Building The Brand
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August 30th, 2007

Building The Brand

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I read an article in Wired about the secret lives of Gabe and Tycho from Penny Arcade. It was eye opening to say the least. Penny Arcade is not a simple two man production whose sole focus is uploading jpegs and cracking wise. Oh no. Gabe and Tycho are merely figure heads that sit loftily atop a monolithic stone edifice overseeing a vast corporate empire. PA is a business. PA is a profit generating, self perpetuating turbine of lewd and lascivious 1’s and 0’s. I say this not to disparage, but to demonstrate my extreme reverence and awe.

Here are the Cliff’s notes:

  • Gabe and Tycho oversee a staff of 10, including a full time sales staff
  • PA Generates profits in the multiple (at least 2) millions annually (the writer estimates)
  • Gabe and Tycho were contemplating day jobs at the height of their initial super stardom due to VASTLY undercharging for advertising. Robert fixed all that.
  • PAX is now the LARGEST NORTH AMERICAN GAME EXPO. Period.

Read the article. It was good. What a surreal and amazing experience the last few years must have been for those two.

Josh met Jerry and Mike a few years ago when they were working on a promotional piece for a game he and Eli were developing (and for which I did voice work). He said they are extremely cool guys and quite down to earth. I believe it. Their intentions seem to be pure and their motivations just. My one and only confusion stems from the fact that Tycho writes from time to time about not having money for this game or that peripheral… YOUR WEBCOMIC GENERATES OVER 1 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR! Stop fucking with me.

Also, Gabe looks like Freddy Mercury.

Also, Also: On the subject of hoboes, you must download and listen to John Hodgman’s (PC from the Mac commercials and Daily Show correspondant) 700 hobo names. Its fabulous beyond repair. “Boxcar Aldous Huxley” is my favorite. It also features music from the fantastic Jonathan Coulton. When you are done you can visit the site with all 700 hobo names in illustration form.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, August 30th, 2007 at 4:00 am and is filed under Comics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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^ 11 Comments...

  1. Sam Walker
    August 30th, 2007 at 5:16 am

    I really liked the article, too. I was amazed to hear that PA was bringing in multiple millions, and I really was surprised when he said “Now I drive a fucking mercedes.” It’s kind of sad to realize that practically no other webcomic is going to reach that height. Ever. But we can still try to become self-sufficient!

    Also, John Hodgeman is awesome. I love when he has a segment on This American Life.

  2. Joel
    August 30th, 2007 at 6:35 am

    @ Sam

    I dont consider their success to be exclusive to the realm of webcomics. This is a VERY successful business, first and foremost, and a webcomic 2nd. They are an advertising, and merchandising business more than anything. So to say, “no other webcomic” is almost pointless because in reality most businesses, regardless of their trade or market, will never see multi-millions.

    I agree, that my only long term goal for “webcomic success” is that it sustain me full time. What more can you ask for?

    Hodgman = Rule.

  3. Jacob
    August 30th, 2007 at 9:58 am

    HijiNKS eXPO, 2010?

    Remember us readers when you become famous, Mr. Watson.

  4. AJ
    August 30th, 2007 at 10:24 am

    I agree with Jacob… maybe someday I’ll have my fledgling comic linked off your page and generate a following of my own.

  5. That Asian
    August 30th, 2007 at 10:30 am

    Wow, shivved by a hobo.

    That’s cold, but funny, so it’s ok, like when Gob got shanked by White Power Bill.

    Getting stabbed in the liver is comedy gold.

  6. Joel
    August 30th, 2007 at 11:33 am

    @Jacob & AJ

    HaXPO? HEX? 1337 H4×0rZ?

    You’re both on the guest list.

  7. Joel
    August 30th, 2007 at 11:35 am

    @Asian

    “you’re in the hospital”

    “ta da…..”

    I good hobo-shanking would do Eli good.

  8. Erin
    August 30th, 2007 at 12:53 pm

    Interesting article, but what did it for me was the rat in the hobo’s pocket. Seriously though, in comics and animation, details make your universe come to life.

  9. Joel
    August 30th, 2007 at 3:02 pm

    @ Erin

    Thats where I like to think the Devil lives…

    in the details.

  10. AJ
    August 30th, 2007 at 8:51 pm

    @ Joel

    SWEET!

  11. HijiNKS ENSUE a geek webcomic - updated monday and thursday » Blog Archive » Hobos are basically worthless
    November 12th, 2007 at 4:00 am

    [...] with a keen eye will recognize Boxcar Pete in the wash tub up there in panel 4. He’s the stabby kind of hobo, so watch out. Tags: apple, [...]

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