Doc4

I think what I'm most disgusted by is the lack of integrity these people have that are making these games. I'm not putting them down for the creation of the games themselves, in fact I'm glad someone is doing it. But what gets me is that the majority of them choose the most god-aweful labels possible, take for example the okie dokie labels, what the hell was that about. The gunslinger label though, I have to admit was impressive. I was really glad to see it win. But there is no culture or taste among the designers, at least at Atari and Activision they had artists with a standard, albeit occationally variating, but for the most part these labels looked similar. Same fonts different pictures but with this format they tended to look good. Where the hell are those deigners today, there should be a standard set not to allow trash to slip through the cracks. I personally feel that Simon Q. should have had the AtariAge visitors and members vote for the best label. At least that way he would be void of all contact with blame and I could rest easier knowing that I had a democratic vote in getting a decent label put on, what appears to be an interesting game. But what happens, a bumbling photoshop user takes on the movies throws in some non Atari fonts, attempt to create the Atari look and wins. I will have Simon know that I did my hardest to create the look of the original Atari carts. I not only located the Atarian Fonts and Bauhaus Fonts but also threw in exacting size and detail. I personally hand drew that dude with the hands on his mouth. (Dale Crum #4) I honestly didn't know if Simon wanted it and I thought for sure that one of the best original pieces was Efren Ramirez #6 I actually felt it was the closest to an original cart picture than the rest. Although in all honesty I would have combined several of the designs into one perfect piece. It makes me sick to see people settle for less than perfect and Simon certainly could have had that. But as non artists often do, they don't understand similarities and subtle differences such as font faces and positioning. (Not to dog Simon too much, my apologies, I'm simply using you as an example.) Anyway, the only reason I logged onto this board was to complain about loosing and I think I have acomplished that. I just didn't want to sit here and watch the hard work of others and myself discarded like a parking ticket and not say anything. I will do my best to be nicer about this. signed - one angry Atari lover. If Manny Gerard was working for me, I would sick him on Simon like a pitbull for pulling this stunt and Atari would have reigned supreme forever.

Oh and nobody likes Andy Warhol!

Now, hold on everyone. I think you're taking this criticism a little too far. Your opinion is valid, but it is only your opinion. The use of images other than one's own in art is very old. Just look at Andy Warhol. Another example would be Jack Kirby or Wally Wood, both known for using found images in their artwork. There is even a quote from Wally Wood: "Don't draw what you can copy, don't copy what you can trace, don't trace what you can just put up there." Simon is the final arbiter and anyone who has a problem with that is simply wrong headed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is my reply to you reddog or whatever your name is. Your taking the context of true art for art sake, like Andy Warhol and somehow trying to apply it to a contest where we are asked to draw a label for a video game? Doesn't work like that. Andy Warhol, Jack Kirby and the others were not simply entering a contest to win a piece of plastic with some coded material on it. They are/were artists making art, whether that was for comic books, mass culture or attempting to make a point about extreme media and advertising. The majority of artists who do rip someone off usually have added a great deal of originality to it otherwise we call these people hacks, losers or whatever other name you would like. The point I am trying to make is, just because Mr. Simon made the game doesn't mean he can legally sell it with copies of Andy Warhol, Jack Kirby, Paul Ruebens or my artwork on it without permission. Regardless, I disagree of your petty ravings on how we should suck it up and accept this. I feel this point should have been an unwritten law. You can't just go around and steal other peoples photos. We have stock photography or royalty free art which are open to advertisers, but you still have to pay for them because its illegal to take a picture someone else made and apply it to your own work and sell it. You can't sell a pencil for $5 and throw in the Warhol painting you scanned for free. It doesn't work like that. I personally feel this contest was a farce. If the EnemyMine poster won, I could have just gone to the moviestore myself and picked out something to scan in, and still watched the movie later, I probably would have gotten more out of it.

What the heck is all this crap about Jason winning. That is the biggest piece of theft I have ever seen. He blatantly stole it from the EnemyMine poster, and although a good movie, Is not worth using using in conjunction with Atari. It makes me sick, as a graphic designer, to sit here and watch everyone pour out real art like Efren Ramirez, and see them loose to a copied work. So here Simon Q. is who worked so hard on his game and it's ruined by a bad piece of art. Oh, I may be a angry that I lost but I'm dissapointed that real art couldn't prevail. Maybe Simon should have just gotten a movie poster for the cover and not even bothered with this contest.