Unofficial Tex Murphy

Hey guys, I need your help. I know a while back I mentioned that I will be (and still will be) holding a contest of sorts. I am still working out the details and logistics of certain things but in the near future (around Oct-Nov) I will set up the contest for the "Official" Unofficial Tex poster contest.

Here's where I need your help. One of the problems regarding a poster is that many cannot draw and may be turned off from participating. SO why not just make a collage type poster out of images from the game or box art right? Great idea but 2 problems arise. First off and perhaps most importantly, is it legal to make a poster out of stills and box art from the games? Secondly we do not have a ready supply of screen grabs or high resolution box art etc. Let me explain further:

1) The legal problem would come from the selling of the mounted images on the board. Does this infringe on a copyright issue? If you recall it is quite pricey (about $120 CDN plus shipping approximately) to have the images mounted on wood (plus scratch coat and paint amongst others) but I have to admit the end result is spectacular! (I'll post an image of one that I had done previously once the sun is up . . . and can find/unpack my camera.) Basically the money would be going towards mounting the FAN-MADE image/poster as opposed to directly stealing existing artwork from the game and selling that for profit. Now if we were to make a collage type poster out of images from the game, would that not be a new piece of art unto itself, meaning it isn't violating copyright? Here's an example, the Tex silhouette. If that were directly mounted onto a board I have a feeling that would be a copyright violation unless it falls under "public domain." However if it were modified say a colour change or addition of other images to go along with it would that not be modified enough to be a new piece of art? Maybe someone else can help me figure this out. The main issue with this is that I don't want everyone to go through the trouble of making a poster then purchasing it and then have some lawyer come around and tell us to stop because of copyright violation. This is my main concern.

2) Lack of images. I know James has the site (and new one around somewhere) but I do not know of any other places where everyone can find images for easy access to modify and manipulate for a poster. Here is my proposition, is there a way that we can spend the next little while collecting any and every image in our collections and posting them somewhere. Make a compendium of Tex Murphy images (kinda like facebook except as high of a resolution as possible) that everyone can access. Think of an average movie poster with all the actors in the flick. That's kinda what could be made except for the Tex games. Now what I had in mind was maybe an image hosting site where we could all have access or something to put up all the images so we aren't hogging up someone's website space. That or post links to where the images are hosted. I dunno maybe someone can help me clear this up. The main problem is there are not many images to choose from on the net so we should get together a ton of pictures in one place, the more variety the more to choose from and greater variety of posters in the long run.

Once these issues are addressed I will post the official contest rules with details such as image size, contest duration, where to submit images and what not. Don't be turned off from creating your own masterpiece either. If you can make something wholly original great the whole issue of copyright most likely won't be there.

Oh yeah if you forget the details of the other thread here's the link to it:

http://www.unofficialtexmurphy.com/mess ... php?t=1456

I figured it was getting a little large so I'd just start a new one.

Cub made a really cool collage of tex from Tex photos a while back. It looks very good.

As for photos. I have screen grabs of every camera shot in TPD and Overseer, the only exceptions being I don't have all of the 10 9 8 7 etc from the movie. I reckon there's over 1000 pics and I'm sure Aaron and Chris and Adrian wouldn't mind tex photos being used by the fans for good use - I've made the Tex calendars for the last few years using them (though I must have used all the good pics up a long time ago). I'm happy to send the files to whoever wants, though they will need to be posted because they fit on a CD - ie too much to email. As long as you pay P&P I'll happily copy and send.

Demonlawyer wrote:Cub made a really cool collage of tex from Tex photos a while back. It looks very good.

As for photos. I have screen grabs of every camera shot in TPD and Overseer, the only exceptions being I don't have all of the 10 9 8 7 etc from the movie. I reckon there's over 1000 pics and I'm sure Aaron and Chris and Adrian wouldn't mind tex photos being used by the fans for good use - I've made the Tex calendars for the last few years using them (though I must have used all the good pics up a long time ago). I'm happy to send the files to whoever wants, though they will need to be posted because they fit on a CD - ie too much to email. As long as you pay P&P I'll happily copy and send.

Why not upload them to a torrent?

Here is the poster David is talking about: http://www.provisionaustralia.com.au/Im ... 300DPI.png

to source those images I simply played through the game once with my fingers poised and ready to hit Alt + C whenever I felt like it. that saved a whole bunch of captures in the game folder which I could use.

-Cub. =o)

So no one knows of the legality of this? Should I just go for it and worry about it if problems arise? I think that is what I am gonna do.

Now as for an image databank I guess I am gonna have to compile as many images as possible. Would I be able to get everyone's donated images? I'm thinking of an easy way to post them all for people who aren't computer savvy. This leads to 2 new problems:

1) Where do put these images so people can copy them easily? Should I make an Image Shack account or something so that everyone has access to it and then hyperlink to all the images? I know it'll take a while but someone has to do it and I guess I just volunteered myself. If anyone knows of an easier way please let me know.

2) I do not have a collection of Tex images nor do I have the time to play through all the games to take images of all the possible screen shots. That's where I was hoping for help with others. I know some of you stated you have images and whatnot already and that's great, but how can I go about get it from you all? I would like to avoid mail as that would cost money on either party and I don't anyone to put forth any unnecessary costs. Is there a way I can get torrents or zip files on websites or direct emails? I only have a hotmail account so there is a limit to what can accept. Or is there another alternative that I am not aware of?

I would just like to make this as easy as possible for others so that everyone who wants to participate in the contest can do so with the greatest of ease. I don't want anyone left out because they do not know how to download a torrent and whatnot.

PS does anyone know how to make a web page that can easily link to images . . . and where to post said website? I think I am repeating myself but whatever. Also, cool image Cub, do you want me to include that in the official contest when it is up and running? I will be allowing multiple images from people so that we have as many options as possible to choose from so it wouldn't be your only chance to submit one.