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[TheFallen]

Now obviously this isn't something completely new. People steal photos and artwork and modify it enough so that others don't recognize the original piece behind it. However, I realized one of the main artworks used for Sony's Infamous title was a modified version of Paulo Barcellos' New York City / Sin City skyline (posted in 2006). Here's the Infamous artwork in question. To show you this, I'm going to flip the Barcellos photo so that it matches up with the Infamous artwork, so that you may see how Sony's graphic designers have (likely?) stolen his work.

Barcellos' work alone:

Barcellos' work with the Infamous art 50% transparency lined up:

Barcellos' work with the Infamous art 100% on top of it lined up:

If this was done without his permission, I am disappointed in Sony's team. As a graphic designer, I would never make such a grand fuckup.

 

[magus]

Perhaps it was used with permission. You have reason to believe that it wasn't?

 

[Maggot9]

infamous is so fun.

 

[nib95]

Have you just assumed it was stolen and made an entire thread around that assumption? Admittedly you used a question mark at the end of the thread title but still, a bit pre-emptively damning if you ask me.

 

[Truespeed]

Do you know if Sony received permission or are you just being ignorant and accusing Sony without proof? Something tells me it's the latter. If so, you need to get your facts straight before making accusitions of stealing.

 

[Buckethead]

Meh. It's different enough.

Go talk to Shepard Fairey about "stealing".

 

[PistolGrip]

INFAMOUS!

 

[~Kinggi~]

it is possible the image was submitted to a photo-purchasing site or was given permission.

But yeah, thats a pretty big fuckup thats becoming more and more common if they did steal it.

 

[sprsk]

Meh. It's different enough.

Go talk to Shepard Fairey about "stealing".

It's different? Are you feeling okay?




Anyway, we have no reason to believe they didn't ask permission here.

 

[Truespeed]

As a graphic designer, I would never make such a grand fuckup.

Actually, you just did. You posted his work without express written permission from him or Major League Baseball.

 

[MvmntInGrn]

Perhaps it was used with permission. You have reason to believe that it wasn't?

This. Lets not jump to conclusions.
EDIT: Looking at the pieces separate, I don't know. Seem rather different.
EDIT: Oh nevermind, the first image you posted was flipped.

 

[Costanza]

I doubt they stole it...

 

[Sfida]

You know, before making this thread, you could've just left a comment on his Flickr page asking him if Sony got permission (I really doubt they stole it), and there's a chance he would've replied.

 

[pakkit]

Actually, you just did. You posted his work without express written permission from him or Major League Baseball.

What the fuck, it's an interesting observation. He put a question mark and he's just presenting it. Quit being so goddamned defensive. The promo is obviously using that photo overlay. It's pretty neat to see the changes, but it would be a bit lame if they did it without approval.

To those that are doubting, just look at the tower in the back with the antennae and the building with the neon lights beginning with V. They're both the exact same.

 

[devilhawk]

Defensive much people? There is a question mark in the title.

 

[Truespeed]

What the fuck, it's an interesting observation. He put a question mark and he's just presenting it. Quit being so goddamned defensive. The promo is obviously using that photo overlay. It's pretty neat to see the changes, but it would be a bit lame if they did it without approval.

No, it's unsubstantiated slander. Hey chico, did you get the Major League Baseball line?

 

[Musashi Wins!]

Defensive much people? There is a question mark in the title.

It is misleading.

But more importantly PROTECT THE HIVE!1!

 

[TheFallen]

Actually, you just did. You posted his work without express written permission from him or Major League Baseball.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en

oy.

And to those that are asking, I already contacted him, would have been silly if I didn't. He was unaware.

 

[iplay5150]

Defensive much people? There is a question mark in the title.

And how are we supposed to know whether it was stolen or used with permission? Making a thread like this will just lead to knee jerk reactions of OMG, SUCKER PUNCH STOLE ARTWORK, and there is no evidence of that.


EDIT: So you contacted the artist and he was unaware of its use in Infamous?

...

OMG, SUCKER PUNCH/SONY AM THIEVES CONFIRMED :lol

Seriously, thats fucked up if they did steal it.

 

[Costanza]

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en

oy.

And to those that are asking, I already contacted him, would have been silly if I didn't. He was unaware.

Maybe you should've put that detail in the OP?

 

[devilhawk]

And how are we supposed to know whether it was stolen or used with permission? Making a thread like this will just lead to knee jerk reactions of OMG, SUCKER PUNCH STOLE ARTWORK, and there is no evidence of that.

See the OP's most recent post.

 

[Chrange]

No, it's unsubstantiated slander. Hey chico, did you get the Major League Baseball line?

Slander is verbal. Might want to brush up on the Internet lawyering.

 

[830920]

Am I missing something here? The first picture is just a photo, right? I don't see how it would be a problem to make a painting depicting the same city from the same angle, it's not like they are literally using his photo.

 

[MvmntInGrn]

Maybe you should've put that detail in the OP?

I know its only a pretty big detail. :lol

 

[iplay5150]

See the OP's most recent post.

Yeah, sorry, only saw it after I posted. Slow internet at work is slooow.

 

[MisterHero]

He's an inker, man.

It's not tracing

 

[TheFallen]

I know its only a pretty big detail. :lol

Well shots can be purchased from a photographer without them ever knowing (paid stock photos, etc), so I hardly feel that was 100% confirmation. Hence the question mark.

 

[MvmntInGrn]

Well shots can be purchased from a photographer without them ever knowing (paid stock photos, etc), so I hardly feel that was 100% confirmation. Hence the question mark.

Either way I don't see why it isn't included. If you are asking a question you should provide what info you do know. :/

Other than saying he was unaware did he seem concerned?

 

[karasu]

They certainly aren't using the same composition and he didn't create the city. :/

 

[disappeared]

He's an inker, man.

It's not tracing

Your mother's a tracer.

 

[billy.sea]

Funny to see some inFamous fanboy trying to saying it's not a problem.

But yeah, we don't know what's behind this, most likely Sucker Punch got permission to use the artwork.

 

[Chrange]

They certainly aren't using the same composition and he didn't create the city. :/

lol...what? Open the two pics and flip between them. There's even the same 'yellow window' 'white window' on the building below his hand, not to mention highlights on other windows.

 

[-tetsuo-]

Greg Land works for Sony, confirmed.

 

[Wolves Evolve]

People can't read. Jesus. The games industry seems to attract some mighty lazy designers.

 

[jaundicejuice]

*shrugs* The photo was obviously used as a reference.

 

[Crisis]

Your mother's a tracer.

I traced your mother last night, disappeared!

 

[TheFallen]

Funny to see some inFamous fanboy trying to saying it's not a problem.

But yeah, we don't know what's behind this, most likely Sucker Punch got permission to use the artwork.

Yea I don't understand why I was so suddenly slammed for even bringing it up. I can understand the whole "did you email him?" slew of comments, but I have emailed him and his response indicated that he did not know what Infamous was. I've pressed the matter with him in response, so we shall see once he sees the images.

Edit: Figured I should mention this thread has nothing to do with Infamous hating. Quite clearly intending on playing the game once it arrives from Gamefly. The demo was great. I simply noticed the similarity when viewing the Wallpaper thread on GAF, since this photo was my iphone wallpaper recently.

 

[karasu]

lol...what? Open the two pics and flip between them. There's even the same 'yellow window' 'white window' on the building below his hand, not to mention highlights on other windows.

What are you talking about? There are five lights on in that building and it's perspective is much closer to the viewer.

 

[jaundicejuice]

I bet you that the concept artist did a Google Image search for a city skyline, or maybe it was New York skyline in particular, liked the photo, not knowing or caring whose it was, used it as a reference, altered some details here and there and called it a day.

And now it's fodder for an eSlappy fight here.

 

[Shinjitsu]

wtf is this shit?

 

[pakkit]

What are you talking about? There are five lights on in that building and it's perspective is much closer to the viewer.

Are you selectively blind?

 

[Chrange]

What are you talking about? There are five lights on in that building and it's perspective is much closer to the viewer.

Wow.

 

[Tellaerin]

No worse than using any other reference photo for a city skyline. I get the impression the OP's just trying to stir up shit.

 

[EmCeeGramr]

What are you talking about? There are five lights on in that building and it's perspective is much closer to the viewer.

Seriously professor, my paragraph is TOTALLY different from the one on Wikipedia. The sentences are all in different spots and it uses a few different words.

 

[Jocchan]

I bet you that the concept artist did a Google Image search for a city skyline, or maybe it was New York skyline in particular, liked the photo, not knowing or caring whose it was, used it as a reference, altered some details here and there and called it a day.

Basically.
Using photos as reference for buildings and landscapes is extremely common, because it gives you better (and more detailed) results in much less time than just using your own imagination to design everything from scratch.
If they were using the picture without the photographer's permission, then the word stolen would have been appropriate. But using a landscape picture as a reference for their own artwork does not equate to steal.
In other words, nothing to see here.

P.S.: before ad hominem attacks, I'm not defending any hive here. I didn't like the demo and won't buy the game.

 

[karasu]

Are we talking about different building or something? Because the two I'm talking about are not the same.

 

[SnakeXs]

They certainly aren't using the same composition and he didn't create the city. :/

 

[jaundicejuice]

Stealing it would be taking the photograph as is and passing it off as your own, what the creator of that image did was clearly reference the photo for the background imagery.

Basically.
Using photos as reference for buildings and landscapes is extremely common, because it gives you better (and more detailed) results in much less time than just using your own imagination to design everything from scratch.
If they were using the picture without the photographer's permission, then the word stolen would have been appropriate. But using a landscape picture as a reference for their own artwork does not equate to steal.
In other words, nothing to see here.

Exactly.

 

[karasu]

Oh for crying out loud.

 

[SnakeXs]

Oh for crying out loud.