talent and artistry are a rare combination.

! · 10-27-2004, 07:46 PM

Writing is an art form, too. It's arranging words, instead. And it's just as hard too write dialogue and plot for sprite comics as it is for any other type of comic, and since it's just as hard to make them decent, as well, there is no inherent bonus of sprites over hand drawn. Look at the thousands of crap sprite comics and you'll see it for a fact.

You damn Italian...

talse · 10-27-2004, 08:22 PM

condemnation and inflatable hammers for you mister !!
:to avoid spamming:
Yeah, i can understand writing is hard, i do some in my spare time. i just thought, maybe i put the word hail in my sig a bit too much.

10-27-2004, 05:26 PM	#1
talse Moonshiner Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Iowa City, Iowa, about 4 hours west of Chicago Posts: 267	literary supperiority of sprite comics? earlier today i was talking to a friend about how if i were an english teacher i'd tell my students to watch homestarrunner until they could find 10 gramatical errors made by the characters. thigs got me thinking about the possibility of webcomics as educational tools, as example of good comedy literature. and as i thougt about, a lot of comics i read were funny, but only 2 really stood out as shining examples of comedy literature, 8-bit theater and bob and george. this got me thinking, does a sprite comic have an inherrent advantage over actually drawn comics to be well written? sure comics like Penny arcade and snafu are hilarious, but their not connected. in fact, i don't think i have a hand drawn comic thats got continuity, and funny. comments? __________________ I'm a writer! ... Yeah, I know, it sounded better in my head anyways. My webcomic is called moonshine and you can find it right here. It's sort of about harvestmoon 64. If everyone was drunk. or stupid. or psychotic.

10-27-2004, 05:58 PM	#3
The Dark Mage Otherwise known as Disco Stan Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: In Hell, on My Throne of Darkness. aka. Ottawa, Ontario. Canada Posts: 141	I have always thought that the more importance placed on graphics... the less put on storyline __________________ "Then again,the truth and I always had a testy relationship." - Apropos Sir Apropos of Nothing ======= RaiRO Characters ======= Telra - Alchemist Mylan - Knight Guybrush Threepvvood - Gunslinger =========================== 98% of the internet population has a Myspace. If you're part of the 2% that doesn't, copy and paste this into your sig.

10-27-2004, 06:32 PM	#4
talse Moonshiner Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Iowa City, Iowa, about 4 hours west of Chicago Posts: 267	i do not intend to insult brian in any manner of form or verbosity, but art as defined by most standards doesn't exsist in 8-bit theater, with exceptions to the comic were theif back stabbed the zombie orc and when black mage did that creepy googly finger thing a LOOOOONG time ago. i'm talking about which is funnier, but which is actually a piece of literature, and i think that sprite comics have an actual inherent tendency to this. as such, um, sprite=teh funny? like if you were gonna say, read something and find examples of fore shadowing, comedic past tense and premptive defibulation (possibly useful?) would you look at mega tokyo, vgcats, or 8-bit theater. 8-bit of course. __________________ I'm a writer! ... Yeah, I know, it sounded better in my head anyways. My webcomic is called moonshine and you can find it right here. It's sort of about harvestmoon 64. If everyone was drunk. or stupid. or psychotic.

10-27-2004, 06:44 PM	#6
! Hoorah for Shadow Flare! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Yes Posts: 647	I'd like to see you make something as high quality as 8bit. It's a hell of a lot harder than it seems, and seeing as how splashing a few blots of gold paint on a black canvas is considered art by the San Francisco Art Museum, I'd have to say that yes, it is art. Art with a plot and comedic intent, but art nonetheless. I would know from experience how hard it is to do sprite comics, it's hard enough to get it to the low quality of my The Adventures of the Blue Mage comics. As defined by dictionary.com, art is, "The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty, specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium." Sprite comics = skillfully arranging sprites to imitate motion, emotion, and parody or imitate situations presented in other modern forms of media and/or the real world. Tofu. __________________ No more Blue Mage...

10-27-2004, 07:40 PM	#8
talse Moonshiner Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Iowa City, Iowa, about 4 hours west of Chicago Posts: 267	i'm not saying sprites are bad! but that they have an inherent benefit that is not present in hand drawn comics. either that or it's the people that can write really well that end up going with sprite because writing talent and artistry are a rare combination. __________________ I'm a writer! ... Yeah, I know, it sounded better in my head anyways. My webcomic is called moonshine and you can find it right here. It's sort of about harvestmoon 64. If everyone was drunk. or stupid. or psychotic.

10-27-2004, 05:49 PM	#2
VA_Ninja :3 Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 395	It's sometimes harder to weave a story into a comic. Mainly because one that goes on for a while would require people who have just read it to go back and re-read all the previous episodes. With things like 8BT which currently has 475 comics, this can be overwhelming. Whereas ones such as VG Cats can be enjoyed entirely from the get-go. I don't think the type of art actualy has anything to do with the story. However, more attention to art = less attention to story. Brian has been able to balance these two quite well, whereas others fall flat.

10-27-2004, 07:46 PM	#9
! Hoorah for Shadow Flare! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Yes Posts: 647	Writing is an art form, too. It's arranging words, instead. And it's just as hard too write dialogue and plot for sprite comics as it is for any other type of comic, and since it's just as hard to make them decent, as well, there is no inherent bonus of sprites over hand drawn. Look at the thousands of crap sprite comics and you'll see it for a fact. You damn Italian... __________________ No more Blue Mage...

10-27-2004, 08:22 PM	#10
talse Moonshiner Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Iowa City, Iowa, about 4 hours west of Chicago Posts: 267	condemnation and inflatable hammers for you mister !! :to avoid spamming: Yeah, i can understand writing is hard, i do some in my spare time. i just thought, maybe i put the word hail in my sig a bit too much. __________________ I'm a writer! ... Yeah, I know, it sounded better in my head anyways. My webcomic is called moonshine and you can find it right here. It's sort of about harvestmoon 64. If everyone was drunk. or stupid. or psychotic.