I just stumbled across this book: http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=19604.
(http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/9134/thefumblingrescuer.jpg)
The picture on the cover is clearly the same as this concept art for TSL below.
(http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/342/tsltrialrender.jpg)
Additionally, the summary of the novel bears many obvious similarities to the King's Quest series, especially VI.
"When Ambloq [Alexander], Neophyte Cleric, and his First Henchman, Eldon, are assigned to rescue Crown Prince Mardjan from the Archnage's tower [just like Cassima in the tower], he stumbles into a second assignment – to rescue Crown Princess Valeria [like rescuing Valanice, as in KQII - even the name is similar]. In the process he bumbles into marriage [hey, so does Alexander], flees pirates, and is tried for his life by the Morchants' Guild in Caravestria."
This is very strange, no?
No, looks more like they mainly stole POS artwork from The Four Winds. The description of the story itself sounds like generic fantasy plot lines. Not specifically and necessarily KQ related.
But the artwork was stolen...
...I'm just wondering whose legal property that picture *technically* is at the moment...
And, might I say, blech! I wouldn't be able to read that book simply for the difficult-to-pronounce names.
I don't know. It's pretty old concept art, judging by the fact that said book came out in the early 2000s.
A TSL veteran would probably know.
It is pretty generic fantasy, but...
...the part that bothers me most is all the typos in that description!
Oh, and it does sound verrrrrrry King's Quest like and the cover art tells us that the people involved in it are fans.
Psh! Silly wanna-be thief! That person has NOTHIN' on our beloved team!
Silly internet user, plagiarism is for dirt bags!
Okay, weird side story. When I was in seventh grade there was a whole unit on plagiarism, and the teacher handed out a paper that said in big bold letters, "PLAGIARISM." and had a picture of a little devil. Now everytime I hear that word, I picture that stupid pitchfork-wielding devil.
Quote from: crayauchtin on June 30, 2010, 06:56:19 PM...the part that bothers me most is all the typos in that description!
The part that bothers me is: how in the world did they get Stick-in-the-Mud out of the swamp?
Honestly, though, just because some of the names and concepts are similar doesn't make it plagiarism. As Cray stated, it's pretty generic fantasy stuff.
Now the use of the picture is another matter completely. That would be a copyright violation.
Funny/sad story: a girl one of my friends knew once plagiarized an entire paper in college. The paper's subject? Ethics. [/facepalm]
Quote from: Enchantermon on June 30, 2010, 09:51:03 PM
Funny/sad story: a girl one of my friends knew once plagiarized an entire paper in college. The paper's subject? Ethics. :wall:
:o
The irony!
Quote from: Enchantermon on June 30, 2010, 09:51:03 PM
Funny/sad story: a girl one of my friends knew once plagiarized an entire paper in college. The paper's subject? Ethics. [/facepalm]
That's like... writing a book on why books are lame. Or, more like the reverse. But that doesn't make since.
But yeah. That's really terrible.
Well the thing is that author, actually has written a series of books apparently following some of the same characters. It seems he's stolen artwork for each of the books (or drew his own poor artwork). Not all are KQ artwork. It just looks like he's written very poor and generic fantasy stories.
Thank you very much for bringing this to my attention. I created that artwork and was not contacted nor did I give my permission for this author to use it.
- Michael
I don't know what's more insulting - the fact that Mr. Poindexter stole the artwork, or the fact that he stuck that awful filter over it. That happened to be one of my absolute favourite bits of art (is it back on the site in full size now it's all back up?) when I first got into the project.
Quote from: mfortunato on July 01, 2010, 03:01:52 PM
Thank you very much for bringing this to my attention. I created that artwork and was not contacted nor did I give my permission for this author to use it.
- Michael
C&D time!!!
It's beyond C&D. Poindexter is trying to make money off the books with the stolen art...
If you put so much effort in writing a book, why would you steal for cover art :-\
Laziness, or he just didn't want to find someone to draw it for him.
Also, many people have this idea that anything you can find on the internet is part of the public domain, and is therefore free for anyone to use. Of course, this isn't true, but some people don't realize that.
It also looks like its through one of those cheap-ass do it yourself publishers. Where you pay to have your manuscript up, and then they print copies if people request them.
My guess he probably doesn't get many requests, ;).
Speaking of Plagiarism,
http://www.amazon.com/Canticle-Cleric-Quintet-Book-I/dp/078695325X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278222436&sr=8-2
Click on on the "Search Inside" option for the book and scroll down to the Prologue. You should see a rather familiar looking Sorcerer type with a staff above his head. This book was published in 1991.
I think I see a similarity to this KQ character, who was 'born' in 1990, a year before:
(http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080110155943/kingsquest/images/c/cb/Mordack.jpg)
While he does look quite a bit like Mordak, it seems more like inspiration than plagiarism, in this case. (good book btw)
That stolen art of Michael's though, that just terrible.... And I agree with Mango, I've always really liked that picture and the filter is awful :no:
Eh, I think Mordack is enough of a generic evil wizard in appearance to share some similarities. I personally don't think they look all that much alike.
Ya mordack's appearance is extremly generic, just look at old fantasy films, and DND books...
I think there was an old 1980's film Excalibur that gave Merlin that generic appearance, LOL.
Quote from: Baggins on July 04, 2010, 09:43:49 AM
Ya mordack's appearance is extremly generic, just look at old fantasy films, and DND books...
I think there was an old 1980's film Excalibur that gave Merlin that generic appearance, LOL.
Speaking of DND, while I don't play it, I do read some of the novels and source material and I have the first three editions of the monster manual (which for those who aren't really into DND it has descriptions and illustrations of all the fantastic monsters and creatures found in the world of DND), the third edition monster manual (from around 2001) has a jet black demon horse (albeit wingless) called a "Night Mare."
I do wonder if any of the characters of the later games (KQ5-8) were fans of DND or played it. I say the later games because starting with V it seems Roberta's influence gradually lessened with the involvement of first Creative Consultants in KQ5 and later the whole idea of Co-Writers and Co-Designers; I think I-IV were more purely Roberta's vision and I don't see her as a DND player or a person interested in the Occult, just someone who loved mythology and fairy tales.
I
Ehh..while those ones are similar, I wouldn't say they ripped off Mordack. Plus it's RA Salvatore--he hardly needs to lift art, etc, from other people!
Yeah, I definitely do not see the resemblance between Mordack and the other sorcerer.
Quote from: TheReturnofDMD on July 03, 2010, 11:50:55 PM
I think I see a similarity to this KQ character, who was 'born' in 1990, a year before:
Yeah he looks similar to Mordack but that's a pretty generic wizard look.
For instance, these Warhammer Battle Wizards:
(http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m350280_99120202016_EmpireWizardsCelestialMain_445x319.jpg)
Quote from: KatieHal on July 05, 2010, 08:33:30 AM
Ehh..while those ones are similar, I wouldn't say they ripped off Mordack. Plus it's RA Salvatore--he hardly needs to lift art, etc, from other people!
R.A. Salvatore = Awesomness!
And yeah, that really is a common look for your average wizard/sorcerer.... :)
Quote from: mfortunato on July 01, 2010, 03:01:52 PM
Thank you very much for bringing this to my attention. I created that artwork and was not contacted nor did I give my permission for this author to use it.
- Michael
Wow, that's just so incredibly rude :o
I hope you sue his pants off and make a lot of money ;P
POS has lawyers ... probably doing the work for nothing.
Throw them a bone to chew up ...
Give them meat ...
Sick em ... at the book mentioned. Take everything they can.
Quote from: mfortunato on July 01, 2010, 03:01:52 PM
Thank you very much for bringing this to my attention. I created that artwork and was not contacted nor did I give my permission for this author to use it.
- Michael
You're welcome. Let me know how the situation turns out.