4 ms·

I know that stealing content happens, but as a developer that wants to stay on the up-and-up (read:not steal the hard work of others), I don't wan't to rely on

I know that stealing content happens, but as a developer that wants to stay on the up-and-up (read:not steal the hard work of others), I don't wan't to rely on a resource that has this sort of attitude on stealing others content. From the 2D Art section[1]: "If you really don’t want to make your own art, steal it! There are a ton of sites with sprite rips of classic 2D games. You can’t make a career on stolen game sprites but no one is going to be sending you legal threats for you making your first few simple games that way." [1]:http://youcanmakevideogames.com/resources/2dart http://youcanmakevideogames.com/resources/2dart

djtumolo 14y ago
They are placeholders, not final art. I've been working on a game, and I rip sprites from wherever I find them. Not because I am a callous thief, but because the art is temporary until I can get a prototype, and convince an artist to join.
- JoeCortopassi 14y ago
  You might use them as placeholders, which I have no problem with, but that quote clearly implies using them in shipped products.
  - marijn 14y ago
    "first few simple games" ≠ "shipped products"
TwiztidK 14y ago
Not to say that stealing other's content is okay, but I could certainly understand "borrowing" images to use in games when you're just starting out. I actually think it's usful because you can make clones of your favorite games in order to learn how to program.
chc 14y ago
Not a lawyer, but using a couple of sprite rips in the process of learning sounds like it ought to be fair use to me. Are you a lawyer?
- rprasad 14y ago
  It may be fair use, if you do not distribute the game. Once you distribute it, all bets are off, and fair use would almost certainly not apply. Many media companies have staff lawyers to police their IP, so it does not usually cost them any (additional) money to send out copyright notices.
Jach 14y ago
So presumably you're against fanfics and sprite comics too? As with everything that can be copied (digitally or otherwise) and used in derivative works, fair use et al. concerns apply. (Hence the other commenters noting that it's common and fine to do this for self-education.)
- rprasad 14y ago
  That's not how fair use works. Simply making a derivative work is not enough to take advantage of fair use. The derivative work must fall into certain categories of use. A lot of fanfic and sprite comics would not fit into fair use, though many would. It is a very fact-specific analysis.
  - Jach 14y ago
    Indeed, I don't think I accidentally made the assertion that being a derivative but original work was sufficient. Similarly profiting off your work does not automatically dismiss any fair use claims.

djtumolo 14y ago

They are placeholders, not final art. I've been working on a game, and I rip sprites from wherever I find them. Not because I am a callous thief, but because the art is temporary until I can get a prototype, and convince an artist to join.

JoeCortopassi 14y ago
You might use them as placeholders, which I have no problem with, but that quote clearly implies using them in shipped products.
- marijn 14y ago
  "first few simple games" ≠ "shipped products"

TwiztidK 14y ago

Not to say that stealing other's content is okay, but I could certainly understand "borrowing" images to use in games when you're just starting out. I actually think it's usful because you can make clones of your favorite games in order to learn how to program.

chc 14y ago

Not a lawyer, but using a couple of sprite rips in the process of learning sounds like it ought to be fair use to me. Are you a lawyer?

rprasad 14y ago
It may be fair use, if you do not distribute the game. Once you distribute it, all bets are off, and fair use would almost certainly not apply. Many media companies have staff lawyers to police their IP, so it does not usually cost them any (additional) money to send out copyright notices.

Jach 14y ago

So presumably you're against fanfics and sprite comics too? As with everything that can be copied (digitally or otherwise) and used in derivative works, fair use et al. concerns apply. (Hence the other commenters noting that it's common and fine to do this for self-education.)

rprasad 14y ago
That's not how fair use works. Simply making a derivative work is not enough to take advantage of fair use. The derivative work must fall into certain categories of use. A lot of fanfic and sprite comics would not fit into fair use, though many would. It is a very fact-specific analysis.
- Jach 14y ago
  Indeed, I don't think I accidentally made the assertion that being a derivative but original work was sufficient. Similarly profiting off your work does not automatically dismiss any fair use claims.