FAQ?
What is that character's name?
The main characters don't have names. When speaking about a comic I usually refer to them as "That Guy" and "That Other Guy", but it can't be stressed enough that THESE ARE NOT THEIR NAMES. In trying to keep the cartoon minimalist, nothing extraneous should be included. Their names do not matter, therefore they don't have any.
The main characters don't have names. When speaking about a comic I usually refer to them as "That Guy" and "That Other Guy", but it can't be stressed enough that THESE ARE NOT THEIR NAMES. In trying to keep the cartoon minimalist, nothing extraneous should be included. Their names do not matter, therefore they don't have any.
Why is the stick figure drawn without (insert body part)?
The characters are only drawn with essential, identifying parts. When trying to cartoon someone who has a real-world counterpart, this usually boils down to hair, chest, and eyes/glasses. I try to get as much variation out of already-drawn parts, but will occasionally add something new if necessary. I try to get as much expression as I can out of the few parts that I DO include.
The main character has no eyes, mouth, or arms (except when needed). Because he delivers the bulk of meaningful dialog, I thought it was especially important that he not be weighed down by things like facial expressions or wildly flapping arms.
The characters are only drawn with essential, identifying parts. When trying to cartoon someone who has a real-world counterpart, this usually boils down to hair, chest, and eyes/glasses. I try to get as much variation out of already-drawn parts, but will occasionally add something new if necessary. I try to get as much expression as I can out of the few parts that I DO include.
The main character has no eyes, mouth, or arms (except when needed). Because he delivers the bulk of meaningful dialog, I thought it was especially important that he not be weighed down by things like facial expressions or wildly flapping arms.
Don't you know that stick figure comics are SO last year?
I'm not an artist. I'm a very busy programmer. I'm lucky if I find the time to cut-and-paste together two comics a week, I'd never have to time to make them if I actually _drew_ them.
I'm not an artist. I'm a very busy programmer. I'm lucky if I find the time to cut-and-paste together two comics a week, I'd never have to time to make them if I actually _drew_ them.
How long have you been doing this?
The first comic was uploaded on August 28th, 2001.
The first comic was uploaded on August 28th, 2001.
How come some comics are missing?
When I first started this comic, I used it as a personal soapbox. I used too many in-jokes, added characters willy-nilly, and worked with little regard for coherence or bigger story. I didn't know how to make a webcomic. To be fair, at the time the comic started nobody else did either.
In time I developed an idea for a larger story, and it became necessary to edit for coherency. Extraneous characters were cut. A number of comics were cut, re-ordered, or edited. It seems like such a major retcon is taboo for a webcomic, but screw it. This is just as much a story in development as it is a serial comic. If a "real" author can edit, I should be able to as well.
When I first started this comic, I used it as a personal soapbox. I used too many in-jokes, added characters willy-nilly, and worked with little regard for coherence or bigger story. I didn't know how to make a webcomic. To be fair, at the time the comic started nobody else did either.
In time I developed an idea for a larger story, and it became necessary to edit for coherency. Extraneous characters were cut. A number of comics were cut, re-ordered, or edited. It seems like such a major retcon is taboo for a webcomic, but screw it. This is just as much a story in development as it is a serial comic. If a "real" author can edit, I should be able to as well.
Don't you know that every time you use Comic Sans, God kills a baby?
That's OK. I never cared much for babies anyway.
The comic is supposed to be, in ways, cliche. One of those is the use of Comic Sans. It was a conscious decision to make my comic look bad, and damn it, I'm sticking by it!
That's OK. I never cared much for babies anyway.
The comic is supposed to be, in ways, cliche. One of those is the use of Comic Sans. It was a conscious decision to make my comic look bad, and damn it, I'm sticking by it!
Where do you get your ideas? (also: Why aren't your comics funny?)
Most of my comics are ad-libbed together the same morning that I put them online. They're not based on "creation" so much as they are based on the delirium accompanying any attempts at thought before my first cup of coffee.
Most of my comics are ad-libbed together the same morning that I put them online. They're not based on "creation" so much as they are based on the delirium accompanying any attempts at thought before my first cup of coffee.
I don't get it.
I've been told that my sense of humor takes a little while to warm up to. If you have the time, go back in the archive and read 20 or 30 comics. As you get familiar with the method of storytelling and nuances of characterization, you may find that the comics make a little more sense.
I've been told that my sense of humor takes a little while to warm up to. If you have the time, go back in the archive and read 20 or 30 comics. As you get familiar with the method of storytelling and nuances of characterization, you may find that the comics make a little more sense.
Are you really a video game programmer?
Yes. And it's about as fun as the comic makes it to be: often stressful, generally unrewarding, but always interesting. People often make the mistake of confusing "game designers" with "game programmers" - which is like confusing a Game Boy with a graphing calculator. I'm the latter.
Yes. And it's about as fun as the comic makes it to be: often stressful, generally unrewarding, but always interesting. People often make the mistake of confusing "game designers" with "game programmers" - which is like confusing a Game Boy with a graphing calculator. I'm the latter.
Do you have an RSS feed?
Yes. Yes I do. If you direct your reader to www.paranoiddreams.com, it should auto-discover it, or you can follow this link.
I also post my comic via livejournal, where I post each new comic as soon as it is available. Just add MSFT_RSS as a buddy and the comics will show up on your friends list.
Yes. Yes I do. If you direct your reader to www.paranoiddreams.com, it should auto-discover it, or you can follow this link.
I also post my comic via livejournal, where I post each new comic as soon as it is available. Just add MSFT_RSS as a buddy and the comics will show up on your friends list.
Can I link you?
Sure. I might even link you back. Just save one of these buttons to your server, and link me using a straight HTML tag. I'd let you link to the images directly, but bandwidth is a premium on this host.. you know how it is.
(117x30)
Sure. I might even link you back. Just save one of these buttons to your server, and link me using a straight HTML tag. I'd let you link to the images directly, but bandwidth is a premium on this host.. you know how it is.
(117x30)