RAU Gallery: Sketch Comedy vs. Webcomic

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Flying Omelette

RAU Gallery: Sketch Comedy vs. Webcomic

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Posts: 20893

(01/18/07 10:04 AM)

But you had to have the BIIIIIG salad!

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I'm going to post this question without saying anything more because I'd like to get honest feedback. This is something I really didn't want to have to do. I thought I would just write the thing and let it take its own course, but anyway...

1. Do you feel the sketch comedy/psuedo-message board approach is best?

2. Do you feel that it would be better if drawn as a webcomic?

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Captain Ladd Spencer

Re: RAU Gallery: Sketch Comedy vs. Webcomic

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Posts: 2225

(01/18/07 1:19 PM)

Behold the many
uses of my amazing
BIONIC ARM!

I'd say leave it as a sketch comedy.

First, drawing it would take much longer, and I'm not sure what your schedule is like but it seems like you're short on time.

Second, I believe you raised the question of how to include "picture punchlines", like the Chrono Trigger album, or the Gradius thing, or Christopher's reaction to the absence of beanbag chairs in Geo. Having done sprite comics myself (though I've pretty much retired) I can say that isn't easy, though not impossible either (see: Leon Kennedy's curtains), but I don't know how easy it'd be to pull of in a drawn webcomic.

Gengarian Junus

Re: RAU Gallery: Sketch Comedy vs. Webcomic

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Posts: 716

(01/18/07 2:17 PM)

I only just started reading the ones past the two Site Tracking Adventures (which I read before awhile ago) and so far I'm up to the Nonsense War sketch and must say that this is the funniest thing to come out of this website since Brigade Delbrack and Nixxy Blayde kept getting shot down on the forums on a weekly basis. The thought never once occurred to me until I read this post that it would be better as a webcomic, and I'm having difficulty figuring out how it would improve it since a lot of it's dialogue-driven. If you're just going to have two guys rapping back and forth, you'd have to redraw the same panel for each turn only changing the speech balloons. Or you could drawn one panel and then photoshop the speech balloons, but either way, it seems like a lot more unnecessary work for the same joke.

Edit: It also seems like you're improving with it over time. The first few sketches are good, but are obvious that they're updated versions of message board posts. The ones that were written specifically for the site are better.

Another thing I like is that the impression I got at first is that the "school" is actually an on-line school and the characters are in a chatroom or posting to a message board, but there are hints in other sketches that they are actually in a school building. The ambiguity of it adds something to it, but it's hard to explain what.

Flying Omelette

Re: RAU Gallery: Sketch Comedy vs. Webcomic

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Posts: 20893

(01/18/07 2:36 PM)

But you had to have the BIIIIIG salad!

The second-most disturbing thing about it to me is that it seems part of the reason people want me to draw it all out is because they actually wanted to see Chance naked.

My site - Flying Omelette's Kitchen
My ezboard - Port Saiid Forums
I sailed on the wings of time to be with you
I followed this dream of mine
And I'll see it through
It was a dream and a promise that I intend to keep
Right here within my soul so deep

Uchuu Senkan Moai

Re: RAU Gallery: Sketch Comedy vs. Webcomic

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Posts: 15

(01/18/07 7:21 PM)

I don't know why you're asking this, if you are seriously considering changing to comic format, why can't you alternate between formats when (if) you feel like it?

I haven't voted yet, I think a comic would be more appealing to me, yet it seems you are more oriented to writing than drawing, thus, a comic would probably be of less quality.

About the sketches being dialogue-oriented, I figured that by changing the format, comics would be done with thought on the format rather than transcribing dialogue equivalent to one of the current sketches with drawings of the characters as an after-thought.

Personally, I think being so dialogue-oriented is a problem (I don't mean that this applies to every sketch you've made so far) even in written form, I find it more interesting when people actually do stuff instead of doing little more than talking; there's only so much pure dialogue can do, we can't tell what's their mood by the tone of their voices, can't see the characters' face or body expressions (emoticons don't do it for me, changing the character portraits with different expressions would only make it seem more like dialogue in a videogame, not a good thing); and while these obviously can't be done in pure text, the sketches don't take full advantage of the written format either.

DEATHAMSTER

Re: RAU Gallery: Sketch Comedy vs. Webcomic

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Posts: 1481

(01/18/07 7:55 PM)

O Solo Mio

Here's the age-old adage:

You can't please everybody. If you convert it to a webcomic, then you're gonna get people comin' atcha with complaints that your artwork isn't good enough, or it's not as funny as (*insert name of other webcomic here*), or that it takes too long to load, or blah, blah, blah, bitch, bitch, bitch.

Personally, I think you're right in saying it's something that's not used that much on the internet, and not to say that it's never been done before (Killdozer, OSG, and even DBDH Arena come to mind), but I've definitely never seen anything done quite like the way it is, so it's going to blow over some people's heads because it's not something they're used to. Those who are used to getting a quick fix from internet humor, particularly comics and things like YTMND, are going to read it and come away thinking "Gee, I wish it was a webcomic", and that's because it demands a bit of curiosity on the reader's part to really get what's going on.

Two points I agree with:

1. I agree with Junus that the ambiguity of it is what makes it work. Like DBDH Arena, it subtextually parodies the internet and the ways of it in general, aside from being just a parody of itself and 80's cartoon mentality. It gives it an extra layer.

2. I agree with James that Hazy 80's Daze is brilliant.

However, if you REALLY WANT to go the road of trying to please everybody, you could just occasionally write and draw a comic and either make a separate section for it (a la what Hobbes does with his site by having both written work and the art gallery), or just insert it as a sketch into the same section.

Dammit! I have typed this and edited it and deleted it and retyped it about 80 times, so forgive any typos.

Flying Omelette

Re: RAU Gallery: Sketch Comedy vs. Webcomic

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Posts: 20893

(01/18/07 9:19 PM)

But you had to have the BIIIIIG salad!

Just for the record, I'm really not interested in pleasing every person who stumbles on the site and happens to read it. I'll be straight up: Part of the point of it is to give people a major WTF? Most people do not know or remember what my roots are. I was all prepared for the first non-forum feedback to be along the lines of "you suck", and I was all prepared to frame it and make it the subject of the next sketch. So I was a little surprised when the first non-forum response to it that I got was actually praise.

Everything else I want to say, I really can't here (thank you, stupid ezboard, can't wait until we move.)

My site - Flying Omelette's Kitchen
My ezboard - Port Saiid Forums
I sailed on the wings of time to be with you
I followed this dream of mine
And I'll see it through
It was a dream and a promise that I intend to keep
Right here within my soul so deep

Flying Omelette

Re: RAU Gallery: Sketch Comedy vs. Webcomic

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Posts: 20893

(01/18/07 10:11 PM)

But you had to have the BIIIIIG salad!

Quote:
Dammit! I have typed this and edited it and deleted it and retyped it about 80 times, so forgive any typos.

Same here. I've attempted three times to post an explanation of why I made this poll, but I just can't seem to word it any way that satisfies me.

Let's imagine a scenario.

DH writes a DBDH Arena Sketch. Everyone laughs and praises it. Then someone says, "Hey, DH! You should turn it into a webcomic, it would be even better that way!"

And DH says, "Sorry, but I don't have the time, and I like it better as a sketch comedy because, blah, blah, blah".

And then that's the last of it.

Now let's imagine that instead of that being the end of the discussion, for every "blah", DH now gets a reply of "but, you're wrong!", and no matter how many more "blah, blah, blahs" DH comes up with, there's a million more, "but you're wrong! but you're wrong! but you're wrongs!" until DH finally has a headache and can't take it anymore.

This type of thing doesn't happen to DH. It happens to me. A lot. And not just with this section of the site. Why is that?

That's the ultimate question I'm getting at.

Bottomline: I don't care if you find it funny or not. It's nice if you would, but not everyone will. That's life. I'm just curious as to why this type of scenario keeps happening to me over and over again?

Sometimes, I understand, it's just friendly suggestions, and that's okay, but after about 50 "blahs" and 50 "but you're wrongs!", I'd think you'd start to get the point that I'm rejecting your idea. Especially when the "but you're wrongs!" start getting on such a ridiculous level that it seems I'm practically being expected to turn out a full-featurelength Disney-quality animated movie.

Edit: And yay! I forgot to actually say why I made the poll! Because after I'm argued into submission like that, I try to blow it off by saying, "Well, it's only a few people who feel that way", but then I realize I really don't know if it's just a few people or if everyone feels that way and just aren't saying anything. So I made the poll to find out.

My site - Flying Omelette's Kitchen
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I sailed on the wings of time to be with you
I followed this dream of mine
And I'll see it through
It was a dream and a promise that I intend to keep
Right here within my soul so deep

Flying Omelette

Re: RAU Gallery: Sketch Comedy vs. Webcomic

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Posts: 20893

(01/18/07 11:01 PM)

But you had to have the BIIIIIG salad!

Just two more things before I stop beating this horse:

1. Again, I'm not asking everyone to find it funny. I really don't even like calling attention to it. I prefer just writing the thing and sitting back and watching the chaos that ensues as people figure out how to react to it. But I think you should be at least willing to give it a chance before bombarding me. For that matter, I'm a little puzzled as to why anyone would think it would be superior as a webcomic since 9 times out of 10 when a post is made here about webcomics, it's to complain about how awful they are. Stop and think for a moment why that is. Could it be that the medium is too limiting? I'm not saying that's necessarily why, I don't really know, but maybe it should be taken as a consideration.

2. Making no attempt whatsoever to understand my point of view and responding to every one of my reasons with a "but you're wrong!" makes me feel like I'm dealing with Game Critic Boy.

Again, I'm really sorry to make such a big deal out of this, but this has also happened in the past with other site sections, and I just don't know why it keeps coming up, especially since it doesn't seem to me like it happens to anyone else. (Unless it is happening unbeknownst to me and it's the reason hardly anyone updates anymore.)

My site - Flying Omelette's Kitchen
My ezboard - Port Saiid Forums
I sailed on the wings of time to be with you
I followed this dream of mine
And I'll see it through
It was a dream and a promise that I intend to keep
Right here within my soul so deep

James FP

Re: RAU Gallery: Sketch Comedy vs. Webcomic

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Posts: 3164

(01/19/07 10:04 AM)

Schmendrick's Nose
Moderator

If the naysayers don't even have the nerve to respond to a fuckin' 38-post discussion about the matter, then why should they be taken seriously?

Quote:
This type of thing doesn't happen to DH. It happens to me. A lot. And not just with this section of the site. Why is that?

Just be glad that no one's threatened to sue you over it yet. But, yes, as per the closing statements on our site, we DO get a lot of this type of crap. But as I said on the forums over there, the bottom line is you either find it funny or you don't. There's nothing more to say. We made the site for the community, and we're not taking it down or changing it because some people who won't even sign up for the forums and participate in the discussions say they don't like it.

And don't forget how Somethingawful completely misinterpreted Killdozer and it's probably for this reason:

Quote:
Personally, I think you're right in saying it's something that's not used that much on the internet, and not to say that it's never been done before (Killdozer, OSG, and even DBDH Arena come to mind), but I've definitely never seen anything done quite like the way it is, so it's going to blow over some people's heads because it's not something they're used to. Those who are used to getting a quick fix from internet humor, particularly comics and things like YTMND, are going to read it and come away thinking "Gee, I wish it was a webcomic", and that's because it demands a bit of curiosity on the reader's part to really get what's going on.

that they did. So I really hope you're serious when you say that you don't care what random visitors think because it's only a matter of time before some person like that finds it, totally doesn't get it, and causes a big fuss over it.

Uh-oh. James is ticked off now. Stand back...HE'S A NUT!!

sethrashnoo

Re: RAU Gallery: Sketch Comedy vs. Webcomic

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Posts: 2733

(01/19/07 11:57 AM)

I Look Like an Egg
Moderator

Oh puh-leeese. Anyone complaining about it wouldn't know humor if it bit'em in the ass. Just keep writing it whatever way you choose. Ever since Permanent Monday stopped updating, I need my morning comedy.

Also, there should've been a poll option for "It doesn't matter to me. either way is fine", because I really don't care what you choose to do so long as it makes me laugh.

Got Shnoo?
Proud Staff Member of Deathamster's Nest

Flying Omelette

Re: RAU Gallery: Sketch Comedy vs. Webcomic

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Posts: 20893

(01/19/07 2:28 PM)

But you had to have the BIIIIIG salad!

Okay, points taken, so it doesn't just happen to me. I guess the reason I wasn't seeing it that way is that it seems our problems come from different sources - the people who pick on me for everything aren't the same people that pick on everyone else for anything and I just wanted to know why that is. Unfortunately, I fear that could be interpreted as me WANTING them to give other people the same grief, but that's not the case.

If you liked Permanent Monday, you might want to check out Comics Curmudgeon.

No one seems to really know why Chris Stangl stopped writing P-M, but I heard that he also gets grief like this from both Garfield haters and lovers alike and it might have played some part in it.

My site - Flying Omelette's Kitchen
My ezboard - Port Saiid Forums
I sailed on the wings of time to be with you
I followed this dream of mine
And I'll see it through
It was a dream and a promise that I intend to keep
Right here within my soul so deep

Lord Vyce

Re: RAU Gallery: Sketch Comedy vs. Webcomic

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Posts: 836

(01/19/07 2:32 PM)

Lord of Women's Lingerie

Does this have something to do with the topic that no longer seems to exist? I never saw if there were any replies past my own in that topic, but I did get an email saying my question couldn't be posted to the Q&A.

0o

da dick

Re: RAU Gallery: Sketch Comedy vs. Webcomic

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Posts: 2341

(01/19/07 6:08 PM)

and my bird can sing too!

guess it depends on what you want. if i had a scanner or stylus pad(i'll probably need lots of practice to get used to drawing with a stylus), i would do webcomic. probably just because i prefer the format. so i suppose you would wanna sketch to get the punchline/story out 1st and get faster feedback, then maybe do a webcomic when you wanna get in more details or you just happen to like the ol' traditional medium of a comic.

sethrashnoo

Re: RAU Gallery: Sketch Comedy vs. Webcomic

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Posts: 2733

(01/19/07 7:31 PM)

I Look Like an Egg
Moderator

p197.ezboard.com/fflyingo...t=6&stop=7

Some people just don't get message board humor. I've also come to that conclusion from seeing some of the feedback on our own site. I imagine part of the reason is because they're used to places like GameFAQs and N-Sider that have large message boards with lots of users, but no community persona. This is an old community with a certain rapport and a long history of in-jokes, and when they stumble onto it, it's a shock to their system. (Nobody who isn't at least somewhat familiar with the forums will truly understand the Troy joke, for example.)

As for Chris Stangl...I wouldn't be surprised if it was just too demanding to do something that required so much work on a daily basis, especially since he has other projects going.

Got Shnoo?
Proud Staff Member of Deathamster's Nest

Flying Omelette

...

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Posts: 20893

(01/19/07 7:48 PM)

But you had to have the BIIIIIG salad!

You guys are still misreading me a bit. I know that not everyone's going to get it. I'm glad that some of you do get what it's about and appreciate it. That's great. But as I said before, I'm not interested in writing something that would appeal to everyone. That's not the point.

I don't want to beat this issue anymore as I already tried discussing it a little more with some of the people involved in this situation off-forum. I feel this topic has served its intended purpose. I'll leave it up about another half an hour and then I'll eliminate it when I get home.

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