View source for Penny Arcade

{{About|the webcomic|the coin-operated device|Penny arcade|5=Penny Arcade (disambiguation)}}{{Short description|Webcomic by Holkins and Krahulik and its related products}}
{{use mdy dates|date=July 2011}}
{{Infobox comic strip <!-- Part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Webcomics]] -->
|title= Penny Arcade
|image= [[Image:Penny Arcade logo.png]]
|caption=
|author= [[Jerry Holkins]]<br />[[Mike Krahulik]]
|url= {{URL|https://www.penny-arcade.com/}}

|atom=
|status= Monday, Wednesday, Friday
|syndicate= Penny Arcade, Inc.
|publisher=
|first= November 18, 1998<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/1998/11/18| title = The SIN Of Long Load Times| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| author-link1 = Jerry Holkins| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| author-link2 = Mike Krahulik|date = November 18, 1998| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref>
|last=
|genre= [[video game webcomic|Gaming]], [[humor]], [[satire]]
|rating=
|preceded by=
|followed by=
}}

'''''Penny Arcade''''' is a [[webcomic]] focused on video games and [[video game culture]], written by [[Jerry Holkins]] and illustrated by [[Mike Krahulik]]. The comic debuted in 1998 on the website ''loonygames.com''.<ref>{{cite journal | title=Check out our first original comic strip! | date=November 16–20, 1998 | publisher=loonyboi productions | url=http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.13/ | journal=Loonygames | access-date=July 26, 2009 | volume=1 | issue=13 | archive-date=October 2, 1999 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991002220630/http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.13/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> Since then, Holkins and Krahulik have established their own site, which is typically updated with a new comic strip each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The comics are accompanied by regular updates on the site's blog.

By 2005, ''Penny Arcade'' was among the most popular and longest running webcomics online,<ref name="1UP">{{cite web | url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=3&cId=3145208 | title=Will Strip for Games | access-date=December 13, 2006 | last=Maragos | first=Nich | date=November 7, 2005 | work=[[1UP.com]] | publisher=[[Ziff Davis Media|Ziff Davis]] | page=4 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628230730/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=3&cId=3145208 | archive-date=June 28, 2006 | df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | url = http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1972075_1972078_1972137,00.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100404043656/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1972075_1972078_1972137,00.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = April 4, 2010 | title = The 2010 TIME 100 Poll: The Penny Arcade Co-Creators | magazine = [[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date = April 1, 2010 | access-date =April 4, 2010}}</ref> listed in 2010 as having 3.5 million readers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2010-04-01-pennyarcade-creators01-ST_N.htm|work=[[USA Today]]|title='Penny Arcade' a testament to the power of gaming culture|author=Geddes, John|date=April 2, 2010|access-date=October 12, 2011}}</ref> Holkins and Krahulik were among the first webcomic creators successful enough to make a living from their work.<ref name="pw">MacDonald, Heidi (December 19, 2005). "Web Comics: Page Clickers to Page Turners; It's like manga five or six years ago". ''Publishers Weekly'', p. 24.</ref> In addition to the comic, Holkins and Krahulik also created [[Child's Play (charity)|Child's Play]], a children's charity; [[Penny Arcade Expo|PAX]], a [[gaming convention]]; Penny Arcade TV, a [[YouTube]] channel;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTlOYZOU1HGEqgb2XetyBBQ|title=pennyarcadeTV|website=YouTube|access-date=2016-09-06}}</ref> Pinny Arcade, a pin exchange; and the [[episodic video game]] ''[[Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness]]'' with [[Hothead Games]] and [[Zeboyd Games]].

==Overview==
[[Image:Krahulik Holkins, Comicon 2009.jpg|thumb|[[Mike Krahulik]] (left) and [[Jerry Holkins]] (right) at [[San Diego Comic-Con International|Comic-Con]] 2009]]
The strip features Krahulik and Holkins' cartoon [[alter egos]], John "Gabe" Gabriel and Tycho Brahe, respectively. While often borrowing from the authors' experiences, Holkins and Krahulik do not treat them as literal [[Avatar (computing)|avatar]]s or [[caricature]]s of themselves.<ref name="Penny Arcade">{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/2009/11/13/| title = Tycho/Jerry| access-date =May 21, 2010| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = November 13, 2010| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref> The two characters spend much of their time playing and commenting on both computer and video games, which forms the basis of the humor in the strip. Most of the time Gabe serves the purpose of the comic and Tycho the [[comic foil]]. The strip can feature in-jokes that are explained in the news posts accompanying each comic, written by the authors.

Both Krahulik and Holkins make a living from ''Penny Arcade'', placing them in a small group of professional webcomic artists devoted to their creations full-time. Originally, like many webcomics, ''Penny Arcade'' was supported solely by donations. A graph on the main page indicated how much people had donated that month. After hiring [[Robert Khoo]] as their business manager, Holkins and Krahulik switched to a different [[independent income|income stream]] based on advertising and [[Product (business)|merchandise]] revenue alone.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.foster.washington.edu/about/Pages/AlumniProfileRobertKhoo.aspx | title = Alumni Profile Robert Khoo | publisher = [[University of Washington Michael G. Foster School of Business|Foster School, University of Washington]] | access-date =May 19, 2009}}</ref> According to Holkins, the website handled more than two million [[pageviews]] daily (excluding forum traffic) in 2006.<ref name="PA-blog 2006-03-13">{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/2006/03/13| title = The Gambler, Part Three| access-date =July 6, 2006| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = March 13, 2006| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref> On November 13, 2005, the website was redesigned<ref name="PA-blog 2005-11-14">{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/2005/11/14| title = Seven Years!| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = November 14, 2005| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref> in celebration of their seventh year running and to match the designs of the Child's Play Charity and [[Penny Arcade Expo]] websites. Afterwards, the site has been redesigned multiple times.

==Attributes of the comic strip==
As a (primarily) topical video gaming news comic, there is little [[plot (narrative)|plot]] or general [[continuity (fiction)|continuity]] in ''Penny Arcade'' strips. Any story sustained for longer than a single strip is referred to as "dreaded continuity", something of a [[running gag]] in the newsposts. A character who dies a violent death in one strip will come back in the next, perfectly whole, though occasionally these deaths have an effect on later comics. For example, often, when Gabe kills Tycho or vice versa, the killer takes a certain Pac-Man watch off the dead character, but only if he currently has the watch. [[Profanity]] and [[violence]] are common in ''Penny Arcade'' and the strip is known for its [[surrealism]]; [[zombie]]s, a talking alcoholic [[DIVX]] player called Div, [[Santa Claus]], a robotic juicer called the "Fruit Fucker 2000",<ref>[https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2001/07/11/ Diabolicious!] Penny Arcade, 2001-07-11</ref> and Jesus, among others, are known to drop in often and for petty reasons. Other such occurrences are implied, if not shown, such as mentioning [[Dante (Devil May Cry)|Dante]] from ''[[Devil May Cry]]'' living in the building next door.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2001/10/19| title = An Honest Mistake| access-date =July 6, 2006| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = October 19, 2001| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref> However, the comic does occasionally expand into more serious issues; one even had Krahulik, in the guise of the character Gabe, [[Marriage proposal|proposing]] to his [[girlfriend]] of two years,<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/1999/02/17| title = A VERY Special Penny Arcade!| access-date =March 27, 2008| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = February 17, 1999| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref> while another had both Gabe and Tycho praising Casey Heynes for standing up to bullying.<ref>{{cite web| title=Instruction| url = http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2011/03/18/instruction1|work=Penny Arcade}}</ref>

Some of the strips are drawn from the perspective of fictional characters within a game or movie. Occasionally, Gabe and Tycho are featured as they would be as characters or players in the game themselves, often having some sarcastic remark to make about some feature or [[software bug|bug]] in the game. At times the comic also depicts meetings between game developers or business people, and features or mocks the reporters of a news article that is commented on in Holkins' newspost.

''Penny Arcade'' has a [[theme song]], "Penny Arcade Theme", written and performed by [[nerdcore hip hop|nerdcore]] artist [[MC Frontalot]]. It was written as a thank-you by Frontalot for the creators of the webcomic linking his website to their [[wikt:front page|front page]] and declaring him their "[[rapper]] [[laureate]]" in 2002. The song appears in the [[rhythm game|dance game]] ''[[In the Groove (video game)|In the Groove]]'', released in 2004.

==Protagonists==
{{anchor|gabe}}

===Jonathan "Gabe" Gabriel===
[[Mike Krahulik]]'s comic alter ego is energetic and free-spirited, but has a propensity to become extremely angry. As a contrast to Tycho's expansive vocabulary, Gabe usually speaks using only simple, common words. He almost always wears a yellow [[Pac-Man]] shirt, and has a [[Pac-Man]] [[tattoo]] on his right arm.<ref name="PA 1999-03-17">{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/1999/03/17| title = pa one – from calvin klein| access-date =November 25, 2008| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = March 17, 1999| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref><ref name="PA 1999-04-23">{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/1999/04/23| title = Chicka-Wow Chicka-Wow Wow| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = April 23, 1999| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref> His eyes are a shade of slate blue. 

He has a fascination with [[unicorn]]s, a secret love of [[Barbie]]s, is a dedicated fan of [[Spider-Man]] and ''[[Star Wars]]'', and has proclaimed "[[Jessie's Girl]]" to be the greatest song of all time. He has a wife and son.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/10/15| title = The Breaking Point| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = October 15, 2008| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref> Gabe is a [[diabetic]], though he continues to consume large quantities of sugar products.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2003/04/07| title = Hello Panda| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = April 7, 2003| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref> 

Krahulik named his son "Gabriel" in honor of the character.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/09/10| title = Undisclosed Propensities, Part 2| access-date =August 26, 2007| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = September 10, 2004| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref>
{{anchor|tycho}}

===Tycho Brahe===
[[Jerry Holkins]]' comic [[alter ego]] (named after the [[astronomer]] [[Tycho Brahe]]) is bitter and sarcastic. His eyes are [[burnt sienna]], and he's almost invariably clad in a blue-striped sweater. Tycho [[bibliophilia|enjoys books]], [[role-playing video game]]s, using large and uncommon words in conversation, and deflating Gabe's ego. He is an enthusiastic fan of ''[[Harry Potter]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2005/11/16|title=Representing Hogwarts|access-date=November 29, 2011| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = November 16, 2005| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref> and ''[[Doctor Who]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2011/10/17|title=The Heresiarch|access-date=November 29, 2011| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = October 17, 2011| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref> He also plays ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' often (the website's previous banner illustrated him holding a [[Dice|20-sided die]]), and adopts a wildly theatrical style when acting as a dungeon master.

Tycho occasionally makes reference to his scarring childhood, during which his mother physically abused him.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2003/01/13| title = Sweet and Sour| access-date =August 26, 2007| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = January 13, 2003| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref> Tycho also has a [[alcoholism|drinking problem]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2005/08/01| title = Just When I Get Out| access-date =August 26, 2007| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = August 1, 2005| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref>

In ''[[Poker Night at the Inventory]]'', Tycho is voiced by [[Kid Beyond]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/previews/216419/pax-2010-poker-night-at-the-inventory/|title=PAX 2010: Poker Night at the Inventory|magazine=[[GamePro]]|date=September 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112231100/http://www.gamepro.com/article/previews/216419/pax-2010-poker-night-at-the-inventory/ |archive-date=2010-11-12}}</ref>

==Podcast==
Krahulik and Holkins began to record and release audio content on March 20, 2006, titled ''Downloadable Content.'' The [[podcast]]s specifically captured the creative process that goes into the creation of a ''Penny Arcade'' comic, usually starting with a perusal of recent gaming news, with conversational tangents and digressions to follow. As well as being a [[Making-of|behind-the-scenes]] look at the creation of ''Penny Arcade'', Krahulik and Holkins discussed possible subjects for the comic.

The format of the show was mostly "[[fly-on-the-wall]]" style, in that the hosts rarely acknowledged the existence of the microphone. There was no theme music, [[Introduction (music)|intro]], or [[Conclusion (music)|outro]]. The podcasts were of varying lengths, beginning abruptly and ending with the idea for the current comic. New episodes were released irregularly, with six month gaps not uncommon.

Although the shows were initially published weekly, Holkins stated in a May 2006 blog post that they found difficulties when trying to produce the podcasts on a regular basis. The duo planned to keep recording podcasts occasionally.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/2006/05/03| title = A Failure to Plan| access-date =August 26, 2007| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = May 3, 2006| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref>

Since airing the first episode of the new PATV in February 2010, the podcast has not been updated. A new segment has since appeared on PATV called "The Fourth Panel," which presents a fly-on-the-wall look at comics creation much as the podcast did.

On May 8, 2013 Penny Arcade launched a [[Kickstarter]] campaign to fund the continuation of ''Downloadable Content''.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pennyarcade/penny-arcades-podcast-downloadable-content-the-ret| title = Penny Arcade's Podcast, "Downloadable Content": The Return| access-date =May 9, 2013| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = May 8, 2013| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref> The kickstarter was successful, with new Podcasts being added each Wednesday. ''Downloadable Content'' is "currently on hiatus,"  with the latest episode dated August 23, 2018.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.penny-arcade.com/podcast/dlc | title=Downloadable Content - Penny Arcade }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.penny-arcade.com/podcast/dlc/9/denouement | title=Denouement - Penny Arcade }}</ref>

==Games==
{{Main|Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness}}

''[[Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness]]'' is an [[episodic game|episodic]] video game based on the strip. The first two episodes were developed by [[Hothead Games]], and were built on a version of the [[Torque Game Engine]]. The first episode was released worldwide on May 21, 2008, and the second on October 29, 2008. They were [[self-published]] via the [[PlayStation Network]] and [[Xbox Live]] as well as the PlayGreenhouse.com service created by ''Penny Arcade'' to distribute [[independent games]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3153149 | title = Penny Arcade: Now a videogame | work = [[1UP.com]] | first = Jeremy | last = Parish | date = August 25, 2006 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927212219/http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3153149 | archive-date = September 27, 2007 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> The game features many elements of the ''Penny Arcade'' universe in a 1920s [[steampunk]] setting. In 2010, Krahulik and Holkins announced that the remainder of the series had been cancelled, to allow Hothead to focus on other projects.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/108/1080006p1.html | title = Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 3 Canceled | date = March 26, 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100331202047/http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/108/1080006p1.html | archive-date = March 31, 2010 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> At PAX Prime 2011, however, it was announced that the series would be revived and developed by [[Zeboyd Games]], with a retro style similar to Zeboyd's past titles.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/penny-arcade-adventures-episode-3-still-alive-zeboyd-at-the-hel |title=Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 3 still alive, Zeboyd at the helm}}</ref> The third episode was released on Steam and on Penny Arcade's web store June 25, 2012.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://rainslick.com/news/game-is-now-available-to-buy-from-penny-arcade-store-and-steam | title = Game is now available to buy: from Penny Arcade Store and Steam!}}</ref> The fourth and final episode was announced in January 2013,<ref>{{cite news|title=The Long, Strange Journey of the Penny Arcade Game|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/01/24/the-long-strange-journey-of-penny-arcade-game|access-date=12 February 2013|date=24 January 2013}}</ref> and released to Steam and Xbox Live in June 2013.

A teaser trailer released by [[Telltale Games]] on August 28, 2010, revealed that Tycho would appear in an upcoming game alongside ''[[Team Fortress 2]]'s'' Heavy, ''[[Homestar Runner]]'s'' [[Strong Bad]] and ''[[Sam & Max]]'s'' Max. The game, called ''[[Poker Night at the Inventory]]'', was officially revealed on September 2, 2010.<ref name="Plunkett">{{cite web|last=Plunkett|first=Luke|title=Sam & Max, Team Fortress 2, Penny Arcade and Strong Bad, Together At Last|url=http://kotaku.com/5624216/sam--max-team-fortress-2-penny-arcade-and-strong-bad-together-at-last|website=Kotaku|date=August 28, 2010 }}</ref>

"The Last Christmas" and "The Hawk and the Hare", two stories that were published on the site, were released as motion comics for [[iOS]] developed by SRRN Games.<ref name="Plunkett"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/penny-arcades-the-hawk-hare/id423458248?mt=8|title=Penny Arcade's "The Hawk and the Hare" on the App Store|website=App Store|access-date=June 27, 2017}}</ref>

The North American release of ''Tekken 6'' has a skin for Yoshimitsu based on the Cardboard Tube Samurai.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pigna|first=Kris|title=Tekken 6 to Feature Penny Arcade's Cardboard Tube Samurai?|url=http://www.1up.com/news/tekken-6-feature-penny-arcade|publisher=1UP|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510181842/http://www.1up.com/news/tekken-6-feature-penny-arcade|archive-date=May 10, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> An official DLC skin pack was released for [[Dungeon Defenders]] featuring Tycho, Cardboard Tube Samurai Gabe, Annarchy and Jim Darkmagic skins.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/dungeon-defenders-adding-penny-arcade-skins-free-at-pax-east/|title=Dungeon Defenders adding Penny Arcade skins; free at PAX East|publisher=[[Joystiq]]|first=Alexander|last=Sliwinski|date=2012-04-03}}</ref>

[[Cryptozoic Entertainment]] released the licensed deck-building card game ''Penny Arcade The Game: Gamers Vs. Evil'' in 2011, and followed it with the expansion pack ''Penny Arcade The Game: Rumble in R'lyeh'' in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dillon |first=Patrick |url=http://www.cryptozoic.com/articles/penny-arcade-game-rumble-rlyeh-now-available |title=Penny Arcade and Cryptozoic Entertainment Launch Second Installment of Hit Deck-Building Game |date=17 April 2012 |access-date=18 December 2013 |publisher=[[Cryptozoic Entertainment]] |archive-date=December 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219020120/http://www.cryptozoic.com/articles/penny-arcade-game-rumble-rlyeh-now-available |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Playdek]] released a digital conversion of ''Penny Arcade The Game: Gamers Vs. Evil'' for [[iOS]] in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rosenberg |first=Mike |url=http://www.cryptozoic.com/articles/penny-arcade-game-gamers-vs-evil-ios-now-available |title=Penny Arcade The Game: Gamers vs Evil for iOS - Now Available! |date=19 December 2012 |access-date=18 December 2013 |publisher=[[Cryptozoic Entertainment]] |archive-date=December 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219020634/http://www.cryptozoic.com/articles/penny-arcade-game-gamers-vs-evil-ios-now-available |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==''Penny Arcade: The Series''==
''Penny Arcade: The Series'' first aired online on February 20, 2010. It is a multi-season [[documentary]] series based on the exploits of the Penny Arcade company and its founders Krahulik and Holkins.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2013/01/16/penny-arcade-web-series/#WiuJznhNEaqA|publisher=[[Mashable]]|title=Penny Arcade Gets Real With Competitive Web Series|last=Greene|first=Bob-Al|date=2013-01-16}}</ref> The last episode of the series was posted in September 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Penny Arcade: The Series| website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9EC9F6E9A1C7B7CF}}</ref>

==Other works==
===Penny Arcade Presents===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Pa presents.png|thumb|250px|Penny Arcade Presents]] -->Under the [[web banner|banner]] of "Penny Arcade Presents", Krahulik and Holkins are sometimes commissioned to create promotional artwork/comic strips for new video games, with their signature artistic style and humor. They are usually credited simply as "Penny Arcade" rather than by their actual names. Some of these works have been included with the distribution of the game, and others have appeared on pre-launch official websites. An official list could be found on the Penny Arcade website.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.penny-arcade.com/presents|title=Penny Arcade - Presents|website=Penny Arcade|access-date=2016-09-06}}</ref> The last of these commissions was posted in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=PA Presents|url=https://www.penny-arcade.com/presents|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304060945/https://www.penny-arcade.com/presents |archive-date=March 4, 2022 }}</ref>

=== Collectible Card Game ===
On August 8, 2005, Krahulik announced that ''Penny Arcade'', in partnership with [[Sabertooth Games]], would be producing a [[collectible card game]] based on the ''Penny Arcade'' franchise.<ref>{{cite press release| publisher=Sabertooth Games | date = August 8, 2005 | title = Penny Arcade Press Release | url=http://www.sabertoothgames.com/stg/pa_press_release.asp | archive-url=https://archive.today/20060208135646/http://www.sabertoothgames.com/stg/pa_press_release.asp | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 8, 2006 |access-date =April 25, 2006}}</ref> The resulting ''Penny Arcade'' "battle box" was released in February 2006 as part of the [[Universal Fighting System]].

There are also a few [[Spin-off (media)|spinoffs]] from the main comic that have gained independent existences. An example is ''[[Epic Legends Of The Hierarchs: The Elemenstor Saga]]'' (ELotH:TES), a parody of the written-by-committee fantasy fiction used as back-story for a wide variety of games: originally a [[one-shot (comics)|one-off]] gag in the ''Penny Arcade'' comic, in late 2005 this was expanded into a complete fantasy universe, documented on a hoax "fan-wiki".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://elothtes.pbworks.com/ | work = ELotH:TES | title = FrontPage}}</ref> ELotH:TES first appeared in the webcomic of February 7, 2005, and has subsequently been featured in the comics of November 7, 2005 and November 30, 2005. Several elements of the ELotH:TES universe are featured on the cover of their second comics collection, ''Epic Legends of the Magic Sword Kings''.

=== ESRB ad campaigns ===
On May 31, 2006 Krahulik announced a new [[advertising campaign]] for the [[Entertainment Software Rating Board]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/news/post/2006/06/01/pa-and-the-esrb| title = PA and the ESRB| access-date =August 26, 2007| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = May 31, 2006| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref> According to Krahulik, the ESRB "wanted a campaign that would communicate to gamers why the ESRB is important even if they don't think it directly affects them." Among the reasons he listed for ''Penny Arcade''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s accepting the job was that he and Holkins are both fathers and are concerned about the games their children might play. The ad campaign was rolled out in the summer and fall of 2006 and a second campaign was released in 2012 featuring a mother, a father and a gamer describing the tools employed by the ESRB.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.esrb.org/about/psa.aspx|title=PSA ads for ESRB ratings education|website=www.esrb.org|access-date=2016-09-06|archive-date=June 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603234857/http://www.esrb.org/about/psa.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==="The New Kid" film===
Announced on June 2, 2011, [[Paramount Pictures]] had acquired the rights to produce an animated film, via [[Paramount Animation]] to make this, of the one-off strip ''The New Kid'' which was published on October 29, 2010. The strip was one of three mini-strips which featured a cinematic opening to a larger story left unexplored.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5808076/one+off-penny-arcade-strip-gets-a-movie-deal|title=One-Off Penny Arcade Strip Gets a Movie Deal|website=[[Kotaku]]|date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> ''The New Kid'' is about a boy who's moving to a new planet with his family because of his father's career.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2010/10/29/|title=The New Kid|publisher=Penny Arcade|date=October 29, 2010}}</ref> The script was written by [[Gary Whitta]] and would have been produced by [[Mary Parent]] and [[Cale Boyter]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/paramount-plots-next-animated-pic-194394|title=Paramount Plots Next Animated Pic with Alien Comic Adaptation 'New Kid' (Exclusive)|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 2, 2011|first=Borys|last=Kit}}</ref>

At PAX Australia in 2016, during a Q&A session, Holkins revealed that changes at Paramount resulted in the movie rights being returned to Penny Arcade and the project canceled. He did note, however, that Whitta's script was complete and the project could move forward with another production company in the future.<ref>{{Citation|last=pennyarcadeTV|title=The Wagers Of Sin - DLC Podcast Show, Season 7, Episode 19|date=2016-11-30|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8LcjISL4Ho&t=31m30s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/g8LcjISL4Ho| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|access-date=2016-12-05}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===The Trenches===
'''''The Trenches''''' was a comic series by Krahulik and Holkins in collaboration with webcomic ''[[PvP (webcomic)|PvP]]'''s creator Scott Kurtz. The comic followed a man named Issac and his life as a game tester. The series was launched on August 9, 2011 and featured new strips every Tuesday and Thursday,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5829642/new-webcomic-to-out-the-horrors-of-game-testing|title=PvP and Penny Arcade Turn The Horrors of Game Testing Into Our Own Version of The Office|website=[[Kotaku]]|first=Brian|last=Crecente|date=2011-08-10}}</ref> usually accompanied by a "Tale from the Trenches", which was a short piece submitted by a reader detailing their own experiences in the game industry.

In September 2012, Kurtz stopped illustrating the webcomic, due to lack of time, and was replaced by Mary Cagle, a former intern of his, and the creator of the webcomic [[Kiwi Blitz]]. Kurtz still continued to collaborate with Krahulik and Holkins in writing the comic.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://penny-arcade.com/2012/10/26| title = Vomifuge| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = October 26, 2012| work = Penny Arcade| access-date = November 10, 2012| archive-date = November 7, 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121107233039/http://penny-arcade.com/2012/10/26| url-status = dead}}</ref>  In late August 2013, illustration was taken over by Ty Halley (''Secret Life of a Journal Writer'') and Monica Ray (''Phuzzy Comics''), former contestants of the Penny Arcade series ''Strip Search''.

''The Trenches'' was ultimately abandoned. The last comic was posted January 5, 2016, while the last ''Tales'' is from September 10, 2015.

===The Decideotron===
In 2011, Krahulik and Holkins released an application for [[iOS (Apple)|iOS]] devices called ''The Decide-o-tron'', presented by Eedar and developed by The Binary Mill.<ref name="Decide-o-tron LIVES">{{Cite web|url=http://penny-arcade.com/2011/08/22/decide-o-tron-lives|title=Decide-o-tron LIVES|publisher=penny-arcade.com|date=2011-08-22|access-date=August 23, 2011|archive-date=August 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824171213/http://penny-arcade.com/2011/08/22/decide-o-tron-lives|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.decideotron.com/|title=Decide-o-tron|access-date=December 8, 2011|archive-date=December 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209102624/http://www.decideotron.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The app worked as a [[recommendation engine]] for video games; users would input games they'd enjoyed and the app attempted to predict their ratings of titles they had not yet played.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5833386/penny-arcades-decide+o+tron-8000-knows-what-game-you-should-play-next|title=Penny Arcade's Decide-o-Tron 8000 Knows What Game You Should Play Next|website=[[Kotaku]]|first=Mike|last=Fahey|date=2011-08-22}}</ref> Holkins described it as "[[Pandora Radio|Pandora]] for games".<ref name="Decide-o-tron LIVES"/> By 2014, the decideotron.com website was dead.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://decideotron.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117061039/http://decideotron.com/ |archive-date=November 17, 2014 |title=Chameleon }}</ref>

===Kickstarter===
Penny Arcade has created two Kickstarter projects. The first was the ''Penny Arcade's Paint the Line'' card game which was used as an alternative to pre-ordering it and came with an exclusive comic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/springboard/penny-arcades-paint-the-line-ecg-red-tide|title=Penny Arcade's Paint The Line ECG: Red Tide|publisher=[[Kickstarter]]|access-date=2012-07-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://geek-news.mtv.com/2012/07/03/penny-arcades-paint-the-line-puts-a-new-spin-on-card-gaming/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707092116/http://geek-news.mtv.com/2012/07/03/penny-arcades-paint-the-line-puts-a-new-spin-on-card-gaming/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 7, 2012|title=Penny Arcade's 'Paint the Line' Puts a New Spin on Card Gaming|publisher=[[MTV#Internet|MTV.com]]|first=Matt|last=Morgan|date=2012-07-03}}</ref> The second was entitled ''Penny Arcade Sells Out'' and was intended to replace advertising revenue with crowd funding. The leaderboard ad on the home page of Penny Arcade would be removed if the minimum goal of $250,000 were reached, whereas the entire site would become completely ad-free for a year at $999,999.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/575109064/penny-arcade-sells-out|title=Penny Arcade Sells Out |publisher=[[Kickstarter]]|access-date=2012-07-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/07/10/penny-arcade-aims-to-go-ad-free-with-kickstarter-campaign-we-want-to-sell-out-to-you/|title=Penny Arcade aims to go ad-free with Kickstarter campaign: "We want to sell out to you"|magazine=[[PC Gamer]]|first=Tom|last=Senior|date=2012-07-10}}</ref>  The reality web series described as "our version of America's Next Top Webcomic" titled ''[[Strip Search (web series)|Strip Search]]'' arose from the $450,000 stretch goal.

Krahulik and Holkins created a comic strip which compares the [[7th generation consoles]] that appears in the December 2006 issue of ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' magazine.<ref name="Wired comparison">{{cite magazine|date=December 2006|title=I Come in Peace, With Console Advice|url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.12/play.html?pg=5|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|volume=14|issue=12}}</ref>

==''Penny Arcade'' events==
{{Main|Child's Play (charity)|Penny Arcade Expo}}
Every Christmas since 2003, ''Penny Arcade'' hosts a charity called [[Child's Play (charity)|Child's Play]] to buy new toys for [[children's hospital]]s. They have also sponsored a three-day gaming festival called the [[PAX (event)|Penny Arcade Expo]], later renamed to PAX, every August since 2004.

==Legal issues and controversy==
===Strawberry Shortcake===
{{see also|Strawberry Shortcake#Penny Arcade}}
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Tart as a double entendre.png|thumb|right|The Strawberry Shortcake parody]] -->
Krahulik and Holkins received a [[cease and desist|cease-and-desist]] letter from [[American Greetings|American Greetings Corporation]] over the use of American Greetings' [[Strawberry Shortcake]] and [[Plum Puddin']] characters in the April 14, 2003 ''Penny Arcade'' strip entitled "[[Tart]] as a [[double entendre|Double Entendre]]".<ref name="seatimes_newlevel">{{cite web |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/penny-arcade-creators-ride-their-webcomic-to-a-whole-new-level/ |title="Penny Arcade" creators ride their webcomic to a whole new level |last=Liu |first=Marian |date=2008-08-24 |website=[[The Seattle Times]] |publisher= |access-date=2022-09-05 |quote=And like “The Boondocks” cartoonist Aaron McGruder, Holkins and Krahulik are no strangers to controversy. For example, they received a cease-and-desist letter from American Greetings Corp. for using Strawberry Shortcake and Plum Puddin’ characters in a strip.}}</ref><ref name="miller_thesis">{{cite thesis |last=Miller |first=Bryanne |date=November 2007 |title=Making "Cents" of Subcultural Capital: The Preservation of Authenticity and Credibility in Penny Arcade Subculture |type= |chapter= |publisher= |docket= |oclc=646563040 |url=https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/thesescanada/vol2/002/MR38120.PDF?oclc_number=646563040 |access-date=2022-09-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://whatever.scalzi.com/2003/04/25/strawberry-shortcake-and-penny-arcade/ |title=Strawberry Shortcake and Penny Arcade |last=Scalzi |first=John |date=2003-04-25 |website= |publisher=[[John Scalzi]] |access-date=2022-09-05 |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielnyegriffiths/2013/09/05/pax-problems-censorship-and-sensibility-in-the-penny-arcade/ |title=PAX Problems: Censorship And Sensibility In the Penny Arcade [Updated] |last=Griffiths |first=Daniel Nye |date=2013-09-05 |website=[[Forbes]] |publisher= |access-date=2022-09-05 |quote=}}</ref>

The duo chose not to enter into a legal battle over whether or not the strip was a protected form of [[parody]], and they complied with the [[cease-and-desist]] by replacing it with an image directing their audience to send a letter to a lawyer for American Greetings.<ref name="miller_thesis" /><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2003/04/14| title = Tart As A Double Entendre| access-date =August 26, 2007| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = April 14, 2003| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref> They later lampooned the incident by portraying an American Greetings employee as a [[Nazi]].<ref name="miller_thesis" /><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2003/04/28| title = Read It Before They Take Legal Action| access-date =February 6, 2010| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = April 28, 2003| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref>

===Jack Thompson===
On October 17, 2005 Krahulik and Holkins donated US$10,000 to the [[Entertainment Software Association]] foundation in the name of [[Jack Thompson (activist)|Jack Thompson]], a disbarred attorney and activist against violence in video games.<ref>{{cite web |author=Score, Avery | date=October 17, 2005 | title=Penny Arcade donates in Thompson's stead | work=[[GameSpot]] | url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6135940.html |access-date=April 25, 2006}}</ref> Earlier, Thompson himself had promised to donate $10,000 if a video game was created in which the player kills video game developers (''[[A Modest Video Game Proposal]]''),<ref name="GI.biz blasted">{{cite web | date=October 14, 2005 | title=Jack Thompson is blasted by pro-family group | work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] | url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/jack-thompson-is-blasted-by-pro-family-group |access-date=April 25, 2006}}</ref> but after a [[mod (computer gaming)|mod]] to the game ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' was pointed out to already exist, Thompson called his challenge [[satire]] (referring to the title of the letter as a reference to "[[A Modest Proposal]]") and refused to donate the money.<ref name="10k promise">{{cite web | author=Gibson, Ellie | date=October 18, 2005 | title=Thompson refuses to keep 10k promise | work =[[GamesIndustry.biz]]|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/thompson-refuses-to-keep-10k-promise |access-date=April 25, 2006}}</ref> He claimed these games were not going to be manufactured, distributed, or sold like retail games, as his Modest Proposal stated, and therefore, the deal went unfulfilled. His refusal was met with disdain, given that multiple games were created or in the process of being created under Thompson's criteria. Krahulik and Holkins donated the money in his place, with a check containing the memo: "For Jack Thompson, Because Jack Thompson Won't".

Thompson proceeded to phone Krahulik, as related by Holkins in the corresponding news post.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/2005/10/14/and-all-of-it-true| title = And All Of It True| access-date =August 26, 2007| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = October 14, 2005| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref>

On October 18, 2005 it was reported that Jack Thompson had faxed a letter to Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske claiming that ''Penny Arcade'' "employs certain personnel who have decided to commence and orchestrate [[criminal harassment]] of me by various means".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gamepolitics.livejournal.com/110152.html |title=Will Seattle's Finest Be Raiding Penny Arcade? |work=[[gamepolitics]] |date=October 18, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060208023709/http://gamepolitics.livejournal.com/110152.html |archive-date=February 8, 2006 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Sinclair | first1=Brendan | first2=Curt | last2=Brendan | date=October 18, 2005 | title=Thompson attacks Penny Arcade; seeks arrests | work=[[GameSpot]] | url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6135979.html |access-date=April 25, 2006}}</ref> Holkins defended the site by saying that the "harassment" Thompson referred to was simply "the natural result of a public figure making statements that people disagree with, and letting him know their thoughts on the matter via his publicly available contact information".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2005/10/17/the-adventure-continues |title=The Adventure Continues |access-date=July 26, 2009 |last1=Holkins |first1=Jerry |last2=Krahulik |first2=Mike |date=October 17, 2005 |work=Penny Arcade |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326141157/https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2005/10/17/the-adventure-continues |archive-date=March 26, 2012 }} </ref>

On October 21, 2005 Thompson claimed to have sent a letter to [[John McKay (attorney)|John McKay]], [[U.S. Attorney]] for the Western District of Washington, in an attempt to get the [[FBI]] involved. Thompson re-iterated his claims of "[[extortion]]" and accused ''Penny Arcade'' of using "their Internet site and various other means to encourage and solicit criminal harassment".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gamepolitics.livejournal.com/112527.html |work=[[gamepolitics]] |title=No End in Sight to Penny Arcade Saga; Thompson Turns to Feds |date=October 21, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060328075442/http://gamepolitics.livejournal.com/112527.html |archive-date=March 28, 2006 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Penny Arcade denied the charge of "extortion", noting that they paid the $10,000 to charity, and asked nothing in return.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/2005/10/21/oh-nos-its-teh-feds| title = oh nos it's {{not a typo|teh}} feds!| access-date =August 26, 2007| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = October 21, 2005| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref>

Thompson claimed the harassment of him is a direct result of Mike Krahulik's posts, which listed links to the [[Florida Bar|Florida Bar Association]]. Thompson accused ''Penny Arcade'' of soliciting complaints to the Bar against him, even though Krahulik actually posted the opposite, asking fans to cease sending letters to the Bar, as the Bar acknowledged that it is aware of Thompson's actions, thanks to previous letters.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sinclair, Brendan |date=October 21, 2005 |title=Thompson goes federal with Penny Arcade feud |work=[[GameSpot]] |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6136318.html |access-date=April 25, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060625020247/https://www.gamespot.com/news/6136318.html |archive-date=June 25, 2006 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

The Seattle PD eventually acknowledged receiving a complaint from Thompson, but have commented that they believe the issue to be a [[civil law (common law)|civil]], rather than [[criminal law|criminal]], matter. They noted that this was from initial impressions of the letter they received, and their criminal investigations bureau is reviewing the letter to make sure that there were not any criminal matters that they missed.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sinclair, Brendan |date=October 27, 2005 |title=Seattle police pass on Penny Arcade flap |work=[[GameSpot]] |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6136737.html |access-date=April 25, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216183639/https://www.gamespot.com/news/6136737.html |archive-date=February 16, 2006 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

On the same day, [[Scott Kurtz]], creator of the webcomic ''[[PvP]]'' and a longtime friend of Krahulik and Holkins, used the image of the letter Thompson sent to the Seattle PD to create a parody letter in which Jack attempts to enlist the aid of the [[Justice League|Justice League of America]] by claiming Gabe and Tycho to be villains of some description.<ref name="PvP letter">{{cite web |url=http://www.pvponline.com/images/news/letter.gif |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061113230428/http://www.pvponline.com/images/news/letter.gif |archive-date=November 13, 2006 |title=Letter to the Justice League |access-date=March 23, 2007 |last=Kurtz |first=Scott |author-link=Scott Kurtz |date=October 18, 2005 |work=[[PvP]]}}</ref>

The ''Penny Arcade'' shop had at the time sold an "I hate Jack Thompson" [[T-shirt]], claiming that every living creature, including Thompson's own mother, hates Jack Thompson.<ref>{{cite web | author=Henriksen, Erik | date=October 27, 2005 | title=Game On | work=[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]] | url=http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/game-on/Content?oid=23829 |access-date=December 15, 2014}}</ref>

On March 21, 2007 Thompson filed a [[countersuit]] to the [[Take Two Interactive v. John B. Thompson|lawsuit brought against him]] by [[Take Two Interactive]] claiming that they are at the center of a [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act|RICO]] [[conspiracy (crime)|conspiracy]]. ''Penny Arcade'' was named as one of the co-conspirators.<ref name="RICO">{{cite web|url=http://gamepolitics.com/2007/03/22/in-countersuit-thompson-claims-take-two-at-center-of-vast-rico-conspiracy/ |title=In Countersuit, Thompson Claims Take Two at Center of Vast RICO Conspiracy |access-date=March 22, 2007 |last=McCauley |first=Dennis |author-link=Dennis McCauley |work=[[GamePolitics.com]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070325021932/https://gamepolitics.com/2007/03/22/in-countersuit-thompson-claims-take-two-at-center-of-vast-rico-conspiracy/ |archive-date=March 25, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="PA 2007-03-23">{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/03/23| title = Our Old Tricks| access-date =March 23, 2007| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = March 23, 2007| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref> At [[Sakura-Con]] 2007, Krahulik announced that the suit had been dropped.<ref name="PA 2007-03-29">{{cite web |url=http://www.qj.net/index.php?pg=49&aid=87825 |title=Thompson drops racketeering allegations in lawsuit against Take-Two |access-date=April 9, 2007 |author=Kristine C. |date=March 29, 2007 |work=qj.net}}</ref>

{{anchor|Rape/dickwolves controversy}}
===Dickwolves controversy===
In an August 11, 2010 comic entitled "The Sixth Slave", an [[Non-player character|NPC]] pleads with a player who then refuses to save him: "Every morning, we are roused by savage blows. Every night, we are raped to sleep by the dickwolves".<ref>{{cite web|title=The Sixth Slave|url=https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2010/08/11|work=Penny Arcade|access-date=3 July 2012}}</ref> The strip drew criticism from many commentators, including from ''[[The American Prospect]]'' and ''[[The Phoenix (newspaper)|The Boston Phoenix]]''. Krahulik and Holkins dismissed these criticisms, later selling "Team Dickwolves" T-shirts based on the strip.<ref>{{Cite news | last = Kennedy | first = Channing | title = How Does It Feel to Be a Problem on the Internet? | newspaper = The American Prospect | date = February 4, 2011 | url = http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=02&year=2011&base_name=how_does_it_feel_to_be_a_probl | access-date = February 26, 2011 | archive-date = August 10, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110810212849/http://prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=02&year=2011&base_name=how_does_it_feel_to_be_a_probl | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | last = Myers | first = Maddy | title = Penny Arcade surprised to find that rape jokes offend people | newspaper = The Boston Phoenix | date = August 16, 2010 | url = https://thephoenix.com/BLOGS/laserorgy/archive/2010/08/16/penny-arcade-s-dubious-apology-for-dark-humor.aspx | access-date = February 26, 2011 | archive-date = August 11, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110811023546/https://thephoenix.com/BLOGS/laserorgy/archive/2010/08/16/penny-arcade-s-dubious-apology-for-dark-humor.aspx | url-status = bot: unknown }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | last = Myers | first = Maddy | title = Gaming, rape culture, and how I stopped reading Penny Arcade: When Dickwolves attack | newspaper = The Boston Phoenix | date = February 3, 2011 | url = https://thephoenix.com/Boston/life/116456-gaming-rape-culture-and-how-i-stopped-reading-pe/?page=1 | access-date = March 3, 2011 | archive-date = March 17, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110317024144/https://thephoenix.com/Boston/life/116456-gaming-rape-culture-and-how-i-stopped-reading-pe/?page=1 | url-status = bot: unknown }}</ref> They later removed the "Team Dickwolves" shirt from their store due to complaints that it made potential PAX attendees uncomfortable. After the removal, Krahulik posted online that removing the shirts was only partly caving to pressure but mainly due to people who had personally emailed him and were reasonable with their concerns. Krahulik also stated that anyone still hesitant about going to PAX even after removal of the shirts should not come to PAX.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.penny-arcade.com/2011/1/28/dickwolves|title=Penny Arcade - News - Dickwolves|website=Penny Arcade|access-date=June 27, 2017|archive-date=February 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202044427/https://www.penny-arcade.com/2011/1/28/dickwolves|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> In September 2013, on the last day of PAX, Krahulik told a panel that he thought that "pulling the dickwolves merchandise was a mistake", to cheers from the crowd.<ref name=Statesman>{{cite magazine|last=Hern|first=Alex|title=Penny Arcade reopens the "dickwolves" controversy|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/alex-hern/2013/09/penny-arcade-reopens-dickwolves-controversy|magazine=[[New Statesman]]|access-date=5 September 2013}}</ref> However, Krahulik later apologized on the ''Penny Arcade'' website, stating that he regretted contributing to the furor that had followed the original comic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.penny-arcade.com/news/post/2013/09/05/some-clarification|title=Penny Arcade - News - Some Clarification|website=Penny Arcade|access-date=March 10, 2023}}</ref> Both critics of the comic strip and Krahulik and Holkins, made claims of receiving verbal abuse through social media and [[death threats]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gamepolitics.com/2013/09/06/penny-arcade-controversy-will-not-die/|title=The Penny Arcade Controversy That Will Not Die|last=Fudge|first=James|work=[[GamePolitics.com]]|date=6 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130910151034/http://gamepolitics.com/2013/09/06/penny-arcade-controversy-will-not-die |archive-date=September 10, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In a 2012 article in the ''[[Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media]]'', academics Salter & Blodgett used the Dickwolves incident as a case study into "hypermasculinity and sexism within the gaming community", and argued that "this case highlights how the hypermasculine discourse encourages the overt privileging of masculinity over femininity and discourages women from engaging in gendered discourse within the community."<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Salter|first1=Anastasia|last2=Blodgett|first2=Bridget|date=2012-07-01|title=Hypermasculinity & Dickwolves: The Contentious Role of Women in the New Gaming Public|journal=Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media|volume=56|issue=3|pages=401–416|doi=10.1080/08838151.2012.705199|issn=0883-8151|doi-access=free}}</ref>

=="Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory"==
[[File:Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory.png|thumb|220px|Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory]]
"John Gabriel's Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory" was posted in the ''Penny Arcade'' strip published March 19, 2004. It regards the [[online disinhibition effect]], in which Internet users exhibit unsociable tendencies while interacting with other Internet users. Krahulik and Holkins suggest that, given both [[anonymity]] and an audience, an otherwise regular person becomes aggressively antisocial.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19| title = Green Blackboards (And Other Anomalies)| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = March 19, 2004| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref> In 2013, Holkins gave the corollary that "Normal Person - ''Consequences'' + Audience = Total Fuckwad".<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/news/post/2013/02/18/the-corollary| title = The Corollary| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = February 18, 2013| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref>

[[Clay Shirky]], an [[adjunct professor]] at [[New York University]] who studies social and economic effects of Internet technologies, explains: "There’s a large crowd and you can act out in front of it without paying any personal price to your reputation,” which "creates conditions most likely to draw out the typical Internet user’s worst impulses."<ref name="advocate"/> In an ''[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|Advocate]]'' article about online [[homophobia]], this theory was used to account for behavior on online forums where one can remain [[Anonymity|anonymous]] in front of an audience: for instance, posting comments on popular YouTube videos.<ref name="advocate">{{cite journal | url = http://www.advocate.com/article.aspx?id=22197 | issue = 1002 | title = Homophobosphere | journal = [[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]] | first = Will | last = Doig | date = February 26, 2008 | access-date =January 24, 2010}}</ref>

==Collected editions==
* ''Year One: A Penny Arcade Retrospective'' (Limited Edition) — {{ISBN|1-931195-07-2}}
* ''Year One: A Penny Arcade Retrospective'' (Soft Cover) — {{ISBN|1-931195-11-0}}
* ''Year One: A Penny Arcade Retrospective'' (Hard Cover) — {{ISBN|1-931195-12-9}}
* ''Penny Arcade, Volume 1: Attack of the Bacon Robots'' — {{ISBN|1-59307-444-1}}
* ''Penny Arcade Limited Edition Signed – Attack Of The Bacon Robots'' — {{ISBN|1-59307-650-9}}
* ''Penny Arcade, Volume 2: Epic Legends Of The Magic Sword Kings'' — {{ISBN|1-59307-541-3}}
* ''Penny Arcade, Volume 3: The Warsun Prophecies'' — {{ISBN|1-59307-635-5}}
* ''Penny Arcade, Volume 4: Birds Are Weird'' — {{ISBN|1-59307-773-4}}
* ''Penny Arcade, Volume 5: The Case of the Mummy's Gold'' — {{ISBN|1-59307-814-5}}
* ''Penny Arcade, Volume 6: The Halls Below'' (Limited Edition) - {{ISBN|978-0-307-29185-1}}
* ''Penny Arcade, Volume 6: The Halls Below'' (Soft Cover) — {{ISBN|0-345-51227-8}}
* ''Penny Arcade, Volume 7: Be Good, Little Puppy'' — {{ISBN|978-0-345-51228-4}}
* ''Penny Arcade, Volume 8: Magical Kids in Danger'' — {{ISBN|978-1-620-10006-6}}
* ''Penny Arcade, Volume 9: Passion's Howl'' — {{ISBN|978-1-620-10007-3}}
* ''The Splendid Magic of Penny Arcade: The 11.5 Anniversary Edition'' (Hardcover) — {{ISBN|978-0-345-51226-0}}
* ''Penny Arcade, Volume 10: The Fall of Penny Arcade'' — {{ISBN|978-0-997-16190-8}}

==Reception==
On December 13, 2006,  ''[[Next Generation Magazine]]'' rated Krahulik and Holkins among its "Top 25 People of the Year".<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.next-gen.biz/features/next-gens-top-25-people-year | title = Next-Gen's Top 25 People of the Year | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071228233434/http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4395&Itemid=2&limit=1&limitstart=0 | archive-date = December 28, 2007 | date = December 13, 2006 | first = Colin | last = Campbell}}</ref> Also appearing on the list were [[Nintendo of America]] President [[Reggie Fils-Aimé]] and former [[Xbox]] corporate vice-president [[Peter Moore (business)|Peter Moore]]. Krahulik made a post about the honor, in which he explained that ''Penny Arcade'' was created only because [[Next Generation Magazine|Next Gen]] rejected the duo's entry to a comic contest many years before.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.penny-arcade.com/2006/12/18/id-like-to-thank-god| title = I'd like to thank God…| access-date =August 26, 2007| last1 = Holkins| first1 = Jerry| last2 = Krahulik| first2 = Mike| date = December 18, 2006| work = Penny Arcade}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' listed ''Penny Arcade'' on their "100 Sites to Bookmark Now," calling it "a hilarious and smart webcomic for gamers."<ref name="ew">{{cite magazine | last1 = Kohn | first1 = Eric | first2 = J.P. | last2 = Mangalindan | date = June 23, 2006 | title = 100 Sites to Bookmark Now | magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | page = 38}}</ref> MTV Online named Holkins and Krahulik two of the world's most influential gamers, saying "they have become the closest the medium has to leaders of a gamers' movement."<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.mtv.com/games/video_games/news/story.jhtml?id=1534641 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070219235834/http://www.mtv.com/games/video_games/news/story.jhtml?id=1534641 | url-status = dead | archive-date = February 19, 2007 | title = Playa Rater: The 10 Most Influential Video Gamers Of All Time | work = MTV | date = June 21, 2006 | first = Stephen | last = Totilo}}</ref> [[Time (magazine)|Time.com]] named ''Penny Arcade'' as one of its "50 Best Websites" for 2008 "...for the way it pokes fun at the [[high-tech industry]] and the [[technophiles|people who love it]]."<ref name="time">{{Cite magazine|first=Anita|last=Hamilton|title=Penny Arcade|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1809858_1809954_1811341,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619205825/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1809858_1809954_1811341,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 19, 2008|access-date=June 26, 2008 | date=June 17, 2008}}</ref>
[[1UP.com]] described it as "the One True Gaming Webcomic."<ref name="1UP"/> ''Penny Arcade'' was used along with ''[[American Elf]]'', ''[[Fetus-X]]'', and ''[[Questionable Content]]'' as an example of comics using the web to create "an explosion of diverse genres and styles" in [[Scott McCloud]]'s 2006 book ''Making Comics''.<ref name="makingcomics">{{cite book | last = McCloud | first = Scott | author-link = Scott McCloud | year = 2006 | title = Making Comics | url = https://archive.org/details/makingcomicsstor0000mccl | url-access = registration | location = New York | publisher = Harper Collins Publishers | isbn = 0-06-078094-0 | page = [https://archive.org/details/makingcomicsstor0000mccl/page/227 227]}}</ref>

==Awards and recognition==
On March 5, 2009, the [[Washington State Senate]] honored Holkins and Krahulik, both originally from [[Spokane, Washington|Spokane]], for the contribution that they had made to the state, the [[video game industry]], and to children's charities from around the world courtesy of their Child's Play initiative.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Resolutions/8640-Honoring%20Child's%20Play.pdf | title = Senate resolution 8640 | author1 = Jarrett | author2 = McAuliffe | author3 =  Fraser | date = March 5, 2009 }}</ref> Later in March, ''Penny Arcade'' won the category "Best Webcomic" in the fan voted Project Fanboy Awards for 2008.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.projectfanboy.com/index.php?pageid=pfa_winners | title = 2008 Project Fanboy Award Winners | work = [[Project Fanboy]] | access-date = July 26, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100902051409/http://www.projectfanboy.com/index.php?pageid=pfa_winners | archive-date = September 2, 2010 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }}</ref>

In 2010, Holkins, Krahulik, and Khoo were awarded the annual "Ambassador Award" at GDC's Game Developers Choice Awards for contributions they had made to the industry.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/ambassador.html | title = Ambassador Award Archive | work = [[Game Choice Awards]] | access-date =August 15, 2015}}</ref> The same year, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' included Holkins and Krahulik in the annual "[[Time 100]]", the magazine's listing of the world's 100 most influential people.<ref>{{cite magazine |author-link=Lev Grossman |last=Grossman |first=Lev |title=The 2010 Time 100: Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984940_1985513,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501191231/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984940_1985513,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 1, 2010 |magazine= [[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=April 29, 2010 |access-date=May 10, 2010}}</ref>

In July 2015, Holkins and Krahulik were recognized as "Multimedia Empire Builders" in [[Ad Week]]'s 10 Visual Artists Changing the Way We See Advertising issue.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.adweek.com/news-gallery/advertising-branding/10-visual-artists-who-are-changing-way-we-see-advertising-and-world-165988 | title = 10 Visual Artists Changing the Way We See Advertising | work = [[Ad Week]] | access-date =July 19, 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of comic strips]]
*[[List of professional webcomic artists]]
*[[List of web comics]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Penny Arcade (comic)}}
{{wikiquotepar|Penny Arcade}}

*{{Official website|https://www.penny-arcade.com/}}
* {{YouTube|channel=UCTlOYZOU1HGEqgb2XetyBBQ |title=Penny Arcade TV}}
* [http://www.pennyarcadeexpo.com/ ''Penny Arcade'' Expo (PAX)]
* [http://feeds.penny-arcade.com/padlc ''The Penny Arcade'' Podcast]
* [http://www.childsplaycharity.org/ Child's Play Charity]
* [http://www.playgreenhouse.com/ ''Greenhouse''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404150855/http://www.playgreenhouse.com/ |date=April 4, 2008 }}
* {{cite journal |url= http://www.verbicidemagazine.com/2007/09/07/interview-penny-arcade/ |journal= Verbicide Magazine |issue= 21 |series= Interview |title= Penny Arcade |first= TJ |last= Kee |date= Sep 7, 2007 |access-date= April 6, 2010 |archive-date= July 3, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100703121555/http://www.verbicidemagazine.com/2007/09/07/interview-penny-arcade/ |url-status= dead }}

{{Penny Arcade}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Penny Arcade (Webcomic)}}
[[Category:1990s webcomics]]
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[[Category:Satirical comics]]
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[[Category:Penny Arcade (webcomic)]]
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