Hothead sheds more light on the death of Penny Arcade Adventures
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Back when the discontinuation of the Penny Arcade Adventures series was first announced, Team PA explained that the decision was made due to the team's concern about developer Hothead being forced to split attention between PAA and then-recently-announced DeathSpank. As PA writer Jerry Holkins told it: "I think they could've made DeathSpank and Episode 3 but I think Episode 3 would've suffered. I mean, I know it would have suffered. So we'd rather not do it than do it half-assed and so we're going to finish that story but it's going to be on our website."
Today, in an interview with Eurogamer, Hothead director of technology Joel DeYoung laid a little more blame at the feet of Holkins, implying that Tycho's alter ego had trouble keeping up with the workload required. "I think he really struggled to get the volume of text written for Episode 1, and then with Episode 2 coming out so quickly thereafter - it was five-and-a-half months," DeYoung said. "That was not worked on in parallel, and getting him to deliver that text was, er, frankly quite a struggle."
This revelation comes a few days after Hothead erroneously teased that Episode 3 would be produced if the first two sold well on the Mac App Store, a notion that PA artist Mike Krahulik quickly batted down on Twitter.
Though we may never know the real cause behind Episode 3's termination, whether it's Penny Arcade or Hothead that had too much on its plate, we'd imagine the truth, as is usually the case in situations like these, hovers somewhere in between.
Today, in an interview with Eurogamer, Hothead director of technology Joel DeYoung laid a little more blame at the feet of Holkins, implying that Tycho's alter ego had trouble keeping up with the workload required. "I think he really struggled to get the volume of text written for Episode 1, and then with Episode 2 coming out so quickly thereafter - it was five-and-a-half months," DeYoung said. "That was not worked on in parallel, and getting him to deliver that text was, er, frankly quite a struggle."
This revelation comes a few days after Hothead erroneously teased that Episode 3 would be produced if the first two sold well on the Mac App Store, a notion that PA artist Mike Krahulik quickly batted down on Twitter.
Though we may never know the real cause behind Episode 3's termination, whether it's Penny Arcade or Hothead that had too much on its plate, we'd imagine the truth, as is usually the case in situations like these, hovers somewhere in between.
Reader Comments (34)
Posted: Jan 14th 2011 1:23PM Robborboy said
I am confused as to why PAA gets so much press. I mean, from what I played of it was a pretty drab experience.
Posted: Jan 14th 2011 2:08PM FriedConsole said
@Robborboy
I guess people dig the comic? Most video game comics are like all single strip comics and are not very funny. I think people like to read video game comics because they get the references that can only be understood by those into video game culture.
It is why people like The Big Bang Theory. It has nerd references but it follows all the same tropes as every sitcom from the 1950s. People like to feel smart when the get the obscure nerd reference. But underneath it all they are the same really lame jokes as Two and Half Men.
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I guess people dig the comic? Most video game comics are like all single strip comics and are not very funny. I think people like to read video game comics because they get the references that can only be understood by those into video game culture.
It is why people like The Big Bang Theory. It has nerd references but it follows all the same tropes as every sitcom from the 1950s. People like to feel smart when the get the obscure nerd reference. But underneath it all they are the same really lame jokes as Two and Half Men.
Posted: Jan 14th 2011 2:26PM Mcmax3000 said
@FriedConsole - Or it could be that people genuinely enjoy the jokes and the comedy of the strips and the show.
I read Penny Arcade and I watch The Big Bang Theory. I personally could care less whether anybody else gets the references or not.
Heck, my mom watches the Big Bang Theory more then I do and she doesn't get most of the geek references.
Just because it's not humour that you personally enjoy doesn't mean that everyone that likes those things has some ulterior reasoning behind their enjoyment. They simply just find it funny.
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I read Penny Arcade and I watch The Big Bang Theory. I personally could care less whether anybody else gets the references or not.
Heck, my mom watches the Big Bang Theory more then I do and she doesn't get most of the geek references.
Just because it's not humour that you personally enjoy doesn't mean that everyone that likes those things has some ulterior reasoning behind their enjoyment. They simply just find it funny.
Posted: Jan 14th 2011 2:44PM MLS said
@FriedConsole
Damn dude, that's a pretty far fetched imagined character you drew up just to project your hate for PA.
I don't wanna come off as a great defender of the franchise. I read the comic about once a week if, I can remember to. If it's funny, I smile. If it isn't, I shrug and get on with my life. But I do like the comic, and almost all the jokes that I find funny in it AREN'T about video games. It's mostly the crass or overblown dialogue. And those were the jokes liked in the games as well.
The games were ok. I don't like RPGs, but dig the hybrids, like the Paper Mario games. So they were fun to play. Not enough to mope about there not being an ep 3, but enough that I would have bought ep 3.
But if you wanna pretend I'm some sitcom watching, "Still Alive" singing, Monty Python quoting, binary code pun t-shirt wearing geek stereotype... whatever.
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Damn dude, that's a pretty far fetched imagined character you drew up just to project your hate for PA.
I don't wanna come off as a great defender of the franchise. I read the comic about once a week if, I can remember to. If it's funny, I smile. If it isn't, I shrug and get on with my life. But I do like the comic, and almost all the jokes that I find funny in it AREN'T about video games. It's mostly the crass or overblown dialogue. And those were the jokes liked in the games as well.
The games were ok. I don't like RPGs, but dig the hybrids, like the Paper Mario games. So they were fun to play. Not enough to mope about there not being an ep 3, but enough that I would have bought ep 3.
But if you wanna pretend I'm some sitcom watching, "Still Alive" singing, Monty Python quoting, binary code pun t-shirt wearing geek stereotype... whatever.
Posted: Jan 15th 2011 4:46AM Luthorcrow said
@Mcmax3000 Loving Penny Arcade is questionable but admitting publicly that you like Big Bang Theory is just bad taste. @FriedConsole already pointed on that the humor is as bad as Two and Half Men but anyone that thinks BBT actually makes obscure or intelligent references is really deluding themselves. It is as brain dead as the worst of sitcom hell has to offer.
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Posted: Jan 15th 2011 9:45PM Milf Biggenson said
@FriedConsole Marry me! You said the words I tell everyone. I hate these shows. They're not funny even accidentally. I mean, Two and a Half Men and Big Bang Theory are on the air, but Arrested Development was canceled? That's insanity and it explains why I use my TV for vid and not sitcoms anymore. Now of course AD isn't everyone's tastes, and it wasn't mine...at first, because I would catch it here and there in reruns and I knew it was brilliant but I couldn't exactly appreciate why until I watched it from beginning to end. Then I was floored. That is one of the only sitcoms that has to be explored from beginning to end for its full genius to be delivered throughout multiple viewings.
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Posted: Jan 14th 2011 1:25PM Epoque said
ENOUGH OF THIS BLAME GAME!
I don't believe a lick of it. It's quite obvious that the only reason we aren't getting Episode Three is because Hothead and Penny Arcade are completely incompatible in a working relationship, and probably bickered all through development. Either patch up your differences and get to work on Episode Three, or stop toying with me and all the other fans with this petty nonsense.
I don't believe a lick of it. It's quite obvious that the only reason we aren't getting Episode Three is because Hothead and Penny Arcade are completely incompatible in a working relationship, and probably bickered all through development. Either patch up your differences and get to work on Episode Three, or stop toying with me and all the other fans with this petty nonsense.
Posted: Jan 14th 2011 1:26PM Mcmax3000 said
It's a shame. I really enjoyed the first two games.
I'm someone that doesn't finish many games and I finished them both. Was really looking forward to Episode 3 before it was canned.
I'm someone that doesn't finish many games and I finished them both. Was really looking forward to Episode 3 before it was canned.
Posted: Jan 14th 2011 1:30PM Exu said
Poppycock, it died because it wasn't very good.
Posted: Jan 14th 2011 1:34PM HardBoiled2009 said
@Exu
you may think so, but some of us don't. I for one had alot of fun playing the game and so it seems with Joystiq Users Epoque and Mcmax3000
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you may think so, but some of us don't. I for one had alot of fun playing the game and so it seems with Joystiq Users Epoque and Mcmax3000
Posted: Jan 14th 2011 1:32PM HardBoiled2009 said
I read the PAA Episode 3 online and from what i saw i was confused ... to play the game it would explain more better too me. it just doesn't have the same feel if you read it then playing it. I really hoped Episode 3 was still in light but i made peace with the fact " it's not coming " i figure a disagreement happened between the parties who really wants to come out saying it's so and so fault and the other members fire back blaming the other party
in the end it's one big mess and that seems what is gonna happen here. it seems like bridges of business is going too collapse from the finger pointing ETC... IMO i thought PA guys thought " no we want you guys to make our game first then you guys start with your game " deathspank " but Hothead said no we wanna start our game and then the fight begins but i seem to be wrong.
in the end it's one big mess and that seems what is gonna happen here. it seems like bridges of business is going too collapse from the finger pointing ETC... IMO i thought PA guys thought " no we want you guys to make our game first then you guys start with your game " deathspank " but Hothead said no we wanna start our game and then the fight begins but i seem to be wrong.
Posted: Jan 14th 2011 1:33PM Mrguy you know that guy said
Hmm... This makes think of another Episode 3 that won't ever come out. I'm looking at you, Half Life 2!!!
Posted: Jan 14th 2011 1:33PM Petebot330 said
I thought it was because the first one didn't sell well at 20 freaking dollars?
Posted: Jan 14th 2011 1:40PM Faenix said
Release episode 3, and I will buy all three! I played episode 1 at my friend. its pretty cool.
But I refuse to buy em without the last piece.
But I refuse to buy em without the last piece.
Posted: Jan 14th 2011 1:49PM psyXcho said
I LOVED PAA due to the fact it was old school fun. Costume quest copied a little but it didn't have the M humor that Penny Arcade is known for. Personally I think Hothead wanted to move on after the 1st one didn't sell like hotcakes. I refuse to buy Deathspank after investing in a previously abandoned series. I have no faith in Hothead after PAA. Proves they can abandon their fans whenever they want.
Posted: Jan 14th 2011 1:49PM oO Wallace Oo said
The Episdoe 3 curse strikes again... Who will be next to fall ?
Posted: Jan 15th 2011 3:28PM Rather Dashing said
@oO Wallace Oo What non-Valve episode 3 are you using to create the rule of this "curse"? Stub your toe once in your life, it's the toe stubbing curse!
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Posted: Jan 14th 2011 2:08PM CrumbBum said
I never laughed out loud playing a video game before coming across the "glove compartment" line in PAA. I had played games with a Saturday-morning-cartoon level of zaniness, but had never seen video game writing be genuinely funny before.
It is easy to overlook the staggering number of things that need to align perfectly to release anything, let alone something considered good.
It is easy to overlook the staggering number of things that need to align perfectly to release anything, let alone something considered good.
Posted: Jan 14th 2011 2:08PM hahnchen said
Episode 3 was never made, because Episode 2 only managed a third of the sales of the original.
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/22894/GDC_Hothead_Duo_Talk_DeathSpank_Indie_Experience_Episodic_Gaming_Retreat.php
It might be viable now though, people may have forgotten what grind-o-rpgs they were.
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/22894/GDC_Hothead_Duo_Talk_DeathSpank_Indie_Experience_Episodic_Gaming_Retreat.php
It might be viable now though, people may have forgotten what grind-o-rpgs they were.
Posted: Jan 14th 2011 2:13PM Exu said
Episodic gaming doesn't work.
Posted: Jan 14th 2011 3:01PM ThePenIsMightier said
@Exu
Yeah, it ruined Valve and Telltale and companies that tinkered with episodic expansion like Rockstar and Gearbox and.....ohwait, I think what you meant to say was "standalone gaming doesn't work", because look at how many failed franchises and companies there are! No, wait, that analogy doesn't work either. I guess what I'm trying to say is....pull your head out of your ass.
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Yeah, it ruined Valve and Telltale and companies that tinkered with episodic expansion like Rockstar and Gearbox and.....ohwait, I think what you meant to say was "standalone gaming doesn't work", because look at how many failed franchises and companies there are! No, wait, that analogy doesn't work either. I guess what I'm trying to say is....pull your head out of your ass.
Posted: Jan 14th 2011 2:15PM whiskeyseven said
Wonder which sold more, PA or Deathspank.... (personally I really enjoyed both the PA games, thought the Deathspank demo was pretty cheesy and never bought the full version)
Posted: Jan 14th 2011 2:51PM Sands said
The humor reminded me of classic adventure games like Monkey Island or Sam and Max… maybe telltale games should pick up this title too.
Posted: Jan 14th 2011 3:08PM FentonAlpha said
What an ass. Seems like Penny Arcade tried to be civil about it, no accusations then this guy just decided to start throwing blame around....and it's a fairly dead horse so it's not even necessary.
Posted: Jan 14th 2011 4:41PM Bluebreaker said
Everyone's all "What have you done for me lately?" on the PA guys for some odd reason.
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