Webcom: Tokumei, you run River City High. What do you find hardest about running a webcomic and website?
Tokumei: I'd say the
hardest part about running a webcomic is the time
involved.
Tokumei: When people
first start a webcomic, they rarely take into
consideration the long term.
Tokumei: As for the
website, I feel that for a creative bunch of people, webcomic
authors rarely put alot of work into their websites.
Tokumei: The comic's
site should be just as interesting as the comic.
Tokumei: ...I think that covers it.
Webcom: What is more challenging, thinking up jokes,
or putting the comic together itself?
Tokumei: Definately thinking up jokes... Once you have the whole
comic making process down, it's not much of a challenge.
Tokumei: But it takes
both good writing and graphics to make a successful comic.
Webcom: Do you find it hard to reach a more mainstream
group using a lesser known video game? [
Tokumei:
Tokumei: Which brings in its own steady stream of viewers.
Tokumei: I think that
even if someone has never heard of River City Ransom they can enjoy the comic.
Webcom: Given that RCR in itself is somewhat playful, do you find it easier to make jokes?
Tokumei: Yeah, I
think RCR provides plenty of opportunities for jokes. The hardest part in my
opinion is adding personality to the characters.
Webcom: What si your
favorite weapon?
Tokumei: *ponders
deeply* I'll have to say the chain.
Tokumei: ...It's got style that a simple pipe
cannot match.
Webcom: True dat
Webcom: Have you gotten a case of writer's block yet?
Tokumei: Oh yes, many
times. Whenever I come down with one, I play through RCR up to the current
point in the story and ask myself "Ok, what happens next?"
Tokumei: Adding plot
to a game like this is like adding a 3rd dimension to the game.
Webcom: The BIG question: Generic Dudes vs. The Frat
Boys. Who wins?
Tokumei: The Frat
Guys of course. Why do you think they carry an extra $0.05 around in their
pockets?
Webcom: I always figured because their parents were
rich. How else do you get in a frat?
Tokumei: By being the
life of the party and consuming your body weight in alchohol?
Tokumei: Oh... that
wasn't a question.
Webcom: Heh.
Webcom: If by life, you mean drunken mess of course.
Tokumei: Indubitably!
Webcom: Where did you get the idea to make the main
character a punk-beating gentle hearted guy?
Aside from the game, of course.
Webcom: Was it just a random idea, or did you think
carefully.
Tokumei: I suppose after playing a game for 10 years, you start making up personalities for the characters...
Tokumei: That's
always been my mental portrayal of Alex.
Webcom: Hows about his
friend? What is your image of him?
Tokumei: That's the
hard part, I never really played as Ryan that much. I usually played RCR on my
own as a child and I always chose Alex as my character.
Tokumei: I'll
eventually work Ryan into the storyline once I can get his character
established.
Webcom: How about a level-headed pacifist? <giggle.
bursts out laughing>
Webcom: I almost didnt
laugh, there.
Tokumei:
Webcom: Cept the kids. I wish you could hit them and steal their
lunch money. Any kids that young walking
around a mall have to be loaded with $$
Tokumei: Yeah, too
bad unknown forces prevent you from raising your fists in anger inside a
town... in the game.
Tokumei: That's
another benefit of making a comic from the game...
Tokumei: You can bend
the rules.
Webcom: Well, thanks Tokumei. I appreciate the time you took for this
interview.
Tokumei: No problem.