possible art theft
mod
I came across this in the IndieDB competition and thought to myself 'hmm, this artwork is all over the place' and then '... this is meant to be ingame?... what?' when I saw what looked a screenshot of Fallout 3 with poorly comped-in character and blood. Incidentally, those images were taken down, but they didn't do a very good job of it, so here you go:
http://media.indiedb.com/images/games/1/14/13253/ward_17_v2_promo.jpg
http://media.indiedb.com/images/games/1/14/13253/ingame_1.jpg
The rest is here: http://www.indiedb.com/games/omega-warfare
Now my question is, does anyone recognise any of the other images there? The environment step-by-steps in particular struck me as being out of place, given the drastically different theme (little village in the snow, rather than biomechanoid stuff?).
If so, given the fact that these guys managed to get into the top 100 I'm not very inclined to cut them any slack because they're 'just amateurs', and I'd be more than happy to forward any evidence on to IndieDB and get them taken down.
http://media.indiedb.com/images/games/1/14/13253/ward_17_v2_promo.jpg
http://media.indiedb.com/images/games/1/14/13253/ingame_1.jpg
The rest is here: http://www.indiedb.com/games/omega-warfare
Now my question is, does anyone recognise any of the other images there? The environment step-by-steps in particular struck me as being out of place, given the drastically different theme (little village in the snow, rather than biomechanoid stuff?).
If so, given the fact that these guys managed to get into the top 100 I'm not very inclined to cut them any slack because they're 'just amateurs', and I'd be more than happy to forward any evidence on to IndieDB and get them taken down.
Replies
also the ugly homemade logos and text added to some images give away the lack of compositional skills
http://adampaquette.blogspot.com/2009/03/28-fat-post.html
edit: too much thread like this..
edit#2: yea its definitely stolen, uhm the contact information and the copyright sign below those concept arts has been taken off and they show it off as their concept work...
On the contrary, it thrills me!
EVERYONE START STEALING THINGS!!!!
Are they making this page to make themselves feel like maybe it might possibly happen?
Its weird.
So you would rather open up another legit thread and talk about the old theft incidents instead of discussing it in the first legit thread related to this subject...
I must say that is very legit of you. <.<
What are you talking about? This is a different case with different circumstances, why would it be discussed in a thread created for something else?
The notion that having more than one thread to discuss separate cases of plagiarism could someone how burden members of the forum in the least is ridiculous.
ANYWAY.
I agree that the whole project looks like the work of a group of young guys just trying to get noticed. Maybe it would be best just to teach them early on that stealing people's work is about the worst way you could go.
IndieDB/ModDB is an absolute goldmine for atrociously horrible shit and theft. It's a great example of what to NOT do when making games.
^Only applies to the terrible terrible thieving games/mods.
HAHAHAHAHAHA:
http://www.indiedb.com/games/omega-warfare/images/concepts2
Made by guy I knew, years back in school, he is now working in Ubisoft, Singapore
http://ewkn.deviantart.com/art/Discovery-121173398?q=&qo=
I voted for Overdose by the way, it was looking good!
Can't stand art theft, its like... Do people honestly think nobody will notice or care? In this case, the guys got into the top 100 and is quite happy about that, but did he not think at any point "hold on, more people are gonna see the game, maybe I should take down all the stolen stuff and come clean?".
Boggles the mind, it really does.
[EDIT] Done, now they have to live with the fear of being sued.
Upoloaded for archive purpose
Should I say it, or should I say it's a good lesson and let him have a little fear ?
Second choice is tempting when I look back at what they did (deleting the comment stating the truth)
Keep him on edge for a little while longer.
Oh, so you know him too ? Ahah, I guess everyone that got into modding encountered one like that ^^
Thanks for the help spotting rips, guys. I forwarded this thread as proof to the mods and it seems they took action very quickly.
To be fair though, a project leaders job involves making sure the legality is in place, and that stuff like this doesn't happen. So full responsibility :P
Man, I'll admit I probably egged him on by saying no one involved with this project should set foot in the industry, but wishing me dead? Man. That's cold :P
Does PC have a "How to NOT DO IT." Archive section? For fun threads like this :P
They have to hope that no-one reqonize them when applying for jobs, since this isnt realy a job booster :P
Thats only assuming he knew they were stolen in the first place. I think it's unrealistic to expect your average game designer to be able to tell whether a piece of concept art was stolen or not, I wouldn't even be able to tell since I don't really go around looking at a bunch of concepts either.
It's entirely possible that these "artists" were already stealing to show what they can do and that's what impressed the lead to recruit them in the first place - in which case, we should be burning them artists.
Of course it could also be possible that his team doesn't really have any "artists", and he's the one that's taken that role and went around stealing stuff, then played dumb and threw the blame around when shit hit the fan.
Guess we'll never know...
At least he wasn't stupid enough to defend his mod against the accusations or somehow justifying the theft.
Jeepers.
http://www.indiedb.com/games/werewolf-vampire-angel-or-demon
Concept art and promo shots:
Start Round 2?
I doubt that Dave Rapoza is working for them...?
http://www.gameartisans.org/forums/showthread.php?t=3343&page=2
Post 30
Also http://www.indiedb.com/games/werewolf-vampire-angel-or-demon/images/character-concept1#imagebox
http://www.gameartisans.org/forums/showthread.php?t=3343&page=9
(post 164)
Did I actually say that? You gotta learn to read I assume XP I was just pointing out that there was no reason to start another thread of the same subject (regardless of the subject being legit) you could've just posted in the same thread. =\
Anyways, continue.
Is this for the other thread? or this thread. =\
We should make a IndieDB page right now and Google image all our concept art.
I'll be the "idea guy".
I think this further proves how clueless he is (unless he doesnt mean december 2010). I'd say he was just a very inexperienced kid who really doesn't know how anything works. Obviously that doesn't make it okay to steal, but I wouldn't say it has ruined his future career. Actually this should make him a better game designer, people learn best from mistakes.
*sweeping statement*
edit: DO they make it more obvious they take other peoples work and post it as their own?????..
edit#2: Seriously though, shouldnt someone be talking to them that this is not how you make games???? Has anyone contacted these 'Cronyk Pendillum' ????