Robobo - Now with more designs!

[MechDeus]

"Long story archs usually tend to cripple your audience base if you can't get the pages out in a timely manner.

That works both ways.

It's easier to release books all at once, because readers get the whole experience without having to triffle back and forth.

Tell that to weekly Shounen Jump.

Gag-a-day strips are better because you get your readership in the habit of coming back twice a week, or once a week to check out the new strips.

How does that not apply to story-based comics? When people develop a connection to the characters they stay longer because they care, that works for both types.

[Drewbacca]

It's quicker to understand a joke, laugh and leave then it is to commit yourself to a longer story you have to read background info on to get in to. If the comic is in the middle of a story some readers may be lost and forced to read 20 pages they don't necessarily want to or have the time to do. With a gag strip the readers can come in and laugh without having to necessarily read any backstory. Not to mention people in general are easier to sell with comedy than drama. I guess if you can have the best of both worlds (gags in a longer story) then you may reach more people. Comics are all about accessibility (I know I fucked that one up) for the viewer. There's always going to be a need to improve your material and art, but it takes time.

But then again it's probably a trade off with what kind of viewership you get in the end. People willing to read backstory will probably be a little more willing to purchase merchandise to support your material. Still, the most successful strips on the net, financially and readership wise, are gag strips. Ctrl alt del isn't even a very good comic but still manages to be popular, albeit he does ride the coat tails of whatever PA and PVP are doing. He did it with Jack Thompson, he did it with WOW and now he's donating money to charity. (this one I don't mind, but he probably could help Child's Play instead of competing with his own)

Our newest comic has 450 readers, almost double our normal amount. We may not be doing some things right but people are still enjoying our work. Something tells me that dave is ok's comics wouldn't do too hot if he were to put up a site dedicated to them.

[FirstBlood]

I would suggest changing your google link text which reads "The Olde Wise Tales of Robobo".

ps. The Xbox 360 line-waiting strip is the worst yet.

[Drewbacca]

Yeah, I agree. I was trying to make a comic that required additional reading of the subtext below to understand for people not in the know surrounding the Xbox 360 bundle issue. Jonas was supposed to explain it in his update (in the first paragraph), but I didn't realize he himself had no idea about the different bundles and their significance to the development of games for the system. My fault completely.

[YellerDog]

The very second Google hit for Robobo is this thread. Hm.

[MechDeus]

It's quicker to understand a joke, laugh and leave then it is to commit yourself to a longer story you have to read background info on to get in to.

Which in turn also means it's quicker to forget about.

If the comic is in the middle of a story some readers may be lost and forced to read 20 pages they don't necessarily want to or have the time to do. With a gag strip the readers can come in and laugh without having to necessarily read any backstory.

I know, my point was just that joke-a-day strips aren't an immediately superior design.

Not to mention people in general are easier to sell with comedy than drama.

People in general or males in general? Big difference.

[Drewbacca]

Which in turn also means it's quicker to forget about.

You don't have to remember the joke, only that you enjoyed the comic in general while you looked at it. It really only takes one zinger to really strike a chord with people.

I know, my point was just that joke-a-day strips aren't an immediately superior design.

I agree that they're not superior, but they are easier to garner attention with.

People in general or males in general? Big difference.

Still, readers are readers, whether they're male or female. If you do get bigger it's probably a good idea to get male viewers because they're bigger impulse buyers for stuff like graphic t-shirts and geek oriented culture trinkets and toys.

My goal isn't to get big, it's to improve, but there is a choke point where a comic gets too big, and doesn't have the audience to support it to get over the hurdle to cover bandwidth. Anyway, long ramble short, I don't mind having a comic that caters more towards a male audience.

[Drewbacca]

I redesigned Grace and changed Jimmy's pigment colour to mark the beginning of our 3 week story arch (6 comic). I think she looks a lot better now, younger. Thanks for the advice to everyone who gave it. Jimmy does look a little less undead with his new skin tone, too. Today's comic is Grace and Jimmy pillow talking before bed about the days events. I was hoping this would help people realize they are a couple and not anything else.

A couple of birds with one stone. Now I just have to get used to drawing Grace's new character model regularly, update the characters section and all shall be well.

This story about Jimmy will run right in to our Christmas Eve update. I'll probably be updating Christmas with simple rollover comics like the Halloween one.

[Drewbacca]

A banner ad for Robobo. This is my first piece of motion work EVER without being a production guy. I threw on some bende dots to give it a really good comic feel. Lord knows my work on its own isn't doing it.

[jonas]

Which one of you bozos still visits Robobo albeit not even liking it? I got a set of comments from someone here and they were pretty funny (Hobobo, the more of Knowbobo).

If you don't like Robobo, then why do you come back! Nothing out there appeals to everyone. So stop spamming my e-mail box with your pointless hate!

-Jonobobo out.