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[statham]

holy shit, why didn't I click on this thread earlier?! this is a dyack type move.

 

[Loxley]

Let's see how long it takes me to get blocked

 

[Yasae]

There's a part of this story that is missing information. Bisoptl's post makes it sound like the artist submitted work to gearbox, or was working with them in some official capacity. Instead, they had conversations about the artist directing some cut scenes. That's all he says in the interview. So they didn't "dump him" in any formal sense (he wasn't employed) and his art didn't "remain" (he never submitted any).

Of course, we don't know all the details. But using someone's artstyle and making allusions to their work is not illegal. There would be nothing to sue over.

If it's close enough, yes there is. Legal departments answer whether or not something constitutes copyright infringement. I suppose in this case Gearbox's use is too specious, but I think everyone here can guess where they got their ideas from.

 

[MyAbsolution]

This is not at all uncommon.

Devs make a shitty non-functioning game and piss on their fans.

Then respond to only "I RUV UR GAME OMG" fans on twitter.

 

[kylej]

Randy Pitchford and George Broussard are man-child buffoons better suited to be a used car salesman. Anachronistic relics of the 90s game dev mindset.

Well said.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

 

[Stallion Free]

Kotick is like thanking god that Gearbox didn't accept their COD contract offer. Fucking massive bullet dodged there.

 

[FartOfWar]

Wow, fake twitter accounts. Really?

Where is the proof before we jump to conclusions. Especially with such serious accusations.

 

[spootime]

Definitely some questionable twitter accounts complimenting his game. for example these:

https://twitter.com/GinoDeMico
https://twitter.com/iTzakill9

But not proven at all. I guess hypothetically they could have created accounts to compliment the game. Doubt we'll ever know honestly.

 

[subversus]

Kotick is like thanking god that Gearbox didn't accept their COD contract offer. Fucking massive bullet dodged there.

after the story about Valve's name and other stories told Randy I'm not sure if it was Gearbox who refused to make COD and not the other way round.

 

[Stallion Free]

after the story about Valve's name and other stories told Randy I'm not sure if it was Gearbox who refused to make COD and not the other way round.

Excellent point.

 

[dr3upmushroom]

after the story about Valve's name and other stories told Randy I'm not sure if it was Gearbox who refused to make COD and not the other way round.

What's the story with Valve's name?

 

[Parakeetman]

Man damned shame if this really is R.P. and how hes acting. Since do like Borderlands 2, though does seem like something not right went down with A:CM

 

[ezekial45]

after the story about Valve's name and other stories told Randy I'm not sure if it was Gearbox who refused to make COD and not the other way round.

Link?

 

[antitrop]

What's the story with Valve's name?

Gabe Newell “Gearbox” Poker Game Was “Tall Tale”

In response to original story: "Poker Game Kept Gabe Newell From Naming Valve “Gearbox” [UPDATE - Story isn't true.]"
http://kotaku.com/5339159/poker-game-kept-gabe-newell-from-naming-valve-gearbox-[update]

sourced from original Joystiq article: "What's in a Name: Gearbox Software"
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/17/whats-in-a-name-gearbox-software/

"The next two cards were blanks, which is what the expected results were when I got the money in. I had him covered, so that knocked him out of the game! I did it! By knocking him out, I won a lot of chips, but more importantly I won the wager and with it I won the name 'Gearbox.' We got to keep the whole, big awesome Gearbox and Gabe had to settle for just being the Valve... And, if you can believe it, that's the story of how Gearbox Software® got its name!"

The story Kotaku ran yesterday regarding the origin of a poker game deciding whether Valve's Gabe Newell or Randy Pitchford could name their company Gearbox was a "tall tale," Pitchford told Kotaku this morning. I regret presenting it as fact.

The story in question originally ran on Joystiq, which presented a lengthy e-mailed anecdote from Pitchford that purportedly answered the question of how Gearbox got its name. The story of riverboat gambling was extraordinary, and one I mistakenly took as true.

Pitchford told me today that his intent was to entertain, not mislead. I regret not trying to confirm the story with Valve before publication.

Over Twitter, he wrote: "Enjoy the Tall Tale about the Gearbox name? Read it on Joystiq and give them love! Kotaku too "

Apologies to Valve and you readers for presenting a tall tale as a real one. We're all for a good yarn, but didn't mean to mislead anyone.

 

[bangai-o]

the shit keeps coming <.<

http://www.destructoid.com/developer-gearbox-lied-to-sega-2k-over-colonial-marines-245986.phtml

the destructoid comments are hilarious.

 

[nomis]

Randy Pitchford = Carter Burke (screwing people over for a percentage)

From the Gearbox forums

 

[Mario]

If it's close enough, yes there is. Legal departments answer whether or not something constitutes copyright infringement. I suppose in this case Gearbox's use is too specious, but I think everyone here can guess where they got their ideas from.

Emulating a style does not constitute copyright infringement. You can't copyright "look and feel".

You typically need to be reusing some or all of an actual artistic work in order to be infringing copyrights (and even then there are fair use protections).

 

[nomis]

Emulating a style does not constitute copyright infringement. You can't copyright "look and feel".

You typically need to be reusing some or all of an actual artistic work in order to be infringing copyrights.

It's still dirty as fuck to approach someone and then when it doesn't pan out, take their shit anyways. It's creatively bankrupt.

 

[Mario]

It's still dirty as fuck to approach someone and then when it doesn't pan out, take their shit anyways. It's creatively bankrupt.

I don't disagree if that's what happened. I was just chiming in on the legality of it.

 

[Boulayman]

From the Gearbox forums

Haha, the execution isn't that great but the concept is amazing.

 

[BruceLeeRoy]

Haha, the execution isn't that great but the concept is amazing.

I agree that is some great stuff

 

[GamerSoul]

http://www.gatheryourparty.com/articles/2012/11/12/pound-of-flesh/

That's about as accurate as it gets really. Hope that clears up any misinterpretations.

Emulating a style does not constitute copyright infringement. You can't copyright "look and feel".

You typically need to be reusing some or all of an actual artistic work in order to be infringing copyrights (and even then there are fair use protections).

Honstly, I'm glad they took that art style. It was a great move. Sneaky but a great business move. In the end though, I understand the hate they're getting and if I was the artist I would not want to do business with them.

 

[Nekofrog]

Honstly, I'm glad they took that art style. It was a great move. Sneaky but a great business move. In the end though, I understand the hate they're getting and if I was the artist I would not want to do business with them.

Not "sneaky". Outright theft.

Just read that article and holy shit, I will never purchase another product from GearBox again. I loved the Borderlands series, but after DNF, A:CM, the art style theft for BL, and Randy Pitchford being a royal prick about everything, I'm done. No longer a customer of theirs.

 

[todahawk]

From the Gearbox forums

LOL, well fuck me. Maybe Burke is actually Pitchford's great, great, great-grandson.


GAF: I just checked the company log. Dated 0-6-1-2-7-9, signed Pitchford, Randy J. You sent that game out there and you didn't even warn them. Why didn't you warn them, Pitchford?
Pitchford: Okay, look. What if that game didn't even exist, huh? Did you ever think about that? I didn't know! So now, if I went in and made a major development issue out of it, everybody steps in. SEGA steps in, and there are no Metacritic bonuses for anybody; nobody wins. So I made a decision and it was... wrong. It was a bad call, GAF, it was a bad call.
GAF: Bad call?
[GAF grabs Pitchford by his vest, shoves him against a wall]
GAF: This game is *dead*, Pitchford ! Don't you have any idea what you have done here? Well, I'm gonna make sure they nail you right to the wall for this! You're not gonna sleaze your way out of this one! Right to the wall!
[GAF lets go of Pitchford]
Pitchford: GAF...! You know, I... I expected more from you. I thought you'd be smarter than this.
GAF: I'm happy to disappoint you.

***

Pitchford: Look, this is an emotional moment for all of us, okay? I know that. But, let's not make snap judgments, please. This is clearly-clearly an important franchise we're dealing with and I don't think that you or I, or anybody, has the right to arbitrarily trash it.

 

[thesolidshark]

LOL, well fuck me. Maybe Burke is actually Pitchford's great, great, great-grandson.
Pitchford: Look, this is an emotional moment for all of us, okay? I know that. But, let's not make snap judgments, please. This is clearly-clearly an important franchise we're dealing with and I don't think that you or I, or anybody, has the right to arbitrarily trash it.

You're whole write-up: fuckin' A

 

[thumb]

Let's see how long it takes me to get blocked

This isn't helping anything. It doesn't help us get closer to understanding what happened, it doesn't encourage Randy to comment, and it contributes to the perception that NeoGaf is incapable of mature conversation.

 

[BruceLeeRoy]

LOL, well fuck me. Maybe Burke is actually Pitchford's great, great, great-grandson.


GAF: I just checked the company log. Dated 0-6-1-2-7-9, signed Pitchford, Randy J. You sent that game out there and you didn't even warn them. Why didn't you warn them, Pitchford?
Pitchford: Okay, look. What if that game didn't even exist, huh? Did you ever think about that? I didn't know! So now, if I went in and made a major development issue out of it, everybody steps in. SEGA steps in, and there are no Metacritic bonuses for anybody; nobody wins. So I made a decision and it was... wrong. It was a bad call, GAF, it was a bad call.
GAF: Bad call?
[GAF grabs Pitchford by his vest, shoves him against a wall]
GAF: This game is *dead*, Pitchford ! Don't you have any idea what you have done here? Well, I'm gonna make sure they nail you right to the wall for this! You're not gonna sleaze your way out of this one! Right to the wall!
[GAF lets go of Pitchford]
Pitchford: GAF...! You know, I... I expected more from you. I thought you'd be smarter than this.
GAF: I'm happy to disappoint you.

***

Pitchford: Look, this is an emotional moment for all of us, okay? I know that. But, let's not make snap judgments, please. This is clearly-clearly an important franchise we're dealing with and I don't think that you or I, or anybody, has the right to arbitrarily trash it.

This is just fantastic stuff right here.

 

[Air Zombie Meat]

Not really been keeping up with this, hasn't the game sold pretty well so far?

 

[strangedopamine]

LOL, well fuck me. Maybe Burke is actually Pitchford's great, great, great-grandson.


GAF: I just checked the company log. Dated 0-6-1-2-7-9, signed Pitchford, Randy J. You sent that game out there and you didn't even warn them. Why didn't you warn them, Pitchford?
Pitchford: Okay, look. What if that game didn't even exist, huh? Did you ever think about that? I didn't know! So now, if I went in and made a major development issue out of it, everybody steps in. SEGA steps in, and there are no Metacritic bonuses for anybody; nobody wins. So I made a decision and it was... wrong. It was a bad call, GAF, it was a bad call.
GAF: Bad call?
[GAF grabs Pitchford by his vest, shoves him against a wall]
GAF: This game is *dead*, Pitchford ! Don't you have any idea what you have done here? Well, I'm gonna make sure they nail you right to the wall for this! You're not gonna sleaze your way out of this one! Right to the wall!
[GAF lets go of Pitchford]
Pitchford: GAF...! You know, I... I expected more from you. I thought you'd be smarter than this.
GAF: I'm happy to disappoint you.

***

Pitchford: Look, this is an emotional moment for all of us, okay? I know that. But, let's not make snap judgments, please. This is clearly-clearly an important franchise we're dealing with and I don't think that you or I, or anybody, has the right to arbitrarily trash it.

This thread just keeps on giving.