A special treat for The Bender this week. We spend time with the gamer who loves to sue (currently Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, and Activision-Blizzard), Erik Estavillo. Special guest Raychul Moore (girl gamer, Dan Hsu's better half) joins us with this interview discussing his cases and the guy himself. Listen in at the end of the show for some random thoughts about the interview with Mike and James along with some news blips.
Cliff notes for the Interview (we jump all over the place):
*Erik, meet Binge Gamer
*Subpoenas the celebrities (Bill Gates, Winona Ryder, etc)
*Is a lawyer pulling the strings of Erik?
*Why sue instead of just putting the controller down?
*Erik’s mental illnesses
*The World of Warcraft Activision/Blizzard debacle
*The Sony/Playstation 3 case
*Erik, serious about these cases or not? What motivates him?
*”gaming world” versus the “real world”
*License agreements and clicking “I Agree” without reading
*The Microsoft/Xbox 360 case
*The Nintendo/Wii Homebrew Channel debacle
*Medications
*Gaming blog possibly hiring Erik?
*Counter suing the disabled
*Jack Thompson
*Morals and ethics
*Back to the celeb subpoenas
*Credibility
This week’s The Bender is good times. We have beautiful and very game savvy guest Raychul Moore (credits include GamePro’s GameGirl, co-host on GameTopia found on AllGames, and if you do a Google image search for her name you will be happy).
With game industry vet Raychul joining the guys, you think the show would be filled with chivalry and professionalism.. well, to keep a positive outlook on this all, Mike and Raychul have passion for games they love, expect many debates and discussions over things such as Lego Rock Band, Star Wars, The Beatles, OnLive on cell phones, Arkham Asylum, and Seaman. Hear what we think the game of the year so far is and all the rest of the news of the week, enjoy!
-Another Kid Forced to Buy PlayStation 3 At Gunpoint
-Somebody Makes Off With 100 Copies of Modern Warfare 2
Back to the News
-Sony Wants 3D Gaming By 2010
-PlayStation Network Gets Subscriptions, Online Play Still Free.
-OnLive Not Dead, Apparently Will Run on Cell Phones
-This… This Can’t Be Real…
If you loved Raychul as much as we did, check her out on Twitter @theRaychul, find her goings ons at her website Raychul.com, and also hear her sweet voice every Monday on the GameTopia podcast.
I had posted my podcast like once here before. Anyways, figured I'd throw it up here for anyone who has room on their mp3 player or enjoys another video game podcast (please see my other blog posts, I'm not here spamming my wares)
You can listen live/stream through iTunes here or download the mp3 directly here
While attending Mini-MegaCon, I noticed a booth that disturbed me. It was one I had seen before at FX Show. It is people selling the bootleg video games. I don't know why I take it more personally than the guys selling bootleg tv series and anime. I don't even get pissed when people pirate music or games. But when it comes to the roms and emulators, in a way, it isn't even about them having those things, it is the selling of these stolen goods.
So you see, here is a video of the booth:
And one picture:
Here are some from the FX Show:
So that is all. I don't know what the solution to this really shitty problem is. Maybe I'm overreacting to these fucks who take part in selling the pirated games, but I just don't support it and I really wish I knew better ways to help stop it other than whining on a blog about it.
Note: Like I said in the title, this post wasn't going to be in depth.
Recently I covered Mini-MegaCon with the side intention of bringing to attention the practice of comic book artists “copying” other artwork. I had plans to interview Greg Land, have a round table discussion with other artists, and I bailed out. I seen Land at his table, and he seemed like a sad guy and couldn’t bring myself to insult him while he is with his daughters (did he bring his kids on purpose). However my feelings on this subject no longer required an interview by him directly. Now first, I hope you notice I threw the term “copying” in quote marks a few sentences ago because there is a little blurriness when interpreting what qualifies as copying?
Homages. Paying tribute is something that happens in comics quite often. Right off the top of my head I can remember Spider-Man #1, and how many others have paid homage to it in the years.
Then there is the other side of what “copying” can mean, and why you have to stop buying into it. Some, if not all artists, reference other work to help finish a piece. Many artists, even well known greats like Alex Ross, take pictures of a person or even themselves to make sure their drawing is proportioned and exactly the look they were going for. Referencing in itself is not a bad thing at all.
Some artists seem to have taken this “copying” to a whole new level by literally copying other art and doing a re-skin on the costume to make it theirs. Now taking other peoples art is commonplace in other forms of entertainment; music is a great example. Sometimes a DJ samples another song, in electronic or rap music. This is something people have problems with. Then there are artists like DJ Shadow who mixes tracks to the point where they are brand new tracks, I don’t believe copying applies to this. Covering a song is of course a homage.
For a better analogy, comedians are not able to copyright their jokes, so thus people like Carlos Mencia are able to make a career by stealing other comedian’s material. I think we all can agree this is wrong and shouldn’t be supported. I believe the problem with artists copying other peoples work, no matter the medium, is a lack of awareness. While there are geeks like myself who do research on things we like and find this information, we the minority.
I end up being forced to ’separate the art from the artist’. Knowing that money is going to an artist’s pocket that I don’t support becomes necessary.
A very relevant example is the Xbox LIVE Arcade game, Shadow Complex. As it turns out, the game is based in a world created by Orson Scott Card, a homophobe who engages in public speaking events to preach his views of what marriage should be. In protest of this man, gamers are boycotting the game; which I agree with, despite the fact that the team who worked on the game may not share Card’s views. But in the eyes of many, knowing that a percentage of their money could go to support Card is enough for them to not put down the 1,200 MSPoints ($15) for the game.”
Now back to the meat of this issue, comic book artists copying works. First, there is a fair amount of photo reference, which I admit is okay:
Now it gets slightly weird when the artist copies their own work:
Finally, this is where I draw the line, copying another comic book artists work, clearly not in a paying homage way:
Scott Mcdaniel | Greg Land
Greg Land | Travis Charest
Jim Lee | Greg Land
So how does this happen? Surely Joe Quesada, Marvel’s Editor-in-Chief, would not let such things continue, right? Well, his reply to the copying of works by others leaves you to believe that he is all about business. Quesada makes sure to point out that Greg Land “bailed us out from some very bad deadline crunches” (proven also by this video I took of Greg Land at Mini-MegaCon below the Quesada quote). Then goes off on a weird side tirade attempting to demean people who do not approve of this copying of work because of his kids:
“I want you to close your eyes after reading this and imagine this possible scenario. Lets say you got what you wanted and through your efforts such a stir occurred through fandom and every publisher that Greg Land was no longer working in comics and couldn’t do what he loved to do; what he was meant to do to support his family. Would you feel better? Could you sleep at night? If the answer to both of these questions is yes, then I guess there’s nothing more than I can say on the subject outside of keep doing what you’re doing.”
Comic book artist Brandon Peterson was questioned by my cousin on this very subject. He was candid and spoke against the practice. He admits that references is sometimes necessary for you to get your own take on a subject accurately, but it is frowned upon among other artist.
There you have it. While I feel that referencing a photo as inspiration or as a homage is acceptable, I also support the idea to stop buying comics in which artists who participate in heavy copying are involved. I know it sucks when you are in the middle of a story arch and the next few issues are drawn by one of these hacks, but be strong and do not buy those issues. I know it’s a clichéd saying, but “speak with your wallet”.
I know there are many who know the usual names of these copying artists (Greg Land, David Mack, Rob Liefeld), but if you are just finding out about this practice in comic books, check out these sites for great information and conversation about this very topic: the official Marvel forums, 606 Studios, Digital Webbing, NeoGAF, the very awesome JIM SMASH !!! blog, and Newsarama
When I was delivered, I cleared my nostrils and spanked my own ass. Later that day, I invented a silicone based protein that cured world hunger and brought about world peace. I owned a multi billion dollar corporation by the time I was six, and you can too!
I won the Nashville chili cook off, home on the prairie mother fucker. Big trucks and little women (I take em skinny dipping). You want the life I'm living? Who the fuck you kidding. I circumcised myself with my bare hands. Grizzly Adams mother bitches.
I don't need an elevator, ill take the stairs. I wrestle alligators, I ain't no square. I don't need toilet paper, Ill use my hands... and wipe 'em on your face, cause I'm the man.
I once slapped a guy so hard his mom lit on fire.. and that bitch lives in Alaska. You figure it out. So you see my little bitches, if you buy my one minute and 48 second seminar, you too could become the champion of the world.
I'm joking, you're a loser. When I take off my shirt, even old ladies flock to me. I'm like Don Johnson you fucks.
I am a mother fuckin Binge Gamer, check it out sometime.
Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press living the dream since March 16, 2006
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