Video-game plagiarism at it's finest....

BertyBasset · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 334

Not really sure how they expected to get away with this.
Amazing that it actually reached retail in the US before anyone cottoned on....

Story from THE REGISTER today :

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/06/18 ... lost_saga/

Further info and more comparison screen-shots here :

http://forum.gamesradar.com/viewtopic.php?t=120121

Grim... · **Posted:** Wed Jun 18, 2008 22:11

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. That is rather damning.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Ahhh so what? It was a few guys in a pub! I say let them release it! Isn't it about time this sort of thing started happening anyway? It didn't take long for the music industry to start using "samples", and there are plenty of movies that completely rip other things off.

Disclaimer: I've read the first couple of paras and looked at the pictures.

Squirt · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6602

This reminds me of the book Im trying to get published. First three chapters of "Right Ho, Jeeves", followed by alternate sentences from "To Kill a Mocking Bird" and "The Da Vinci Code". The cover is from the 1992 Shoot! Annual.

CUS · **Posted:** Wed Jun 18, 2008 22:32

Y'know, I was all impressed and amazed, wondering what awesome engine they had, such clever tech that could leech stuff from Unreal Engine 2, GameBryo, Source, and the proprietary one used by Painkiller. Then I realised that this is a graphic adventure, and they've apparently just taken screenshots then painted over them - except, they hardly even did that!

Brilliant. This is an instant classic

@ Squirt 4 Da Jks.

sinister agent · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 7046

Haha, copying scenes from a game like Oblivion is almost provocative. Surely they must have wanted to get found out to copy a game that so many people will have etched into their minds in exhaustive detail?

Or are just colossal morons. Hmm.

Zio · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6093

Oh wow! That's just incredible.

CUS · **Posted:** Wed Jun 18, 2008 22:43

jonarob wrote:

Isn't it about time this sort of thing started happening anyway? It didn't take long for the music industry to start using "samples", and there are plenty of movies that completely rip other things off.

It took the music world a good 30 or 40 years. And it's precisely because of what happened with Cool Independent Artists sampling (absolutely nothing to do with the music industry) that we have such a tedious shit-storm these days where certain albums can't be re-released, or have to be released again with substantially different (stand up, entirely pointless US version of that first Go Team! album) samples or elements.

or

You wouldn't be saying that if you'd spent three weeks in panicky crunch mode, trying desperately to finish off all your stuff for Oblivion, only to see three Kent twats blatantly steal it all on some half-baked pseudo-deep bullshit they hatched out over a few years in a pub, despite being admittedly talentless (by their theft and deception). I'll bet.

Still hilarious mind

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

BOOHOOHOO

Like I said, I just saw the pics and made a comment. It is funny! And I agree, all of the sampled shite is utter dross.

AceAceBaby · **Posted:** Wed Jun 18, 2008 23:18

CUS wrote:

You wouldn't be saying that if you'd spent three weeks in panicky crunch mode, trying desperately to finish off all your stuff for Oblivion, only to see three Kent twats blatantly steal it all on some half-baked pseudo-deep bullshit they hatched out over a few years in a pub, despite being admittedly talentless (by their theft and deception). I'll bet.

Still hilarious mind

It happens to me on an almost daily basis.

Grim... · **Posted:** Wed Jun 18, 2008 23:18

CUS wrote:

jonarob wrote:

Isn't it about time this sort of thing started happening anyway? It didn't take long for the music industry to start using "samples", and there are plenty of movies that completely rip other things off.

It took the music world a good 30 or 40 years.

Er, closer to 1,000 years, surely?

CUS · **Posted:** Wed Jun 18, 2008 23:20

Grim... wrote:

Er, closer to 1,000 years, surely?

Of recorded music that could be sampled? That time machine must have set you back a few quid.

AceAceBaby wrote:

It happens to me on an almost daily basis.

Ah yes, I remember what you do. So, what's your take on it?

AceAceBaby · **Posted:** Wed Jun 18, 2008 23:26

I hate it, but without the backing of armies of lawyers, all I can do is sit and watch people rip off my stuff (and others) for their own profit, while laughing. And having smug techies telling us all we need new business models and to be agile. That said, I have a lot of loyal customers and I am still doing ok, so I am not being put out of my home with it, but it just irks.

It's not like I'm upset that I put something together and someone else borrows a copy like with mp3 files- due to the way the Second Life object system works this happens already, and I don't mind it- having my stuff multiplied and visible has been very effective for promoting my brand. But people know it's *my* stuff, so they come to me to buy their own if they want to. When someone else rips off my work and sells it themselves, they get the exposure as well as the easy sales.

Pundabaya · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5016

*applauds* Brilliant!

Squirt · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6602

Is there a way you can "sign" your stuff, AceAceBaby? If you can prove that someone is directly selling your work, will the Second Life guys do anything about it?

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Second Life? What the hell do you do AceAceBaby?

Grim... · **Posted:** Wed Jun 18, 2008 23:38

CUS wrote:

Grim... wrote:

Er, closer to 1,000 years, surely?

Of recorded music that could be sampled?

No

AceAceBaby · **Posted:** Wed Jun 18, 2008 23:39

Everything you make has your name on it as the creator, which is how people know I made something. To prove I created an original design, when someone else basically copied the thing but with their own building blocks, is harder. The one guy who hunted down some kid who was ripping off his stuff successfully pursued him in the courts with expensive lawyers. He can afford to do that, though, and as far as everyone knows, the kid he sued is still active in SL doing the same stuff. New accounts are easy to make and disposable anyway.

The platform operators have a DMCA process, but the overwhelming opinion of people who've had to deal with them is that they don't give a :munkeh:

It's worth bearing in mind that none of us can really go after the company for failing to deal with content theft, because any legal action against them would obviously mean being locked out of our accounts for the duration. Literally cutting off your nose to spite your face, I guess. I think someone will do it, though.

AceAceBaby · **Posted:** Wed Jun 18, 2008 23:40

jonarob wrote:

Second Life? What the hell do you do AceAceBaby?

In a nutshell, I design and build virtual houses for people to play house in. You know that horse barding that got everyone upset in Oblivion? It's like that, but anyone can make the barding and sell it.

Pundabaya · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5016

AceAceBaby wrote:

jonarob wrote:

Second Life? What the hell do you do AceAceBaby?

In a nutshell, I design and build virtual penises for people to play despicable sex games with. You know that horse barding that got everyone upset in Oblivion? It's like that, but instead you can make the horse's willy and sell it.

Fixed.

Dudley · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8679

I have of course downloaded a copy of this game for er... posterity. I'll have to actually play it over the weekend

AceAceBaby · **Posted:** Wed Jun 18, 2008 23:46

Pundabaya wrote:

AceAceBaby wrote:

jonarob wrote:

Second Life? What the hell do you do AceAceBaby?

In a nutshell, I design and build virtual penises for people to play despicable sex games with. You know that horse barding that got everyone upset in Oblivion? It's like that, but instead you can make the horse's willy and sell it.

Fixed.

No, but I do know people who make virtual penises. They are very, very wealthy in RL from it.

tossrStu · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1326

BertyBasset wrote:

Not really sure how they expected to get away with this.
Amazing that it actually reached retail in the US before anyone cottoned on....

Story from THE REGISTER today :

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/06/18 ... lost_saga/

Further info and more comparison screen-shots here :

http://forum.gamesradar.com/viewtopic.php?t=120121

Turns out that's just the tip of the iceberg...

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/?page_id=1909

CUS · **Posted:** Thu Jun 19, 2008 0:34

AceAceBaby wrote:

No, but I do know people who make virtual penises. They are very, very wealthy in RL from it.

I've heard of them - Big Penis. Mm, very wealthy indeed - it's rumoured that they're bent, though. Apparently the Big Penis members are rather too fond of skimming a little cream off the top. Even if it's only a taste, that's too much.

sinister agent · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 7046

Don't listen to him, Ace. He's just trying to get a rise out of you.

AceAceBaby · **Posted:** Thu Jun 19, 2008 0:37

You might have seen them on The Apprentice. They're very ballsy, and have got a lot of balls, which makes them successful in business.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

AceAceBaby wrote:

jonarob wrote:

Second Life? What the hell do you do AceAceBaby?

In a nutshell, I design and build virtual houses for people to play house in. You know that horse barding that got everyone upset in Oblivion? It's like that, but anyone can make the barding and sell it.

And you can actually make a living doing this?

CUS · **Posted:** Thu Jun 19, 2008 0:45

jonarob wrote:

And you can actually make a living doing this?

As opposed to writing about other people doing it?

edit: I've just noticed that the laughter dimlie has some extra white pixels to the above-left of it. Someone please slap Dimrill for me. Amateurs...

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Why you!

Well yeah, actually. Try making a living writing games reviews!

CUS · **Posted:** Thu Jun 19, 2008 0:52

tossrStu wrote:

Turns out that's just the tip of the iceberg...

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/?page_id=1909

This is the best thing to happen to videogames since the Pack Man won at The Donkey Kongs :luv:

They're all good but this one in particular has made me almost vomit after choking and inhaling some tobacco from sudden sharp intake of breath due to hilariousness with my eyes and mouth.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Hehe I liked that one, too.

myp · **Posted:** Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:42

The font doesn't look the same.

Mr_Grinch · **Joined:** 8th May, 2008 **Posts:** 84

This rip off-ness reminds me of the china "Disney Land" that isn't a rip off of disney land.

Honest.

http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1678
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=V68HiXdwwvs

"The park’s operators have insisted that the character on the right is not a mouse. It is a cat with very large ears!"

AceAceBaby · **Posted:** Thu Jun 19, 2008 8:55

jonarob wrote:

And you can actually make a living doing this?

Second Life got me my Land Rover. And my laptops, and my games consoles, and my camera gear, and my tax bill with my need to pay an accountant. When I go properly part time (half hours) at work, SL will be my main income.

Of course it's possible to avoid commerce altogether- I know people who just work on their art projects or log in to chat to people, or tinker with programming ideas.

Everything in SL was made by someone and only a very small amount of stuff has been provided by the owning company. One downside to that creative freedom is that it pushes small time creators into the area of copyright laws, or lack of them. Also, lol fursecks.

Dudley · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8679

AceAceBaby wrote:

You might have seen them on The Apprentice. They're very ballsy, and have got a lot of balls, which makes them successful in business.

Although like any business it can all go wrong if a supplier gives you the shaft.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:31

With all the stiff opposition around it must be easy to fall on hard times. Also what happens when you spunk all your time developing a product and it turns out to be a flop?

devilman · **Posted:** Thu Jun 19, 2008 13:36

I like the Customer image on the Amazon page

Curiosity · **Posted:** Thu Jun 19, 2008 13:43

devilman wrote:

I like the Customer image on the Amazon page

The comments are amusing too.

Bluecup · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 925

It's not just games being ripped off either

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.ph ... tcount=653

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.ph ... tcount=366

And the people responsible

AceAceBaby · **Posted:** Thu Jun 19, 2008 13:50

The guy in the middle seems to be wearing one of those Eastern European sex trafficker jackets, as seen in television dramas such as Murphy's Law.

Bluecup · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 925

Looking at it you got the brains on the left, the muscle on the right and the leader in the middle who is in charge and comes up with all the dastardly plans.

Dimrill · **Posted:** Thu Jun 19, 2008 14:03

The man on the right uses Just For Men, I bet.

myp · **Posted:** Thu Jun 19, 2008 14:06

You've got to admire the sheer audacity of this, especially the quote about not being influenced by any other games...

Curiosity · **Posted:** Thu Jun 19, 2008 14:12

What an excellent story. Can't believe it made it to production* before anyone noticed anything...

*or that the acronym for it is LOL

devilman · **Posted:** Thu Jun 19, 2008 14:14

They should claim that the game has been in development for the last 20 years and in fact, all these other games ripped LOL off.

myp · **Posted:** Thu Jun 19, 2008 15:05

LOLZORZ!

Mr_Grinch · **Joined:** 8th May, 2008 **Posts:** 84

I thought I remembered this game, the neogaf thread linked to some scans for an Amiga Limbo of the Lost:

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh11 ... creen6.png
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh11 ... creen7.png
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh11 ... creen9.png

I had that magazine! I'm sure a demo was released as well!

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

AceAceBaby wrote:

jonarob wrote:

Second Life? What the hell do you do AceAceBaby?

In a nutshell, I design and build virtual houses for people to play house in. You know that horse barding that got everyone upset in Oblivion? It's like that, but anyone can make the barding and sell it.

You didn't happen to be the guy who did my former employer, Comtec's, building did you? Now that would be a coincidence.

I never quite wrapped my head around why we needed a presence in Second Life. As far as I know no-one ever did anything at all with it. We hired some proper designer and everything though. Interestingly, it's no longer mentioned on the Comtec webpage.

Pod · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2568

Mr_Grinch wrote:

I thought I remembered this game, the neogaf thread linked to some scans for an Amiga Limbo of the Lost:

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh11 ... creen6.png
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh11 ... creen7.png
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh11 ... creen9.png

I had that magazine! I'm sure a demo was released as well!

Those screens are ment to be stolen as well. Specifically the last one your linked to is ment to be knicked from Dragon's Lair.

AceAceBaby · **Posted:** Thu Jun 19, 2008 17:33

richardgaywood wrote:

You didn't happen to be the guy who did my former employer, Comtec's, building did you? Now that would be a coincidence.

I never quite wrapped my head around why we needed a presence in Second Life. As far as I know no-one ever did anything at all with it. We hired some proper designer and everything though. Interestingly, it's no longer mentioned on the Comtec webpage.

No, I don't do work for hire because it pays peanuts, and also because as you've noticed, it's basically pointless except to get a mention on cnet about being the first agricultural hardcore distribution company with a virtual world presence or something.

Be Excellent To Each Other

Video-game plagiarism at it's finest....

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