So here's what has happened with nipe, if anyone is interested...

[nipe]

Hi there guys.  I have really enjoyed my experiences here on this awesome site contributing my customs and retail repros for everyone.  I really love the positive feedback from the community and the general sense of preservation and adoration that is apparent among most of the members in this community.  I was a little dissapointed to see that the upload section went down, however I resolved to keep making covers anyway; after all I love these games and it really is fun for me.  I have a fairly large que of N64 verticals, NES redraws, PSX DVD Cover conversions, and customs that I was looking forward to uploading now that it's back up, until I saw this thread...

http://www.thecoverproject.net/forums/index.php?topic=8785.0

Wow.  I was initially shocked to see ALL of my contributions available for purchase at $8-10 a pop.  Once I calmed down a bit I thought that maybe it would be ok as long as this site was given proper credit for all of the long hours everyone here (yes, they have nearly the ENTIRE download section up for sale) has spent on this labor of love.  What I found instead is this:

http://gamecaseworld.com/blog/2011/11/

Hey BadChad, she fixed a typo in the fine print.  Now it's her's, and she's selling it.  How does that feel?

http://gamecaseworld.com/blog/2011/12/

Lumberjack42, that has to hurt a little.

http://gamecaseworld.blogspot.com/2011_11_01_archive.html

They are taking the show on the road to conventions, marketing the idea as their own.

There are many other instances of this in the blog (feel free to poke around there if you can without throwing up in your mouth a little), suggesting that the repair of a few minor blemishes seperate what they offer from what is available on "the web".  With the quality standards that are upheld here, combined with the generally pristine quality of the uploads, I an highly suspicious of this. 

Here is a link to some contact information on them which includes a photo of the perps, as well as a blogspot profile (sound like anyone you know here?)  I would guess that Mr. Jason is probably one of the active members.  There is a blog entry that gives their location in Hammond, Oregon if that rings a bell for anyone.  Feel free to contact them and let your feelings be heard

http://gamecaseworld.com/blog/about/
http://www.blogger.com/profile/12653527771918874694

I know the official stance of the site (link below), however I'm not really emotionally capable of just "Not taking it personally" (and by experience with some of the threads I have seen on here, I KNOW some of you are really pissed too!). I will continue to make covers for myself and would be more than willing to lend advise to anyone here about general graphic design stuff, however I will not be uploading any more covers.  If in the future some action is taken to rectify the situation (i.e. a huge TCP link on the front of their page, accompanied by a public apology at this point), I would relish the opportunity to contribute again.

Thanks guys,

nipe

http://www.thecoverproject.net/forums/index.php?topic=4389.0

[Arseen]

Annoying yes, but there are also covers that are not here and some seem higher quality, so they make at least some of their covers themselves.

Only thing that could be done is try to prevent using our template, but tha would be difficult.

[UncleBob]

You could be really evil, order all their "exclusive" covers, file a chargeback on your credit card, then scan in all the covers and upload them to "the web".

Or get with some folks from Anonymous.  Seems to be the kind of thing they could address.

Also, you could post some responses to their YouTube videos...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CRNtnV-UsY&context=C3dd1bd0ADOEgsToPDskJkmbEErAU-bd9szLmJI2Am

[Arseen]

Thought the same, didn't say it out loud as he might read the boards while downloading the covers...

[AppleQueso]

Or get with some folks from Anonymous.  Seems to be the kind of thing they could address.

Oh FUCK that. I wouldn't want that stuff even remotely associated with our community. You're just asking to open a NASTY can of worms that's VERY hard to close back up. Don't even THINK about it.

Look, they have contact info on their site. Just drop them an email first and see how things go from there.

EDIT: they most DEFINITELY read the forums. I found my Bomberman Hero cover on their main site, a cover that hasn't even been officially added yet. I'm a little ticked.

[kittybones26]

I think it is a bunch of horseshit that you guys spend your own time and effort to contribute covers to this site....and then this dirtbag downloads your work and sells it for a profit claiming these covers are his own.

Post away on his youtube clips.....they will likely be marked as spam and deleted though.

[WolfAlmighty]

I wonder if they realise, or even care, that they're going to end up being responsible for their own demise by not even giving credit to the artists that are doing their cases.  If cover artists stop doing work because of this they'll have no new covers coming.  Although, they can continue to sell the ones they've already downloaded and make money, I suppose.  I'm astonished that people are actually buying these, to be honest.

I should start selling these things on ebay also, undercut these jackasses and sell them at cost, and put a big link and paragraph full of info about TCP on each auction page.  Maybe that will at least get the message out to the ebayers who are actually buying their stuff.

[AppleQueso]

Looking through their blog and everything, these guys go far beyond your typical ebay reseller. This is kind a big thing for them.

I sent them an email, hopefully they respond courteously and abide by the pretty reasonable (I think) request to simply provide credit. I suspect they'll just ignore me, but we'll see.

[nipe]

UncleBob commented about the artwork being available here on the youtube vids and they were marked as spam.  Classy

[AppleQueso]

Seriously though, I really don't think you should stop contributing just because a bunch of hack entrepreneurs are selling your work at grossly inflated prices.

Who actually buys from these people anyway? I can't imagine their sales are all that great.

This stuff simply happens. You can't do anything about it, and even if you succeed in getting these guys to give us credit or if they go under, there are still other sellers who do the exact same thing and refuse to give us credit. I think the very nature of what we do all but guarantees that someone will try and profit off of it.

Truthfully, I think it's a bit unfair for you to withhold content from our community due to the actions of a completely unrelated entity that we have zero control over and can do absolutely nothing about. I'm actually a little worried that this might incite some members to act in ways that will reflect poorly on our site in order to take 'revenge'.

[UncleBob]

UncleBob commented about the artwork being available here on the youtube vids and they were marked as spam.  Classy

Hm... they still show up on my side.

Anyway, I don't think it's "unfair" for him to withhold his work.  Yeah, it sucks for us and I wish it wouldn't happen, but I totally understand that some folks put a lot of time and work into their covers and the fact that people are making a fairly decent amount of money selling them... guh.  And it's not like this guy is asking for a cut of the profits or anything - he says he'd be happy if the site owners simply provided a link back to TCP.

[AppleQueso]

UncleBob commented about the artwork being available here on the youtube vids and they were marked as spam.  Classy

Hm... they still show up on my side.

Anyway, I don't think it's "unfair" for him to withhold his work.  Yeah, it sucks for us and I wish it wouldn't happen, but I totally understand that some folks put a lot of time and work into their covers and the fact that people are making a fairly decent amount of money selling them... guh.  And it's not like this guy is asking for a cut of the profits or anything - he says he'd be happy if the site owners simply provided a link back to TCP.

Yeah, I suppose 'unfair' is a bit of a strong way of putting it, but I think you get what I mean. He's a great contributor, and this sort of thing has happened on and off for a long time now. We have no control over it and no way of stopping it. It's like we're being punished because of it or something.

Remember, these guys are selling my covers too, and they're far from the only ones who've done this. I'm not quitting.

[nipe]

The line between revenge and justice is quite fine.  I have no problem with anyone turning a profit from these; after all we're only really just cleaning and arranging artwork that isn't ours to begin with (she is, however, upcharging $25 to make new ones using shenske's templates ).  My decision not to upload is certainly not directed at anyone here in the community.  I saw what was happening with something I put real love into and wanted to share with a good bunch of peeps in this community and, honestly, my feelings were hurt.  Call me a pussy if you want to idc.  I feel a sense of pride in my work and this site, and I would bet that all of the other contributors feel the same.  It would make me sick to upload a bunch of covers with the intent for free use among the hobby and collecting community, only to see innocent people getting taken advantage of by those jerks.  I know stuff like this happens every day.  I also know that ignoring it is wrong.

There are plenty of artists here who do just as good work as me, if not better, who are cranking out covers.  With that caliber of work, I'm certainly not going to hurt anybody here by not uploading, nor is it my intent to do so.  I do and will always support TCP and it's mission to preserve and create retro game box art.

[nipe]

By the way, the trap is set.  That is all

[AppleQueso]

I know stuff like this happens every day.  I also know that ignoring it is wrong.

Whether it's 'wrong' or not to ignore it is up for debate, but seriously, what would you have us do? Outside of requesting to them that we receive our due credit, there's virtually NOTHING that can be done that won't ultimately reflect negatively on our community. I absolutely refuse to endorse any sort of internet revenge crusade of any sort, and I'm certain the site staff would 100 percent agree with me on that.

You've read the sticky post about selling covers. You know where we officially stand.

By the way, the trap is set.  That is all

...I'm not sure what you're up to here, but I've got a bad feeling about it...