Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
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There are some subjects, common wisdom states, which should not be brought up in polite company. Religion and politics are two of the biggies, but as of late, computer operating systems and gaming platforms seem to be flowing in the same vein. The sheer amount of energy invested in the holy wars over gaming platforms is impressive, and more than a little puzzling to the outsider. Regardless, there seems to be no shortage of webcomics willing to jump into the fray with their BFGs blazing. Ctrl+Alt+Del, created by Tim Buckley, is one more pixilated soldier trying to wade through the slavering bad guys, hoping to find that Secret Area where the popularity power-ups lie.
The title is an obvious reference to the combination of keystrokes necessary to reboot a Windows-based personal computer, but Ctrl+Alt+Del covers – and lambastes – all forms of electronic home gaming, from the PC, to the platform, to the handheld. It also lampoons gaming, Internet, and computer culture in general.
Buckley is smart enough to realize that he is hardly breaking new ground with his strip – the first few strips, in fact, acknowledge this, and parody other well-known gaming comics. Even with this acknowledgement, however, Ctrl+Alt+Del still centers around roommates Ethan and Lucas, who spend an inordinate amount of their time sitting on the couch playing video games, insulting one another, and complaining about one game/game company or another. And how much mileage can this device get anymore, really?
Not enough.
At least, not enough for mainstream audiences. A hardcore gamer may know what it means to camp at a spawning point, or what the big deal about a Radeon 9700 is and why it's bad (And just what it is. A sound card? A video card? A really tasty sandwich?), or why a gamer may defend to the death one platform against and above all others, but the general Internet public doesn't. Now, gaming comics are hardly the only webcomic genre to fall into the trap of requiring Secret Knowledge™ to get the jokes. Hardcore geek strips (technology-, rather than gaming-related) do it; furry strips do it; in fact, any strip that targets a specific Internet demographic runs the danger of doing it. This may work within that given demographic, but makes it difficult for the strip to appeal to potential readers on the outside. As presented in the above examples, Ctrl+Alt+Del falls into this trap, too.
Which doesn't mean that the audience to which these jokes are directed aren't all ROFLMAOed, just that the appeal may not extend beyond that group. Ctrl+Alt+Del does much better from a mainstream perspective when it comments on gaming culture rather than on the games themselves.
These are instances where the strip moves beyond being a series of one-shot gags towards more integrated storylines. Stories such as when Ethan and Lucas have to find jobs in order to pay the rent, or when Ethan attempts to woo Lilah (the gamer chick upstairs), add a depth and breadth to both the characters and strip that the single strips can never achieve.
Of these, the best storyline by far occurs when Ethan decides to develop his own video game, a grand synthesis of every other type of game, and strong-arms all his friends into slaving on the project for him. Like the game Ethan hopes to create, this story brings together the best elements of the strip: Ethan’s monomania regarding video games, Lucas’ devotion to his friend, and Lilah’s clear-headed outside perspective. It operates not only as satire of the video-game industry, but of industry in general and of the danger of working for your friends, and the whole storyline ends with a Lord of the Rings parody. Because there is less reliance on jokes specific to a game title or system, which may be dated within a month or two, these "longer" stories are the strongest part of the strip. And while they are more common later in the archives than earlier, they do not yet occupy enough of the total run to counterbalance the volume of the issue-specific strips.
The art of Ctrl+Alt+Del is generally rendered in the fat-outlined tradition of the genre, and usually consists of the characters sitting or standing, while they comment on whatever game they happen to be playing. Ctr+Alt+Del is very definitely a "talking head" comic. This is understandable, of course, since the strip is about video games, and playing and commenting on them don't require a whole lot of action shots or dramatic camera angles. But a look at one of the Art Pages that Buckley has included on the site shows that he has the talent and ability to draw more than just talking heads, and by incorporating more varied camera placement might both increase the visual variety of the strip and add a greater element of visual humor.
As a non-hardcore gamer from way back (my family had a Pong system, and I remember the Atari 2600/Intellivision/Colecovision feuds), I recognize the appeal of gamer-specific humor – and there are a lot of people who play video games. But the willingness of Ctrl+Alt+Del to narrowly target a particular subset of them, the ones who get worked up into froths (angry or ecstatic) over a few pre-release screenshots, means that the larger potential audience might be rebuffed.
If you fit into the hardcore gamer subset, then you will likely find something that appeals to you (unless you dislike the systems that Buckley champions). If you've only briefly glimpsed the Secret Knowledge™, or have never even entered the temple, then you might not be able to figure out what the big deal is all about, and may prefer to reboot your way towards something less encryptic.
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 18:02
I really must disagree with your assessment of Ctrl+Alt+Del. It's really funny, even if you aren't a hardcore gamer, which I definitely don't claim to be. Though it may be geared towards the younger generation (ie. late twenties and lower), almost anyone who has emerged from their caves in the last five years will get at least one in three of the gaming jokes. And that's not all that's funny. Mr. Buckley has been responsible for many a cleaning of my keyboard when I read his comic while drinking soda, that, to me is greatness. And the talking head thing. It's a COMIC, that's what comics are! They're talking heads. Get over it. It's the content that makes a comic sucessful, and I'm sure that most everyone who actually bothers to READ THROUGH THE ENTIRE ARCHIVE, will agree Ctrl+Alt+Del doesn't skimp on content at all.
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 18:15
You said: "I recognize the appeal of gamer-specific humor – and there are a lot of people who play video games. But the willingness of Ctrl+Alt+Del to narrowly target a particular subset of them, the ones who get worked up into froths (angry or ecstatic) over a few pre-release screenshots, means that the larger potential audience might be rebuffed."I say: "Does everyone get like this with screenshots? No! Get real, CAD is not only for hardcore gamers. I don't consider myself as one and I still read this comic. "Why?" will you tell me? I'll answer you this: Because it's simply funny. It's easy to understand that Ethan doesn't like Radeon and has specific reasons to hate it. Just search a little in your head and you'll find. And you know, there are lots of hardcore gamers, yes, but I'm sure that there are also a damn lot of people that are non-hardcore and that read the comic, and find it great, just like me."You don't have to be a genius to understand. Long Live C+A+D, Winter-Een -Mas and Tim Buckley!!
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 18:20
Yet again, im not a hard core gamer.I dont know if the strip where Lilah asks Eathan if he watches porn... thats something that can relate to a large proportion of males... not just hardcore gamers. (just one example)Great strip.ScaryCucumber.
Uhh I think you missed the point of the comic?
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 18:21
I don't quite think you understand the point of the comic, Matt! It's not to amuse "hard-core gamers" or internet-savvy game/computer developers. It's a funny look into the lives of people evolving (or, in the case of Ethan, sometimes de-evolving ;)) and just making fun of something they don't like. You seem like the type of person who would swoon over the next reality tv series because it "appeals to everyone"One reason everyone likes Control-Alt-Delete and Asbath? He updates! Most comic-readers are suckers for people who actually can keep a storyline going for more than a week. Megatokyo is great and has amazing artistry and a non-gamer based storyline, but it's hard to pick out a storyline, whereas Asbath never fails his readers! He has the most devoted fan-base around, and reading the replies you've gotten, I can't quite see how you got ANYTHING from the comic.Did you only read one or two strips first?
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 18:44
im no hardcore gamer, i hardly game, but what really makes this comic funny is to me is that ethan is completely insane, like me. even though ive never even SEEN counterstrike, Rob is obsessive about it, fanaticism and randomness is where i find most the humor. whatever happened to chef bryan and the arrows? sorry if half of this is already stated, but i got bored reading the endless amount of replies and jumped to my own.
in short, most everyone can find SOMETHING funny in here, even if its ethan smashing skulls of roomates with a frying pan, that takes no gaming experience to understand.
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 18:47
I'm not a gamer, even a little. As far as I go is Solitare, and even that's a bit of a stretch. Even so, I think CAD is the funniest thing to happen to web-comics since Little Gamers. I'm a huge fan of the art, the colors, the shading, then characters, and the story-lines. I've even donated a little, which I've never been moved to do for another web-comic.Encryptic? I got your Encryptic right here, buddy!
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/15/2004 - 00:14
I think that this strip was unfairly judged. But as an overly obssessed hardcore gamer who understands all the terms and nuances of this comic I can hardly present an unbiased opinion. However, it is my opinion that these comics should not be addressed as attempting to appeal to all groups, I mean come on when was the last time that you saw a tv show that was interesting and had appeal to everyone? So I just would like to say that Ctrl-Alt-Delete roxors and that it deserves to be everyone's homepage. Jya
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/15/2004 - 00:29
Hi Im not a real big game person. All I have is what I bought myself, a PSX and a few games that I enjoy that critics like you give terrible ratings. However, I love ctrl-alt-del, its one of the few webcomics I enjoy. I dont care if its not "new" or "original". I think it hilarious, and I understand enough of the lingo to understand the comic. If I don't understand something, then I look it up. It's that simple. I think that ctrl-alt-del is better then any of the other comics, and certainly more enjoyable then other more "original" comics. thats all. -veggie dish
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 18:59
This is an awesome comicstrip. We can relate to the writer while laughing at the comics. And it is updated very often. There is a new strip everytime I pass by (3times a week or so) . I think that there is a small CAD community building. Go job Tim!!!Happy Winter-een-mas to you all (to X-bot too)
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 19:33
I am in no way shape or form a hard core gamer, not even much of a gamer at all, but I absolutely love CAD. I am not completely lost when it comes to (damn, I wish my number keys weren't broken on my keyboard.. work with me for now) 1t. I might be a little confused with game references, but I can always ask my friend Bobby. For the most part even if I don't get the game references, I am cracking up reading the latest comic.
AND I'M A GIRL.
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 19:34
i happen to be a gamer myself, and ive introduced this game to many of my friends, (many of whom are NOT hardcore gamers) and they really find it funny! For example, at the risk of sounding redundant, check out the strip on the crest whitestrips doesnt apply to games in any shape or form, its just humor. The chef Brian comics are also a good indication of this.
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 19:35
I too have introduced numerous friends to Ctrl+alt+del some gamers some non gamers some non gamers who hate games but still find this comic funny so i will add my tallie to the side of disgreeing with you
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 19:46
I've read CAD for the better part of a year now, and i still find the humor in the comic fall-off-your-chair funny. I'm not a hardcore gamer per say, but i do spend alot of time playing video games.I disgaree with you, (the writer) when you say that CAD targets a very specific audience. Anyone who plays video games or has even a basic knowledge of computers will know what Absath is tlaking about when he reffers to a "Radeon 9700." If Absath followed your advice and tried to widen his audience; it's possible that in doing so and trying to please more people he could loose that indescribable magic that the comic seems to have now, and end up just making the comic worse.CAD is aweseome. I think that if Absath keeps doing what he's doing now, he'll be fine, and the comics audience will continue to grow as more and more people from around the world discover it. I'd also like to thank Absath for putting this comic out in the first place, it's been a source of hilarity for me every time i see a new strip.-Spitfire
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 19:54
I don't think you entirely understand. Im not a ''hardcore'' gamer, I game yes, but I don't think quite to the same extent that some of the other readers do.
It's not about the 'genre' or 'demographic'. It's about the characters, it's them that I watch and follow. Although granted, I would say the story strips are more fun :D
Also, Tim treats us more like friends than people who could pay for his comic, I've never even spoken to the guy but I can tell that he care's about what we think of the comic, and if we're happy with it. I'd wager he care's more about being able to give us new strips regularly than him making money off it.
And Ethan just plain rocks, reminds me of me :D Irish all the way
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 20:00
Okay, well this'll probably just get lost in the shuffle, but I'd like to voice a slightly different opinion.I used to enjoy CAD quite a lot, in fact it was actually the comic that first got me into webcomics. Ironically I feel CAD has lost much of what it had say a year ago. Maybe that’s just me, and maybe my taste in comics has just changed. Still I do not and never have felt that it's especially geared towards hardcore gamers.I definitely agree that CAD is at it's prime during the storylines, however none of the stories in recent months have really gripped my interest like the older ones.As closing note, I think CAD obviously appeals to a large amount of people, many of which are certainly not hardcore gamers. However past that fact I agree with much of what has been said in this review.
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 20:15
i agree with most of the reviews. its not for 'hardcore gamers'. but i agree with some of the other people saying that the comic has lost its touch. maybe not touch- but it is a bit tamer now... non of that slap in the face action...its turning into drama >.<
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 20:20
I am not a hardcore gamer, actually I almost don't game at all I still find CAD the best web comic I've seen in a long time.
The characters are funny as hell with some sarcastic humour to spice it up a little.
Even those who don't play games actively find the comics amusing because even anti-gamers have heard about games and consoles and know a bit what the comics are about.
Many web-comics are about the most popular option on a computer(gaming), but still they keep steady people coming to read them and they have many positive comments about their comic.
CAD rules! Tim keep the comics coming :)
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 20:23
Well everyone has petty much said what i was going to say so i just wanted to agree in saying that CAD is a really funny and i think Tim does a great job. He updates all the time and the artwork as evolved considerably since i started reading it. Im not a hardcore gamer by any means and i dont own or have ever played anything on x-box but i still think its hysterical. Keep up the good work Tim!!!Happy Winter-een-mas!!!
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 20:32
I'd like to comment on a couple of your ideas Mr. Trepal and your methods of reviewing. First I would like to mention that for every example of art, you have used some of the origional strips written by Mr. Buckley in your review. Though you can choose what you use, you don't mention in any way how the art has gotten better and improved over time, as does with a good percentage of artists. Furthermore I'd like to expand on your idea the Mr. Buckley's comic applies only to hardcore gamers. I'd like to say that though, I am a gamer I did not need to be a hardcore gamer to understand what Mr. Buckley writes about. Furthermore his comic is perhaps the best comedic comic that I read. Besides, why should we critique, that which is free to us, it's not as if you are having to pay money to read the comic, like some in the newspaper. Also you seem not to have any true knowledge about what you talk about or have you read all of the comic. For with Ethan's burning of the Radeon graphics card, without knowing what the Radeon is, that comic itself still is funny. Furthermore by your review you apparently haven't read all of Mr. Buckley's work and even if your gaming expertise is limited to pong and the Atari, I'm sure you would still be able to understand practically everything Mr. Buckley writes about. Keep up the good work on your comic.
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 20:34
CAD (Ctrl+Alt+Del) is in my opinion the best web comic, i think it relates to almost if not every "hardcore" gamer wether your getting into full swing of gaming, or just an off-on person who likes to sit down and play for hours on end every once in a while, then you have the "geek" (relating to extensive computer and videogame knowledge) trying to score the chick , the storyline of CAD might sometimes be a little sketchy at some points, anyone of the best parts about CAD is the creator ,Tim Buckley or on the forums or anywhere else "Absath" or "Abs" he gives you quick replys to your emails, takes suggestions for strips , he takes suggestions for items to be sold in the store, hell HE EVEN CREATED HIS OWN HOLIDAY "WINTER-EEN-MAS" how cool is that, which leads me back to my original statement in my opinion CAD is the coolest webcomic out there. thanks for your time
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 20:40
It's been my experience that even non-hardcore gamers are aware of "gamer culture" and the feuds that rise up over the better game or better system are not restricted to those considered to be hardcore. I often play less than 1 hour a week but still get pretty roughed up when someone trash-talks my pretty little Xbox.
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 20:41
I enjoy some of the comments, but as a long time CAD fan, i cannot see myself as a hardcore gamer, i like to have fun and mess with peoples mind like any other nerd i know, but i cannot sit hour on hour playing a game and if you dont know what a Radeon is...I suggest you quit your job while your ahead. Im not a hardcore gamer, so, revise your article, think of it seriously, if you can understand some of the concepts, and your not a hardcore gamer, then lets put it this way, its not for hardcore gamers, and besides, Abs puts links on the news post about the comic sometimes if its a tad confusing.
-Halo
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 20:49
I didn't read any of the other comments, so bear with me if I repeat. But I am in no way shape or form a hardcore gamer... my Xbox has been unplugged for months and I'm fairly certain my computer monitor is actually an Etch-A-Sketch posing as something it's not. However, I enjoy every single one of Buckley's comics because the joke in them is often not about games themselves; it seems to me that the comic is about Ethan being a psycho, and games are a readily available avenue through which his (hilarious) psychosis is shown.
And way to put quotation marks around "longer" when describing the extended storylines. What, they're fake longer or something? You think they're longer at first, but it's just an optical illusion, so they're only "longer"?
And what on God's green Earth is a Secret Knowledge™, and will hookers accept it in exchange for sex?
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 20:59
I have been reading Ctrl+Alt+Del for awhile now, although I am not a gamer. Some of the comics I don't understand, but for the most part I do. I can understand why Tim Buckley makes those gaming comics and I don't mind. It isn't fair to say that non-hardcore gamers wouldn't like it, because it is a very funny and entertaining comic and Tim Buckley has a great amount of talent.
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 21:00
Three words about CAD. Best. Comic. EVER. I have never read anything nearly so funny in all my life. There are PLENTY of non-gamer jokes, from rubert and ninjas in the early days, to The ever popular "SHORYUKEN" in "tis the season" and the frosty joke in "toasty". I don't what what you were drinking and/or smoking when you reviewed this comic, but it must have been crazy strong. In closing, you are a moron if you don't like CAD. It rocks even to us non-hardcore gamers. Also, Happy Winter-een-mas!-Major CAD fan in Texas, Blake Royall, Out.
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 21:06
The last game I ever played for a system was super smash brothers for N64 and it was one of about 4 games my brother and I owned. That was at least a year ago. I've never once played a PC game. I've read every CTRL-ALT-DEL comic there is and I freakin love it. That's just my story. Sorry Lucas, sorry Ethan. And as a girl, Lilah, I'm sorry for being the typical stereotype of a girl that wouldn't know a computer from a microwave. That's all.
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 21:12
I've read the strip and I've found that Tim uses a variety of comedic devices, rather than just "frag wars" and what not. Strips like Penny Arcade and the like certainly indulge the more decadant video game player, but saying that CAD is exclusively video games is to say that PVP is exclusively gamer. They both utilize video games as only a foundation. The entire comic centers more around the personalities of the men involved. And more specifically, Ethan's original and even eccentric behavior. Even when video games are involved for a gag, such as Ethan's co-worker and Counter Strike, the basis of the comical effect is Ethan's distaste for said gamer. And if someone doesn't know what Counter Strike is, they can substitute Redneck Rampage.I can understand the concern of the essayist, but doubtless his logic falls apart for those who have been die hard fans since the beginning. And watching Ethan melt Frosty the Snowman pretty much made the series for me. Perhaps allow the readership to decide for themselves if the series is too technical for their tastes. Novel idea? I think so.
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 21:13
okay, CAD rules, whether or not you're a hardcore gamer. I mean, i barely played any games when i started reading it. it was funny either way. CAD rules, and Happy/Merry Winter-een-mas to ALL! WOOT!
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Fat Trepal (I'm abo
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 21:15
Well, I almost feel sorry for mister Matt Trepal for being completely crapped on in every comment here, but I still feel that he is not quite covered in crap enough. Quite frankly, this review sucks. The reviewer obviously has not read any of the later comics, where the art does indeed progress, along with the characters. And I know it's been said about 82 times at this time (when I'm writing this there are 82 comments), but really, I am not by any means a hardcore gamer. I am 14, I go to school and spend most of my life doing homework. I have next to no time for games. I have never in my life owned a console, my home computer sucks. But I still think this comic rocks, I love it. All the friends I've shown it to (none of them gamers) love the comic. It doesn't target just one audience, though the l337 concept is rather specific. Many non-gamers would know what a Radeon 9700 is, simply because Radeon is a popular company, but if they didn't, it's still funny, he whips out a lighter and burns the thing. Finally, even if CAD was only geared to hardcore gamers, why is that bad? You act like there's something wrong with that. Every cartoon out there is geared to a specific group of people. But the important thing about CAD is that the group that it is geared too (most people with a sense of humor and very limited computer knowledge) will doubtless find it hilarious.
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 21:17
Hey, buddy, that's a stupid comment! You say the guy shouldn't be reviewing this just because people don't have to pay to read it? That's stupid! People can review stuff w/o your permission, mmk?And hey, I love CAD,and I think it appeals to a lot of non-gamers, me being one of them. But it is true, reviewer guy, that the comic strip is for gamers. Thus, does it really matter if the average Joe doesn't get it? Okay, maybe it matters to the writer, 'cause isn't he trying to make a living off of it? But why should it matter to a reviewer? I thought this one guy here's got a good point that the comic strip has been getting better and better, especially the art. And you, reviewer, made the comment that overall the series was too, I dunno, had too much stuff non-gamers wouldn't understand. You acknowledged that it was getting better, but said that overall it still had too much of that. Well... if it's progressing, then who cares about "overall" anyway? I mean, you're talking about from when he just started the thing, of course it's better now than it was then. THat's all
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 21:20
Hi,
I play video games quite a bit on all platforms cpu, consoles,x- box, PS2 (NOT GAMECUBE) and hand helds. However i dont believe you need to be a gamer to enjoy CAD. I introduced the site to my brother who is not a gamer and he got a few laughes out of it. But also missed a few jokes, so takes this input as you please, but i'll be a reader and a fan for a long time to come
P.S. Winter-een-mas is awesome
Mikey1220 @optonline.com
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 21:27
CAD is probably my Favorite comic of all time, in any format, it is the only one so far to Challenge Foxtrot so far in my own beliefs.
i do not own an Xbox, i loathed this comic for having it....for about 3 strips, then i couldn't get enough of it. CAD is one of the best comic out there. period.
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 21:32
I honestly don't agree with the hardcore gamer reference. I am by far not a hardcore gamer, my internet is only 56k (otherwise I would be another gamer girl for the guys to worry about). Ither way though, I got into this comic far before games, it is actually with CAD that I have been able to understand what my gamer friends are talking about. I dont think that Tim will have any trouble growing bigger on the web.
Pixie
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 21:39
Wow, Tim. You couldn't have read it more wrong. Unlike many Webcomics, this one does have appeal outside the hardcore gamer set....Though, I confess, I myself AM a hardcore gamer. Peronally, I rate this right up there with The Hallowed Penny Arcade itself. Anywho, at least you didn't totally slam it, and you did at least read the whole thing unlike so many reviewers.....If it ain' for you, fair nuff, but this has got to be 1 of my top 5 webcomics ever.
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 21:40
I strongly dissagree with this review...I am not a hardcore gamer at all, I barely play games, if i have a good one i play for a bit a day, but sometimes I go for weeks without playing, and I LOVE THE COMIC. I read it all the time and crack up at what Tim has to say through these characters. It's a brilliant comic, and those comics you show are his very old ones, and they have gotten much better with time. It is the best comic on the web, pure and simple. Thank you Tim, for all the laughs.
RJ
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 21:57
I rarely game and still enjoy the comic. I also read Pvp and several pseudo "gaming" comics, and enjoy all. I have several friends who aren't gamers either who regularly read.
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 21:59
I'm just going to say it, this review stuck weasel turd. I can't belive you gave CAD so little credit.Here are just a few other reasons i disliked this review:
1. You used old art which makes the comic seem bad although it has some of the best drawing around now. (I spend my free time trying to draw Eathan and Lucas.)
2. You don't know what a "Radeon 9700" is. (Come on I knew this when I was 5.)
3. You put nothing about Winter-een-mas, which is the best holiday I know.
4. When I started to read CAD I didn't know what Halo was. (Belive it or not) And I got all of the jokes right off. I also thank Tim because it is his comic that turned me into a gamer.
5. I told all of my friend at school about the site (I have 48) and they all went there and loved it. Also two of them donated to the site.
CAD, Ethan, Lucas, and of course your creator Tim, I hope you keep going forever!
-Kaya
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 22:00
I'm not a hardcore gamer in any sense. I know a few addicts though and I find this comic hiliarious. Ctrl+alt+del doesn't limit itself to any one subset of gaming or even game technology, it's taken on everything from console to pc and hit on operating system debates in between. Also I wasn't aware that webcomics were supposed to have an all inclusive universal appeal spanning the entire internet. Perhaps though, I'm out of line.
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 22:01
Like every one else that has posted here, I have to disagree with several of your views. This review was entirely too biased.Your entire review seemed to be based on the fact that you do not aprove a comic that is targeted towards a specific group of consumers. What, may I ask, is not? Everything a consumer buys is targeted to a specific group. Hardcore gamers are very serious and passionate in their views. Gaming to a hardcore gamer could be comparable to a religious zealot. The fact that he has done as well as he has is very impressive. He makes his comic very funny, without pissing off any specific group.Have you seen the donations he has received? He asked for a mere $900, to help him move. As of this moment, he has raked in $3326.41. What other webcomic has had such success? The fans of CAD are extremely loyal.I have read many webcomics, and still do to this day. Take Megatokyo for example. This used to be my favorite comic, before I discovered CAD. The best moments in Megatokyo are when the comic is like CAD. Without Largo and his gaming antics that comic would be a flop. The parts that may appeal to a larger audience are incredibly boring.CAD may be a gamers comic, but that is what makes it so good. For you to say otherwise is incredibly narrow minded. Heres an example: You may like a comic about Billybob, the incredible gas pump attendent. I do not like your comic. Does that mean the creator of that comic is wrong to create a comic targeting people who like gas pump attendents? Certainly not!I could go into more detail and make an incredibly long list of the things wrong with your biased review, but to do so would be to repeat things that the many loyal fans before me have already done.I've got fragging to do. Go read about Billybob, n00b.Keep up the good work, Tim!Happy Winter-een-mas!!
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 22:04
i've been a fan of this comic since almost the start, and to say that it is only based on hard-core gamers is wrong, although i am a hard-core computer person, i hardly ever play a game other than solitare once and a while.
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 22:07
I believe CAD is as good as it gets when it comes to gaming comics. Tim's sure got a good head on his shoulders, and knows how to put gaming and humor together while appealing to everyone. You need not be a hardcore gamer to read it. All I have is PS2 and a somewhat nice computer(not really at all nice), but you don't need any of it to understand the jokes. The newsposts are informative and usually there when a new comic is up to. Dedication's the key word here. The man has a lot of it.
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 22:16
Wow. I hate playing video games and i go into the CAD site everyday. It is my absolute favorite. P'shaw
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 22:28
Seriously, if you think this comic will fizzle out, you need to take another look at the ratings. Everytime CAD makes it onto a top web comic list, it always ends up number one, and if it happens to slip the fans, who are the most devoted i have ever seen, alwyas get it back to number one. Another note on the fans, i don't think any other artist could ask for $900 for moving expenses and get over 3x that amount. For obvious reasons, CAD must appeal to hardcore gamers, which are known for being quite poor. No, I am not a hardcore gamer, yes i need a daily ration of games, but it is the only way one can say sane in my opinion. Personally I applaud Tim for what he has done. It is not easy to start something and not be sure where it is going to lead, and put all your faith in others. He has done exactly that, and he has succeeded. Tim i love your comic, and i go to the site more times in a day than i can count. Keep up the good work. If you feel i am in error or you agree with me, well tell me about it at goalie7763@aol.com .
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 22:30
Sorry Tim but Ctrl-Alt-Del is only my second fav. online comic vgcats is my #1 but it's close =\
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 22:32
I've been reading CAD since it's first few episodes. Yes, I play video games, Yes, I know about computers but No I don't get the jokes because I'm a tech geek or a hardcore gamer. I'm afraid your review is a little shallow and blows your one (you only really appear to have one) opinion out of all preportion. You have however suceeded in writing an entire review on one negative point... which must have taken some creativity on your part.A reviewer is always gonna get grief from the fans of the comic he badly (at least in the majorities opinion) reviews. Thanks for writing a review of a web comic but in future please try to look at it from more than one angle.Unlike most people (Tim included I think) using the early artwork didnt seem to be that big an issue to me... when put against the quality of the review it's of minor importance. I liked the old strips quality (before Ethan and Lucas became utterly and devilishly good looking) and the new strips look great, but the pictures are only important if they're used in a well balanced, objective and detailed review. Did you even bother to read the entire archive? If not, it's something for you to do over Winter-een-mas (oh no... did my use of an in-joke confuse you!?!)-Stephen KilbrideHappy Winter-een-mas all! Three cheers for Tim!
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 22:36
Traffic Rank for comixpedia.com: 101,847
Traffic Rank for ctrlaltdel-online.com: 13,625
*Source www.alexa.com
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 22:55
I must disagree with Mr. Trepal's assessment of CAD. As a complete and utter non-gamer, I still enjoy the comic on a far more regular basis than most comics in your average newspaper. I just want to note that, as far as I can tell, on the internet, it doesn't really matter whether you reach a really varied segment of the population. on television, if you don't reach a large enough group, yes, it matters because advertisers get rather snarky when their ads are not viewed. Same goes for radio. However, for the internet, this requirement does not seem to be as stringent. (Just take a good look at the quality of some of the websites out there.) Therefore, the death knell of a comic should not be dependent on what niche it appears to cater to, especially one so technologically based. (Polka dancers of America, now they may have a bit of an issue, since you really don't need a computer to polka.) Though, judging by the responses you've received to this column, CAD has a large, and apparently vociferous fan base. (Happy Winter-een-mas!)
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 22:59
Yeah, I'd just like to say that not only is this appealing to gamers, but anyone who knows a gamer (hardcore or otherwise) can relate. The Everquest addiction is hilarious to everyone I show (including our school librarian, who until this year didn't know how to use a computer for e-mail). And as so many others have asked, why link to the early, unrefined art?
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 23:12
I personally don't find myself a hard core gamer at all, I personally had to ask a friend on all the little details, but it is still a hilariuos comic strip, that is better than most gamer ones I have seen. It brings in both genders, and jokes that everyone can laugh at. (Like the latest with Ethan and Winter-een-mas, which is far from just a gamer funny) Well, I agree with you on the satire, CAD uses satire very well. And, yes, I think most readers are ROFLMAO as Ethan tries to kill Ted, or tries to woo Lilah. Every single one.
Re: Ctrl+Alt+Del by Tim Buckley, reviewed by Matt Trepal
by Anonymous - 01/13/2004 - 23:12
Okay, I think the bottom line here is YOU DON'T NEED TO GAME TO LIKE CTRL-ALT-DEL. I don't game. I have played American McGee's Alice, onCE, for about 10 minutes- and I played Sonic/ Mario/ Donkey Kong when I was 10. Other than that, I DON'T GAME. Ever. I love Ctrl-Alt-Del, I think Time does an excellent job. It's funny, and the gmare references are not obscure that a non-gamer like me doesn't get it. And if there is a specific "gamer term" that not everyone would get, he blatantly states it for you in his rant. And have you seen the support he's getting for his comic? He asked for $900 from his readers so that he could move.. you know how much he got? I believe the count is currently at approx $3300.With those kind of numbers, he's got to be doing Something right.~Dani (Female Non-Gamer Fan) H A P P Y W I N T E R - E E N - M A S!!!!