So is 8 bit really over?
 

If so, that last comic was a huge letdown and a cop out. Just my opinion. :(

What do you think?

I think we have a couple to go. Brian has shown a genius level of creativity up till now, so I am sure he can end it on a cooler punch line than this. If nothing else he can at least give us a follow up on what happens to the LWs after this. How does Thief react to the destruction of his homeland, how do the Light Warriors survive being deleveled, and so on.

I think you overestimate the might of the Cornerian war machine.

Nah, it isn't.

"This is the end of my travels for a few months, so we should be back to something like a regular schedule for a while."

Update from March 15th. One comic's been posted then; he wouldn't say that we're going to be updating regularly for a while if there was only one comic remaining.

Cop out from what exactly, anyway?

Not the last comic, Brian is just taking awhile but not bothering to give us excuses anymore for the delay(s)

But now that their mining operations have struck mana...

Short answer: Probably.

Long answer: It depends upon how many loose ends the author intends to tie up and how many secret dungeons from Final Fantasy which have not been visited defiled decimated by the Light Warriors.

And if Black Mage's Dark God actually does something. Or Swordopolis.

Cop out and let down?

Anyone surprised the Light Warriors had their hopes dashed demonstrates an amazing ability to miss a point made over 1,200 times.

8-Bit Theater has always been about one thing above all else: Building towards climaxes that are nothing but huge disappointments because Brian enjoys messing with the reader. Whether you think this is good writing for a story is debatable, but that's how 8-Bit functions, so it's only fitting that that be how it ends. I expect that if there is another page, it will only exist to destroy any hopes the readers had about epic plot points even further than the current ending has.

I'm not sure I really consider it good writing, as I've been watching a show that functions similarly and I find it a nuisance above all else, but I'm actually happy to see 8-Bit end. So far, I think every other project Brian's been working on lately is superior to 8-Bit in every way. Atomic Robo, How I Killed Your Master, and Warbot are all quality products, and I'd much rather see Brian focusing his attention on those than a sprite comic. I'm sure he feels the same, since his other projects have a lot more potential to make him money than 8-Bit ever did, and the whole starving artist deal is somewhat less than fun.

More like so much stuff is left hanging. Then again that's kind of expected from you, both meta with the update schedule and in the plot itself.

Honestly, i still enjoy it a great deal. Clearly the style of the comic and it's storytelling have aged, but it's still consistent (hell, most webcomics aren't!). If i'm not mistaken as of now we're past End Game from the original Final Fantasy. That fact alone and by itself already kills any idea of this being a "Let Down" or a "Cop Out", simply because nobody thought Brian was going there. Most of us thought this would be over already.

There is easily still a couple hundred comics in here if Brian chooses to, or it can be over by the end of the month, either way, the ride will come to an end above expectations

Does this mean 8BT is really over, then?

I mean not tryin' to sound spoiled or anything, I understand it's entirely your discretion as to when and how 8BT ends and I'm pretty satisfied regardless. I'd just prefer to know whether I should keep showing up at midnight in anticipation for another update. It'd be great to get even a few sentences to the effect of "It's Over" when it really does end: the alternative just seems like yankin' our chains.

As for the lack of consistent updating lately, I honestly haven't minded: I feel like HIKYM (if not Warbot) has quite consistently and awesomely filled in the gaps, and increasingly I'm coming here for HIKYM instead of 8BT anyways, which is probably a good thing in terms of Brian's future. (Brian's expanding from the near-finished project to something new and equally awesome.)

There's probably one more page to go. But I'm not making any promises no when it'll show up until I have a clear idea of how it'll work.

One more strikes me as exactly the right amount to wrap things up.

I was very nearly expecting the alarm clock.

...It is ironically quite humorous in my head.

Anything special planned?

Like, will it be sort of a special THE END length strip or can we expect a longer and/or special TYPE of page? Or will it just be a typical normal final page?

Frankly, given the quality of everything else Brian's doing, I'm happy to see 8-bit end. If it went on any longer, it would really become just an afterthought as Brian (rightfully) focuses more and more of his attention on his other (and better) projects.

8-bit had a good run, and I haven't missed one since I started reading around episode 100 (goddamn), but it really needs to step down and make room for other things. For a while, I've been far more eager to check this site on Mondays and Fridays than on Tuesdays and Thursdays, anyway.

Ah, take your time then.

Though you might want to put out a news-post or something to shut people up.

So we're never going to know what exactly the deal was with Swordopolis, Megahedron or Black Mage's Evil Dude that has been appearing since the beginning of the comics?

I can't imagine the final page of the comic would be devoted to giving them any context beyond what we now know: They're just hallucinations or something.

Assuming the last page doesn't explicitly deal with that, I think we've already seen enough of them to get a good idea of what's up.

I think I just teared up a little.

I don't really care about anything else with the ending. It'd be cool to see what happens, say, 10 years or so from now with the main characters.

It's not like anyone was following the comic because they cared about Chaos or the world being doomed. It's all been about the four incompetent slobs who never learned their lesson.

I could easily see Thief just going back to Elf Land and...doing his thing as Prince/Future-King.

It would be weird if Fighter and BM kept traveling together after Fighter finally realized how much of a jerk his friend is.

Don't give a damn at all what RM does 'cuz it'll be dumb and just probably end up screwing BM over somehow anyways.

EDIT: Kind of surprised WM just overlooked BM almost killing her there though.

Oh shut up you of all people should have known that this is a long time coming.

Stories suck if they never end, anyway.

Darn, it's ending just when I finally got into it. Ah well, it's been a good run I'm sure. I've only read most of the year 2001 and loved it so I know I have a lot to look forward to.

At least it'll end on a good, solid multiple of 5.

This is the best ending we can hope for, really. All that pent-up sexual tension over 1,200 comics between them finally released in the final panel.

Yeah I guess I know.

I just haaaate how it sounds.

I'd say a flash really of sometype of deal if that could be made or Brian could just stick a big THE END there on the next page without anything else, it's all possible as to how he feels to end it.

Quite a long journey for 9 years though

I know right? I guess when we get to Atomic Robo Vol 80 Issue 12 we'll know if you're right. I'm sure Marvel or DC knows something about that as well.

I've really enjoyed 8-bit.

My only disappointment echoes the poster that said it would've been good to have wrapped up what the whole deal was with Swordpolis, Darko the Dark Guy, etc. It feels like (and listen, I totally don't blame Brian for it) that we're hastening a little bit faster to the end of it all because Brian is suddenly getting *way* busier and doesn't want to have 6-7 updates haphazardly over the next 10 months. =)

But it has been an awesome time.

Y'know, Brian is sorta like Glados. You have no idea what his intentions are, no idea if you can trust him, all you know is that he's malign. Extremely malign.

I'm really hesitant to take his word for "1 more comic". Still, if there's more I'll relish getting my mind screwed over some more, if there's less, it's been fun.

I'll probably devote time to the archives fairly soon, read through everything again.

Considering the "Enlightened Warrior/end of the world" thing is still up in the air, I think we can assume that the real "punch-line" of the comic still elludes us. If he's going to finish it in one more strip then it's going to be something amazing.

Huh. I was expecting a bit more. Not even 1 page epilogue pages (mostly text, and just oversized sprite)? There's still a few plot holes hanging out there, and I'd like to know what happens to some of the side characters (like Princess Sara & King Steve).

SWB

I hope last comic leaves big cliffhanger and even more unanswered questions just to piss everyone. I don't think besides Darko, Swordopolis and the rest there is really anything that needs to be cleared up and even they aren't that important.

Proper THE END panel would be nice but I don't mind if 1224 is left as last one since we already got one comic with " the end" .

One more comic on April 1st which has the Light Warriors start a new quest. And then never another comic. Ever.

I always had this idea that 8-bit would never fully end.

Sure the main quest line with them stumbling and murdering their way towards Chaos and the immediate aftermath would end, and so would regular updates.

However every few months Brian would get great idea in his head and make another comic. Not as part of some grand squeal or relaunch, but just a humorous strip in the wake of the main comic. Maybe regular updates would resume for a bit if he had some mini-arc rolling around in his head, but otherwise it would be something you looked for on a quarterly basis more than a several-times-a-week basis.

There are several side character's to be explored, and the main ones have enough quirks to keep fresh comics coming for another 1,200 strips.

Or maybe he's just getting completely tired of 8-bit and will delete the sprite sheets once its done.

Either way, I've loved it since I started reading waaaaay back in late 2001 and I look forward to the final strip.

Can't wait to see how many ending tropes you can cram on to one page.

Here's hoping it ends with a musical number.

That would probably be true if actually viable. No one wants to spend a life time of creative energy creating something they're not even allowed to really show off.

This way, if Brian ever does decide to do another comedy webcomic with a similar style to 8-bit, he can do something he can whore into oblivion.

What's with the dismay? I LOVED this most recent strip! It does feel like there needs to be at least one more, but in a pinch, it would work as a fitting ending. Anyway, I wouldn't expect it to be over until I see a "The End. No, really this time." box in the final panel.

Damn, and hear I was half expecting him to drag it out until comic 1234.

Ah well.

1225 is an even better number. It's the result of multiplying five SQUARED and seven SQUARED. Concidering the maker of the game... Yeah, subtle, I know. :D

They all got fed up avataring for their respective Light Warriors and quit. Swordopolis quit, Darko quit, and Megahedron never made any progress to begin with.

I think that's what's meant by "cop out". Although I wouldn't use that phrase... the whole thread for potholes and loose ends seems a little ignored if all of this is, well, ignored. The story seems to be pretty much over, and apparently one more will finish it. But there is a bit more i'd like to see i guess. Questions, potential for more jokes.

I guess there's a question if 8-bit overall is telling a complete saga-like story, or if it's a joke laden webcomic.

I got hoping it was a saga, but it's a funny comic, it does that, we all laugh, enjoyed it, and it's coming closed. I'd like to see more, I know many of us would, but I don't think that'd change Brian's mind.

I guess all we can do is show Brian that we'd like to see some of the other character's have some sort of conclusion instead of being one off jokes. Maybe he'll hand us a few more comics, even if they are brief.

I think that's what's meant by "cop out". Although I wouldn't use that phrase... the whole thread for potholes and loose ends seems a little ignored if all of this is, well, ignored. The story seems to be pretty much over, and apparently one more will finish it. But there is a bit more i'd like to see i guess. Questions, potential for more jokes.

I guess there's a question if 8-bit overall is telling a complete saga-like story, or if it's a joke laden webcomic.

I got hoping it was a saga, but it's a funny comic, it does that, we all laugh, enjoyed it, and it's coming closed. I'd like to see more, I know many of us would, but I don't think that'd change Brian's mind.

I guess all we can do is show Brian that we'd like to see some of the other character's have some sort of conclusion instead of being one off jokes. Maybe he'll hand us a few more comics, even if they are brief.

Mostly I just think "cop out" seems to (somewhat unfairly) imply there's something Brian explicitly promised he'd definitely do in the comic but didn't, as opposed to something you yourself were expecting Brian to do that he didn't.

To be fair making you expect things that never end up happening is one of 8BT's trademarks, but I maintain after the first four times or so it's your fault alone if you fall for it.

This comic was very enjoyable and my thursdays and tuesdays are going to feel very, VERY empty without it. I think I started reading this maybe back in High School and I've graduated Uni now.

But hey, maybe this means more Warbot in Accounting, Right Brian, right?



..right?

It does still feel a little unfinished, I think one more page is called for. Having the final page not even include the LWs doesn't seem right somehow.

That's completely up to Zack.

I'm gonna go ahead and call that he's waiting for the final strip to end on April Fool's Day.

Why? So that after ALL the "The End!" April Fool's jokes, the comic will have finally, truly ended on April 1st.

That is my prediction. I imagine someone else has called that by now, but I haven't personally seen the post.

I didn't know we were so close to the end.

I guess all my predictions and predilections and whatever were wrong.

1 more?

I hope we just get a panel with bm throwing wm's clothes out of a tent or something.

I agree Meister, and like I said, it's not the words I'd choose.

I think first and foremost, before his ending can be judged, we need to see it.

Of course it won't please everyone, but I think it'll be solid enough to give it a good ending. He's proven capabilities of a writer.

My personal feelings are I wanted to see more... and perhaps that's part of it.
I also came in late, so this is only a 2-3 year old gig for me, not decadish...

I'm sorry that my opinion of your almost-final episode conflicts with your opinion of what my opinion should be.

Thanks for so many great comics.

A central theme of the comic has always been failure. It would have been a cop out if they had succeeded in the end. This is a bit more than opinion.

I don't think purpleemoranger's comment had anything to do with the LWs failing or succeeding. It had more to do with there being an ending that tied up the remaining loose ends and wasn't quite so abrupt. He can correct me if I'm wrong, but that's the vibe I got from the "cop out"; sure, the last comic is 'appropriate' but judging from this forum + some of the twitter comments, some people were thinking there would be more of a resolution + tying up of loose ends. Heck, *I* thought that only based on Brian's "now we'll get back to a regular schedule", as I wasn't sure what else that meant (Warbot doesn't update at all because Zack has more personal issues than Warbot himself, while HIKYM was never really interrupted by Brian being gone).

That being said, it's Brian's comic, he may have felt he tied up all the loose ends already (or simply tied up all of the ones he actually cares about =) ).

Regardless if Brian did or didn't cop-out, a cop-out isn't just referring to doing the unexpected by any means.

It means to take the easy way out. According to the web, it specifically means to not do something for fear of failing. Brian cannot be accused of fearing to fail over his comic. He can't, sorry, he could do any sort of end he wanted and he'd be able to do it.

I think there may be some feeling of him "slacking" on an epic end, or that he should give more comics to conclude it better or whatever. If that's the case, someone should be saying easy way out.

I think he partially doesn't care, not in the same way he did years ago, he's ready to be done. But then again, I can't say he just doesn't care at all because he's finishing it, and he's continued to work on it for a long time. So yeah...

For anyone disappointed, I think you're entitled to it. Just because someone makes something doesn't mean folk have to like it. And negative criticism comes with art. But to say he copped out, or gave up is pretty freaking hard to prove.

I just finished re-reading the entirety of 8bit, starting from I think last Friday or so. The comic really seems a lot shorter knowing that it ends at episode 1224 + a few extra after. I remember when we were still in the Temple of Fiends and it still seemed like that the end was nowhere in sight, even though it was clearly drawing closer and closer. Anyone else get what I mean?

I don't know about that.. If anything, they Homer Simpsoned their way to success up until the end.

Which makes White Mage the Frank Grimes of the story, I guess.

Granted, their successes did jack all to stop the universe from crapping all over them as they attempted to crap all over the world..

To be completely honest, it was awesome when they blew Sarda out of the Temple of Fiends. Everyone not only does what they do best, but BM supplies the fire works while RM just throws out the "peace" symbol. It was great.

To me, that was their victory. Even though they didn't defeat Sarda, they would have if not for the Orbs. That means that, at the height of their power, they were at least worthy of some competence...when they worked together.

Thanks for all the years of comics Brian. I am trying to get into Atomic Robo and HIKYM, but it just isn't working for me at this point. I'm sure I will continue to come back, even if it's to re-read 8-bit.

Ah, after the last strip is done this will be the last time people exclaim about being cheated out of their 9 years worth of free entertainment.

Free. As in you didn't ever pay a cent and if you did you got a T-Shirt out of it.

9 Years. As in, the entire Bush Administration's worth plus a year.

Thanks for the fun, Brian. I know I'll have a great time in your other worlds. After your last episode there will be offically be nothing cool about sprite comics.

Magic Marker, if you think people won't be critical of art, free or not, you are fooling yourself.

I do think most of everyone takes it too far with personal attacks on Brian though.

where's the new episode?

So it's coming when it's done. Don't get impatient.

I want my water boiled now though!

And my Kraft Dinner should come soft. I shouldn't have to soften it!

What a bullshit world we live in.

But it's NOT victory, yet it's precisely what's happened to them so many times throughout the story when they've been on the verge of real success: "They WOULD HAVE succeeded if not for someone or something (usually Black Mage) completely blowing it."

I had a dream about what 8-bit's last page would be. So my dream said...
Everyone says their goodbyes and WM is angry with BM, but then says something nice to him, and he's like "Really?" and goes up to her but she says "I appreciate even more the fact that you're 20 feet away from me" and he goes back. She says "We've all got issues and anger, but instead of trying to destroy the world every time you get angry, why not just give it a moment" or something to that effect, like "just deal with it, huh?". He looks "thoughtful" in several poses but can't come up with an answer, like "oops" for the whole comic. Then (this is the silliest part) his heart grows bigger like The Grinch's and WM kisses him and he zips around like with fireworks in the background.

So? At the end of their stupidity they still got together and showed what they were capable of. And they did it with style. That they were screwed over by a plot technicality is just par for the course.

That's what I'm saying. They're capable of spectacular failure that only makes things worse for them. With style.

I don't know man, I saw that whole situation as a triumph as well, so there's at least two of us. ;)

It's not bad... but I could just as easily see BM saying "Just deal with it huh?" he looks thoughtful in several poses and can't come up with an answer, like "oops" for the whole comic. Then, WM kisses him and says, "I no there's good in you..." He gives a quirky eye pose and says "But I want my bad in you baby." She hits him with a hammer... he says "Aw Fug it..." and begins to Hadoken the world...

And what happened then? Well on the forums they say
Meister remembered why we ever made a dedicated 8-Bit Fanskits thread that day.

Think we got just about all the mileage out of this thread we're ever gonna get.