In the movie theater.

@ Christopher R. Weingarten: It probably defeats the purpose for casual readers (which I guess is their fault, not yours), but the front page posts often, if not explaining the joke (or “joke”) outright, really illuminate the thought process.

I would call it less “we are referencing things” humor, and more “really, really inside humor tied to gizmodo, kotaku, etc.” Not as bad as xkcd can get with the math and coding jokes, though.

The problem is that–like most Penny Arcade comics–there’s a vague sketch of a joke, with all the elements of a joke, BUT NO ACTUAL PUNCHLINE. They are usually geekier versions of “we are referencing things” humor–Meet The Spartans for people that have Gizmodo in their RSS feed.

It’s pathetic and sad for so many reasons beyond the “tasteless” aspect

You’re stating that they were granted a game because of his suicide? His suicide has nothing to do with their music.

Were you even born then when this happened?

Because – I think they deserve their own game because once the video for Smells Like Teen Spirit came out, all the kids returned their NEW Michael Jackson album (Dangerous) and exchanged it for Nevermind, sending it to the top. It’s call cultural revolution and when it happens you don’t forget it.

The point of rock band is to encourage kids to not make bands. It’s a way to keep music safe and sanitized via pre approved “hits”. Don’t express yourself, just mimic your idols and be sure to play every note perfectly, because the crowd will boo you if you don’t! Draw within the lines kids and don’t ask any questions, just pretend.

Of course, I’ve never been into them, and never thought they deserved the amount of recognition they got, so from less of a point of view of “ha, he’s dead” and more of a point of view of “ha, this is the only reason people have decided them worthy of a game,” yes, yes I laughed.

But, I accept that I’m a minority, I accept that may not be the intent, and moreover, I accept that I would not find a joke about an Alice in Chains game coming with X-Box heroin needles, and I accept the hypocrisy in that.

Here’s a better idea:

“Hole Rock Band w/ Shotgun accessory”

Now that would make me laugh, and it’s closer to reality.

“Nirvana Rock Band w/ Extra Kurt Cobain album “Live through this”

That was the best Penny Arcade could do? Sad . . .

no, this joke and this strip are not particular winners, but i’m a huge fan of penny arcade. it’s not a comic that goes for shock value often, and if you read the strip regularly, the joke here is more in Gabe and Tycho’s horrified reaction than in the thing itself. it’s a shame that a lot of people will probably see this, rightly call it tasteless, and judge the strip and its authors accordingly. Tycho’s posts (which i hope people read in conjunction with the strip, not that it explains or excuses the strip in this case) can be incredibly thoughtful, and he writes about video games with passion and insight – something pretty much lacking in 99% of online writing about games.

of course, if you love nirvana (or just don’t think jokes about suicide are funny) and don’t care about video games, this is just a bad joke by an interloper in your community.

It also helps that I hate Nirvana. (Not that I think the guy deserved to die or anything, just that I have never liked their music.)