Sprite Resources! (RIPS ONLY)

I will update this main post if and when I come across new and interesting sprite resource (RIPS) pages. Sometimes its easier for users with little or no art skill to produce something (especially a fan game) using existing sprites.

I know it's always better to use your own stuff, but for some people it's not really an option, so here are the current resource pages for all to use:

Note, these are all sprite RIPS. Do not expect to see royalty free content on these sites. They are merely for "educational purposes".

One of the better ones around is The Spriters Resource

Another good sprite page is The Sprite Database

Happy spriting!

~Sol

What is the licensing of those sprites like? I couldn't find this information, I must be blind.

The rips aren't OK to use in games you release really, though as if with all issues with old games, it's unlikely the creators will care.

Still, it's better to make your own if you're serious about the game.

Oh, those are rips... I see, then I will use them for prototyping only, thanks!

ripped sprites: http://tsgk.captainn.net/index.php?p=su ... t=sy&t2=ga

Video "How to make sprite characters in 8-bits":

You're are allowed to make fangames so long as you don't sell than. Most companies don't mind. There's tons of fangames, and far as I know, no one has gotten sued.

You're are allowed to make fangames so long as you don't sell than. Most companies don't mind. There's tons of fangames, and far as I know, no one has gotten sued.

No, you're not "allowed." It's illegal for you to use a company's copyrighted material, no matter what. It doesn't matter that you're not selling it, they can issue a cease and desist or sue you as they see fit. It's just that most companies don't bother unless your fangame is of high enough quality to compete with their work, or you're trying to sell it.

People can be and have been issued cease and desist orders to shut down their fangames. There was a team making a Chrono Trigger remake in 3D a while back that got shut down by Square Enix. I seem to recall a King's Quest game and some Quake conversion that both got shut down as well. And the strange thing is, all of those games had original art in them... they weren't even using copyrighted art. They got shut down based on the intellectual property alone.

Anyway, sprite rips are just bad news all around if you ask me. It's always better to make your own art, even if you can only draw stick figures.

Yeah I have to agree.

They're good for prototyping and inspiration, but taking them and using them is copyright infringement. 90% of the time a game made with rips won't look anything as good as the original, anyway.

Funny you should mention 90%, because 90% of pretty much everything is crap, according to Sturgeon's Law.

However, you could apply the arguments you just made to, say, fanfiction, fan art, or sprite comics. I don't see anyone giving THEM cease and desist orders. In fact, there's another "fan-game" that has been aknowledged by the original copyright owners... And actually gave the green light. Black Mesa, anyone? Square are just jerks. (Also, I heard that fan-sequel to King's Quest is still in development.)

Thing is, most companies see these fan-games in the same light as fan-art and such - to them, it's free advertisement. Of course, some copyright holders, and not just game companies, see fan-works in the same light, quite a few authors are known to hold distain for them. But really, there may be some isolated cases, but when there's an entire online expo devoted to fan-games, it's obvious that anyone who does have a problem with it is in the minority.

Of course, I'm doing a fan-game myself, and it's my multimedia project, but my teacher doesn't mind as long as I give credit where it's due, acknowledge what belongs to who and which bits I actually made myself.

[quote:1kqhp4ar]However, you could apply the arguments you just made to, say, fanfiction, fan art, or sprite comics. I don't see anyone giving THEM cease and desist orders.

Fan fiction and fan art are works created by individuals. A sprite rip is not... it's straight up theft of someone else's work. And even so, fan fiction is still technically an infringement on intellectual property rights. You couldn't, say, sell your own novel featuring Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Bilbo Baggins as your main characters, because someone else owns the rights to those characters.

And I wouldn't say most companies approve of fanfiction or fangames... more like they tolerate them. Sure, there are always exceptions, such as with Black Mesa, but for the most part the official stance is always "do not use without permission." The reason so many fangames and fanfic sites can run rampant is because for the most part they are completely harmless. A company generally isn't going to interfere with your fan creations unless it threatens their profit margin somehow, because it's just not worth the time, effort, or money.

But just because they probably won't doesn't mean they can't... they're well within their rights to stop you if they see fit.

[quote:1kqhp4ar]when there's an entire online expo devoted to fan-games, it's obvious that anyone who does have a problem with it is in the minority.

I would say that's debatable. While a large number game developers don't see anything wrong with fangames or sprite ripping, there are just as many who do. Personally I'm not terribly big on fangames, but I'm not all that hardcore about the issue. I say do whatever you like. Though I do think that original work is always a better option.

Ok... here we go...

Developers often hide the resources their games use for proprietary reasons. One of those being they don't want this kind of thing happening.

I think the best way to look at this is as a game developer. That shouldn't be a big stretch, as most everyone here has had that aspiration, at least once.

So, as a would be developer, ask yourself, do you want the people who rip this stuff, then ask for credit like a dog pissing on a tree to mark it's territory, and threaten bodily harm if that undue credit is not given, to take a dull cookie cutter to your creation, your blood, sweat, and tears?

Any way this is just my personal opinion, yours may differ, and surely there are exceptions to this, as even I understand the meaning of homage, but there's a couple sayings I'd like to point out in this case.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

and

It's difficult to soar with the eagles, when your surrounded, by turkeys.

I can understand ripping sprite for own learning purposes, to see how characters are animated (walk, run, jump) or how diferent objects are drawn so you could use that knowledge to make your own sprites, but using someone else graphics for your own game it's just lame, and even after that saying you are making a fangame it's not that cool at all .

To be honest i don't realy understand that fangame idea...our world don't need another 10.000 Mario Bros or Megaman fangame-rip games...but it's only my opinion.

Wow this is getting crazy...

I put the links up here for people to use and learn from... nothing more. Morally, you will do whatever you want... hell I don't particularly care if someone uses the graphics straight up, gets sued, and ends up in court over it... it's them not me.

I use sprite rips on occasion to learn from them... see how they are made... get ideas and inspiration to create something original. Hell, even using one of the sprites from a rip as a placeholder graphic, I spent hours modifying it frame by frame to give a better depiction of what MY character would look like.

If anyone wants to debate about the morality or potential consequences of using copyrighted material, can we please make another thread about it?

Thanks in advance

~Sol