Penny Arcade Adventures binned

By Robert Purchese Published 30 March, 2010

"There won't be an Episode 3."

Episodic series Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness is no more.

Dwindling sales plus developer Hothead's preoccupation with Deathspank helped make the decision.

"There won't be an Episode 3. We're actually not making a third episode of the game," Penny Arcade's Mike Krahulik (aka Gabe) told Joystiq.

"[The game's developer] Hothead has DeathSpank and they have a chance to do something really cool with it. And they'd need an opportunity to make it incredible," added the other half of Penny Arcade, Jerry Holkins (aka Tycho).

Holkins said that although Hothead could likely handle two projects, Penny Arcade Adventures would have probably "suffered". "We'd rather not do it than do it half-assed and so we're going to finish that story but it's going to be on our website," he said.

So people "aren't left hanging", the Penny Arcade duo will finish create episodic story-based versions of the remaining games on their website, as Holkins mentioned.

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness is a 1930s-inspired adventure-RPG. Episode One was released in May 2008 to middle-of-the-road reviews, followed by Episode Two in November 2008. The latter was better, but only sold one-third what the first instalment managed.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (22) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Kazzahdrane #1 2 years ago

    A real shame, I quite enjoyed the first one and what I've played of the 2nd episode (need to go back and finish it).

    I think the initial price of the first episode on XBLA really killed its chances, I know I waited until it was reduced and did the same for Ep 2.

  • geeza2020 #2 2 years ago

    i think its a shame but for different reasons. I like the guys at PA and find they're comics very funny. However i found their games to be rather uninspired. It seemed to use rather stale combat mechanics and was, well, just a bit meh. Feel sorry for Tycho and Gabe though :(
    Edited by geeza2020 at 30/03/10 @ 16:46

  • GamesConnoisseur #3 2 years ago

    Also I think the game wasn't quite as fun or enjoyable as it could have been, the potentials from the association of Penny Arcade should have matched the comic strips humour more than just style.

    RPG elements were weak and 1/3 sold for sequel meant people weren't looking for more of same disappointments.

    I did finish first one but never got far in 2nd.

  • 1Dgaf #4 2 years ago

    I look forward to the comic on this.

  • NewbieZilla #5 2 years ago

    Hardly a stunning endorsement of episodic gaming.

  • GreyScale #6 2 years ago

    Really liked the first 2 games, they were good fun. Real shame that its not continuing, was looking forward to seeing how the story panned out.

  • kentmonkey #7 2 years ago

    Noticed this in the forum four days ago.

    And this makes my brain hurt: "So people "aren't left hanging", the Penny Arcade duo will finish create episodic story-based versions of the remaining games on their website, as Holkins mentioned. "

  • JamieR #8 2 years ago

    a good reason not to buy into episodic games then

  • redneon Verified Programmer, SUMO Digital #9 2 years ago

    @thewool:

    Seriously, dude. Use the spoiler tag. I bet there's some people who still haven't finished episode 2!

  • coolbritannia #10 2 years ago

    With this and Half Life 3 MIA, can we declare episodic gaming to be a failure?

  • Eraysor #11 2 years ago

    I've always thought episodic gaming was a terrible idea from the beginning. Looks like it has in part killed both this and SiN already, and HL2: Episode 3 is nowhere to be seen.

  • tachometer #12 2 years ago

    The Penny dropped?

  • coolbritannia #13 2 years ago

    tachometer wins todays internets

  • metalangel #14 2 years ago

    "There won't be an Episode 3. We're actually not making a third episode of the game,"

    Wow, so articulate.

    I thought the games were very mediocre. While the setting and story was unique and interesting, there was far too much emphasis on the extremely lacklustre combat. That it was far too expensive (drop it a notch and I bet it would have sold a lot better... it was one of the first 1200pt games, remember?) didn't help. In the end, I decided I didn't really fancy playing an ugly game with combat that was like Eternal Sonata's only not nearly as good.

  • AOFanboi #15 2 years ago

    "With this and Half Life 3 MIA, can we declare episodic gaming to be a failure?"

    *looks at two seasons of Sam & Max, StrongBad's and the success of the Monkey Island episodic releases*

    No. We can declare episodic gaming, when done by other companies than Traveller Tales, to be a failure.

  • metalangel #16 2 years ago

    @AOFanboi: I think you mean Telltale... Traveller's Tales make those Lego games.

  • RobotRocker #17 2 years ago

    Rob. I am disappointed that you didn't seize the opportunity to use the headline "Gabe announces cancellation of Episode 3". The comments section would be a riot.

  • Reihn #18 2 years ago

    Aw, that's a shame! I really enjoyed the first two games - loved the art style, the story, the writing . . I'm sad that I wont be able to complete the adventures of 'Warner', my rake swinging 20's 'ard man.

  • fiery_jackass #19 2 years ago

    DeathSpank is sounding better and better; it might fill the Psychonauts-shaped hole in my life that Brutal Legend failed to.

  • spookyzombie #20 2 years ago

    Maybe they'd have sold better if they weren't priced so highly. It would be good if they did a special price for the first two episodes for the people who haven't played them yet.

  • espibara #21 2 years ago

    THIS IS QUITE SERIOUS.

    It represents the death of episodic gaming, I'm not buying episodic content until I know all the episodes are there oetherwise this could happen to all of us.

    Its also a kick in the face to those who purchased the first two games.

  • Farzlepot #22 2 years ago

    JamieR
    30/03/10 @ 17:37
    ignore poster | #9
    +1
    a good reason not to buy into episodic games then

    That good reason has been evident since the return of SiN - most episodic games will either die a quick death without ever finding a conclusion, or will be dragged out indefinately without ever finding a conclusion. Even the next episode of Half-Life appears at risk, with Valve releasing no new information for years and apparently focussing on new cash-cows...
    Edited by Farzlepot at 05/04/10 @ 23:11