By Tim Stone on April 20th, 2008 at 11:08 am.
From September 03.
Rock, Paper, Shotgun
Strafe Left: The Formative Years #26
Comment on this story
You must be registered and logged in to post a comment.
XHTML: Allowed code: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Respond to our gibber
- borut : “Because of the expense of releasing this content as DLC for all previous Microsoft platforms, as well as current market conditions, we’ve decided to focus ...” on Skulls Of The Shogun Escapes Windows 8 Tyranny
- Kobest : “Not even an inch! :D But joking aside, don't get me wrong, there were some geniune moments in the game. Going into the memories of ...” on Telling Tales: Molyneux Vs Vanaman
- Velko : “I see what you did there.” on Less Wooden: War Logs Improves Voice Acting
- 手機殼 : “手機殼... Just to allow you know your website seems a little bit strange on Firefox on my netbook utilizing Linux ....” on As Narbacular Drop Is to Portal
- ResonanceCascade : “No one ever said they were anything else, so I'm not sure who you'd be arguing with.” on Of Course Valve Are Working On Half-Life 3, Now Shush
Read our finest words
20/04/2008 at 11:32 a-scale says:
Not the time for philosophy, Dan.
20/04/2008 at 11:49 Dan Forever says:
W’huh?
20/04/2008 at 12:01 nakke says:
Where’s the punchline?
20/04/2008 at 12:27 roBurky says:
I think the punchline can be summed up by a-scale’s comment.
20/04/2008 at 13:15 Kalle Anka says:
[Edited for being mean - if you claim you're an adult, you should act like one, man.]
20/04/2008 at 13:19 Miles says:
This has always been one of my absolute favourites.
20/04/2008 at 13:21 Lucky says:
Guess I’ll be back when I’ve reached the birthday when I’m given an envelope containing all the mysteries of the universe then.
20/04/2008 at 13:22 feffrey says:
Wow now that was funny!
20/04/2008 at 13:28 Windlab says:
All I’m saying is if they’re freedom fighters – what does that make us?
20/04/2008 at 13:43 Cigol says:
Depends who you ask Windlab ;)
20/04/2008 at 14:08 James T says:
Has SL been posted here in chronological order? It’s been getting funnier as it goes along; well played, Tim.
20/04/2008 at 14:15 Tim says:
hehe.
20/04/2008 at 15:26 theleif says:
Almost as good as #17
20/04/2008 at 15:34 Nick says:
“Has SL been posted here in chronological order?”
The dates below every cartoon would indicate no.
20/04/2008 at 15:39 DigitalSignalX says:
@lucky: I just opened my envelope, and it said it was funny because they have paused to have this moral debate while the hostage is being held right next to them at gunpoint. Much like we all have in-game, sitting around discussing stuff while events continue without any real sense of urgency, even if the whole point the developer intended is to motivate to action.
There are 7 envelopes. 4 live in secrecy. 1 will be revealed.
20/04/2008 at 17:16 Svenska says:
eh, I got it, but it’s just not doing it for me.
20/04/2008 at 18:51 Lucky says:
I liked my “It’s a poke at American Army’s system of everybody playing on the side of freedom against terrorists”-explanation better.
20/04/2008 at 19:44 elves says:
Yeah, it’s not funny to me, because people genuinely should consider their actions and have some empathy. Even in those circumstances.
Also, I thought the doorway was a cut-away when I saw it first, ruined the “timing” for me…
20/04/2008 at 19:47 Poddus Maximus says:
I actually remember this one! I would like to be able to see the cover of Sep 03…does anyone know how?
Is there anything equivilent to the Amiga Magazine Rack?
20/04/2008 at 20:19 sinister agent says:
“Yeah, it’s not funny to me, because people genuinely should consider their actions and have some empathy. Even in those circumstances.”
Except that you can’t really do that in a combat situation, because that would get you and all your friends killed very quickly.
It’s still a good gag either way, man.
20/04/2008 at 20:26 Kieron Gillen says:
Hating to over-explain everything, all the reasons people describe are reasons it’s funny. This is one of my favourite of the more minimalist Strafe Lefts.
KG
20/04/2008 at 23:44 Dracko says:
elves: If you did what you preached, you wouldn’t be able to perform a single action.
21/04/2008 at 00:43 malkav11 says:
Strafe Left quite regularly just confuses me. This is one of those times. Even after explanations my reaction is just “Huh. Okay, I guess I kind of see that.”
21/04/2008 at 06:34 hebes says:
This comic is never, ever funny. I think the most any of them has ever gotten out of me is a sigh – well, no, possibly a disapproving shake of the head as well. I’m just waiting for the one where a cow is being catapulted over a wall with a soldier asking, “So this is a cowtapult?”
21/04/2008 at 07:08 mrkstphnsn says:
I used to buy and read Gamer religiously at this point in time and whilst the cartoon may be a little bit out of context here and now I can remember sometimes just sitting there thinking that sometimes Tim got “perfect” satire across in his little cartoons and indeed sometimes I thought “fucking hell I’m surprised they published that one.
The classic with the minimap icons being a perfect example. In a magazine aimed at game nerds there could be an absolutely heartbreaking panel about the position of brazilians lying on the floor in a tube station.
Satire doesn’t generally have a punchline.
YMMV
21/04/2008 at 08:36 Zephyrtron says:
Cripes. Isn’t it funny that the most mirthsome posts are always the ones that bring out the most humourless responses?
Like this one…
21/04/2008 at 09:10 phuzz says:
(@ Poddus, thanks for pointing me at the Amiga Magazine Rack, another part of my childhood is found :) )
21/04/2008 at 17:10 Pod says:
Judging by these responses, I think Strafe Left should obtain the subtitle of “The Thinking Gamer’s Crumpet” or something. I’ll leave it to you wordy journos to come up with better.
ps, Phuzz: No problem. I just someone would return the favour but re: PC Gamer! :)
21/04/2008 at 17:35 Kalle Anka says:
Hey sorry to anyone offended, didn’t mean to be just mean. More a mean old man :)
Actually, that’s the kind of thing I expected to hear from grown ups when I was a kid, it’s just how life is. In a few years the kids here will get to say the same things to the younglings they come across. It’s simply one of the benefits of being an adult, to get to complain at the youth :)
21/04/2008 at 17:47 Jochen Scheisse says:
One man’s constructivist is the other man’s relativist, HAHAHAHAHA! Yeah ok I’ll hit myself for that.