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
I am surprised not more of dtoid has posted about MegaCon, I found VGMari's post here (which I recommend you check out, she got some people I didn't, I got some she didn't). Here are some of my favorite pics from all three days:
I got some swag I'm giving away on Binge Gamer, I really think it would be geared toward all the people who enjoy Art Attack Friday's, but I have no doubts any gamer would enjoy some of this stuff.
1 - Shirt/Poster combo
(click pic to enlarge)
2 - A Nightgig comic
3 - Bad ass drawn within the hour Donkey Kong art
4 - Original comic page from a Sonic the Hedgehog comic (yes, the real official Archie comic ones)
(click to enlarge)
Rules on how to grab one of the above pieces of swag are @ click here.
Sometime last week Major Nelson made a post detailing a Gillette/EA even being held on Febuary 3rd at the UCF Arena (Orlando, FL). Though on short notice, I went ahead and called into work and charged the batteries for my camera. The basic concept of the even is that the best players in EA Sports titles were to face the real life athletes in the games. Decent enough concept, there was no charge for the event, and it was only a 15 minute drive from my house.
Showing up, the main room was not open yet, but everyone was nice and happy outside. Denny Hamlin had his NASCAR car outside which would be really cool if I was into NASCAR. Local radio stations were in attendance, a big Gillette truck with a screaming lady who reminded me of PMS Clan's AthenaTwin but not as annoying. Fairly quickly, someone from Gillette walked me inside where I got a press kit with a free razor (retail $11.99, woo!) Inside they also had setup a simulated Tiger Woods on one screen judging your screen on a Wii-like golf simulator (sans-Wiimote, you just had to do the swinging motions in the air).
Having a huge wrestling fan like my cousin present made it easy to choose whether to stand in the John Cena autograph line or the Reggie Bush line. Major Nelson popped up and introduced Cena, and signing commenced. There was a sign next to the table where Cena was seated that said "Autographs Only (1 per person) No Posed Photos".. obviously meant to keep the fairly long line moving quickly. Of course I got my autograph, shook his monstrous hand, and kept moving.
While walking around the event, seeing where the "pro-gamers" were practicing and playing each other before playing the pro sport stars, out of the corner of my eye, I caught the biggest star at the event all by his lonesome. No, not Tiger... but... parking lot security Guillermo from Jimmy Kimmel Live !!!!!! I ran up to him yelling his name, he seemed happy to be recognized, snapped a quick photo, and then asked me "Who is here?" in a nice spanish accent ..making his confused Mexican character he is on tv all too real.
Walking back around the little arena floor, I notice people snapping photos over at Cena's table. WTF!? It said No Posed Photos! He was clearly posing. I like amusing pictures with me and wrestlers. My cousin was more outraged than myself. Back in line we stood. Thinking of how I wanted my picture, I had the great idea to grab that "No Posed Photos" sign and take the picture of me holding it. So I popped the sign off the stand it was on and stood in front of Cena, where he grabbed the sign and goes "What is this!?" ... I was mumbling trying to explain what my idea was hoping he wasn't pissed, he then signed the sign "That's not how I do it" and gave it to me. Good times.
After that, I was all smiles, went to get some grub, and came back to some of the pro-gamers getting a quick shave in front of cameras. I couldn't believe their was a crowd for this, but hey, even I took a picture.
Major Nelson announced that the athletes would soon be taking the stage. However, before that, they would be shaving themselves. So here was round 2 of a crowd watching people getting shaved. This time with twice the amount of cameras snapping...
... and also it was on the big screen.. wtf...
Then it was onto the games. First match was Michael Loyd vs NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin. I assure you, NASCAR is as boring in video games as it is in real life. I only took one picture, of winner Michael Loyd and his plaque. So though it is slightly boring, I am posting a video of some of the match (also so you can see the stage/screen setup in action).
Next up was a nice game of Madden with Canadian Paul Glasgow vs Reggie Bush . I will say it was amusing to watch this, as Paul was way over confident, to the point where he picked the Detroit Lions and said he wanted to let Reggie get 7 points on the board from the start to give him a chance (note for non-Football fans, Detroit Lions had no wins this past season, NONE).
New Yorker Steffon Dunlop was up next to face a recently injured Orlando Magic player Jameer Nelson in a game of NBA Live 09. Much like Paul from the Madden match, Steffon was quite a cocky player, saying if he had a cast on, he still would of won. Jameer then said that he could take Steffon on a real court, with his cast on. Lots of shit talking, but all in good fun.
(Hamlin present for moral support)
Mexico had representation with the form of Jose Miguel Morales Herrera playing against Derek Jeter in EA Sports Soccer. Why was Jeter playing soccer... I have no clue. All I know is Jose was amusing as all hell and Jeter seemed like he did not want to be at the event. Anytime Jose would score, he popped up out of his chair and did a pose for the audience, good times.
The final match and a big one, Steven Ward from Australia versus Tiger Woods himself in... Tiger Woods Golf. Steven was an older player, I think he was over 50, but he seemed happier than the other teen pro-gamers, which was cool. There was some Aussies in the audience that were heckling Tiger on stage (again though, all shit talking was in good fun). Steven seemed to be a better video game player than Tiger... but Tiger held his own and it was claimed as a tie.
All in all, I got a free razor, met Guillermo, and somehow managed to get my cousin a press badge, so it was well worth missing work for. Check out Spike TV on February 18th for their coverage of the event with Geoff Keighley's commentary.
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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