Poker Night At the Inventory

This isn't your ordinary game of Poker.

So, a Russian mercenary, a loudmouthed luchador, a gamer/D&D player, and a hyperactive, sociopathic lagomorph walk into a bar...

The Inventory: a former speakeasy founded against the possibility of an early draft of the 18th Amendment even more stringent than the one we know, now re-purposed as a highly exclusive club. Gaming's greatest characters settle in here during their "down-time," when their games are powered down. It's poker night, and four of gaming's greatest characters walk in to play some poker, about to bet everything they own for the sake of winning.

Poker Night at the Inventory is a crossover game from Telltale Games featuring Strong Bad, Max, Tycho and the Heavy engaging the "Player," a mysterious new challenger, in a game of Texas Hold'Em poker.

The trailer can be viewed here. It has its own (very young) wiki here which needs a little Wiki Magic.

The Shout Out page can be found here.

Tropes used in Poker Night At the Inventory include:
  • Anachronism Stew: Heavy is updated from Team Fortress 2's 50s-60s stylized setting, but only updated to about the mid-80s (he listens to Huey Lewis and believes Purple Rain is recent), while Strong Bad and Tycho talk over computer setups and internet sites.
    • Even then, Strong Bad thinks that Videlectrix is recent, while Tycho refers to them as the 'classics.' Of course, Strong Bad's idea of state-of-the art technology is infamously backwards (any fan of the site will know Strong Bad thought his first computer was state-of-the-art because it had "two contrast knobs.")
  • And Your Reward Is Clothes: The items you win during the bonus rounds can be used in Team Fortress 2.
    • Double Subverted with the Iron Curtain. It's an all-new weapon for Team Fortress 2!... but is statistically identical to the default minigun, and therefore purely cosmetic.
  • Artificial Brilliance: This game has some splendid AI for a poker game. In fact, all four characters have unique playing patterns.
    • Max has an almost random playing pattern, as if he has absolutely no idea what he's doing or how to play poker; he gives the impression of being more interested in the cross-table kibitzing than in the actual game. Nonetheless, he's smart enough to back his luck when he suspects he's got a good hand.
    • Strong Bad's high confidence has him attempt to bluff his way through the game, stealing the pot as his high bets (or even all-ins) intimidate the players into folding to him. This makes him vulnerable to those who call his bluff, but because of this it's hard to tell if he actually is bluffing or if you're falling for his trap of an actually good hand.
    • The Heavy is much more conservative with his money, folding when he doesn't have what he thinks is a good hand and bets when he does; his bets are cautious in attempt to lure his opponents into adding more to the pot.
    • Tycho is even more careful than the Heavy, folding most of his hands. When he does bet, however, one can expect an amazing hand to appear. His playing style drastically changes as other characters are knocked out, becoming more aggressive in his betting and bluffs.
  • Berserk Button:

Strong Bad: THESE. ARE. MY. HANDS!

  • Big No: Strong Bad will occasionally let this go when he gets eliminated.
  • Biting the Hand Humor: Strong Bad brags he stole the source code for Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People from "those Telltale chumps." He constantly berates Telltale throughout the game - probably because he's had a lot of bad experiences with the developers.
  • Bowdlerization: The Fruit Fucker from Penny Arcade appears on an unlockable table, except it's renamed as "Fruit Friend". Even if the swears are uncensored, it still appears as "Fruit Friend".
  • Brick Joke: The Banang joke, which has a tendency to show up in recent Telltale games series, makes a return here. Max, obviously, doesn't take hearing the world again very well.
  • Buffy-Speak: It's Strong Bad. What did you expect?
  • Butt Monkey:
    • Artie Flopshark, deceased, who according to Max was beaten up for various perceived offenses including collecting money for a charity marathon, teaching the "nonexistent" variant Omaha, and winning a poker tournament in an attempt to pay off his mortgage. This may have something to do with the "Deceased."
    • If Max wins against you in 1v1 poker, he'll say it reminds him of the time Flopshark won against Flint Paper under similar circumstances. Paper apparently responded by killing Flopshark in cold blood.
    • Also, if your win/loss record has more losses than wins, there is a chance that game itself will call you "Artie Flopshark, Deceased".
  • The Cameo: By series:
    • From Sam and Max: Flint Paper, Bluster Blaster, Sam, Girl Stinky, Momma Bosco and a can of banang.
      • Some scenes from the comics can be seen on the wall behind Tycho.
    • Pom Pom appears in the opening cutscene, playing poker. You see him storming out of the Inventory, apparently frustrated at being eliminated. You take over his chair when playing Texas Hold'em.
    • Monty Muzzle is perusing books on the second level.
    • And of course, Winslow is the host.
      • Looks like Winslow, sounds like Winslow, but different clothing and only identified as "The Host." As there is no copyright notice for LucasArts in the game, interpret him as either a Captain Ersatz or a Lawyer-Friendly Cameo.
    • Trixie Trotter from the new Back to The Future game by Telltale is seen entering a secret room just as Winslow appears.
  • Character Tics: After the first patch of the game, the four characters will perform certain actions (either while betting or when the community cards are dealt) which can give away what kind of hand they have. Some (like Strong Bad slamming his head against the table or Tycho slapping himself) are obvious, while others (such as Heavy's flaring nostrils or Max's twitching hands) are a bit more subtle.
  • Cloudcuckoolander: All of the characters to some extent, but Max's mind is definitely bobbing around higher up in the clouds than the others'.
  • Cluster F-Bomb: Tycho has a penchant for these, which makes sense given where he comes from.
  • The Computer Is a Cheating Bastard:
    • Possible to invert this. Due to how Max picks up his cards when the cards are first dealt, and the dynamic camera angles during conversations, it is possible to accidentally sneak a peek at what he has.
      • Max keeps referring to his psychic powers from The Devil's Playhouse, and during showdowns he can be seen peeking into the future vision toy, which begs the question whether his AI can/does cheat or he's just psyching you out.
  • Confusion Fu:
    • In keeping with his personality, Max's play style is extremely erratic, with little underlying logic behind his moves. He tends to be really good whenever he remembers that he's playing poker, though.
    • The game is sometimes easier on Hard, because the characters are, on a whole, more predictable. On Normal it's almost a crap shoot. Or.. er.. a randomly-chosen card game.
  • Cool Shades: Dangeresque Too's shades can be obtained for the Demoman in Team Fortress 2.
  • Covert Pervert: Max, at times. At one point Strong Bad asks him if there's a stack of Aces where he keeps his gun, to which Max replies "You're welcome to look" very happily. At another point he mentions how he was a very exuberant friskee: "I just thought they were being courteous."
  • Defied Trope: Heavy defies several tropes associated with the Husky Russkie including alcoholism (he prefers peach bellini to vodka and admits he's susceptible to hangovers), a love for communism (his fee for assassinations is $500,000) and being Dumb Muscle (he has a Ph.D in Russian Literature). Heck, he even subverts the near universal love Russian characters have for Tetris.
  • Deliberately Monochrome: The Automata Table is not only monochrome, it turns the rest of the game monochrome so long as it's active.
  • The Dev Team Thinks of Everything: If you have a showdown with an opponent who has the same cards as you do, they'll comment about it.

Max: (if they have a relatively good hand) Saboteur! You managed to cheat in the exact same way I did!
Max: (if they have something like a pair of fives) Those are your cards, too? You're as insane as I am!

Strong Bad: That is some [BLEEP] up [BLEEP] man!

Strong Bad: Nothing intimidates your opponents like a heavy dose of think-hard! [squints his eyes and groans while Heavy watches, confused]

  • Five-Man Band: They're not exactly on a team, but if they were:
  • For the Evulz: The Heavy questions Tycho about his "BLU sweater," thinking he's a new Team Fortress 2 class. Tycho goes along with it, clearly delighting in making him nervous by stating his hacking ability can ruin The Heavy's entire team.
  • Funny Background Event: After being knocked out, the characters can be seen doing something in the background. Strong Bad goes to play a video game, the Heavy sits at a nearby table and watches the game, Tycho goes to the bar, and Max... aimlessly wonders around the Inventory. Sometimes you can catch him gnawing on the stair handrails; sometimes he'll return but only his ears will be poking above the table. If Max is knocked out after Strong Bad, he goes to join him at the Bluster Blaster machine.
  • Gretzky Has the Ball: Max doesn't even seem to know he's playing poker, let alone how to play it.

"Congratulations! That was the hairiest game of Hearts I've ever played!"
"Quick question: what do the numbers on the cards mean?"

  • Hammerspace: Lampshaded by Tycho, who wants to know about Max's "pockets" (this doubles as a Mythology Gag since Sam famously asked Max the same).
  • Head Desk: In the vein of his source material, Strong Bad sometimes does this if a bad card turns up during a one-on-one showdown with the player. Especially hilarious because he doesn't say a thing during it, he just has this look while he slams his head into his cards and chips.
    • This gets more hilarious if the game decides to start his headdesk animation and a conversation started by him at the same time. Strong Bad will continually hit his head against the desk while talking in his normal tone of voice as if nothing is wrong.
  • Heroes Want Redheads: When Tycho describes his significant other as a redhead with glasses, Heavy gets really excited. "I like the red hair!" Of course, the RED Heavy would.
  • Hidden Depths: The Heavy is full of these. Turns out he can be pretty remorseful about his job when he's not shockingly sadistic, and he's got a pretty good handle on Russian literature. Also, he enjoys a good peach bellini. See Smarter Than You Look.
  • Hypocritical Humor:
    • Strong Bad, as can be expected. Notable examples include making fun of Penny Arcade's site traffic while pimping off his own, despite Homestarrunner.com not having updated at all in several months, as well as his constant lack stream of ladies.
    • All of the characters, particularly Max and Strong Bad, will mock you for being a wuss if you check, and then immediately proceed to check as well.

Tycho: "You should know, I've got your ass kicked pre-emptively." (player raises) "...yeah, I'll fold."

  • Idle Animation: As of a recent update, everyone will occasionally show an animation of they have a bad hand. Max and Tycho facepalm, Heavy just looks concerned, and Strong Bad repeatedly bangs his head on the table.
  • Imagine Spot: One of the Heavy's losing a hand is him flipping the table and massacring the players. Immediately afterwards, he sternly asks for a new hand to be dealt.
  • I Need a Freaking Drink: When Tycho is eliminated, he'll head to the bar and remain there for the rest of the tournament.
  • In-Series Nickname:
    • The Heavy keeps referring to Strong Bad as "Tiny Heavy." His explanation does not amuse Strong Bad.
    • Max calls the Heavy "Mr. Weapons."
    • Strong Bad calls The Heavy "Heavym'n" or "Ivan" and Max "Bunnym'n."
    • Strong Bad calls Tycho "dork" and "nerd-rancher".
  • Inn Between the Worlds: The Inventory, where video game characters hang out while nobody's playing their games.
  • Intercontinuity Crossover
  • Laughably Evil: It's made abundantly clear that each of the four players are... well, psychopaths. But goddamn are they hilarious!
  • The Magic Poker Equation: Averted, much like poker in Real Life. You may find yourself holding a Ace and a King of the same suit quite regularly, but don't expect the flop to produce that straight flush.
  • Manly Tears: When The Heavy loses Sasha in a bet. The character who wins it, aside from the player, will always state something hysterical about what they'll use it for.

Tycho: I'll put this next to my chainsaw lancer replica.

    • Well, Max doesn't state any plans for it. He simply states "It's... It's...BEAUTIFUL!" more emphatically than when Heavy first pulls out his precious gun.
    • Strong Bad thinks it'll be a great way to keep The Cheat in line.
  • Mascot Fighter: With poker instead of mortal combat, but the principle is the same.
  • Medium Awareness/No Fourth Wall:
    • The characters show varying levels, with Tycho and Strong Bad being aware of their status as game characters, while Heavy thinks his deaths and respawning are him having nightmares. Max's awareness seems to go in and out... in mid-sentence even.
    • Tycho's an interesting case, as he knows that the other characters are from games. He owns Team Fortress 2, and mentions to the Heavy how long the game's been out on Steam.
  • Most Fan-Artists Are Girls: Despite Tycho asking the Player if they're going to be as immature as Gabe and show him his balls, and the Heavy constantly referring to the player as "little man," most art made by fans shows the player as a female. Lampshaded in this fan drawing.
  • Mythology Gag: Sometimes, upon losing badly on a hand, the Heavy may say, "I do not understand this... burning I feel." One of the Heavy's domination lines in Team Fortress 2 is, "The burning you feel? It is shame."
  • Noodle Incident:
    • Tycho: "A pot like that could buy a little Giraffe time." The noodliness decreases when one considers Exhibit A.
    • Another dialogue starts with Strong Bad making fun of the spikes in Tycho's hair, and somehow ends with the all-too-relevant Perverse Sexual Lust moment.
  • Nice Hat: Pre-ordering the game nets the Heavy a poker visor for use in Team Fortress 2.
  • Obligatory Swearing: Tycho brings this with him to the table, though this'll be the first time the other three have appeared in any form of media with the word "fuck" uncensored. There's an option in the menu to turn bleeping of swears on and off. At least one Tycho swear is left bleeped even with the censors off.
    • Strong Bad does say "fucked up shit" at one point, but it's bleeped out even if you have the censor turned off.
      • Word of God says that the line Matt Chapman actually said was "bleeped-up bleep."
      • Which is exactly what the subtitles say (Tycho's swearing is always ****'d out, whether censors are on or off).
  • Oh Crap: The players are caught completely off guard if you raise unbelievably high.
  • Playing Poker With The Heavy:
    • While the Heavy isn't really a villain, playing poker is a lot more casual than his day job.
    • Really, all of the characters aside from Strong Bad have committed murder, and even he attempted murder. Unsuccessfully, but still.
  • Phrase Catcher: Heavy tells Max, "You crack me up, leetle bunny," as a reference to Sam's famous "You crack me up, little buddy."
  • Precision F-Strike: Out of all the characters reacting to Heavy's story of brutally murdering an Engineer, Strong Bad (the guy who's first appearance was in a children's book) is the one to note that "That is some 'BLEEPED' up 'BLEEP', man!" It's censored no matter what, but still...
  • Product Placement: Lampshaded and parodied when Strong Bad will mention "HOMESTAR RUNNER DOT COM," then urge Max to plug "DOUBLE U DOUBLE U DOUBLE U DOT TELL TALE GAMES DOT COM SLASH STORE."
  • Psychotic Smirk: Tycho, especially when he loses a hand.
  • Real Men Wear Pink: Strong Bad, Tycho, and the Heavy have a discussion about favorite drinks. Strong Bad makes fun of Tycho for liking gin fizzes, and the Heavy turns out to like peach bellinis.
  • Red Eyes, Take Warning: Tycho's eyes glow red a bit when delivering this line in the trailer.

"Face down in front of me, is the card beast of your worst poker nightmares... just something to consider."

  • Russian Humor: The Heavy's "Engineer Story" is a failed attempt at this, it seems.
  • Sequel Hook:
    • An interview made before the game's release states that if the game sells well, they would likely follow it up with other card games featuring other gaming characters, or possibly celebrities.
    • It should be noted that on Telltale's website, there is a section for "The Inventory." This implies that if the game does well, it may not just be poker that they're playing.
    • Check out this little chat found hidden in the files. So... Clue?
  • Serious Business:
    • One of Heavy's lines in the trailer implies there's something a bit grim waiting for him if he loses.

"Beat me once? Shame on me. Beat me twice? Also shame on me. Beat me THREE TIMES? I am sent to my death."
(Max silently gasps in horror, Strong Bad clasps his hands and bows his head, and Tycho slumps over in his chair in pity.)

    • Strong Bad will ask The Heavy if he wants to "take care" of King of Town. The Heavy assumes he means kill, but Strong Bad just wants to shave half his mustache.
      • Strong Bad admits he wouldn't mind if King of Town was killed, however.
  • Shaggy Frog Story: When Tycho asks Max where he learned to play cards, Max starts recounting an adventure in Atlantic City, but by the time he finishes the anecdote he's forgotten there was a question he was supposed to answer.
  • Shoot Him! He Has a Wallet!: If Tycho drops out first, he starts pulling something out of his pocket. The other three characters aim their weapons at him, only for Tycho to exclaim that it is a granola bar.

Heavy: Oh. (puts weapon away)
Max: Whoopsie. (throws weapon over shoulder)
Strong Bad: Hand it over.

  • Signed Up for the Dental: Heavy clearly enjoys his job, but he does enjoy the full dental. Though he and his RED squad had to unionize for group medical coverage. Guess Medic is stingy with his supplies.
  • Sitcom Arch Nemesis: While most of the characters are jovial enough toward each other, with occasional bouts of conflict, Strong Bad and Tycho show fairly naked animosity toward each other. Mostly due to Strong Bad playing the part of Jerk Jock and a Small Name, Big Ego type while ragging on Tycho's "site for babies."

Strong Bad: [mocking tone] Oh man, what happened?
Tycho: You want me to say you won again?
Strong Bad: I guess so. I mean if that's what happened for real and for true. Right?
Tycho: Die a sad, pitiful, painful death.

Tycho: (to Heavy) What gets you in the killing mood? Ride of the Valkyries? Icelandic death metal?
Heavy Weapons Guy: I just get new Huey Lewis tape. He keeps spirits up on battlefield.

Max: (shocked) Are you asking me if I ever schtupped Momma Bosco?!

    • Said question is probably very squicky from Max's point of view considering he doesn't like girls, or men, for that matter. He also sometimes forgets that he doesn't like girls. It's something of a running gag in his series.
    • Strong Bad's reaction to Tycho having masturbatory fantasies about hedgehogs: "Oh, nothing. Just puking in my pants..."
  • Straight Man:
    • Tycho has the most down-to-earth personality and conservative playstyle of the four. Just don't get him talking about giraffes. Or hedgehogs. Probably best to keep him away from animals entirely. And it's a good thing he's sitting on the other side of the table from Max.
    • He doesn't exactly take losing all that well, either:

Tycho: Son of a bitching lagomorph.
Max: I don't even know how to play this game.
Tycho: That's fucking rich. That's just great. (pauses) Is there a guy in there?
Max: Huh?
Tycho: Some kinda card-counter astrophysicist motherfucker? Am I close?
Max: Why I never!
Tycho: I've seen you around with that guy in the dog costume. DON'T YOU LIE TO ME

  • Suddenly Voiced: Tycho is voiced by Andrew Chaikin for this game, who was the voice actor for Max in Episode 1 of Sam and Max: Season 1".
  • Take That:
    • Many, many, many, against Gamestop, government and so forth. Since a lot of the dialogue was "polished" by the original creators, it's usually entirely in-character, and references their backgrounds.

Max: (asking after criminals he and Sam could fight) Oh, or if you know of a cabal of greedy corporate monsters, hell-bent on blanketing an entire generation in a deep, exploitative sadness, that would do.
Tycho: Oh, so chains of used videogame resellers? Yeah, we got those.

    • Strong Bad doesn't think much of the Penny Arcade Expo.
      • There's a lot of Take That against all the characters' respective backgrounds by the others, both subtle and explicit.
    • There is even a Take That Me line of conversation between Strong Bad and Max in which the two discuss how well, or poorly, Telltale Games do the characters justice. Max is satisfied, Strong Bad is not. As explained in Biting the Hand Humor, the Making Of... videos show how Strong Bad's expectations for his video game were... not met.
    • When Heavy asks Strong Bad if he'd like to join RED, Strong Bad responds with "I guess I could join your team of ruthless killers and lame hat-wearers and watch you get grenaded by eight-year-olds."
    • Strong Bad: "Your hair looks like a greasy hedgehog -- unassociated with any video game license -- that walked into a barber shop and said 'A little off the suck, please.'"
    • When Strong Bad asks Heavy about his favorite video game, Tycho interrupts his answer with World of Warcraft, and the Heavy responds, "Ehh, it is not popular yet." This Take That was possibly made because how Blizzard got angry with Valve due to them trademarking Defense of the Ancients which was a Warcraft III map.
    • When Tycho asks Heavy about whether or not he receives any "good drops" from killing others, Heavy goes into a short, almost out of character speech on how killing others sometimes makes him feel bad, or gives him nightmares. He then quickly switches into another, wide eyed speech about hats, proclaiming they are the best.
  • Theme Tune Cameo: The Office music from Sam & Max, the main theme from the The Devil's Playhouse, the theme to Dangeresque, Trogdor's theme, the Team Fortress 2 Main Theme, and More Gun can be heard playing at the Inventory, each with a heavy country swagger to them.
  • This Cannot Be!:
    • If the Heavy loses with a good hand, such as a three of a kind, with a big pot, he will scream "WHAT?! I will not lose to lucky cowards! I kill you!" turn over the table, and fire up Sasha - which fortunately has no ammo. The other characters are naturally shocked. He will sit down again with a Death Glare and growl, "I. Do. Not. Lose."
    • Played with by Tycho if the Player is eliminated on a bad beat by another character, suggesting this reaction if Tycho was in the Player's place.

Tycho: Man, if I were you, I'd be sweating hate. It'd froth from my mouth and nose. It'd be like that movie, "There Will Be Froth."

  • This Is Gonna Suck: During Showdowns, if there's a hand that beats theirs, they start to look more and more desperate.
  • Too Much Information:
    • Strong Bad reacts this way when the Heavy says that between learning to box and learning to herd goats, he chose boxing.

Heavy: Strong and bad, how is boxing career?
Strong Bad: THESE. ARE. MY. HANDS!
Heavy: I was boxer once. In school. We have to either box or learn to herd goats. I am not good with goats.
Strong Bad: (singing) Too Much Information, man. You're "Too Much Information Man."
Heavy: At first, I do not like punching other boys. But then I learn to LOVE it.

    • Max's reaction to Tycho's speech on giraffes and in the same vein, Strong Bad's reaction to Tycho's speech about hedgehogs.
  • Villainous Breakdown: Minor example: Tycho is noticeably deflated and depressed if he loses before the other players (he seems to consider you a Worthy Opponent if you beat him in the showdown), and he has the funniest Oh Crap faces.
  • What Do You Mean It's Not for Kids?: In-universe. Strong Bad calls Penny Arcade a "crappy website for babies". Anyone who has actually read Penny Arcade knows that it's anything but kid-friendly. But then again, this is Strong Bad we're talking about here...
  • What the Hell, Player?: This happens a lot - and hilariously.
  • What Would X Do?? - When pondering his next move, Tycho sometimes asks himself what Gabe would do. He then decides it better to keep the pants on.
  • Wicked Cultured: Heavy enjoys Russian Literature and a nice Peach Bellini. In between, he also tells inappropriate anecdotes about tearing off an Engineer's fingers and points spinning mini-guns over the poker table.
  • Widget Series: Take four characters no one would ever expect to see in a crossover. Now do just that. Now make it a poker game. This is what you get.
  • You Have Been Warned: All of them do this, one way or another, but The Heavy does it the most menacingly.
  • Younger Than They Look:
    • If Tycho's word and Strong Bad's reaction is anything to go by, Strong Bad is probably ten, something around that. Makes sense, since HomestarRunner.com only started in 2000.
      • Strong Bad is an odd case, really. In the Homestar Runner canon, he's in his 40's by now. However, if you do follow Tycho's logic, the original book that started it all came out 14 years ago, not 10.
    • Subverted by Max who mentions that he hopes the bartender won't ask him for identification. When Tycho questions if he's too young, Max simply replies that he's old enough, but finds the process of being carded embarrassing.
      • Like his partner, Max is allegedly pushing 40 as Sam and Max: Chariots of the Dogs suggests that he was born in the 1970s.
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