I agree that Pitchford is a dick, but I sincerely disagree about the art style comments: I don’t think it’s morally correct to “copyright” (or, reworded: claim exclusivity of) art styles, especially in this context.
I think the two works are completely independent, and Gearbox being inspired by the short film is completely appropriate.
Anything else would be no different (in my opinion) than cases like Roger Dean (the cover artist for Yes’ early albums) suing James Cameron for the floating islands in Avatar.
I remember just a couple months ago before that game Mouse (the one that’s all black and white, rubberhose animation style, where you play as a detective mouse) was supposed to come out, and everyone and their mother was freaking out over the use of the rubberhose style, as if Disney had a copyright on the entire art style itself.
I just thought people were fucking stupid for voicing those thoughts in the first place.
I agree that Pitchford is a dick, but I sincerely disagree about the art style comments: I don’t think it’s morally correct to “copyright” (or, reworded: claim exclusivity of) art styles, especially in this context.
I think the two works are completely independent, and Gearbox being inspired by the short film is completely appropriate.
Anything else would be no different (in my opinion) than cases like Roger Dean (the cover artist for Yes’ early albums) suing James Cameron for the floating islands in Avatar.
It’s not stealing to be inspired by someone else.
I remember just a couple months ago before that game Mouse (the one that’s all black and white, rubberhose animation style, where you play as a detective mouse) was supposed to come out, and everyone and their mother was freaking out over the use of the rubberhose style, as if Disney had a copyright on the entire art style itself.
I just thought people were fucking stupid for voicing those thoughts in the first place.