Sprite comic and Roger Dobkowitz: Difference between pages
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[[Image:Dobkowitz.jpg|thumb|right|Roger Dobkowitz]] |
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'''Sprite comics''' are [[webcomic]]s that use [[Sprite (computer graphics)|computer sprite]]s, often taken from [[video game]]s, for significant portions of their artwork. There are also [[animated]] sprite comics (called [[sprite cartoons]]) where each "strip" is a separate mini-movie, animated using technologies such as [[Macromedia Flash|Flash]]. |
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'''Roger Dobkowitz''' (born in [[1945]] in [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]], [[California]]) is the producer for the long-running [[CBS]] [[game show]] ''[[The Price Is Right (US)|The Price Is Right]]''. He graduated from [[San Francisco State University]] in 1972 after completing a thesis, ''An Historical Study of Prime-Time Network Audience Participation Shows 1948-1968''. |
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The comic ''[[EVIL JASON COMICS]]'' is generally considered the first sprite comic to appear on the web.<ref>[http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=0&cId=3145208 Will Strip for Games], [[1UP.com]]</ref> It began as a [[spin-off]] feature from the ''[[Super Mario]]'' fansite [http://www.smbhq.com/ Super Mario Headquarters]. |
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He started as a production assistant with ''The Price Is Right'' when the show debuted in 1972 and later became one of its producers in 1984. |
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The first sprite comic to gain wide-spread popularity was ''[[Bob and George]]'', which played a substantial role in the sudden popularity of sprite comics. It is often mistakenly identified as the first sprite comic. The strip utilizes sprites from the ''[[Mega Man (series)|Mega Man]]'' series of games, with most of the characters being taken directly from the games. Due to the popularity of the comic, many of its features have been frequently emulated by other sprite comics, and thus are often seen as [[cliché]]. Such features include having extremely stupid characters, a character representing the author, self-referential humor, breaking of the [[fourth wall]], and making fun of the strip itself. |
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Other game shows that he has been involved with are ''[[Family Feud]]'', the original ''[[Double Dare (1976 game show)|Double Dare]]'', ''[[Now You See It]]'', and the 1970s edition of ''[[Match Game]]''. |
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Sprite comics frequently use characters from well-known games such as [[Sonic the Hedgehog (series)|''Sonic'']], ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', ''[[Final Fantasy]]'', ''[[Mortal Kombat (series)|Mortal Kombat]]'', [[Metroid series|''Metroid'']], ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'', ''[[Pokémon]]'' and ''[[Mega Man Series|''Mega Man'']]''. Some sprite comics use sprites from several different games. In addition to or instead of video game sprites, some comics use original sprites created specifically for the comic. |
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He has created fifteen of the show's pricing games, including [[Ten Chances]], [[It's in the Bag (pricing game)|It's in the Bag]], [[Clearance Sale]] and [[Pocket ¢hange]]. |
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Sprite comics have become very popular in large part due to the ease of creating a sprite comic, since minimal artistic skill is required. Sprites can easily be ripped from [[ROM image|game ROMs]] using an emulator, or by using sprites from websites that collect sprites for public use. Comics can then be created using a simple image editor. Video game sprites are often designed to be animated, and thus often provide a wide variety of character poses. In addition, sprites are easily edited, allowing them to be easily modified. Because of the ease of creating the art, the author is free to focus on the writing aspect of the comic strip. |
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Nicknamed "The Dob" by fans of the show, Barker often asks Dobkowitz when the last time an unusual event in the show's history took place. This has become so pervasive that once during a Showcase in which Dobkowitz was featured, he was reading from a fake book entitled: "'Roger, when was the last time that happened?' The Official T.P.I.R Record Book". |
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==Quality problems and criticisms== |
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Undeterred by lack of artistic skills, image editing skills, or even writing skills, many fans created their own comics by using sprites from popular video games. Because sprite comics can be so easily created, they quickly became very common. |
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Thus many sprite comics were created which were widely considered to be poorly made and poorly written. Many of these comics had some or all of these characteristics: |
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* The use of recolored [[Sonic the Hedgehog (series)|Sonic the Hedgehog]] sprites as original characters. |
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* Use of [[Mega Man]] sprites, since ''Bob and George'' was most people’s first exposure to sprite comics. |
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* Large areas of blank space, due to use of [[Microsoft Windows]]' bundled image editor, [[Microsoft Paint]]. |
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* Use of [[JPEG]] compression instead of a [[lossless]] format such as [[GIF]] or [[PNG]] which are more suitable to displaying pixel art. |
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* Use of various sprite comic clichés such as [[palette swap|recoloring]]. |
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Due to the large quantity of poor-quality sprite comics, many people stereotype sprite comics in general as being poorly written, humorless, or ugly. However there are a number of sprite comics that are well-written and well-constructed. |
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==Anti-sprite comics== |
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Over time, there have been some attacks made on sprite comics in the form of sprite comics themselves. They are known as "Anti-sprite comics", and are fairly uncommon. Most comics of this nature focus on over-exaggeration of certain sprite comic clichés in an effort to show how some outside the spriting community feel about this art form. While often bordering on Internet flaming, these comics usually have the unintended side effect of decreasing the number of comics found with these so-called "fundamental flaws." |
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There are many different types of anti-sprite comics. Some fall into the clichés on purpose, but never admit that they are mocking sprite comics. Others tend to mock openly by pointing out the flaws seen in most beginner's comics. Then there are the comics that don't so much mock sprite comics, but try to outdo them in their own genre. The author sometimes tries to pass himself off as a bad spriter, but then tricks the reader by presenting a comic that outdoes most beginner's and intermediate's work. This kind of oneupsmanship is used to encourage spriters to do better, whereas the other two types try to shame the spriter to try harder or to quit all together. |
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==Examples of popular existing sprite comics== |
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<!-- Only sprite comics which have Wikipedia articles that prove their notability should be listed here. --> |
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*''[[Neglected Mario Characters]]'' |
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*''[[Bob and George]]'' |
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*''[[8-Bit Theater]]'' |
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*''[[Diesel Sweeties]]'' (pixel art) |
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*''[[EVIL JASON COMICS]]'' (pixel art in sprite style) |
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==References== |
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<references/> |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* {{imdb name|name=Roger Dobkowitz|id=0229703}} |
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*[http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,63691,00.html?tw=wn_2culthead Now you too can be a comics whiz (''Wired Magazine'')] Article on the history of sprite comics |
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*[http://stage-select.com/caek/ SSCI'S Adventure] An example of an anti-sprite comic. |
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<!-- People really need to stop trying to use this to advertise their site or comic. --> |
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{{tv-bio-stub}} |
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[[Category:Sprite webcomics|Sprite comic]] |
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[[Category:1945 births|Dobkowitz, Roger]] |
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[[de:Spritecomic]] |
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[[Category:Living people|Dobkowitz, Roger]] |
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[[Category:San Francisco State University alumni|Dobkowitz, Roger]] |
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Revision as of 07:56, 18 June 2007
Roger Dobkowitz (born in 1945 in San Francisco, California) is the producer for the long-running CBS game show The Price Is Right. He graduated from San Francisco State University in 1972 after completing a thesis, An Historical Study of Prime-Time Network Audience Participation Shows 1948-1968.
He started as a production assistant with The Price Is Right when the show debuted in 1972 and later became one of its producers in 1984.
Other game shows that he has been involved with are Family Feud, the original Double Dare, Now You See It, and the 1970s edition of Match Game.
He has created fifteen of the show's pricing games, including Ten Chances, It's in the Bag, Clearance Sale and Pocket ¢hange.
Nicknamed "The Dob" by fans of the show, Barker often asks Dobkowitz when the last time an unusual event in the show's history took place. This has become so pervasive that once during a Showcase in which Dobkowitz was featured, he was reading from a fake book entitled: "'Roger, when was the last time that happened?' The Official T.P.I.R Record Book".
External links
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