# Penny-Arcade vs. PvP **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 7, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985 "2003-10-07T02:27:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985/1 "2003-10-07T02:27:23Z")
Scott Kurtz makes a comic about Penny-Arcade: [http://www.pvponline.com/archive.php3?archive=20031002](http://www.pvponline.com/archive.php3?archive=20031002) Penny-Arcade responds enthusiastically: > [@](#): > > When we saw Scott’s Tuesday strip over at PvP, I must tell you - we were overjoyed. A couple months ago, I told Scott that we were waiting with much enthusiasm for the day he would act against us, and he has not disappointed in the slightest. We’ve always felt that Scott is at his best when he is at his most aggressive, and we relish this opportunity to [return fire](http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2003-10-03) in what we hope will be a long-lived feud. Scott is the only one we ever let draw Penny Arcade, so having a foe we can actually respect is a real thrill. Also, we hope he enjoys the traffic. Helping out the little guy just feels good. The graph cited in the strip shows that Penny Arcade ranks higher in traffic than Kurtz’ PvPonline – counting down from #1. Kurtz responds the same day: [http://www.pvponline.com/archive.php3?archive=20031003](http://www.pvponline.com/archive.php3?archive=20031003) And Penny-Arcade points out that this joke was already made by themselves: > **[Penny Arcade](https://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2001-03-05&res=l)** > > Videogaming-related online strip by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins. Includes news and commentary. Except, there was more to Kurtz’ jab than just the use of swear words. This was as of Friday. Suddenly, on Saturday, Penny Arcade has this to say: > [@](#): > > Gabe felt bad that people who don’t give a fuck about Scott Kurtz - a set which includes every thinking person - didn’t really get a comic on Friday. I suggested that we do a new comic, I told him I’d even do a post to accompany it, and that seemed to cheer him up a bit. As for Player Vs. Player, this episode has been highly instructive for me. Scott is like some vagrant who draws on a brick wall with a stream of his own pee, he is no longer relevant in any quantity that I measure. He taunted us, and we took the bait. The only thing I can say in my defense is that I really, really like bait. What the fuck is Tycho’s problem? Kurtz’ criticism is funny and apt, and just the day before Gabe and Tycho were supposedly deleriously happy to be bandying insults, and suddenly they’re being big thumb-sucking babies about it. Is Tycho manic-depressive? It’s like he was a completely different person on Friday than on Saturday. There have been other occasions in which Tycho has lashed out at someone, although to his credit he has been mensch enough to own up when he’s been a prick. What started out looking like a potentially hillarious exchange devolved quickly into cattiness, and from all I can tell it’s because the guys at Penny Arcade can’t take a joke, though they feel free to shit on anything they don’t like, and because Tycho suffers from violent mood swings. ---
**Author:** ![LeeshaJoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@LeeshaJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeshaJoy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985/2 "2003-10-07T03:27:57Z")
Geekiest. Rant. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![Sterra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Sterra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterra)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985/3 "2003-10-07T03:35:22Z")
Well, I do know that Gabe is an asshole. Perhaps that is the reason for the sudden change. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985/4 "2003-10-07T03:41:42Z")
Idiot they’re friends. Haven’t you ever had a friend that you dished it out like that to? Go back and read some stuff they did on daily radar if you want to see how they react to something they hate. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Mearl\_Dox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Mearl\_Dox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mearl_Dox)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985/5 "2003-10-07T04:12:01Z")
All I know is that PvP occasionally amuses me, but Penny Arcade never does. And that comeback from PvP cracked me up, and I knew what it was talking about, even before I read this rant and found out it was some sort of mutual war. Although my favorite parody making fun of Penny Arcade-style strips has to be the April Fool’s strip from Adventurers. [“Gamer Roomates!”](http://www.adventurers-comic.com/d/20030401.html) Thank goodness it was April Fool’s Day. ---
**Author:** ![KarmaComa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@KarmaComa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarmaComa)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985/6 "2003-10-07T04:19:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Darkhold \* > Go back and read some stuff they did on daily radar if you want to see how they react to something they hate. 😛 \*\* Link? ---
**Author:** ![Algorithm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/algorithm/32/12204_2.png) [@Algorithm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algorithm)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985/7 "2003-10-07T04:26:41Z")
Penny Arcade is funny and informative. In what other online comic strip could you learn what color a duck’s cock is (orange)? ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985/8 "2003-10-07T04:27:36Z")
> **[Penny Arcade](https://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2000-10-30&res=l)** > > Videogaming-related online strip by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins. Includes news and commentary. > **[Penny Arcade](https://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=1999-12-17)** > > Videogaming-related online strip by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins. Includes news and commentary. > **[Penny Arcade](https://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2000-05-22&res=l)** > > Videogaming-related online strip by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins. Includes news and commentary. > **[Penny Arcade](https://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2000-06-28&res=l)** > > Videogaming-related online strip by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins. Includes news and commentary. > **[Penny Arcade](https://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2000-06-30&res=l)** > > Videogaming-related online strip by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins. Includes news and commentary. > **[Penny Arcade](https://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2000-07-03&res=l)** > > Videogaming-related online strip by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins. Includes news and commentary. Unfortunately some of these are too old to have a newspost to it. And I couldn’t find the newspost where they cheered Daily Radar going offline. ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985/9 "2003-10-07T04:29:19Z")
> [@](#): > > All I know is that PvP occasionally amuses me, but Penny Arcade never does. Wow, just like me. If it was opposite day. ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985/10 "2003-10-07T04:40:40Z")
See, the difference between PvP’s strip and the PA backlash is that the PvP one is actually funny. PvP: “This strip is really topical, you have to know a lot about the subject before you get it.” PA: “Fuck you. We’re popular.” I admit that I am the geeky sector of the population who generally gets what Pa is going on about, but this responce is not the best subtle exchange of barbs. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985/11 "2003-10-07T04:47:05Z")
there was a time when PA was subtle? 😕 I like both comics (though I hardly check PvP) but I think alot of people are reading in vemon when to them it’s just a joke. It just happens PA thinks jokes involve alot of the words ‘pee, wang, and fuck you’ ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985/12 "2003-10-07T05:07:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LeeshaJoy \* > \*\*Geekiest. Rant. Ever. \*\* I don’t know. http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=215690]This thread has been pretty active today and could give it a run for it’s money. I don’t know which one is geekier, but I do know that there have been a lot of protractors flying through the air today. ---
**Author:** ![Juniper200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@Juniper200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juniper200)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985/13 "2003-10-07T05:07:34Z")
There’s a world where PvP is funny and PA…isn’t? I’m scared. Hold me. ---
**Author:** ![Mearl\_Dox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Mearl\_Dox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mearl_Dox)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985/14 "2003-10-07T05:14:22Z")
Maybe I just need to develop a greater fondness for wang jokes. And endless geek anger. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985/15 "2003-10-07T07:22:23Z")
It’s topical humour for the gaming realm. Just as some people don’t get Doonesbury at all, other find it rather hilarious (heck, I don’t play that many games, but PA leaves me in stitches most times). Think about it, I bet anyone who doesn’t read random SDMB threads often enough would find all the Og/1920/Hi Opal stuff pretty annoying. (Wait…) And anyone thinking that was a “geeky” thread, be happy most Dopers keep their slashdot and SDMB separate. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985/16 "2003-10-07T07:56:41Z")
Sounds to me like this is a manufactured feud intended to drive up interest in each other’s board. “Scott Kurtz is an asshole! Check out how lame is comic is on [www.pvponline.com](http://www.pvponline.com)!” isn’t a fight, it’s an advertisment. I’m sure the artists on both strips are busting a gut over the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![Mearl\_Dox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Mearl\_Dox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mearl_Dox)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985/17 "2003-10-07T08:05:21Z")
Hey, I like gaming humor just fine, and enjoy several game-themed strips. Mostly I dislike the fact that a lot of their humor isn’t gaming humor, but gaming fandom humor. Plus I get annoyed at self-insertation and non-stop snarkiness and bitchiness. And the wang jokes. I can do without wang jokes. PvP isn’t all that funny, but it’s funny sometimes. I never find Penny Arcade funny. Okay, once, there was an FF-themed strip that involved the concept of “sword tail,” but that was it. And when it was first recommended to me, I read the entire archives (I’m obsessive compulsive like that) just to make sure. No sirree, don’t like it. ---
**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985/18 "2003-10-07T09:17:09Z")
A life without wang jokes isn’t much of a life at all, now is it? ---
**Author:** ![Mearl\_Dox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Mearl\_Dox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mearl_Dox)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985/19 "2003-10-07T09:46:43Z")
A life without wang jokes is like a fish without a bicycle. I really must remind myself not to post at 5 AM. ---
**Author:** ![Doc\_Nickel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@Doc\_Nickel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doc_Nickel)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985/20 "2003-10-07T10:26:39Z")
This very thread is the intended result of both comics’ actions. Nothing at all is easier than to gain notoriety by pissing people off. Limbaugh ain’t in the news right now for his insightful, reasoned dialogue, now is he? Scott Kurtz and the PA crew might not be close personal friends, but they’re known well enough to each other that most jibes and insults are taken in jest. However, the majority of readers will see the exchange as angry and malicious, get righteous and indignant, and suddenly go out of their way to tell other people just how nasty or evil that damned comic artist is. And here we are. Did somebody mention something about “bait”? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penny-arcade-vs-pvp/205985.md?page=2)