What the hell does BetaPwned mean?

See... it's a funny story.   The first few scripts I came up with for the comic were pretty angsty - I was going through a nasty divorce and intended to draw my way through it as a form of cheap therapy.   Steven (John) and I sat on the couch and bounced title ideas back and forth, finally settling on BetaPwned - Beta refering to the test version of a product, and Pwned refering to having ones ass handed to them.   The notion was that this life is just a test and that sometimes the test kicks your ass.

Okay, it's not a funny story... but that's the meaning.

Why is BetaPwned rated MA?

Mostly because some people in the United States are weird about things like polyamory, bi-sexuality, homosexuality, talking about sex in general, "bad" language, Atheism, and a host of other things I might touch on. Also because some of the pin-ups I offer are in the nekked state and the kinds of people that have issues with the things I just listed also have issues with people (even cartoon people) that happen to be in the nekked state.

Some of the comics on your site really offended me!

One - that's not a proper question.
Two - if my comic routinely offends you, don't read my comic.

How long have you been drawing?

I started drawing in July of 2006.   I didn't even doodle much as a kid.

What programs or materials do you use to draw the comic?

I type up my scripts using Google Docs, sketch out the thumbnails on recycled scratch paper, do my inking with Inkscape, and my coloring with an ancient verson of Photoshop.

You can find a tutorial that explains how I create the comic step-by-step on the Extras Page

About how long does it take you to finish a comic?

Anywhere from 4 to 14 hours depending on the complexity of the comic, my state of mind, and whether or not I'm completely phoning it in.

When does the comic update?

My goal is to update at least once a week, but I'm hoping to update more frequently than that.   I highly suggest signing up for the RSS feed if you'd like to keep up.

Are your characters based on real people?

Yes, very much so.   Sure, I've punched things up a little here and there - my family and friends don't typically act as though they're "on the air" 24/7, but for the most part BetaPwned is a slice of my life.

Where do you get your ideas?

Um... see the answer to the last question.   I carry around a little tape recorder and record ideas for the comic as the events occur.

How much money does your comic generate?

I do okay by webcomic standards, but I certainly don't make enough to live on.   If you'd like to help rectify that, and you're over 16, please click on the Pin-Up link at the bottom of the Main Page and donate in return for some swag.

If you're under 16 - go read Beaver and Steve instead.   If you insist on reading BetaPwned, however, you can just PayPal your allowance directly to creator@betapwned.com - Oh, and make sure your parents know that I told you not to read my damn comic so please don't email me nastygrams about corruption.

Can I use content from your site?

Depends on how you're using it.   Come on... the internet isn't new, you know how this works - all the bits on the site are mine.   If you use any of them, be clear in giving me credit.

Can I link to your site, and will you link to my site?

Sure you can link to my site!   If you'd like some graphics, they can be found on both the Links Page and the Extras Page.   If your linking me is likely to melt my server with the force of a thousand suns, please let me know a couple of days in advance.   Also, I'm happy to link to webcomic sites that I have even a passing interest in - just email me with your URL.   Adding an 88 x 31 pixel button graphic to your email will increase your odds.

What's the weirdest question you've been asked about the comic that you've refused to answer before now?

The obviously perverse aside, the weirdest question I've received is "Just who do you think you're fooling?"   Now... I'm going to assume the author of that question thought his frame of reference was obvious.   I can assure you all, it was not.   Who do I think I'm fooling with what?   How?   Eh???

Who built your site, and what programs were used?

I built my site using a free template from Template World.   As for programs, I mostly used Notepad ++, though sometimes I was forced into using plain old WordPad.   Fancy, huh?

Oh... I also used Coffee Cup Software's Image Mapper for the Site Map and Header graphics.