VG Cats

Ramsoomair said that he began the strip due to boredom at work; he created comics during his lunch breaks.[https://web.archive.org/web/20080510121910/http://www.tokyopop.com/TheMischievousFox/video/1517648.html "NYCC 2008 VG Cats Interview"], Tokyopop. The comic's protagonists, Leo and Aeris, were both named after Ramsoomair's real life pet cats, who were themselves named after characters from Final Fantasy. The first VG Cats strip was released on September 1, 2001. (His answer on the FAQ page said it was bad timing, probably in reference to the September 11 attacks that happened that same month.)[http://www.vgcats.com/faq/ FAQ]. VG Cats Prior to taking the VGCats.com domain, the comic was hosted at www.vgcats.cjb.net.[http://www.vgcats.com/badmushrooms/?strip_id=0 "#01 Bad Bushrooms"], VG Cats For a period, VG Cats was affiliated with BuzzComix.[https://web.archive.org/web/20030207180943/http://www.buzzcomix.net/ "Archive of the home page of"] BuzzComix During April 1 (April Fools' Day), Ramsoomair replaces the regular home page with fake pages, like a "Krug" page in 2003[https://web.archive.org/web/20030417064819/http://www.vgcats.com/krug/index.htm "welcome to kgug!"], VG Cats[https://web.archive.org/web/20030417013927/http://www.vgcats.com/main.htm "Main.htm"], VG Cats'' or a Myspace profile for Solid Snake in 2007.{{cite web | title = April Fool's Alert #8: VG Cats gets a makeover ... Metal GEAR?! | publisher = Joystiq | url = http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/01/april-fools-alert-8-vg-cats-gets-a-makeover-metal-gear/ }}

In 2006, Ramsoomair made a strip depicting creatures from Maxis' video game Spore, and Maxis created a version of the strip replacing all the drawn characters with in-game versions, and sent him custom figurines of the creatures.Sources:

• {{cite web | title = VG Cats' Spore creatures brought to life | publisher = Joystiq | url = http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/07/vg-cats-spore-creatures-brought-to-life/ }}
• {{cite web | title = Spore's Ass-For-Eyes Option | website = Kotaku | url = http://kotaku.com/gaming/ass-for-eyes-option/spores-ass+for+eyes-option-182476.php | access-date = September 18, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080927050024/http://kotaku.com/gaming/ass-for-eyes-option/spores-ass+for+eyes-option-182476.php | archive-date = September 27, 2008 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }}
• [http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=198 "#201: Wright to life"], VG Cats (original strip)
• [http://www.vgcats.com/news/comic_spore_Will.jpg revised strip]

In February 2022, Ramsoomair announced the end of the webcomic in a now deleted post on Patreon.{{cite web |title=VG Cats is creating Comics & Art {{!}} Patreon |url=https://www.patreon.com/m/VGCats |access-date=12 March 2022 |date=12 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312215101/https://www.patreon.com/m/VGCats |archive-date=March 12, 2022 }} However, he later began to update the main Patreon account again on July 20, 2023,{{Cite web |date=2023-11-20 |title=VG Cats {{!}} creating Comics & Art {{!}} Patreon |url=https://www.patreon.com/VGCats |access-date=2024-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120000350/https://www.patreon.com/VGCats |archive-date=November 20, 2023 }} and released a new addition to comic sometime in December of the same year.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-08 |title=VG Cats! |url=https://vgcats.com/ |access-date=2024-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208155511/https://vgcats.com/ |archive-date=December 8, 2023 }}{{Cite web |title=VG Cats! Comics |url=https://vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=398 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127061703/https://vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=398 |archive-date=January 27, 2024 |access-date=2024-01-13 |website=VG Cats}}

Ramsoomair said that VGCats was "basically ... along the lines of Penny Arcade." The comic originally focused on 2 gamers; Ramsoomair said by 2006 that within the preceding one to two years he began focusing upon parodies of video games instead of the two gamer format."[https://web.archive.org/web/20061017125657/http://www.vgcats.com/new/ About the Site]." VGCats. October 17, 2006. Retrieved December 7, 2010.

File:VG cats cast.png

VG Cats is not a plot driven comic, though there are several characters that are staples of the comic. Ramsoomair said that all of his characters "relate" to him "at some point."[http://comixtalk.com/gonzo_gaming_interview_with_scott_ramsoomair_vg_cats "Gonzo Gaming: An Interview with Scott Ramsoomair of VG Cats"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225180748/http://comixtalk.com/gonzo_gaming_interview_with_scott_ramsoomair_vg_cats |date=December 25, 2008 }}. ComixTalk.

Joystiq has defined them as "adorable characters who feel most at home with violence, language, and sexual innuendo".{{cite web | title = VG Cats tackle the next-generation of consoles | publisher = Joystiq | url = http://www.joystiq.com/2005/09/26/vg-cats-tackle-the-next-generation-of-consoles/ }} Central characters in VG Cats include:

Aeris is blue-eyed female cat with pink fur. She has a short-temper, and frequently verbally and physically abuses Leo. Her violent behavior extends to how she interacts with other characters, often assaulting other characters in the strip, as well making sarcastic quips towards them. She is also shown to have an interest in fan fiction, as well as both reading and writing yaoi.{{Cite web |date=2021-01-26 |title=VG Cats! Comics |url=http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=126 |access-date=2024-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126215000/http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=126 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 }}{{Cite web |date=2020-11-09 |title=VG Cats! Comics |url=https://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=288 |access-date=2024-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109041632/https://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=288 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 }} Aeris made her first appearance on September 4, 2001 in Strip #2, "Pika?".[http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=1 "#02: Pika?"], VG Cats

Leo Leonardo, The Third[http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=91 "#97: Behind the Scenes, Part 1"], VG Cats is a green-eyed male cat with grey fur. Leo is shown to be unintelligent, impulsive, and have a loose grasp of reality. It is implied that Leo may have been born with Intellectual disability.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-27 |title=VG Cats! Leo & Aeris Collection |url=https://www.vgcats.com/LeoAeris/?strip_id=161 |access-date=2024-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227190339/https://www.vgcats.com/LeoAeris/?strip_id=161 |archive-date=February 27, 2021 }} He does, however, occasionally show signs of intelligence,{{Cite web |date=2021-02-24 |title=VG Cats! Comics |url=https://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=155 |access-date=2024-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224163445/https://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=155 |archive-date=February 24, 2021 }} and even takes part in similarly violent behavior as Aeris.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-27 |title=VG Cats! Comics |url=https://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=66 |access-date=2024-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327234021/https://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=66 |archive-date=March 27, 2021 }} Leo was introduced on September 4, 2001 in Strip #1, "Feelin' Gassy".[http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=0 "#01: Feelin' Gassy"], VG Cats. Retrieved February 13, 2009.

{{Clear}}

The alter ego of Scott Ramsoomair, Pantsman is an incompetent superhero who concealed his identity by wearing trousers and sometimes underpants on his head. His greatest weakness is vodka cooler, which causes him to drop his trousers and transform into "Peter Pantsless".[http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=81 "#87: It's Lightish Red"], VG Cats He also wore a pair of jeans around his neck, to provide a two tailed cape. He was introduced in Strip 37, "I Like Bunnies", to help explain the inconsistent updating of the comic.[http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=34 "#37: I Like Bunnies"], VG Cats

{{Clear}}

File:VGCatsAnimatedLogo.JPG

Chris Boe, a friend and associate of Ramsoomair, created an animated adaptation of VG Cats.https://web.archive.org/web/20210516104441/http://www.vgcats.com/oldnews.php, (see entry for Thursday, January 19, 2006)[https://web.archive.org/web/20070122235029/http://www.boe-entertainment.com/movies/vgcats.htm "VGCats.htm"], Chris Boe Only the first half of the first episode, ": A Tale of Two Kitties", has been produced, and was released on January 21, 2006. Boe wrote and animated the episode, Episode 2 was pre-production but never happed, probably mostly likely Chris Boe moved on things, thought never complete, and Scott Ramsoomair at a panel at Midwest Media Expo around April 10-12, 2015 and asking about part 2 and he said work on, and there no update.[http://sheezyart.com/art/view/626574/ "VG Cats: The Animated Series Episode 1 part 1 & 2"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318005910/http://www.sheezyart.com/art/view/626574 |date=March 18, 2009 }}. SheezyArt. Retrieved February 16, 2009.

Bad Mushrooms, a sprite comic created by Ramsoomair prior to the creation of VG Cats, is hosted on VGCats.com.

Adventure Log, the official Final Fantasy XI webcomic written and drawn by Ramsoomair.[http://www.vgcats.com/ffxi/ Adventure log] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418045027/http://www.vgcats.com/ffxi/ |date=April 18, 2009 }}, Vg Cats It has not been updated since 2008.

Super Effective, also done by Ramsoomair, began in April 2008 as a comic parody of the popular game series Pokémon. It is also hosted on the VGCats website. It has not been updated since 2014.

After comic #380 in 2018, Scott created a Patreon account for furry-themed pornography based around Leo and Aeris among other video game related characters titled VG Lewds.{{cite web|url=https://www.vgcats.com/index.php#march-26-2018|title=Lewdity|last=Ramsoomair|first=Scott|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304160306/https://www.vgcats.com/index.php#march-26-2018|archive-date=March 4, 2019|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}VG Cats On the same day as the aforementioned comic, Scott stated in a blog post that the site's advertising revenue was no longer able to sustain him financially, and asked his users to help "support me in this newest venture".

As of March 2022, the VG Lewds Patreon was shut down without comment, with Ramsoomair later stating that he wanted to focus on an ending for the strip.{{Cite web |title=VG Lewds is creating Lewd Comics, Pinup Art, and Rule34 |url=https://www.patreon.com/VGLewds}}

In 2003, Ramsoomair designated CafePress as the provider of the VG Cats store; Ramsoomair soon ended the relationship with CafePress. On June 16, 2004 Ramsoomair announced that he established his store on Hyperion Press.[https://web.archive.org/web/20040723020034/http://www.vgcats.com/ "Main Page"], VG Cats[https://web.archive.org/web/20040716040932/http://www.hyperionpress.com/cart.php?target=category&category_id=5 "VG Cats Items"], Hyperion Press Afterwards ZeStuff hosted the VG Cats Store.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070108025417/http://www.zestuff.com/vgcats/ "VG Cats"] ZeStuff, January 8, 2007 As of 2008 Shark Robot hosts the VGCats store.[http://sharkrobot.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=13&sort=20a&page=1 VG Cats: T-Shirts, Prints, Buttons and More!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216013851/http://sharkrobot.com/store/index.php?main_page=index |date=December 16, 2008 }} Shark Robot As of 2008, Ramsoomair is no longer affiliated with CafePress, but it still sells VG Cats merchandise on its website."VG Cats online stores on CafePress:

• Krug Keel: http://www.cafepress.com/cp/store.aspx?s=krugkeel
• Pac Cat: http://www.cafepress.com/cp/store.aspx?s=paccat
• Pantsman: http://www.cafepress.com/cp/store.aspx?s=pantsman
• Snowy Day: http://www.cafepress.com/cp/store.aspx?s=la_snowyday .
• Grr Baby/Kitty Thong: http://www.cafepress.com/cp/store.aspx?s=grrbaby.

VG Cats has been nominated for several Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards, winning 2 awards in 2005 and 1 in 2006.

• 2003: {{WCCA|2003|Outstanding Anthropomorphic Comic}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ccawards.com/2003_ceremony.htm|title=2003 ceremony of Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards|access-date=May 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725101314/http://www.ccawards.com/2003_ceremony.htm|archive-date=July 25, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}
• 2004: {{WCCA|2004|Outstanding Character (Visual)}},{{cite web|url=http://www.ccawards.com/2004.htm|title=The 2004 Cartoonists' Choice Awards|access-date=May 15, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117080609/http://www.ccawards.com/2004.htm|archive-date=January 17, 2010|df=mdy-all}} {{WCCA|2004|Outstanding Use of Color}}, {{WCCA|2004|Outstanding Anthropomorphic Comic}}, {{WCCA|2004|Outstanding Gaming Comic}}
• 2005: Winner: {{WCCA|2005|Outstanding Use of Color}}, {{WCCA|2005|Outstanding Comedic Comic}}, {{WCCA|2005|Outstanding Short Form Comic}}, Winner: {{WCCA|2005|Outstanding Gaming Comic}}. Honorable mention: {{WCCA|2005|Character Art & Artist}}{{Cite web|date=2005|title=The 2005 Cartoonists' Choice Awards|url=http://www.ccawards.com/2005.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503234826/http://www.ccawards.com/2005.htm|archive-date=2008-05-03|access-date=2020-08-01|website=Cartoonists' Choice Awards}}
• 2006: {{WCCA|2006|Outstanding Anthropomorphic Comic}}, Winner: {{WCCA|2006|Outstanding Gaming Comic}}{{Citation needed|date=April 2008}}
• 2007: {{WCCA|2007|Outstanding Use of Color}} (finalist),{{cite web| url=http://ryanestrada.com/wcca07/ceremony/color.htm| title= Outstanding Use of Color| publisher=ryanestrada.com| access-date=January 30, 2008}} {{WCCA|2007|Outstanding Anthropomorphic Comic}} (finalist),{{cite web| url=http://ryanestrada.com/wcca07/ceremony/anthropomorphic.htm| title= Outstanding Anthropomorphic Comic| publisher=ryanestrada.com| access-date=January 30, 2008}} {{WCCA|2007|Outstanding Gaming Comic}} (finalist).{{cite web| url=http://ryanestrada.com/wcca07/ceremony/gaming.htm| title=Outstanding Gaming Comic| publisher=ryanestrada.com| access-date=January 30, 2008| archive-date=February 2, 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202164826/http://ryanestrada.com/wcca07/ceremony/gaming.htm| url-status=dead}}
• 2008 {{WCCA|2003|Outstanding use of the medium}} (finalist){{cite web|url=http://www.ccawards.com/2008finalists.html|title=The Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards – 2008 Winners & finalists|access-date=May 15, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310200607/http://www.ccawards.com/2008finalists.html|archive-date=March 10, 2009|df=mdy-all}}

{{Reflist|3}}

{{Portal|Canada|Video games|Comics}}

{{wikiquote}}

• [http://www.vgcats.com/ VG Cats web site]

{{Canadian comics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vg Cats}}

Category:2000s webcomics

Category:Internet properties established in 2001

Category:Canadian webcomics

Category:Dayfree Press

Category:Parody webcomics

Category:Short form webcomics

Category:Video game webcomics

Category:Webcomics in print

Category:Web Cartoonists' Choice Award winners

Category:Fictional cats

Category:2001 webcomic debuts

Category:Canadian comedy websites

Category:Furry webcomics

Category:Comics about cats

Category:Comics about anthropomorphic cats

Category:Anthropomorphic cats

Category:Satirical comics