AGS games using other games' content and/or engine

[oti]

No i'm not talking about ripping off sprites from DOTT or KQ, i'm talking about using scenes and screengrabs from other games. One particular game that comes to mind that could make for an interesting game is "The Sims". I've done a quick search and havent found anything, but would something like this get quashed by EA? Also, do people think there is some merit in the idea? Essentially using other game engines to render scenes, rather than a 3d rendering program, or being hand drawn.

I'm all for original work, but it could open up some new possibilities, especially with those of questionable artistic ability.

[MrColossal]

Someone posted a while ago some tutorials on using the sims 2 programs to make characters and then some posing program or something to pose them.

People use FPS engines to make scenes too, half life and Unreal pop into mind at the moment [Pleurburgh 2 was using Unreal levels as backgrounds before Chrille went all "I want to go to school and further my life!" on us]

[TheYak]

There was also the recent one-room game: Elevator that used graphics from Silent Hill 2 and sounds from AITD4 (to great overall effect, IMO).  You're not likely to have the legal pirahnas leaping down your pants because of a freeware game, particularly if you slap some note on the game saying where you've borrowed elements from. 

Additional buttock-protection would include a statement to the effect of:
[Legal Disclaimer]Simz 2 belongs to EA/Maxis and not me, they didn't give me no permission fer this, so don't bite my ass.  To EA/Maxis, mad respect. Peace out.[/Legal Disclaimer]

It's generally not frowned upon either, if you do the referenced game justice as well as having something inventive yourself.  I'd rather see self-made graphics of almost any quality than borrowed ones, but to each their own.