Monday, July 9, 2012
And now, some new stuff!
#001: Grenade Effect 3
Well, now that I’ve got all of the boring stuff out of the way, I can finally catch up with the two comics I missed. Then, I’ll be ready to regularly update the site with new comics and other random tidbits. After a lengthy hiatus, I produced this comic, based around Worms: Armageddon and Mass Effect 3.
Believe me, it’s difficult to resist the urge to have to explain the joke, as indicated by comics that are much more funny than mine. I should have more faith in my audience. The least I can do is point everyone toward the two aforementioned games, hope that they do the research themselves and call it a wrap. Seriously, though, Assault Troopers are way too accurate with those grenade throws. For faceless grunts that miss most of their shots and waltz right into their deaths, they sure are exceptional at arcing projectiles.
#002: The Long Wait
So, Dawnguard is around the corner, and I actually managed to get this comic done while it was still relevant. The joke has been on my to-do list for a long time, but it wasn’t until now that I was able to give it appropriate context. For those who don’t know, Dawnguard is the first of multiple planned DLCs for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Microsoft threw many, many moneys at Bethesda in order to get early access, so whereas Dawnguard has been available for 360 owners since late June, PS3 and PC users won’t be able to get it until late July. I’m sure there’s a business vantage here, but to an onlooker, it seems more like Microsoft is trying to say they’re better than everyone else. Including themselves, because most PC Skyrim players are using their operating system.
After I finished the most recent comic, I still felt the urge to doodle something in Microsoft Paint. However, instead of moving forward with more comics, I decided to do something elaborate and dumb. It took a few hours to get everything the way I wanted, but I’m actually pleased with the result. So, here’s the little added bonus (and my new wallpaper): Photon Art meets Team Fortress 2.
Photon Art: The Schtserv Chapters
In this post, I’d like to discuss–and post–the Schtserv comics. There were roughly 30 of them, and many of them require knowledge of Schtserv. If you’re unfamiliar with it, then I apologize for any confusion and lack of amusement this might cause you.
Schtserv is a private server for Phantasy Star Online, and one of many that has long outlived the official server. There has always been a considerable amount of internal drama, which made it a juicy candidate for ridicule. In my love for the game, I stuck with the server, long after my old friends moved on. In doing so, I befriended people such as Wes (Evilmag) and Josh (Angron). We soon founded a team, or as they’re more commonly known, a guild/clan.
At one point, the server was down for an extended period of time. While most people were content with spending their time on other matters, some felt an empty void. One such person made a thread, asking forum-goers what they would be doing if the server was up. Naturally, this was met with mockery from my teammates, but it also got me thinking. My humorous side got together with my imaginative side, and the two of them produced a drawing in Microsoft Paint
Disclaimer: I have no visual artistic talent whatsoever. As if that weren’t apparent.
Upon completion, I showed it around. The last thing I expected to receive was praise from my peers. If I didn’t know them better, I’d have thought it to be feigned, but they apparently got a legitimate kick out of it. Mag even asked me to draw a picture of him finding the coveted and rare Parasitic Gene: Flow. That would later become the first comic.
The characters in the comic are based around members of Team Rocket, the group I normally played with. I’ll go into further detail of these characters when I can set up a profile page for them. It started with just Mag and XII, with plans to add Jess and Angron, but the cast would later expand to utilize different personalities. For this reason, not all of the characters perfectly match the person who inspired them.
I wish there was a way to cut this short, and post a link to the comics archived elsewhere on the site, but that can’t be done at the moment. So, get ready for the longest post I’ll probably ever have to make on the site.
SC#001: Mag’s PGF
Because I didn’t intend to go anywhere with the comic at the time, I based it on a Garfield comic, found here. Credit to Jim Davis on this one.
SC#002: Workout
The first quest in PSO takes you through the first area of the game alongside an overleveled NPC named Kireek. His level is fixed at 36, but even if you’re the highest level (200), he will tell you to become stronger and impress him. This had been a running gag with my team, and I turned it into this comic.
SC#003: Bernie
Speaking of NPCs, there’s one named Bernie. While his flamethrower and fire magic are formidable in the easiest difficulty, they function like pea shooters in the highest one, making him a contender for most useless NPC. Naturally, he’s a character to be despised. And one to be forgotten, now that he’s dead.
SC#004: Meat Engine
The previous summer, there had been an event which raised a lot of eyebrows in the community. It took a tough mob from the first area (Hildebear) and made them ludicrously powerful. This was a treat for the higher level, well-geared players, but a nightmare for those who had just started or were only just getting good at the game. Players had to avoid the area at all costs if they couldn’t handle it.
SC#005: Mag Feed
“Mags” (which is where Mag got his name from) are small machines that float over your shoulder and boost your stats. You can feed them items to make them evolve, but you can only feed them so many times before they’re full. Mag Farmers will use timers to determine when a Mag will get hungry, so they can feed them the second they can be fed. Thus, the comic.
SC#006: Dark Belra
Dark Belra is a large monster with limited mobility. It lumbers toward its targets, then gives them a bear hug. With how inviting they look, it would make sense if someone wanted to give them a hug.
SC#007: The Good Doctor
This was the first time I had two or more comics linking up. It seemed like a perfect opportunity to introduce Dr.Paul, and I couldn’t pass it up. Dr.Paul is not very nice.
SC#008: Morality
One of my earlier readers said that this one was cliche. I have to agree with him. I needed to introduce Jess, and there were other ways I could have gone about it. The next time I introduce a character, I’ll be sure to do so with less dialogue and more… well, humor.
SC#009: Transformers
I wasn’t a big fan of this one, personally, but it was pretty well-received, at the time. I guess that silly is one of the finer points to this comic (because it sure isn’t visual appeal). I had a whole series of “Dude, X, can you be a Y?” planned. I might still revisit that.
SC#004-2: Meat Engine (Alt)
Around the time I made #009 and #010, the administrators of Schtserv responded to the complaints about what would/wouldn’t happen with the upcoming summer event, and announced that we were “ungrateful” and didn’t deserve one. I made a quick modification to Meat Engine in response to this; the best part was that I didn’t need to change the punch line.
SC#010: Forced Joke
Forces are the mages of PSO, and for a long time, they were in an awkward position. Their offensive attacks were almost useless in the highest difficulty, but their buffs could make or break a party. As a result, many of them were buff/healing slaves; a point we joked about frequently.
SC#011: Guardian
Controversy was something I liked to avoid, but when someone got banned for trying to trade an extremely weak and common weapon due to it being blacklisted (it, along with other quest rewards, could be obtained en masse by hackers), I had to make this one. I also used it as a stepping stone to introduce ZenyBOT-3000, but I’ve yet to find a skit that requires him.
SC#012: Take Two
I wanted to do something special for Comic #12, so I revisited the very first comic. This was also my first attempt at including a meme in a comic. I don’t think it went well.
SC#013: First Place
I hadn’t tread far away from PSO with my comics. This was my first attempt to, utilizing a Mario Kart joke. If you don’t understand what happened here, go pick up Mario Kart Double Dash, Wii or 7, and be in first place for more than two minutes. You’ll figure it out, trust me.
SC#014: Timely Service
Sega of America isn’t what it used to be. Sega in general isn’t what it used to be. For a multitude of reasons, the Japanese PSU servers moved forward while the English (360) servers were left to essentially rot. They’ve since announced that the 360 servers will be closing. I’m surprised it took this long.
SC#015: McGriddle
How does an item exchange usually work in a game? You approach an NPC, who tells you the flat price for your item, and you proceed to pay that price for your item. Simple enough, right? Not for Paganini. That man will cycle through random items until you find one that you want, and proceed to rob you of all your exchange items (Photon Drops) to acquire said item. Players work around this by bringing the bear minimum of Photon Drops, and wait for him to offer the item they want, but still. It’s a gigantic waste of time.
SC#016: Price to Pay
Admit it; We’ve all been scrooges at least once when it comes to using items in turn-based RPGs.
SC#017: Perception
When I was doing background scenery for past comics, I wanted it to represent my team, so I framed Lone’s avatar, dubbed “Lone’s sloth” in the computer room. However, it sparked an inside joke, questioning whether it was a portrait, or Lone’s sloth looking in from outside. All the time. This comic ends the debate once and for all.
SC#018: TGS 2011
Mag and myself were watching a live stream of Sega’s Tokyo Game Show (TGS) presentation when they were showcasing Phantasy Star Online 2. Partway through, someone came on stage in a Mini Rappy costume. Mag proceeded to shout at the live stream chat window, ordering Sakai to attack the Rappy and claim its loot. I thought it was a good thing that none of us were there. Who knows what would’ve happened?
SC#019: Time Bomb
Nothing needs to be said, here. Selfdestruct is a dumb move.
SC#020: Intolerance
PSO is a well aged game, at this point. For its time, it had an impressive roster for character customization, but you’ll still see “popular” appearances showing up. Most RAcasts I’ve seen look like this, or at least have the same head type and body structure with different paint.
SC#021: Battle for Freedom (Part 1)
I decided to take a jab at a story arc, here. I promised a comic a day, for one whole week. I very loosely kept that promise, but I fell behind once or twice. That’s Photon Art, for you.
SC#022: Battle for Freedom (Part 2)
Paladin ver.12 was a subtle nod at my PSO character, Metal XII. They both bore the number twelve, both shared the same color palette, and both were made with a knightly appearance. Mag, on the other hand, could’ve been the same person, spare for the glasses.
SC#023: Battle for Freedom (Part 3)
PSO players complain that PSU didn’t meet their expectations. PSU players complain that PSO is outdated and boring. Obviously, there was some ill blood worth exploring, there. (PS: I call it Morrowind Syndrome.)
SC#024: Battle for Freedom (Part 4)
Intentional plot thickening.
SC#025: Battle for Freedom (Part 5)
Dwarf Fortress was the subject of a number of team jokes, even though I’ve never personally played it. I tried to build the atmosphere based around our jokes (Enjoy the Miasma!), and the people who understood the reference seemed pleased. Dodged a bullet there, didn’t I?
SC#026: Battle for Freedom (Part 6)
In PSU, you can fully re-customize your character with the cosmetics salon. PSO players can do the same, but they need a trainer (ie; a cheat device) to do so. Also, Mag is short. Why am I reiterating the dialogue?
SC#027: Battle for Freedom (Part 7)
What’s that? Am I letting my personal opinions leak into the comic? Oh, no. Don’t be silly. Clearly, PSO or PSU is better than PSU or PSO.
SC#028: Vjaya
As with all RPGs, the strongest weapons are highly valued and highly sought after, and being a dungeon crawler, most are very hard to obtain. Vjaya is a Partisan-type weapon that is one of the most common “Rare” items available for its class, and it holds the highest damage potential of any weapon in the (unaltered) game. When you swing that thing, you see numbers and a dead enemy. However, it uses money as a catalyst. Seems to be implying something.
SC#029: Hallow Watt Bulb
Halloween comic. If you didn’t get the joke, then don’t worry. You’ll be spared from the zombie apocalypse, as well.
SC#030: Collector’s Value
If you recall, I mentioned a blacklist earlier. In order to combat hackers, all quest rewards were disabled. This included the dreaded Booma Claws. Anything that is branded as “unobtainable” generally comes with a high price. The more difficult it is to acquire, the higher the price. I doubt Booma Claws will ever be worth much, but that wouldn’t stop someone like Mag from trying to make a profit.
So ends the Schtserv Chapter comics. A Photon Art Christmas Carol is missing from this list, but I never got around to completing it. I plan to upload the full story arc when it’s finished, sometime around December 2012. I could easily finish it right now, but a Christmas-themed comic in July? No thanks.
Photon Art now has a site!
That’s right. Time to sit back and wait for tens of millions of hits per day. That’s how these things work, right?
So, the short version of the story is that I’m no longer able to maintain an appropriate archive for my comics where I used to post them, and this has forced me to move forward with my plans to set up a site for this atrocious comic. Until further notice, the site won’t look very pretty, but I’ll still supply the comics as they come.
That said, those coming here expecting Schtserv-oriented comics will be disappointed to hear that the Schtserv chapters are now behind me. There will be new Phantasy Star Online comics, as well as comics centering around its shiny new sequel, but comics pertaining specifically to Schtserv will no longer be done. I feel as though it would be in bad taste to make comics on subjects I know–and care–little about. With that, the Photon Art crew will be packing their bags and heading toward a more open genre, covering many more games than just Phantasy Star.
I’m not going to forget the roots of the comic, so Phantasy Star will still be a prime subject, but it may take the back seat to other games I’ve been dying to poke fun at. For example, Skyrim. You wouldn’t believe how many backed up ideas I have for Skyrim.
I’d make promises on what to expect from the site, but honestly, it’s one big unknown, at the moment. Just keep checking back, and we’ll see where this hooch goes. First thing on my to-do list is post “The Schtserv Chapters,” as they will now be called. Expect them in a follow-up post shortly.