It's true that either of them, on their own, could probably forge a successful solo career. Mike's artwork has evolved and improved over the years rather dramatically, to the point where he is capable of a wide range of thematic styles. His recent work for the Prince of Persia remake shows an amazing grasp of composition and color, and could very easily stand on its own as a commercially available illustrated children's book. In fact, his style, which he admits to being more than slightly influenced by favorite animated shows, could very easily survive the transition to televised cartoon format. His success is indisputable.

Jerry, on the other hand, might find it a little more difficult to make a living as a writer. Not from lack of quality, certainly -- his writing ability is unquestionably unique, his nearly purple prose engaging the reader to wade through the muscular grammar with nothing less than full attention. His is always an enjoyable read, and he shows a desire to challenge his audience with ideas and concepts outside of what is typically found in the average video game website. No, Jerry's problem will lie more in the understanding that despite the fact that there are literally hundreds, if not thousands of writers on the market, it's still an oversaturated field, with a relatively small number of authors able to make a comfortable living plying their craft. What would he do? He could try to write for a game company, but that's not lucrative enough to keep him and his family in the style in which he's undoubtedly become accustomed to living. He could attempt to write novels or comics, but the same problem applies. Jerry's future seems less certain.

Let's also consider the simple fact that everyone burns out eventually. It wouldn't be a surprise to entertain the idea that the PA guys keep trying new things out of a desire for novelty. Ten years is a long time in the video games industry, even when one is commenting on it from the outside. With very few lapses, Penny Arcade has been regularly updating the entire time. Three days a week is nothing to sneeze at, and many webcomics have fallen by the wayside under the pressure of even fewer updates.

So given their huge success and the fact that they've beaten the odds to achieve it, should we expect the pendulum to shift back in the other direction? Have the guys bucked the trend for too long, extended themselves too far? Or can we expect this tiny empire to reign for another decade? Can we imagine Gabe and Tycho as Elder Statesmen of the video games industry, hanging in there well into their declining years, as crotchety and garrulous as ever? Will their children take up the banner and usher in a new era of games journalism heretofore untold? Let me know what you think of the longevity and impact that Penny Arcade has had on us all by leaving a comment.