By Tim Stone on April 20th, 2008 at 11:08 am.

From September 03.
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Not the time for philosophy, Dan.
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W’huh?
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Where’s the punchline?
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I think the punchline can be summed up by a-scale’s comment.
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[Edited for being mean - if you claim you're an adult, you should act like one, man.]
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This has always been one of my absolute favourites.
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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.
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Wow now that was funny!
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All I’m saying is if they’re freedom fighters – what does that make us?
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Depends who you ask Windlab ;)
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Has SL been posted here in chronological order? It’s been getting funnier as it goes along; well played, Tim.
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hehe.
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Almost as good as #17
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“Has SL been posted here in chronological order?”
The dates below every cartoon would indicate no.
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@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.
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eh, I got it, but it’s just not doing it for me.
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I liked my “It’s a poke at American Army’s system of everybody playing on the side of freedom against terrorists”-explanation better.
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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…
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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?
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“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.
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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
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elves: If you did what you preached, you wouldn’t be able to perform a single action.
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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.”
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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?”
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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
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Cripes. Isn’t it funny that the most mirthsome posts are always the ones that bring out the most humourless responses?
Like this one…
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(@ Poddus, thanks for pointing me at the Amiga Magazine Rack, another part of my childhood is found :) )
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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! :)
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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 :)
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One man’s constructivist is the other man’s relativist, HAHAHAHAHA! Yeah ok I’ll hit myself for that.
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