Readers pick best webcomic: Still a Few Bugs in the System

by Griffin McElroy { Jul 4th 2009 at 1:30PM }

Virtual Shackles only just appeared on the gaming webcomic scene, but has held its own in every Wrapup it's appeared on, usually netting one of the runner-up spots. However, their eighteenth strip -- a cautionary tale about the dangers of sentient camera peripherals titled "Still a Few Bugs in the System" -- managed to pull down first place in last week's WeeWebWrap. Congratulations, VirtShack! (Do you mind if we call you VirtShack? We feel so much closer to you now.)

Second place went to GameSpy's "The Life Cycle of a Videogame" (which missed top honors by a mere eight votes!) and Brawl in the Family's "The Lesson," respectively. If you've got a favorite gaming-themed webcomic to throw into the ring this week, act quickly! We'll be webcomic wrapping later today, shortly before we recklessly play with fireworks -- and after that, we may not have enough fingers left to throw any tardy entries into the fray.

Tags: webcomic

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

estomped @ Jul 4th 2009 1:40PM

That comic looks like a Penny Arcade rip-off

dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ Jul 4th 2009 1:42PM

It sorta does, I agree. I also didn't find it as funny as everyone else apparently did, but to each his own. Congrats to them.

deanb @ Jul 4th 2009 1:43PM

Oh Noes a webcomic, about video games, it must be a PA rip-off!
If you actually look at 'em their art styles are very different.
My current fav art style (for a webcomic) is "Another Videogame Webcomic" though the jokes are a bit hollow.

Trickob @ Jul 4th 2009 1:44PM

YOU look like a Penny Arcade rip-off!!

Sorry, that was't called for...

Sly @ Jul 4th 2009 2:04PM

i agree with inchworm. i didn't find it that funny. i thought there were better ones. but anyways, congrats virtshack.

LaughingTarget @ Jul 4th 2009 2:15PM

Penny Arcade makes gobs of money for 9 panels of expletives a week, people are bound to copy it, art style and all.

Sora @ Jul 4th 2009 2:19PM

@deanb: Their art styles look extremely similar to me. Before I looked at the first guy's eyes I thought it WAS Penny Arcade since I only took a glance.

Hiroken @ Jul 4th 2009 2:27PM

I agree. They use the same type of boxes, coloring, and fonts. They're copying Penny-Arcade stylistically.

dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ Jul 4th 2009 3:58PM

"Penny Arcade makes gobs of money for 9 panels of expletives a week"

LOL

Ace Steel @ Jul 4th 2009 4:07PM

That's what I thought. The art style looks way too similar for it to not be a rip-off.

Girugamuk (Moptimus Slimed) @ Jul 4th 2009 6:51PM

people copying something thats popular?

STOP THE PRESSES! I'VE GOT BREAKING NEWZ!

Mr Khan @ Jul 4th 2009 10:43PM

LaughingTarget, that was win.

dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ Jul 4th 2009 1:40PM

And how does that make you feel? You could have mowed the lawn, grilled out for the 4th, aired out your computer, walked the dog, washed the laundry... you could've done something productive today and actually reaped some sort of benefit.

deanb @ Jul 4th 2009 1:41PM

..to fail

Night Elve @ Jul 4th 2009 1:44PM

You should know by now that we dislike the people that post the "first" thing.

fragmonkey @ Jul 4th 2009 1:45PM

of course, why else would I do it.

MystileArmor @ Jul 4th 2009 2:00PM

Cause you have the attention span of a butterfly and the mental capacity of one as well?

LaughingTarget @ Jul 4th 2009 2:14PM

I don't think he was paying attention, Mystile, you may have to say it again.

Shashwat @ Jul 4th 2009 2:17PM

you guys are retards for listening to the troll. the troll is personal friend of mine and did this to get reactions. he even called me up to look at everyone's pissed reactions. just ignore himl goddamm. And no he doesn't have the attention span of a butterfly, he's a goddamm genius, probably the smartest guy in our school. he obviously did it for lolz and you guys fell for it.

voxie @ Jul 4th 2009 2:28PM

Funny comics - Didn't like the Kirby one. I like weird ones like...
http://bonus-kun.deviantart.com/art/Sonic-s-Eye-Infection-98655916

Leroy_Octopus @ Jul 4th 2009 5:55PM

That ones great I hope it gets nominated.

Sly @ Jul 4th 2009 6:35PM

hahahaha i'm surprised i didn't see the ending coming. the second to last panel should have given it away for me...

Rein @ Jul 4th 2009 2:29PM

@Shashwat: I hope you both do well in first grade!

Shashwat @ Jul 4th 2009 2:31PM

@Rein

high school thank you. also thanks for feeding the troll.....

evan @ Jul 4th 2009 2:39PM

Virtual Shackles seems to be doing really well for a new comic. Keep up the great work guys.

Here are mine for the week. Please be kind, it's my birthday.

http://ofnoobsandmen.com/2009/07/03/if-i-wanted-advice-id-ask/
http://ofnoobsandmen.com/2009/06/30/super-sonic-evolution/

[tre] @ Jul 4th 2009 3:13PM

Those two were pretty funny. Me likey.

Sly @ Jul 4th 2009 4:05PM

haha i liked the second one. and happy birthday.

Evan @ Jul 4th 2009 7:49PM

Thanks!

BlackDove @ Jul 4th 2009 3:28PM

>in our school

I think I see the problem.

ArchiGamer @ Jul 4th 2009 3:30PM

The smartest guy in the school would never do anything stupid as the "first!" comment just for the lulz.

ArchiGamer @ Jul 4th 2009 3:32PM

I actually liked the GameSpy webcomic more only because it just so darn true.

The Baron @ Jul 4th 2009 10:41PM

I thought the ultimate irony was when they made the joke about review scores being tied into how many adverts for the game are being run on the site.

Shashwat @ Jul 4th 2009 4:47PM

yes he would do do it for the lulz, smart does not equal mature.

Slaziman @ Jul 4th 2009 4:52PM

you act like trolling is somehow above being a moron that thinks he is special for getting the first post

you're still just doing something stupid to get attention one way or the other, you can sit there behind your desk thinking you've fooled everyone or something, but in reality you are just a moron with nothing better to do

Slaziman @ Jul 4th 2009 4:55PM

also you really called someone up to tell him how badly you trolled some people on the internetz? jesus christ, how empty is your life? :P

ArchiGamer @ Jul 4th 2009 4:59PM

"smart does not equal mature."

But it leads to it and one who is smart enough knows that sacrificing your intelligence for something as stupid as the "first!" comment just for a laugh that will never happen is just that: stupid.

And he must be really stupid to let someone else fight his battles.

MNC Dover @ Jul 4th 2009 5:13PM

Here's the Monday Night Crew's weekly offering:

http://www.mondaynightcrew.com/issues/comic_0155.html

Shashwat @ Jul 4th 2009 5:46PM

im not fighting his battles. he's an immature guy who calls me up to tell about his internet trolling. all i'm saying is just ignore him. and yes he's a book smart guy but a little loose in the head.

fragmonkey @ Jul 4th 2009 6:30PM

16 comments on my troll, mission accomplished.

Girugamuk (Moptimus Slimed) @ Jul 4th 2009 6:47PM

you realize that just posting "OMG FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!111111 LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL" isn't the same as trolling, right?

of course you do, since apparently you're the smartest kid at shashwats MRDD branch

ArchiGamer @ Jul 4th 2009 7:01PM

Trolls usually say something more..."intelligent" than the "first" comment, on matter in fact most if not all trolls know that the comment leads to certain downvoting or worse.

The Baron @ Jul 4th 2009 10:40PM

And what mission was this?

That if you post 'first', people call you retarded? Perhaps for your next mission you should try putting your hand on the stove and seeing if heat burns things.

Shashwat @ Jul 4th 2009 11:28PM

http://www.gamesradar.com/f/what-to-say-to-the-guy-who-comments-first/a-20090702115554649056

Desert Eagle @ Jul 5th 2009 1:16AM

Good. I hope you don't mind if I neg your first comment even more Mr. fragmonkey.

WHOOPS!

I accidentally clicked the "!" button instead. My bad.

Longhorn of Myon [PSN: MariusElijah] @ Jul 5th 2009 1:35AM

lol, you call that trolling, get back in line

Girugamuk (Moptimus Slimed) @ Jul 4th 2009 6:45PM

if you hate the guy so much (which is obvious from how you describe him in your posts) why do you continue to follow him like a lap dog?

"And no he doesn't have the attention span of a butterfly, he's a goddamm genius"

Im failing to see how these apples fair in a side by side comparison to these oranges

"he even called me up to look at everyone's pissed reactions"

the ironing of how even YOU fell for this is amazing