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Penny Arcade promotes their game with flamebait from their biggest critic photo

Denis Duckfat hates Penny Arcade ... and they're loving it.

The ads (see gallery below) are the direct opposite of what you'd expect -- instead of using positive review quotes from gaming publications (11/10! -Cashwh0re), they went with the most ridiculous comments that one hater has been systematically posting on Wired. Little did he know his belligerent flamebaiting would one day become their national ad campaign for On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Penny Arcade's new game on Xbox Live! How's that for a last laugh?

After we saw the ads, Destructoid dug up some additional info on this notorious critic -- DDF has been busy trolling the internet since 2005 on various forums and web sites, many of which have banned him for hatemongering senselessly. According to his abandoned Blogspot, he's a tubby game industry guy that "works on boring games every 4 years." The only thing he claims to hate more than Penny Arcade is Penny Arcade fans (as well as all music games, GTA, Tomb Raider boobs, and Xdude), and also has a few more colorful things to say in another Wired blog comment

Penny arcade sucks and is unfunny. please murder penny arcade and then yourself if you disagree with me.

Can you imagine this douchelord's facial expression when he finds out he's responsible for one of the better ad campaigns we've seen in gaming this year? 

We hope DDF has a good sense of humor and urge him to apply as a speaker at PAX to share his heightened taste of games and love of William H. Macy with the rest of us.

LAUNCH GALLERY (5 IMAGES)
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75 comments | showing # 1 to 50
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next 50 comments

4knuckleshuffle's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 11:58
4knuckleshuffle
Awesome.
covah's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:01
covah
hahahaha

um... I bought this game twice... once for my Mac because I have nothing to play on it and then on the 360... because. I don't know... Fuck it I might as well support Penny Arcade and indy games.
Corak's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:03
Corak
I love it. I'll bet he feels great now, his douchbag attitude just got his words used in an ad campaign that they didn't have to pay him shit for. Congrats good sir you have raised the bar for internet douchbags everywhere.
Hoygeit's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:09
Hoygeit
Hahahahaha - SOLD (er more so)
PaulMorel's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:11
PaulMorel
Hilarious. Still, the question remains: do they really need to advertise this game?

We all know about it.

We're all going to buy it.

What's the point?
nintendoll's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:12
nintendoll
Aww, it's like picking up The Alphabet of Manliness or I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell. This is always a good marketing scheme for people who have a good sense of humor.
Pedro Cortes's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:12
Pedro Cortes
I remember this idiot when he was posting on Cheap Ass Gamer years ago. Kinda amused to see that he's the same asshat that spammed the CAG boards with pics of his nasty man-boobs ><
Rockvillian's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:12
Rockvillian
If he keeps up his "thing" after this, he's selling out. Hope he learns his lesson :P
Spartacus's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:13
Spartacus
BEST AD CAMPAIGN EVAR
kevinski's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:14
kevinski
I really don't find Penny Arcade to be entertaining, either, but this is kinda funny.
kapshhh's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:17
kapshhh
Nice one XD
MrSadistic's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:25
MrSadistic
omg so edgy!!!
BlackSheep's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:27
BlackSheep
i hope one day my flaming makes it into an ad campaign.
Cowzilla3's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:31
Cowzilla3
Man I have to to start trolling on a game and get famous.
Face's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:32
Face
Troll may yet turn out to be a viable career path.
wardrox's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:32
wardrox
That guy has my dream job. On day, when I grow up, I will take my controversy skill and mould it into the ultimate trolling.
ArrestedDeveloper's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:34
ArrestedDeveloper
Mega 64 did something similar with their Season 2 dvd, putting a negative review for their first season on the cover.

I'm still not sold on the game, penny arcade is usually funny but I just don't like the cut of their jib. Plus I don't like the fact that they are two of the most unfortunate looking men on the internet and yet they represent themselves as handsome cartoon characters.
ElfShotTheFood's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:42
ElfShotTheFood
"Plus I don't like the fact that they are two of the most unfortunate looking men on the internet and yet they represent themselves as handsome cartoon characters."

I like the fact that they always portray themselves with heads full of thick, lush, wavy hair.
pyrofreak421's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:44
pyrofreak421
nothing like a bunch of smartasses turning hate mongering around on the idiots that do it. This has officially made my day. Now to acquire a copy of said game Fruit Fucker Prime I'm coming for you
Brian Szabelski's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:45
Brian Szabelski
This guy will never be able to get away from this comment. Ever. I feel sorry for him.
13thDragon's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:46
13thDragon
uhhh..... DUCKFAT?
AgentMOO's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:52
AgentMOO
C-C-C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER!
FreePablo's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 12:52
FreePablo
Well, it's true. Penny Arcade was funny when I was 12 and discovered the internet. At least the one guy learned how to draw. Too bad the other still can't write.
king3vbo's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 13:01
king3vbo
Pure genius
DenisDuckFat's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 13:06
DenisDuckFat
2005? A likely story!

If you're ready for a real comic, check out http://www.castle-vidcons.com/
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 13:12
Sharpless
And this is why I've turned into a Gabe and Tycho fan, over the past year. Well done, sirs. Well done.
GohanGVO's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 13:13
GohanGVO
I just downloaded the demo on my PC in honor of Mr. Duckfat.
Evil Cheese's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 13:14
Evil Cheese
You couldn't pay an advertisement guru to come up with a better ad campaign. Hats off Tycho and Gabe, fail troll quoting will probably be the new internet marketing fad for a while.
Eschatos's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 13:19
Eschatos
Downloading the demo right now. If it doesn't suck, I will happily buy the full version.
savagesaladin's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 13:27
savagesaladin
They're asking a little too much for their game. Plus its called Episode 1, so I'm thinking its going to be short.
funran's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 13:28
funran
Brilliant, I wouldn't expect anything else from Tycho! HAHAHA
Mutant Pope's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 13:48
Mutant Pope
I'm with funran. This is Penny Arcade at its finest. One more reason to love Gabe and Tycho, I feel they speak more honesty than 99% of the internet (not really that hard) and they have a good enough sense of humor to let the tables be turned on them, for all the game criticizing they do. Perfect idea for an ad for their game.
JohnTheCrow's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 13:48
JohnTheCrow
savage: It's supposed to be around 10 hours. Which in marketing speak is usually about 5-7 hours. Not bad for $20 I guess, when you stack it against nearly any FPS.
mix's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 13:48
mix
That is an amazing marketing technique, do like.
Nessie's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 14:13
Nessie
LOL lovin it!!
Aertyr's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 14:17
Aertyr
Owned.
Vitamin Awesome's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 14:22
Vitamin Awesome
I'll have to say, Successful troll is Successful.

I guess it just proves that there's no such thing as bad publicity.
Detry's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 14:23
Detry
Dats funny rite der...
Knivy's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 14:39
Knivy
Awesome, i'm downloading the demo as soon as i get home.
welkstar's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 14:49
welkstar
Clever! I'm sold!
Bob Muir's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 14:57
Bob Muir
Fucking brilliant. He must be pissing his pants right now.
MechaMonkey's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 15:26
MechaMonkey
I hope he cried, videotaped it, and put it on YouTube.
Samit Sarkar's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 15:38
Samit Sarkar
The Penny Arcade guys have a great sense of humor, and this is an awesome way to incorporate that into their ad campaign. Kudos to you, Gabe & Tycho!
007's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 15:52
007
oh shit neva seen dat b4!!
loki d20's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 17:05
loki d20
*chuckles*

And a good reminder for me to pick this up on XBLA.
B-Radicate's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 17:14
B-Radicate
The best part of this story is that the guy is now a member of Destructoid, apparently, and he made a cblog about how much the PA comic and game sucks... or something. Haha.
Druid 01's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 17:22
Druid 01
PA FTW!
Novakaine's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 17:33
Novakaine
Very clever marketing idea. Props to them.

That said, I've never understood the fapping to Penny Arcade-- I've never found them funny or cool. I find it ironic they've been so trollish about video games (they were among the Internet kids freaking out about Metroid Prime), when their own video game has been very hit-or-miss in reception.
PaperBowser0's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2008 17:42
PaperBowser0
Way to go Pennie Arcade, Fucking Smart! :P
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