Game Dogs: Episode Seven: Feature Creep

[AizenTheAzure]

Still bad, I'm going to stop watching the show now.

 

[J-Alfred]

Still awesome, guys. Getting funnier and funnier, and I straight up laughed out loud at Gary's new line. Keep it up.

Oh, and as for Beth *gasp*ing and *sigh*ing, I never notice it. Honestly, I have no problem with it.

 

[Mray3460]

I guess my one beef and question with the whole series so far: why ARE they dogs? They could have easily been humans and the amount of canine related humor, IMO, just goes too far and I just don't personally find it funny. I realize it's a pretty dick movie griping about a free show but I can sense it; somewhere in there there's a GOOD, solid show. Maybe it's the lack of facial emotion that puts me off, or the over exaggerated eye movements. Maybe it's the hammy writing; I can't put my finger one one element on one exact thing that puts me off the show because I don't think it IS one thing that's wrong with the show.

Anyways, I wish the series good luck in the future.

Taken from the TV tropes article "Furries Are Easier to Draw." I wont link because this site has a tendency to trap people.

To summarize (Or rather, to explain), the article: We (Humans) have an extremely strong concept of what a human should look like, and thereby, human characters who look...off, tend to be less appealing. Anthropomorphic animals on the other hand (Furries, to exercise the common word being used here) are human enough to be visually appealing but obviously not human in a way that makes us less creeped out.

Furthermore, Furries present the ability to diversify a cast of characters ( to produce a "Cast of Snowflakes" as described by the TVT article) without much effort, fur color, tail length, breed, size, and any number of things are far easier to manipulate than clothing, accessories, noses, eyebrows, lips, facial hair, head hair, teeth, eyes, or any number of other things that a human cast would need to be unique (In essence, instead of customizing faces [probably the reason behind lack of expression] you customize fur, ears, tails, and size to make the characters identifiable on sight).

As to your more direct question of: Why dogs? Well, a lot of people like dogs. Dogs have a few commonly known quirks that can be worked into the occasional joke (As do most domesticated animals). As to why not cats, people would say that they were ripping off VG Cats [http://www.vgcats.com/]. And other animals simply aren't varied or common enough to fit into the main forms required for this type of show, and would probably make even less sense than dogs. Just consider, for a moment, how you would feel if it were Game Cows, or Game Horses?

Original Source Material:

...unfortunately humans are fairly hard to draw. This has a lot to do with the principles behind the Uncanny Valley theory. We know what people look like. We see them every day. If an artist's human characters look too weird, those characters won't be appealing.

But, oddly, there doesn't seem to be an Uncanny Valley equivalent for animals or extremely stylized characters. After all, there aren't any Furries running around in the real world (at least not to our knowledge). This means that there isn't any right or wrong way to draw cartoon animals, so it's impossible to be close but not quite there.

Also, it tends to help that while artists who limit themselves to humans are very likely to use Only Six Faces, Furries have several additional traits to help tell each other apart, from fur color to giant ears, tails, and even paws. As a result, an artist can easily make a Cast Of Snowflakes just by randomizing each character with a different species and fur color.

Anyway, the video. Nice work, series is improving. Try to show us the emotions of the characters without telling (I would have gotten the significance of the frog even if Bethany hadn't explained that it was Roger's weakness. Her simple: "Chet, NO." at the beginning of the gag would have sufficed, and also flowed a bit better. Less is more when it comes to dialogue).

In conclusion, good video, good luck, good day, and good night.

 

[littlerudi08107]

LOL @ squeeky frog.

 

[Actsub]

no thank you, not funny

 

[chessmasterhex]

This one WAS better, not just kind of better, but a serious improvement. The "dog" humor makes sense and is actually funny. Now have them all drop acid and freak out at the mall.

 

[tmujir955]

Its weird I never laugh and yet somehow I watch it every week.

I still think a lot of the lines are too obvious, for instance we dont need the girl to say that the toy is Roger's greatest weakness that should be obvious via facial expression or previously refered to character traits or just implied surely.

If you have to explain the joke then it was never funny i reckon.

On the flip side at least the characters are starting to develop a bit now and its not like five minutes a week is going to kill me so I will stick with it

Edit Also I cant be the only person that immediatly skips the intro by sliding the marker straight to 32 seconds each week

THERE AREN'T FACIAL EXPRESSIONS! Or at least ones that actually mean something or are at the very most context appropriate.

I'm sad that there are more and more dog jokes in this.

didn't get the last part though.

I mute the intro because the, "are you insane" is just retarded.

Though if they changed it... as I thought by the mouth movements they did... eh, I'm not going to inconvenience myself and check it.

It was changed, he says "What the hell is a furry" this time. I think they might change it for every episode.

 

[DEATHROAD]

Why didn't you make them this funny from the beginning?

This.

ive been moaning about this series since day 1, but i acctually laughed at this one, im so glad they removed the "Are you Insane" from the intro,but you really to stop the girl from acctually saying "Gasp" and "sigh" its just silly and makes it seam really unprofessional,good job not putting that iritating boss dog (Garry? Gerry? i dunno..) in this episode, cant stand him

over all, a improvement but will need to keep improving to win me over.

 

[Kaotic Skunk]

LOL at "Ode to Oda" for that pic.

 

[mazery]

I keep waiting for this show to take off but I can?t see it going anywhere. Stick with apocalypse lane, and doraleous and associates. They have at least some concept of comedic timing and mostly descent voice acting. You have some great shows on this site and I?m a regular viewer but just cant seem to get into this one..

 

[PlasticTree]

Hehe, very nice. And touché, about changing the introtext.

 

[PlasticTree]

As for me, this time I think I am through. It's had this long to get good. It's let me down consistently. Doraleous gets my Thursday views from now on exclusively, because I'd hate to be counted as a "viewer" and accidentally provide encouragement that people want "More" of this animated pap smear.

Respectfully submitted,
Some anonymous, soon-to-be-suspended-probably Guy.

Yeah well, see you next week.

Edit: woops, forgot that I already posted in this topic a few minutes ago, sorry people.

 

[Plurralbles]

Its weird I never laugh and yet somehow I watch it every week.

I still think a lot of the lines are too obvious, for instance we dont need the girl to say that the toy is Roger's greatest weakness that should be obvious via facial expression or previously refered to character traits or just implied surely.

If you have to explain the joke then it was never funny i reckon.

On the flip side at least the characters are starting to develop a bit now and its not like five minutes a week is going to kill me so I will stick with it

Edit Also I cant be the only person that immediatly skips the intro by sliding the marker straight to 32 seconds each week

THERE AREN'T FACIAL EXPRESSIONS! Or at least ones that actually mean something or are at the very most context appropriate.

I'm sad that there are more and more dog jokes in this.

didn't get the last part though.

I mute the intro because the, "are you insane" is just retarded.

Though if they changed it... as I thought by the mouth movements they did... eh, I'm not going to inconvenience myself and check it.

It was changed, he says "What the hell is a furry" this time. I think they might change it for every episode.

Hopefully they change the, "animated in front of a live studio audience"

then it'd be perfect.

Oh and change the intro music into something not dull.

 

[JimmerDunda]

Best post so far.

Anyone who likes Bethany is a fucking tool. She does nothing but whine and ***** and does nothing more than reinforce repetitive stereotypes we have seen many times before.

But hey if you like because she is a "gamer girl" than be my guest. Like I said it is your choice to be a tool.

 

[Zak-Attak]

More fur means more fun ^_^

 

[Random Argument Man]

It's a good episode. I got a few references here and there. (All dogs go to heaven).


Still need to work on humor. However, you're getting there.

 

[CuervoJoe]

Excellent, no more "Are you insane?" driving me insane, ironically.

Love the tags.
Best ep yet, awesome.

 

[LiveAndKill]

Yeah... umm... No more of this... *yawn*
Boring... I'm done even watching this series.

 

[thedobaga]

Umm... there are people in the world that say "sigh" and "gasp" instead of actually sighing or gasping. I do it, myself.

You guys say that means she has no personality, but did you ever stop to think that it might just be a part of her personality? Seriously, if that's your only complaint, then this is starting to get better.

 

[mptothedc]

This is the best episode yet for sure