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Ctrl+Alt+Del (webcomic)

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This article is about Ctrl+Alt+Del, the webcomic. For other uses of the term, see Control-Alt-Delete (disambiguation).
Ctrl+Alt+Del
Author(s)Tim Buckley
Websitewww.ctrlaltdel-online.com
Current status/scheduleUpdates every Monday, Wednesday, Friday (Saturday updates suspended since May 2008)[1][2]
Launch dateOctober 23, 2002
Genre(s)Video game, Humor, Comedy-drama

Ctrl+Alt+Del (CAD) is a gaming-related webcomic and animated series written by Tim Buckley. The name of the comic refers to the Windows command Control-Alt-Delete. It premiered on October 23, 2002, and is currently updated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The comic's focus has gradually shifted away from single strip gags towards longer story arcs and greater continuity. Buckley makes a living from Ctrl+Alt+Del, placing him in a small group of web comic artists devoted to their comics full-time.[3][4] Beginning June 2008, a number of smaller, humour themed batch-released strips entitled "CAD Sillies" began running on the news feeds, although they were soon given their own section on the site.

Main characters

Ethan and Lucas

Ethan

Ethan Ryan MacManus, a 25-year-old of Irish descent,is a game fanatic, a recovering Everquest addict, and an amateur artist. His often nonsensical, off-beat, or even moronic antics are the focus of the comic and the source of many of its plotlines. Ethan currently owns GameHaven, a video game store.[5]

Ethan is also described as the creator of Winter-een-mas, a seven-day celebration of video games,[6] and founder of the Church of Gaming.

Lucas

At 26 years of age, Lucas Davidowicz is portrayed as more level-headed and down to earth than Ethan. Cynical and sarcastic, Lucas is something of a slacker, prepared to enjoy a good video game over actual work. Lucas is a programmer and previously worked at a computer store, where he offered technical assistance; more recently he left to work for Ethan at GameHaven as an assistant manager[7]. Lucas also enjoys Games Workshop's game and universe, Warhammer 40,000.

Lilah

Lilah MacManus (née Monroe) defied Ethan's preconceived notion that girls (or at least, cute ones) don't play video games,[8] after which they began dating. Lilah is 25 and formerly worked as a secretary, but is now working as a professional gamer. She is currently married to Ethan[9], and was pregnant with his child, but had a miscarriage after three and a half months.[10]

Zeke

Zeke (short for Ezekiel), formerly known as the "Xbot", is a creation of Ethan's - a sentient, Xbox 360 (Originally Xbox)-based android. It is implied he dreams of taking over the world and eliminating the human race.

CAD Premium

In late 2005, the subscription-based CAD Premium section was announced. For a monthly or yearly fee, fans were able to access exclusive "members only" content such as wallpapers, strips and Ctrl+Alt+Del: The Animated Series, which made its debut in February 2006.

While CAD Premium was a subscription service, Buckley made it clear that the comic would remain free[11].

Ctrl+Alt+Del: The Animated Series

Main article: List of Ctrl+Alt+Del: The Animated Series episodes

The Animated Series made its debut in February 2006; It was produced by Blind Ferret Entertainment.

In January 2008, it was announced that the Animated Series would return for a second season of 12 episodes, beginning in March of the same year.[12]

Books

File:AnalogandDPad1.jpg
Analog and D+Pad #1 (February 2007). Cover art by Zack Finfrock.

Collections

  • Ctrl+Alt+Del Volume One: Insert Coin
  • Ctrl+Alt+Del Volume Two: Press Start
  • Ctrl+Alt+Del Volume Three: Critical System Failure

These books feature comics found online, along with commentary and bonus material exclusive to the book.

On October 14th, Blind Ferret Entertainment announced [13] that it would be re-publishing the Ctrl+Alt+Del collections for sale in stores.

Analog and D+Pad

Analog and D+Pad is a comic book created in 2007 written by Tim Buckley with art by Zack Finfrock. It is based on Ctrl+Alt+Del but is set in a parallel universe where Ctrl+Alt+Del main characters Ethan and Lucas are the superheroes Analog and D+Pad.[14][15] Currently two issues have been published, the second in April 2008. [16] [17]

Reception

In 2004 Ctrl+Alt+Del was nominated for the Web Cartoonist's Choice Awards Outstanding Gaming Comic award. [18] In 2005 it once again received this nomination,[19] as well as a nomination for Outstanding Comic.[20]

However, the webcomic often finds itself the target of criticism. Video game journalist Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw of Zero Punctuation has criticized Ctrl+Alt+Del on a few occasions. Croshaw briefly displayed a CAD comic in his review of Mass Effect, comparing the game's abundance of dialogue to that of "some webcomics".[21] Later, Croshaw presented a critical analysis of Ctrl+Alt+Del on his personal website Fully Ramblomatic, where he said he feels that the strip has slow comic pacing, excessive use of dialogue, and a static art style.[22] A following Zero Punctuation episode about video game webcomics, while addressing what he feels are inappropriately abrupt shifts in comic genre and tone, makes reference to a Ctrl+Alt+Del storyline in which Lilah miscarries.[23]

In an interview with Joystiq on August 29, 2008, when asked about Ctrl+Alt+Del's miscarriage storyline, Jerry Holkins of Penny Arcade stated "...I think [it] was the first horseman of the Apocalypse." while Mike Krahulik stated "I think he's an art criminal."[24]

Other publishing

Ctrl+Alt+Del is a featured comic on Game Revolution.[25]

Twelve issues of the City of Heroes comic book featured a comic strip by Ctrl+Alt+Del creator Tim Buckley, called Underwear On The Outside.[26][27]

EQuinox, the official Everquest 2 magazine, includes Ctrl+Alt+Del comic strips.[28]

In 2007, Ctrl+Alt+Del partnered with 2K Games/Firaxis Games to produce a series of comics for Sid Meier's Civilization Daydreams.[29][30][31]

References

  1. ^ Ctrl+Alt+Del
  2. ^ Ctrl+Alt+Del
  3. ^ Web Comic Creators Take Charge - 10/2/2007 2:24:00 PM - Publishers Weekly
  4. ^ Will Strip For Games: Gaming Comics Online from 1UP.com
  5. ^ Ctrl+Alt+Del
  6. ^ Mertes, Micah (January 29, 2008). "Happy Winter-een-mas! OK, get back to playing". Lincoln Journal Star Pg. 1D
  7. ^ Ctrl+Alt_Del
  8. ^ Ctrl+Alt+Del
  9. ^ Ctrl+Alt+Del
  10. ^ Ctrl+Alt+Del
  11. ^ http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/news.php?i=946#948
  12. ^ Ctrl+Alt+Del
  13. ^ Blind Ferret to Publish Ctrl+Alt+Del blindferretpublishing.com.
  14. ^ Ctrl+Alt+Del
  15. ^ Ctrl+Alt+Del
  16. ^ [1]
  17. ^ [2]
  18. ^ "Web Cartoonist's Choice Awards 2004 Results". Web Cartoonist's Choice Awards.
  19. ^ "Web Cartoonist's Choice Awards 2005 Results". Web Cartoonist's Choice Awards.
  20. ^ "Web Cartoonist's Choice Awards 2005 Results". Web Cartoonist's Choice Awards.
  21. ^ "Zero Punctuation on Mass Effect". Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw. 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  22. ^ "23/3/08: You Cad". Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw. 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-31. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  23. ^ "Zero Punctuation on Webcomics". Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw. 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-02. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  24. ^ Miller, Ross (2008-09-02). "PAX 2008: The Penny Arcade Interview". Joystiq. Weblogs, Inc.
  25. ^ Game Revolution Comics - CTRL ALT DEL
  26. ^ City of Heroes comic book
  27. ^ Ctrl+Alt+Del
  28. ^ Ctrl+Alt+Del
  29. ^ Sid Meier's Civilization Daydreams
  30. ^ Ctrl+Alt+Del
  31. ^ Civilization Daydreams: Beyond the Sword Indeed - Planet Civilization

Bibliography

  • Buckley, Tim (2004). Insert Coin: Ctrl+Alt+Del Volume 1. Ctrl+Alt+Del Productions. ISBN 0-9764678-0-1.
  • Buckley, Tim (2005). Press Start: Ctrl+Alt+Del Volume 2. Ctrl+Alt+Del Productions. ISBN 0-9764678-1-X.
  • Buckley, Tim (2006). Critical System Failure: Ctrl+Alt+Del Volume 3. Ctrl+Alt+Del Productions. ISBN Unknown.
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