Using Photos & already made art

[Winter_Stardust]

One thing I've noticed a lot of while playing AGS games is the reference to major game companies and their games, e.g. Lucasarts, Sierra, etc.
One thing that I was wondering, is that is it acceptable to make a fan game using sprites and backgrounds from games such as Monkey Island, King's Quest, and so on.
If proper credit to the original game makers is added to the credits, can these things be used in a fan game (And then posted on the AGS website)
The reason I ask is I'm terrible at drawing backgrounds, and I have a few ideas for a fan game or two and I want to know if it's acceptible before I go to all that work. And no, I would'nt try to make a profit off of it.
Another idea would be, could someone give me a hint or two as to how to make backgrounds in the style of said games.
Many thanks, and lemme know what you think.

[jetxl]

These questions have been asked and discussed alot, but there never has been a real awnser.

A summary.

Just placing Lucas Arts or Sierra in the credits will not make the lawyer hellhounds think you're

cool.
There is nothing wrong with painting over a MI or KQ sprite.
There are ripping programs, like agi and scumm revised.
The chances that you are caught are small, but there have been cases like Legend of Monkey Island and Garfield, where the creators WERE caught.
Creating your own backgrounds, sprites and music is alot of work and you might be disapointed with the end result, but you will have more creative freedom. (animations or background that you want to use but are not in the original game)
There is nothing wrong with fangames (or cosplay) as long as it is performed in a good way.
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[hedgefield]

Yeah I agree that straighforward ripping isn't really the way to go. You should add something to it.

Personally, I am a Google whore. I envision a room in a certain way, from a certain angle, then I try to find a close-matching picture on the internet. That works quite well. Then I totally repaint it and add objects and effects. Because they are pictures taken by normal people, there is no copyright issue. If I can't find something matching, I look through my games library, mostly Max Payne 2, and try to find something like what I was searching for. Then I detach the camera and take a screenshot. I then trace all lines from the screenshot and repaint it, as I described above. For me, it's perfect.

[Winter_Stardust]

Hmm, I've never tried Google for an image search.  I've been using Yahoo and still havn't found what I want. I really want a picture that looks like the inside of a cozy tree house/log cabin for my character's house. Thanks largopredator, I'll give Google a shot and see what I can find.

[Kweepa]

It seems to be a common technique.
I was looking on google for a cabin for my game and lo and behold, the first image was the interior of the hut from Pirate Fry 3.

[MoodyBlues]

Ugh.  I can't stand it when an AGS game has ripped graphics, especially when they're used without permission.

I say it's better to do your own work.  If you don't know how to draw, then learn!  Or, at the very least, use material declared as public domain.

[simulacra]

Since I am a kid of the post-modern hip-hop generation, I have no problem with sampling - as long as it is done right. You have to make something entirely new out of the old. For example, when I make music I often sample without permission. But I sample discreetly, like stealing a drum hit or one second of violin beauty. Then I start to work on the material and make something new out of it.

I remember one occasion when a friend listened to a track that I'd made and commented that it was cheap of me to rip an entire bass loop and use it. Then I told him that I had indeed sampled, but the original sample was a drum loop. This was turned beyond recognition into something new.

Sampling is not the same thing as ripping - that is stealing something and claiming it to be your own. That's my five cents.