I try and do this every once in a while…update everyone on what is happening in and around the world of ExtraLife, and other things. Figured today was as good a day as any so here goes.
I will be shutting the site down in September for good, and I’ll be leaving to live with a South American tribe just east of Peru. Just kidding. Not going anywhere. But things are happening.
As many of you are aware, I jumped out on my own with FrogPants Studios about a month ago now, and it’s going pretty well. Big thanks to all of you for continuing to consume the comics, podcasts, and everything else. It’s great having you all here for the ride.
I’m about to overhaul myextralife.com in a big way. I’ve decided, after much back and forthing, to start using ComicPress. They have come really far with that thing and it makes sense for me to dump my old archive system I’ve had since 2002, and move things to a simpler and more automated level. I’m designing it all from the ground up, and I’m excited about the new look and feel as well. (Side note: if you’re wondering what happened with that theme contest I started a while back…it was a total bust basically. Live and learn, right?)
Another thing: Some people have shown concern regarding the fact that I seem to be building characters into the comics lately, and regularly. You’d be correct, but I am not sure why you’d be concerned. While I too love the single random jokes of the past, with faceless people and never-to-be-seen twice characters, I am hungry to do something I’ve always wanted to with ExtraLife: Characters that you look forward to following. Content wise, this comic is still about all the things that interest me in the world. Video games, movies, sci-fi, comic books, pop culture, etc. I’d just really like to wrap some of that around some warm bodies like Jake, Jeff, Gilmore, and others.
I figure, hey, it’s the web! We content creators have all the freedom in the world to change things up here and there, and that’s what I’m doing. (Long time readers know that I have already done this a few times, with varying degrees of success and failure. But again, live and learn right?) I’ve learned some good lessons from doing Experience Points, and I want to apply them hear. Again, nothing drastic, just some stuff I have wanted to do for years. Since I was a kid I suppose.
Also, working on a new FrogPants.com to be a better landing spot for everything that I have going. With the comics, ELR, The Instance, AppSlappy, Final Score, FourCast, the upcoming Heroes for You, and more…..it was time to give it the proper attention it deserves.
More on the ExtraLife front of things, there is a possible animation project coming soon, along with some other stuff that will interest new and old readers alike. I also want to get back to posting more on the blog. Been so swamped, it has definitely taken a back seat lately.
That’s all for now I guess. Just wanted to thank everyone again for everything you guys do.
Been reading for years and while I have enjoyed the randomness of it all, familiarity wouldn’t be bad. Although don’t ditch the random jokes/comics/story branches; they’re part of your style and I think a lot of us really like it. Looking forward to the new~
I should have noted this: You can still be random and weird….with regular characters.
You should definitely be developing characters and you should definitely be developing animation.
I actually am glad that you are going the regular way, since althought I love the randomness, it didn’t have any consistency.
Regular characters would improve that, but I do am worried that it would harm the randomness (although some comics managed to do just that, be random and have regulars.)
Frogpants animation studio’s ? Awesome.
You scared me Scott, and the baby too! Bad Scott.
Glad its all working out, I would love to see more of Steve … he is awesome.
*hugs* keep doing what you are doing. You roxors!
I applaud you for all your efforts. Having just started a podcast of my own, its been invaluable to learn from you while enjoying your productions. Also, I really dig your characters. Particularly Jeff. Put that guy in a costume and I’m happy all day long. I’m still praying for the day he meets Steve from Experience Points.
Merch… we require more merch…
No complaints here. You’re steering your ship in the right direction, and have my complete support!!
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Looking forward to more little animations like the ones you’ve done before. I still go back & replay the “Crash” one now & then. I know it takes tons of time to do those, so if they never come to be, it’s totally understandable.
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My rating on the state of the Extralife family of companies: 10/10.
PLEASE MORE FINAL SCORE!
i addictively listen to The Instance, AppSlappy, and just started ELR. i downloaded The Final Score and LOVED the format and purpose. i’m craving more, in fact i keep checking regularly hoping to be suprised.
p.s. my RL (assimilated into WoW) buddy turned me on to The Instance. at first glance i said “1:30:00, no way do i have that much time.” Now I love the long episodes. I do a lot of driving / solitary work for my job and it really helps to pass the time and enjoy my work even more. So don’t get too crazy with keeping things short! i say let em live long. Though within the 2 hour mark would be nice.
Good news indeed, Scott. You’re doing great work here at EL and the many other things you do. Keep it up, I’m still enjoying it after these few years I’ve been here.
*waits for the address to be “slammed” by Bill O’Reilly, Glenn Beck, Lou Dobbs, and Keith Olbermann*
I’m excited for the “new” stuff! I’m really liking the regular characters and such. Animation from you, Scott, is always a good idea! I recently checked out Final Score, and I have to say I really liked it! Keep it coming! I have 4 kids that I’m running around after all day long, and after they go to bed, it’s my time when I play WoW and a few other games. While I’m playing, I listen to ELR, The Instance, and (now) Final Score. Thanks for helping me keep my sanity!!
The most important thing is having fun at whatever the heck you’re going to do.
It’s been fun seeing the random comics drawn by some guy at the Infiltration-forums evolve into a website/full-time job that can easily holds its own with the likes of PennyArcade.
It’s been fun so far and I am sure that whatever changes are coming our way they’ll be for the best.
Scott,
You are doing a fabulous job. I have been following most of your endeavors for several years now. I am very proud of your accomplishments and your newly found independance. I have been self employed for many years now and know the benefits and challenges it brings. As for the comics, you have been all over the board in the past several years and have enjoyed most of it, just remember that you can’t please everyone, but as an artist you better please yourself. Personally some of my favorite stuff is the recent character development/study that you have been doing in Experience Point.
I salute you and support you in all you do.
-Chris, The Gamer Dad Geek
I look forward to all your future endeavors. What got me started was The Instance, and I’ve since started following ELR, all your comics, and I absolutely love AppSlappy.
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When you talk about including more regular characters in your comics, what comes to mind is Penny Arcade (another comic I love). If you follow the PA guys, even though they have a fairly regular cast, there’s still quite a few strips that have nothing to do with their characters. I can’t imagine anything you could do to your comics, or podcasts that would turn this community against you.
Whew! My heart sank when I read you were shutting it down Scott. (Not that South American tribes just East of Peru are uncool or anything…it’s just…better this way!)
Keep up the great work!
While skimming the blog, all I read was “closing the site in september”. Turned off my TV just to read what the hell was up, you scared me shitless!
Really looking forward to see how this place’ll grow, anyway. Been a fan for years by now, so it’s pretty interesting to see how things’ll change now that you’re fully focussing all your efforts on FrogPants!
Damn it Scott! I was skimming the text and I when I read “shutting down the site for good in September” I almost crapped myself. In retrospect, it was a pretty good joke.
Live the dream, Scott. Followed your work since early Instance days, and have grown into your other efforts. Glad to see a local boy do what he wants with his life, and do it well!
Actually I got started listening to “Infendo Radio” as my Frogpants gateway drug.
I like following characters but I have to wonder if you weren’t in the mode to create self standing comics if we would have gotten some of my favorite ones like the robot staring through the window at the toaster.
So, Scott… are we ever going to get more extra life t-shirts? I’d love for you to turn us all into walking billboards for your stuff.
Yeah, I have been wanting to buy a Extra life t-shirt for a while but there hasn’t been any to buy.
“But again, live and learn right?) I’ve learned some good lessons from doing Experience Points, and I want to apply them hear.”
- Scott
I believe it “hear” should be replaced with “here”.
I am so excited and looking forward to the new format, whatever it may be! Keep up the great work!
Just keep doing whatever you feel like doing Scott. It rocks always! I’ll come along for the ride!
whatever you choose to do with this stuff scott will be the right choice
a toast to extra life
cheers