List of video game webcomics
Many webcomics have been influenced by video games and video game culture. Webcomics frequently poke fun at video game logic, the video game industry, and stereotypical behavior of gamers. The earliest video game webcomic was Polymer City Chronicles, which started in 1995. However, 1998's PvP is seen as the origin of the genre, influencing various webcomics following it.[1] A common trope in video game webcomics is to have the main characters sit on a couch, talking about the game they are playing.
It is common for webcomics to exclusively use in-game art and speech bubbles, such as in sprite comics. The term gamics has been proposed by Nathan Ciprick in 2004 to refer to webcomics that consist entirely of video game graphics. Despite the fact that video game graphics are generally copyrighted, owners of the intellectual properties used have traditionally been tolerant.[2]
Webcomics set in a video game world
Title | Creator | Run | Video game world | Sources |
---|---|---|---|---|
8-Bit Theater | Clevinger, BrianBrian Clevinger | 2001–2010 | Various Nintendo Entertainment System games, including Final Fantasy, Metroid and River City Ransom. | [1][3][4] |
Awkward Zombie | Tiedrich, KatieKatie Tiedrich | 2006– | Various, most notably Super Smash Bros. | [3][4] |
Bob and George | Anez, DavidDavid Anez | 2000–2007 | Mega Man | [3] |
Brawl in the Family | Taranto, MatthewMatthew Taranto | 2008–2014 | Super Smash Bros. | [3] |
Concerned | Livingston, Christopher C.Christopher C. Livingston | 2005–2006 | Half Life 2 | [2] |
Dueling Analogs | Napierski, SteveSteve Napierski | 2005– | Various | [5][4] |
Hiimdaisy | Gigi D.G. | Various, including Metal Gear Solid, Persona 4, and Ace Attorney. | [3] | |
Nerf Now | Josué Pereira | Various | ||
Super Effective | Ramsoomair, ScottScott Ramsoomair | 2008– | Pokémon | [3] |
Webcomics about video games
Title | Creator | Run | Style | Sources |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ctrl+Alt+Del | Buckley, TimTim Buckley | 2002– | "Gamer on a couch" comic | [1][4] |
GU Comics | Hearn, WoodyWoody Hearn | 2000– | [4] | |
Little Gamers | Fundin, ChristianChristian Fundin | 2000– | "Gamer on a couch" comic | [1][4] |
Magical Game Time | Gorman, ZacZac Gorman | Examines the positive aspects of gaming | [6] | |
megaGAMERZ 3133t | Rosenberg, JonathanJonathan Rosenberg | 2005– | Spin-off strip of Goats; parodies the low quality of many video game webcomics. | [1] |
Megatokyo | Gallagher, FredFred Gallagher and Caston, RodneyRodney Caston | 2000– | Follows the adventures of a manga and video game fan in Tokyo, Japan. | [7] |
Penny Arcade | Holkins, JerryJerry Holkins and Krahulik, MikeMike Krahulik | 1998– | "Gamer on a couch" comic | [1][4] |
Polymer City Chronicles | Chris Morrison | 1995–2007 | [1] | |
PvP | Kurtz, ScottScott Kurtz | 1998– | Follows a fictional video game magazine company and its employees. | [1][4] |
VG Cats | Ramsoomair, ScottScott Ramsoomair | 2001– | "Gamer on a couch" comic in which the characters frequently take on the role of their player character. | [1][3][4] |
Webcomics inspired by video games
Title | Creator | Run | Inspiration | Sources |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cucumber Quest | Gigi D.G. | 2011– | Adventure webcomic influenced by Kirby and Paper Mario. | [3][8] |
MS Paint Adventures | Hussie, AndrewAndrew Hussie | 2007– | Webcomics on MSPaintAdventures are inspired by interactive fiction and role-playing video games, having started out as a "mock adventure game". The latest webcomic, Homestuck, follows a group of four kids playing a reality-changing video game. | [9][10] |
Other
ShiftyLook, a former subsidiary of Namco Bandai, focused on reviving various Namco video game franchises between 2011 and 2014. The company originally did this through English language webcomics.[12] ShiftyLook has released webcomics based on Dig Dug,[13] Dragon Spirit, Klonoa, and various other video games.[11]
See also
- Category:Video game webcomics
- Sprite comic
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Maragos, Nick (2005-11-07). "Will Strip for Games". 1UP. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
- 1 2 Sapieha, Chad (2006-04-04). "Games + Comics = Gamics". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 2006-06-15.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Smith, Kyle. "Top 10 Comics Inspired by Video Games". Explosion.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Good, Owen (2009-07-19). "Sunday Comics". Kotaku.
- ↑ Aziz, Hamza (2007-01-19). "Friday Comic Intermission: Dueling Analogs". Destructoid.
- ↑ Cruz, Larry (2014-05-09). "'Magical Game Time': Video games are good". Comic Book Resources.
- ↑ Hodgman, John (July 18, 2004). "Chronicle Comics; No More Wascally Wabbits". The New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2006.
- ↑ Davis, Lauren (2016-06-10). "First Second Is Publishing the Hilarious and Stunning Webcomic Epic Cucumber Quest". io9.
- ↑ Weiler, Lance (January 25, 2009). "How Problem Sleuth Turns a Comic Into a Game". Culture Hacker. WorkBook Project. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
- ↑ Lauren Rae Orsini (August 2, 2012). "Inside the strange, brave new world of Homestuck". The Daily Dot. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
- 1 2 Johnston, Rich (2012-07-14). "ShiftyLook Moves Into Cartoons – Bravoman, Jim Zub, Scott Kurtz And More". Bleeding Cool.
- ↑ Gera, Emily (2014-03-10). "Namco High studio ShiftyLook is shutting its doors". Polygon.
- ↑ Goellner, Caleb (2012-05-09). "Shiftylook Celebrating 30 Years of 'Dig Dug' With Anniversary Webcomic Collaboration". Comics Alliance.