GU Comics: Difference between revisions
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|author= Woody Hearn |
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'''''GU Comics''''' is a single panel [[webcomic]] written, drawn, and colored by William "Woody" Hearn. Established July 10, 2000<ref name="start">[http://www.gucomics.com/archives/view.php?cdate=20000710 Origin of GU Comics (1st Strip)] Posted July 10, 2000</ref> and launched August 15, 2000,<ref name="launch">[http://www.gucomics.com/archives/view.php?cdate=20000815 Launch of GU Comics] Posted August 15, 2000</ref> GU is published, free, five times a week on its own web site. The comic focuses on a single [[video game]] such as [[World of Warcraft]]; but, it also comments on gaming industry and community news, often lampooning gamers in general through the adventures of Hearn and his fictional roommate, Ted, and occasionally parodies contemporary social, political, and personal issues related to the online and general video game world. In recent months Hearn has focused primarily on writing comics revolving around various pen-and-paper role playing games; it is unclear if Hearns actually takes part in these games or if he simply finds humor in D&D sourcebooks over PC MMO games. |
'''''GU Comics''''' is a single panel [[webcomic]] written, drawn, and colored by William "Woody" Hearn. Established July 10, 2000<ref name="start">[http://www.gucomics.com/archives/view.php?cdate=20000710 Origin of GU Comics (1st Strip)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206132510/http://gucomics.com/archives/view.php?cdate=20000710 |date=2007-02-06 }} Posted July 10, 2000</ref> and launched August 15, 2000,<ref name="launch">[http://www.gucomics.com/archives/view.php?cdate=20000815 Launch of GU Comics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061030005910/http://www.gucomics.com/archives/view.php?cdate=20000815 |date=2006-10-30 }} Posted August 15, 2000</ref> GU is published, free, five times a week on its own web site. The comic focuses on a single [[video game]] such as [[World of Warcraft]]; but, it also comments on gaming industry and community news, often lampooning gamers in general through the adventures of Hearn and his fictional roommate, Ted, and occasionally parodies contemporary social, political, and personal issues related to the online and general video game world. In recent months Hearn has focused primarily on writing comics revolving around various pen-and-paper role playing games; it is unclear if Hearns actually takes part in these games or if he simply finds humor in D&D sourcebooks over PC MMO games. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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GU Comics was first released to a small group of friends on July 10, 2000.<ref name="start" |
'''Launch''' - GU Comics was first released to a small group of friends on July 10, 2000.<ref name="start"/> Then known as "/gu ...", the original comics were set inside the MMOG fantasy world of EverQuest and centered on the in-game antics of the artist and members of his guild (Purifying Light on Vallon Zek). Intended only as a hobby, the comic's link was passed around to various EverQuest related community sites (Evercrest.Com being chief among them). On July 25, GU was contacted by the GameFan/Game Answer Network with an offer of affiliation and a proposal to go "live". Now hosted on the GameFan/Game Answer Network, GU was released for wide public consumption August 15, 2000.<ref name="launch"/> The response was swift and significant. Since its inception GU has change hosts for various reasons. February 4, 2003, GU moved to TheSafehouse.org. |
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⚫ | '''The Safehouse''' - On February 5, 2003, signifying the move to the Safehouse and a shift in interest to the wider gaming world rather than focusing specifically on [[EverQuest]], the slash and ellipses were officially dropped from the GU logo. As of April 9, 2007 the format of the comic was shifted from 300x465 to 600x450. Along with the format shift the logo, and comic type sub-text was removed from the strip. |
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'''SOE Boycott''' - In May 2004, GU Comics became the center of attention when Woody Hearn posted a comic satirizing the Omens of War expansion for Everquest. In the attendant forum writeup, he called for a boycott by EverQuest players against the Omens of War expansion in an effort to force Sony Online Entertainment, who produces EverQuest, to correct the numerous issues players had with the game rather than release another expansion so quickly on the heels of the previous one. The call to boycott was rescinded after SOE held a summit to address player concerns, improve (internal and external) communication, and begin correcting issues within the game. <ref name="EQ_Controversies">{{cite web |title=Everquest: Controversies and social issues |url=https://www.vgoemulator.net/archive/Silky%20Venom/wiki.silkyvenom.com/index.php/Everquest.html |website=Silky Venom}}</ref><ref name="EQOoW_Review">{{cite web |title=EverQuest: Omens of War Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/10/13/everquest-omens-of-war-review |website=IGN|date=13 October 2004 }}</ref> |
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'''Going Digital''' - Beginning March 17th, 2008 panels were still hand drawn, but were being inked digitally. As of April 3rd, 2008 GU Comics has moved to full digital production eliminating the paper waste associated with sketching and inking the comics on card stock. |
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⚫ | On February 5, 2003, signifying the move to the Safehouse and a shift in interest to the wider gaming world rather than focusing specifically on [[EverQuest]], the slash and ellipses were officially dropped from the GU logo. As of April 9, 2007 the format of the comic was shifted from 300x465 to 600x450. Along with the format shift the logo, and comic type sub-text was removed from the strip. |
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==Public Appearances== |
==Public Appearances== |
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GU Comics had featured costume contests for its readers for Halloween, unofficial gatherings at various conventions |
GU Comics had featured costume contests for its readers for Halloween, unofficial gatherings at various conventions and gaming trade shows. In addition, Hearn had been invited to review the development of and write [[Non-disclosure agreement|NDA]]-approved pieces about various games, including [[Vanguard: Saga of Heroes]].<ref name="vsoh">[http://www.sigilgames.com/news.html Sigil Games] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210003026/http://www.sigilgames.com/news.html |date=2007-02-10 }} News Archive</ref> GU Comics has been featured in many online webzines and print media, including Gamespy,<ref>[http://archive.gamespy.com/mmog/stratics/february02/stratics29/ Gamespy.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709002118/http://archive.gamespy.com/mmog/stratics/february02/stratics29/ |date=2008-07-09 }}'s Stratics MMOG Weekly: Volume 29 A Laugh A Day Keeps the GM Away, Feb 2002</ref> Joystiq,<ref>[http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/23/gu-comics-grants-wishes-hsu-vs-moore/ Joystiq: GU Comics grants wishes: Hsu vs. Moore]</ref> GamePolitics.com,<ref name="gpjack">{{Cite web |url=http://gamepolitics.com/2006/10/28/web-comic-holds-jacks-contempt-in-contempt/ |title=GamePolitics.Com "''Web Comic Lampoons Miami Contempt of Court Case''" |access-date=2007-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216043133/http://gamepolitics.com/2006/10/28/web-comic-holds-jacks-contempt-in-contempt/ |archive-date=2007-02-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="gppope">[http://gamepolitics.com/2007/02/01/web-comic-riffs-on-popes-video-game-criticism/ GamePolitics.com "''Web Comic Riffs on Pope's Video Game Criticism''"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203143951/http://gamepolitics.com/2007/02/01/web-comic-riffs-on-popes-video-game-criticism/ |date=2007-02-03 }}, Thursday, February 1st, 2007</ref> MMORPG.Com,<ref>[http://www.mmorpg.com/humor.cfm/show/gucomics MMORPG.Com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702040331/http://www.mmorpg.com/humor.cfm/show/gucomics |date=2007-07-02 }} Humor: Comics</ref> MMORPGamer,<ref>[http://www.rpgamer.com/news/mmo/2006/rb0704.html MMORPGamer Issue #65] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020201006/http://www.rpgamer.com/news/mmo/2006/rb0704.html |date=2006-10-20 }}, July 4, 2006</ref> Computer Games Magazine,<ref>[http://www.cgonline Computer Games Magazine]{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Issue 167 (page 69 "The Acute Angler" and page 73 "Get Peso for Plat")</ref> Der Spielekurier,<ref>Der Spielekurier October 2004 (page 15 "Online Comics")</ref> and the film [[Avatars Offline]] (''as Woody Hearn'').<ref name="avatarsoffline">[http://imdb.com/title/tt0360396/ Avatars Offline (Documentary 2002)]</ref><ref name="AO_Playrs3">{{cite web |title=Avatars Offline - Players |url=http://avatarsoffline.com/players3.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050302071900/http://avatarsoffline.com/players3.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2005-03-02 |website=Avatars Offline}}</ref> Several GUComics relevant to [[World of Warcraft]]<ref name="wow">[http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/community/communitylinks.html World of Warcraft] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070115224909/http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/community/communitylinks.html |date=2007-01-15 }}</ref> were referenced in the official Community News<ref>[http://www.wow-europe.com/en/community/news2006.html WoW Community News Archive 2006]</ref> of World of Warcraft Europe. |
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Hearn has been invited to visit the studios of [[Sony Online Entertainment]], [[Sigil Games]], [[Mythic Entertainment]], |
Hearn has been invited to visit the studios of [[Sony Online Entertainment]], [[Sigil Games]], [[Mythic Entertainment]], [[38 Studios]], [[NetDevil]] and [[Bizzard Entertainment]], was a yearly press attendee at [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sigilgames.com/e3.html |title=Sigil Games: E3'06 Overview of Day 1 |access-date=2007-02-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219222248/http://www.sigilgames.com/e3.html |archive-date=2007-02-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref> was invited as a guest of honor to [[Blizzard Entertainment]]'s [[BlizzCon]]<ref>[http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/10/31/1842204 SlashDot: Blizzcon Writeup]</ref> to serve on a panel with the creators of [[Penny Arcade (webcomic)|Penny Arcade]]<ref>[http://www.penny-arcade.com/2005/10/10 Penny Arcade BlizzCon Announcement]: Heartfelt Sentiment</ref> and [[PvP]],<ref>[http://www.pvponline.com/newspro/archives/arc10-2005.html#newsitem1130882377,4702, PVP Online BlizzCon Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427113007/http://www.pvponline.com/newspro/archives/arc10-2005.html#newsitem1130882377,4702, |date=2007-04-27 }}: Let's Talk Blizzcon</ref> and is a yearly participant/guest of honor [[ConnectiCon]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamingreport.com/print.php?sid=7738 |title=GamingReports: ConnectiCon 2003 Press Release |access-date=2007-02-15 |archive-date=2007-10-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009070555/http://www.gamingreport.com/print.php?sid=7738 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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==Interviews== |
==Interviews== |
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{{External links}} |
{{External links|date=September 2016}} |
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*'''Planet EQ:''' "[http://www.planeteq.com/features/interviews/hearn.shtm Kwill's Interview with Woody Hearn of GU Comics]"<ref> |
*'''Planet EQ:''' "[https://web.archive.org/web/20061108080733/http://www.planeteq.com/features/interviews/hearn.shtm Kwill's Interview with Woody Hearn of GU Comics]"<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.planeteq.com/features/interviews/hearn.shtm |title=Planet EQ: Interview |access-date=2007-02-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108080733/http://www.planeteq.com/features/interviews/hearn.shtm |archive-date=2006-11-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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*'''The SafeHouse:''' "[http://www.thesafehouse.org/articles/interviews/article_19.php Woody Hearn Interview]"<ref> |
*'''The SafeHouse:''' "[https://archive.today/20130415225305/http://www.thesafehouse.org/articles/interviews/article_19.php Woody Hearn Interview]"<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thesafehouse.org/articles/interviews/article_19.php |title=The SafeHouse: Interview |access-date=2007-02-15 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415225305/http://www.thesafehouse.org/articles/interviews/article_19.php |archive-date=2013-04-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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*'''TenTonHammer:''' The Vanguardian #3 - "[http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=132 Woody of GU Comics, A Man of Many Loves]"<ref> |
*'''TenTonHammer:''' The Vanguardian #3 - "[https://web.archive.org/web/20060607023511/http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=132 Woody of GU Comics, A Man of Many Loves]"<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=132 |title=TenTonHammer: Interview |access-date=2007-02-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060607023511/http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=132 |archive-date=2006-06-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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*'''Tux and Bunny:''' "[http://www.tuxandbunny.com/interview_WH.html A little bit of Insanity five days a week:]"<ref> |
*'''Tux and Bunny:''' "[https://archive.today/20070716112426/http://www.tuxandbunny.com/interview_WH.html A little bit of Insanity five days a week:]"<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tuxandbunny.com/interview_WH.html |title=Tux and Bunny: Interview |access-date=2007-02-15 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070716112426/http://www.tuxandbunny.com/interview_WH.html |archive-date=2007-07-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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*'''Avatar's Offline:''' "[ |
*'''Avatar's Offline:''' "[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0360396/ MMOG Documentary (2002)]"<ref name="avatarsoffline"/> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://www.gucomics.com/ ''GU Comics''] |
*[http://www.gucomics.com/ ''GU Comics''] |
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*[http://www.guforums.com/ ''GU Forums''] |
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[[Category:2000s webcomics]] |
[[Category:2000s webcomics]] |
Latest revision as of 21:36, 16 May 2024
GU Comics | |
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Author(s) | Woody Hearn |
Website | http://www.gucomics.com/ |
Current status/schedule | Hiatus/discontinued |
Launch date | 2000-07-10 |
Genre(s) | Gaming |
GU Comics is a single panel webcomic written, drawn, and colored by William "Woody" Hearn. Established July 10, 2000[1] and launched August 15, 2000,[2] GU is published, free, five times a week on its own web site. The comic focuses on a single video game such as World of Warcraft; but, it also comments on gaming industry and community news, often lampooning gamers in general through the adventures of Hearn and his fictional roommate, Ted, and occasionally parodies contemporary social, political, and personal issues related to the online and general video game world. In recent months Hearn has focused primarily on writing comics revolving around various pen-and-paper role playing games; it is unclear if Hearns actually takes part in these games or if he simply finds humor in D&D sourcebooks over PC MMO games.
History
[edit]Launch - GU Comics was first released to a small group of friends on July 10, 2000.[1] Then known as "/gu ...", the original comics were set inside the MMOG fantasy world of EverQuest and centered on the in-game antics of the artist and members of his guild (Purifying Light on Vallon Zek). Intended only as a hobby, the comic's link was passed around to various EverQuest related community sites (Evercrest.Com being chief among them). On July 25, GU was contacted by the GameFan/Game Answer Network with an offer of affiliation and a proposal to go "live". Now hosted on the GameFan/Game Answer Network, GU was released for wide public consumption August 15, 2000.[2] The response was swift and significant. Since its inception GU has change hosts for various reasons. February 4, 2003, GU moved to TheSafehouse.org.
The Safehouse - On February 5, 2003, signifying the move to the Safehouse and a shift in interest to the wider gaming world rather than focusing specifically on EverQuest, the slash and ellipses were officially dropped from the GU logo. As of April 9, 2007 the format of the comic was shifted from 300x465 to 600x450. Along with the format shift the logo, and comic type sub-text was removed from the strip.
SOE Boycott - In May 2004, GU Comics became the center of attention when Woody Hearn posted a comic satirizing the Omens of War expansion for Everquest. In the attendant forum writeup, he called for a boycott by EverQuest players against the Omens of War expansion in an effort to force Sony Online Entertainment, who produces EverQuest, to correct the numerous issues players had with the game rather than release another expansion so quickly on the heels of the previous one. The call to boycott was rescinded after SOE held a summit to address player concerns, improve (internal and external) communication, and begin correcting issues within the game. [3][4]
Going Digital - Beginning March 17th, 2008 panels were still hand drawn, but were being inked digitally. As of April 3rd, 2008 GU Comics has moved to full digital production eliminating the paper waste associated with sketching and inking the comics on card stock.
Public Appearances
[edit]GU Comics had featured costume contests for its readers for Halloween, unofficial gatherings at various conventions and gaming trade shows. In addition, Hearn had been invited to review the development of and write NDA-approved pieces about various games, including Vanguard: Saga of Heroes.[5] GU Comics has been featured in many online webzines and print media, including Gamespy,[6] Joystiq,[7] GamePolitics.com,[8][9] MMORPG.Com,[10] MMORPGamer,[11] Computer Games Magazine,[12] Der Spielekurier,[13] and the film Avatars Offline (as Woody Hearn).[14][15] Several GUComics relevant to World of Warcraft[16] were referenced in the official Community News[17] of World of Warcraft Europe.
Hearn has been invited to visit the studios of Sony Online Entertainment, Sigil Games, Mythic Entertainment, 38 Studios, NetDevil and Bizzard Entertainment, was a yearly press attendee at E3,[18] was invited as a guest of honor to Blizzard Entertainment's BlizzCon[19] to serve on a panel with the creators of Penny Arcade[20] and PvP,[21] and is a yearly participant/guest of honor ConnectiCon.[22]
Interviews
[edit]This article's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines. (September 2016) |
- Planet EQ: "Kwill's Interview with Woody Hearn of GU Comics"[23]
- The SafeHouse: "Woody Hearn Interview"[24]
- TenTonHammer: The Vanguardian #3 - "Woody of GU Comics, A Man of Many Loves"[25]
- Tux and Bunny: "A little bit of Insanity five days a week:"[26]
- Avatar's Offline: "MMOG Documentary (2002)"[14]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Origin of GU Comics (1st Strip) Archived 2007-02-06 at the Wayback Machine Posted July 10, 2000
- ^ a b Launch of GU Comics Archived 2006-10-30 at the Wayback Machine Posted August 15, 2000
- ^ "Everquest: Controversies and social issues". Silky Venom.
- ^ "EverQuest: Omens of War Review". IGN. 13 October 2004.
- ^ Sigil Games Archived 2007-02-10 at the Wayback Machine News Archive
- ^ Gamespy.com Archived 2008-07-09 at the Wayback Machine's Stratics MMOG Weekly: Volume 29 A Laugh A Day Keeps the GM Away, Feb 2002
- ^ Joystiq: GU Comics grants wishes: Hsu vs. Moore
- ^ "GamePolitics.Com "Web Comic Lampoons Miami Contempt of Court Case"". Archived from the original on 2007-02-16. Retrieved 2007-02-14.
- ^ GamePolitics.com "Web Comic Riffs on Pope's Video Game Criticism" Archived 2007-02-03 at the Wayback Machine, Thursday, February 1st, 2007
- ^ MMORPG.Com Archived 2007-07-02 at the Wayback Machine Humor: Comics
- ^ MMORPGamer Issue #65 Archived 2006-10-20 at the Wayback Machine, July 4, 2006
- ^ Computer Games Magazine[permanent dead link ] Issue 167 (page 69 "The Acute Angler" and page 73 "Get Peso for Plat")
- ^ Der Spielekurier October 2004 (page 15 "Online Comics")
- ^ a b Avatars Offline (Documentary 2002)
- ^ "Avatars Offline - Players". Avatars Offline. Archived from the original on 2005-03-02.
- ^ World of Warcraft Archived 2007-01-15 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ WoW Community News Archive 2006
- ^ "Sigil Games: E3'06 Overview of Day 1". Archived from the original on 2007-02-19. Retrieved 2007-02-15.
- ^ SlashDot: Blizzcon Writeup
- ^ Penny Arcade BlizzCon Announcement: Heartfelt Sentiment
- ^ PVP Online BlizzCon Report Archived 2007-04-27 at the Wayback Machine: Let's Talk Blizzcon
- ^ "GamingReports: ConnectiCon 2003 Press Release". Archived from the original on 2007-10-09. Retrieved 2007-02-15.
- ^ "Planet EQ: Interview". Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-02-15.
- ^ "The SafeHouse: Interview". Archived from the original on 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2007-02-15.
- ^ "TenTonHammer: Interview". Archived from the original on 2006-06-07. Retrieved 2007-02-15.
- ^ "Tux and Bunny: Interview". Archived from the original on 2007-07-16. Retrieved 2007-02-15.