History Main / IWasToldThereWouldBeCake

Cake — the ultimate reward. Seriously, it seems like in games one of the standard rewards you can give someone, other than gold, XP or power stars, is cake. It's sweet, it's lovely, it's something you normally only get at birthdays and weddings and it TastesLikeDiabetes. The perfect way to shrug off the stresses and worries of saving the world — cake.

* Sort of the TropeNamer: ''I Was Told There'd Be Cake'' — the chronicles of one woman's attempts to meet various unmet expectations, petty annoyances, imponderables and absurdities with only the occasional promise of cake at a wedding or somesuch.

* In the ''DoctorWho'' episode "Victory of the Daleks", the Doctor holds the Daleks at bay with the TARDIS self-destruct device. When the Daleks figure out that the "Self Destruct" was just a cookie all along, the Doctor says "Alright, it's a Jammy Dodger — but I was promised tea!"

* BobAndGeorge — [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/010402c an anniversary requires it.]]

* Cake is the focus of a string of related ''CodenameKidsNextDoor'' episodes, wherein the KND enact various absurd plots to secure the Delightful Children From Down The Lane's lavish birthday cake — which the Delightfuls not only refuse to share with any other children, but cruelly torture them by forcing everyone to watch them eat it.

Cake — the ultimate reward. Seriously, it seems like in games one of the standard rewards you can give someone, other than gold, XP or power stars, is cake. It's sweet, it's lovely, it's something you normally only get at birthdays and weddings and it TastesLikeDiabetes. The perfect way to shrug off the stresses and worries of saving the world — cake.

* Sort of the TropeNamer: ''I Was Told There'd Be Cake'' — the chronicles of one woman's attempts to meet various unmet expectations, petty annoyances, imponderables and absurdities with only the occasional promise of cake at a wedding or somesuch.

* In the ''DoctorWho'' episode "Victory of the Daleks", the Doctor holds the Daleks at bay with the TARDIS self-destruct device. When the Daleks figure out that the "Self Destruct" was just a cookie all along, the Doctor says "Alright, it's a Jammy Dodger — but I was promised tea!"

* BobAndGeorge — [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/010402c an anniversary requires it.]]

* Cake is the focus of a string of related ''CodenameKidsNextDoor'' episodes, wherein the KND enact various absurd plots to secure the Delightful Children From Down The Lane's lavish birthday cake — which the Delightfuls not only refuse to share with any other children, but cruelly torture them by forcing everyone to watch them eat it.

* A characteristically off-color 4Chan meme ([[http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Double_nigger view at your own risk]]) uses a similar line.

* In an episode of ''{{Arthur}}'', after the namesake character's father decided to make a cake for a theme party in his class, the resulting [[ForeignQueasine unusual-looking cake]] turns out to be a hit with the class, especially Mr. Ratburn. As Arthur uses the popularity to get his father to end up catering more school events, a RunningGag occurs as Mr. Ratburn appears at wherever cake may be present with the pretense of bringing a reading list for students. It gets to the point that he randomly appears at Arthur's house unprompted just for a chance to eat cake.

* In the ZeroPunctuation [[http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/1595-God-of-War-III review for God Of War III]], he uses the victory cake to describe the end result of an easy win against Chronos.
-->"The actual challenge of the fight is basically "Go here, then here, then QuickTimeEvent then win. Then cake"."
** In his review of ''SuperMarioGalaxy2'', he decides that "cake" must be a metaphor for sex, or Mario and Bowser wouldn't be so excited by the prospect of getting some from Peach.

-->'''Bowser''', SuperMarioGalaxy2 ending

-->''Ladies! Gentlemen! Everybody stop what you're doing for a sec. I have gained access to a cake!!''
-->--'''T-Rex''', ''DinosaurComics''

-->''[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking My powers...gone... My empire...shrinking... My huge cake... Never got a slice.]]''
-->--'''Bowser''', SuperMarioGalaxy2 ending


Cake - the ultimate reward. Seriously, it seems like in games one of the standard rewards you can give someone, other than gold, XP or power stars, is cake. It's sweet, it's lovely, it's something you normally only get at birthdays and weddings and it TastesLikeDiabetes. The perfect way to shrug off the stresses and worries of saving the world- cake.

And, of course, ever since the release of the Orange Box, the appearance of this trope makes it [[DeadHorseTrope inevitable]] that somebody will reference ''{{Portal}}'''s promises of cake.

[-''[[PromotionalConsideration This trope page was supported by the Society For The Promotion Of Cake]]''-]

[--Warning: Stress relieving properties of cake are stated for dramatic purposes only. Overconsumption of cake may lead to obesity, increased likelihood of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking the accumulation of pink frosting on the tip of your nose]].--]

* One rather dark ad for Chips Ahoy showed a talking, child-sized cookie at a child's birthday party, wearing a pointy hat, singing and everything. He asks where the cake is. She tells him there is no cake. [[NightmareFuel Oh]].
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unrgBTWjM_U And here it is.]] If it is removed, just look up, "Chips Ahoy Commercial Birthday" (without quotes).
* Around 2000 AOL was running ads touting how improved the service was. In one ad an AOL user brings a homemade cake into a cubicle style office to thank the person responsible. The whole office becomes suddenly awake with one woman peering from behind a wall saying "I smell cake!"

* In the {{K-On}}! manga/anime many of the club members or the teacher in charge of them are bought off or motivated by cake.
* When [[{{Yotsubato}} Yotsuba]] attends Fuka's school's festival, she is told they'll have cake. There is in fact cake, but Yotsuba is far from impressed on learning it's ''pound'' cake. Attempts to rectify this by giving her a crepe are only partially successful.

* This line delivered by Volstagg in a ''[[TheMightyThor Thor]]'' comic, upon arriving with a handful of other Asgardians at the Broxton City Hall, shortly after Asgard was relocated there (it's even quoted in Marvel Database):
--> "Excuse us...but we heard...we heard there was cake, and, well...what unfortunate day's events are not made gladder by cake?"

* In the SoBadItsGood Hulk Hogan vehicle, ''SuburbanCommando'', intergalatic bounty hunter Shep Ramsay adapts to the suburban lifestyle with a mix of grievous bodily harm and property damage but it's all against assholes and is thus rewarded with cake. Shep is initially confused that Earthlings eat the stuff, but then tastes it and promptly wolfs it down.
* In OfficeSpace, Milton claims that at a previous birthday party (at which there was cake, but at which he did not receive cake), he was told that he would receive cake at the next party. That party occurs in the movie, and there is cake. Milton does not receive any cake.

* Sort of the trope namer: ''I Was Told There'd Be Cake'' - the chronicles of one woman's attempts to meet various unmet expectations, petty annoyances, imponderables and absurdities with only the occasional promise of cake at a wedding or somesuch.
* In the children's book ''Big Max'' by Kin Platt, the King of Pooka Pooka offers Big Max a room full of rubies, a room full of emeralds, or a room full of gold for finding Jumbo, his prize elephant. When Jumbo is found, though (he was at his birthday party), all Big Max asks for is a piece of the birthday cake.
* Cake was the reward in ''The Poky Little Puppy'', too.
* Cake is totally an obsession (and TrademarkFavoriteFood) in StephaniePlum.
* From the {{Discworld}} novel ''Discworld/NightWatch'': [[AC: There is no more time, even for cake. For you the cake is over. You have reached the end of cake.]]

* While temporarilly in charge of ''TheOffice'', Jim decides to celebrate all the office birthdays for the year on one day to cut down on expenses. The plan unravels when everyone demands their own favorite type/flavor of cake for 'their' birthday portion. Except for Creed who wants cobbler instead.
* How [[BoyMeetsWorld Feeny and Cory]] convince Shawn to take the [=SATs=].
-->Feeny: * At Cory's urging* Well, I suppose there could be. . . cake, or something.
-->Shawn: Really? Cake?
-->Feeny: * Scowling* I don't ''know''.
--> Cut to a scene later with everyone taking the test. . . with Shawn eating cake.
** Shawn seemed to have a love of cake throughout the series
* On ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' when Sylar kills a woman who can detect lies on her birthday, her colleagues enter her office with presents to find Sylar with blood all over his hands and a delightful smile on his face as he asks [[CrowningMomentOfFunny "Cake?"]]
* ''{{Stargate SG-1}}'''s Jack O'Neill frequently mentions cake, and has invoked this trope by name at least once.
* In one episode of BurnNotice, Sam promises an entire office department of employees cake in order to lure them to a conference room where he could distract them with a motivational speech while Michael and his newest client break into a supervisor's office to hack a computer.
* In the {{doctor who}} episode Victory of the Daleks, the Doctor holds the Daleks at bay with the TARDIS self destruct device. When the Daleks figure out that the "Self Destruct" was just a cookie all along, the Doctor says "Alright, it's a Jammy Dodger - but I was promised tea!"

* EddieIzzard's "Cake or Death" routine.
* GeorgeCarlin's "Refrigerator Man" routine, including the mystery of "meat cake."

* The card game ''Chrononauts'' features fabulous [[http://www.wunderland.com/LooneyLabs/Chrononauts/Mysteries.html#1 German Black Forest Cake]] from the 1939 New York World Fair. (Germany was invited but [[WorldWarII was kinda busy at the time]]). The cake is distractingly tasty.

* ''SuperMario64'': Mario saves the Princess for what must be the billionth time and what does he get? A bag of gold? [[{{Chess}} 2^64-1 grains of rice]]? Grotesque sexual favours? No, Cake. Cake that he was already going to get before saving the Princess... but that's enough. Apparently it's also enough for [[SuperMarioSunshine being framed for a crime you didn't commit]] and then saving the Princess.
** [[SuperMarioGalaxy Super Mario Galaxy 2]] has Peach inviting Mario to her castle via a letter asking if he'd fancy watching shooting stars, whilst eating cake.
** Even [[spoiler:Bowser]] himself gets one at the end of [[MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga Mario & Luigi:]] Bowser's Inside Story. A bit of a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming for the game.
** In ''SuperMarioRPG: Legend of the Seven Stars'' the cake is a two-part boss that tries to stop your party as they are ready to leave Marrymore. And then Booster comes and eats the boss cake just as the battle winds down because "you have to eat cake at a party."
** At the very beginning of ''NewSuperMarioBrosWii'' the Koopalings kidnap Peach by [[TrojanHorse ambushing her from within a huge cake]] and then trapping her with it.
** Naturally, VGCats [[http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=245 has something to say about that.]]
** Don't the ''PaperMario'' games have at least one subquest that rewards you with cake?
*** In ''PaperMario'', [[PunnyName Tayce T.]] gives you a cake for returning her frying pan. You also have to bake a cake for an extremely fat Shy Guy.
** The whole "cake" thing is funnier in Mario if you read "cake" with sexual overtones. "Dear Mario, please come to the castle. I've [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean baked a cake for you]]."
* ''{{Portal}}'' uses the big contrast between the hell that Chell is expected to perform through and the pettiness of the reward of Cake as humour. It exaggerates this pettiness with the [[spoiler:RoomFullOfCrazy's]] over-dramatic exclamation of "TheCakeIsALie", and sends up the concept of video games rewards in general.
** The whole cake thing came about in development, when the team sat down to decide what philosophy the game would be based around. After a while of thinking, someone suggested, "A lot of people like cake."
* ''SplosionMan'' has a slice of cake hidden in every non-boss level. 47 slices of cake. Getting one of them nets you the achievement "[[BlatantLies Not a Portal Reference]]".
* Cakes are rare healing items (that give a boost to both MP and HP) in ''MapleStory''. They can, if I recall correctly bought from certain shops, and are very rare drops from cake-based enemies.
* In ''{{Monster Rancher}}'' 2 your monster is rewarded with cake and a song on its birthday. If memory serves, it relieves stress and fatigue a fairly small amount while raising its weight. In at least one other game in the series cake is a regular item with similar properties.
* In ''TheSims 2: University'', the Cow Plant uses a blatantly fake but admittedly tasty-looking piece of cake as a lure for Sims. When one of them grabs for it, the plant eats them. Then the owner of the plant can milk it and drink the dead Sim's life essence (which extends their own life).
* In ''MegamanZX'', if you speak to a certain NPC on your birthday (Which is recorded in the DS' system memory), she'll give you a cake. It's an expendable item in your inventory that recovers about 8-10 bars of life.
* In ''WorldOfWarcraft'', there is a hard-to-get recipe for "Delicious Chocolate Cake." Getting the recipe and baking the cake earns the achievement "The Cake Is Not A Lie."
* Almost stated word for word at (one of the possible) endings of DragonAge: Origins by Sten.
* Most HarvestMoon games have some sort of holiday that centers around handing out cake (or baked goods of some sort). In ''Magical Melody'', this occurs on Valentine's Day. Your character can give out pieces and you will be given pieces by people who like you enough.
* In the ZeroPunctuation [[http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/1595-God-of-War-III review for God Of War III]], he uses the victory cake to describe the end result of an easy win against Chronos
--> The actual challenge of the fight is basically 'Go here, then here, then QuickTimeEvent then win. Then cake.'
** In his review of SuperMarioGalaxy2, he decides that "cake" must be a metaphor for sex, or Mario and Bowser wouldn't be so excited by the prospect of getting some from Peach.
* Each stage of ''Kirby64TheCrystalShards'' (except for boss battles) ends with the characters having a nice picnic, and you play a little minigame where Kirby can pick up some extra items. This includes a slice of cake that heals some of Kirby's health.
** Cake can be found randomly in levels in most Kirby games.
** In ''Kirby Squeak Squad'', a stolen piece of cake is Kirby's entire motivation.
* In ''Animal Crossing'', a random villager will give you cake on your birthday. It is apparently one of the few furniture pieces that raises your feng shui wherever it is placed.

* [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0238.html This]] ''OrderOfTheStick'', where Elan lures people out of the inn by promising pudding (second half [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0242.html here]]).
* BobAndGeorge [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/010402c An anniversery requires it]]

* ''HomestarRunner'', from Marzipan's Answering Machine: "[[RunningGag You said you'd bake us a cake!]]"

* When [[FamilyGuy Stewie Griffin]] and Olivia are PlayingHouse he complains that they have a "sexless marriage;" he thinks sex [[IsItSomethingYouEat is some kind of cake]].
* In ''TheSimpsons'', when convincing her father to talk to her mother, Lisa lies and tells that Marge has made cake for him.
* Cake is the focus of a string of related ''CodenameKidsNextDoor'' episodes, wherein the KND enact various absurd plots to secure the Delightful Children From Down The Lane's lavish birthday cake --which the Delightfuls not only refuse to share with any other children, but cruelly torture them by forcing everyone to watch them eat it.
* From SouthPark [[TheMovie Bigger Longer and Uncut]]:
-->'''Eric Cartman''': Tell them we'll have punch and pie.
-->'''Kyle''': But we aren't going to have...
-->'''Eric Cartman''': More people will come if they think we have punch and pie!
-->'''Kyle''': [typing] Punch and pie.
** And then later, two of the kids attending leave when they find out that there isn't any.
* In an episode of ''{{Arthur}}'', after the namesake character's father decided to make a cake for a theme party in his class, the resulting [[ForeignQueasine unusual looking cake]] turns out to be hit with the class, especially Mr. Ratburn. As Arthur uses the popularity to get his father to end up catering more school events, a RunningGag occurs as Mr. Ratburn appears at wherever cake may be present with the pretense of bringing a reading list for students. It gets to the point that he randomly appears at Arthur's house unprompted just for a chance to eat cake.

* XiaolinShowdown: With pudding cups.

* As any college student will tell you, the easiest way to get people to show up to an event is by providing free food.
** [[http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=39 "It surrounds us. It binds all things. It flows through us. It gives us life."]]
* Let's be honest. It is the main reason guys go to weddings.

--'''T-Rex''', ''DinosaurComics''

-->''[[GTARadio Celebrate with ca-ake!]]''\\
--'''GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'''

[[AC: Advertising]]

* Around 2000 AOL was running ads touting how improved the service was. In one ad an AOL user brings a homemade cake into a cubicle style office to thank the person responcible. The whole office becomes suddenly awake with one woman peering from behind a wall saying "I smell cake!"


[[AC: Comics]]

[[AC: Film]]

[[AC: Literature]]

[[AC: Live Action Television]]

[[AC: Manga and Anime]]

* In the {{K-On}}! manga/anime many of the club members or the teacher in charge of them are bought off or motivated by cake.
* When [[{{Yotsubato}} Yotsuba]] attends Fuka's school's festival, she is told they'll have cake. There is in fact cake, but Yotsuba is far from impressed on learning it's ''pound'' cake. Attempts to rectify this by giving her a crepe are only partially successful.

[[AC: Stand-up Comedy]]

[[AC: Tabletop Games]]

[[AC: Video Games]]

[[AC: Web Comics]]

[[AC: Web Original]]

[[AC: Western Animation]]

[[AC: RealLife]]

[-''This trope page was supported by the Society For The Promotion Of Cake''-]

* From the {{Discworld}} novel ''Discworld/NightWatch'': [[AC: There is no more time, even for cake. For you the cake is over. You have reached the end of cake.]]

-->Feeny: * At Cory's urging* Well, I suppose there could be. . . cake, or something.

-->Feeny: * Scowling* I don't ''know''.

* When [[{{Yotsubato}} Yotsuba]] attends Fuka's school's festival, she is told they'll have cake. There is in fact cake, but Yotsuba is far from impressed on learning it's ''pound'' cake. Attempts to rectify this by giving her a crepe are only partially successful.

** In ''SuperMarioRPG: Legend of the Seven Stars'' the cake is a two-part boss that tries to stop your party as they are ready to leave Marrymore. And then Booster comes and eats the boss cake just as the battle winds down because "you have to eat cake at a party."

** The whole "cake" thing is funnier in Mario if you read "cake" with sexual overtones. "Dear Mario, please come to the castle. I've [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean baked a cake for you]]."

* Each stage of ''Kirby64TheCrystalShards'' (except for boss battles) ends with the characters having a nice picnic, and you play a little minigame where Kirby can pick up some extra items. This includes a slice of cake that heals some of Kirby's health.

** [[http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=39 "It surrounds us. It binds all things. It flows through us. It gives us life."]]

* As any college student will tell you, the easiest way to get people to show up to an event is by providing free food.