Home Artists Posts Import Register

Content

At 9:36pm (CST) January 6, 2016 we were notified via Patreon, that we have 48 hrs to take down all content containing Warner Bros properties.  Also subsequently we were warned by Patreon that all properties that are not owned (100%) by us must also be removed.  I also want to inform all of you that this was always a potential risk we took.  Although we hoped to have a fully functioning copy in the hands of the community by the end of March, we now have to scrap Injustice.  I also want to say that this isn't the end of us.  I want to thank all of you for your support over that last several months of development and growth of our Patreon. 

I want you all to know that we were in the planning stages of moving away from copyrighted material as early as May.  The plan being to slowly integrated original content with our regular release schedule.  We had hoped that we could continue on this path well into early 2017 where would would launch a completely new project 100% owned by us.  Due to the above mentioned DMCA violation the final vision of this plan has to be moved up 15 months.  Due to this fact there will be a complete change and overhaul to the distribution on all platforms, along with the kind of content distributed.  What I'm trying to say is don't worry we had a plan (rough idea) and now we just need to move way faster and earlier than expected. 


Over the next week I will be in constant communication with all of you on Patreon.  Sunset (who is in charge of creation/ and content) has already began the process on his side.  With Sunset's amazing artistic talents I am excited to see what he can bring to you guys.  I ask that you remain patient during the next week to see what we have been planning for all of you.  Although this is an unfortunate event we are going to grow and evolve.  Stay tuned for more info tomorrow.


Sincerely SmokeShank

Comments

Jake theberge

That sucks. Is their anyway you can release injustice other than patreon? I assume that you got the notice cus your "profiting" from the dc stuff and what ever else is owned by warner bros.

Animeplayer

Now this blows completely! Is there anyway we can archive everything that was done so far for Patreon so nothing will be lost? People will be furious if they can't access it anymore.

Jake theberge

I do like the idea of original content.

gunsmokegames

At this point we are still working to figure everything out on our end - Smokeshank

Anonymous

Im a fan of original content too, but maybe we can get a quick final build of whatever atate injustice is in before it gets shut down?

gunsmokegames

All WB materials will most likely be down by end of business today. As for all other content it will be down my end of business on Friday. Sunset and myself want to make the transition as easy as possible, I do apologize - Smokeshank

gunsmokegames

Thank you. Sunset is extremely confident he can have some pretty cool original content by the end of January. If we released any more non owned content Patreon could then shut us down completely, also we would risk a permanent ban, and not to mention a potential lawsuit from WB.. Sorry :( - SmokeShank

Zeus

On the one hand I can see WB not wanting people profiting off of their characters. But on the other hand, what a bunch of dicks.

gunsmokegames

lol I has been hard to smile in the last 12 hours, this made me smile thank you - SmokeShank

Anonymous

As much as i love OC, i joined to see some of my favorite super heroines and the game, especially since the art style is the same. I'll stick around of course in hopes some characters may be similar. Also isn't the only reason the lawsuit there because you are getting paid right? Since there is TONS of DC stuff out there, could you get paid for OC and then do the DC stuff on the side for "free"? (not sure that at all will make a difference, just a thought.)

G_man12

Is there no way you could upload the version of injustice on some othere site? It is like 80% of the reason why I support you guy's.

gunsmokegames

I completely understand. At this point we are still figuring things out. Although continuing with WB properties seems highly unlikely. - SmokeShank

Crowsims

Sorry to see you guys getting hit with the Copy Right bat :( It happens eventually to everyone. Sunset is an awesome artist and I love his work, so no matter what happens or what content he puts out, I intend to stay a patron as long as you guys are on Patreon. I also know you guys post work on other sites ;) so it might not be the entire end. You guys stay strong and don't worry, things always work out some way in the end :)

gunsmokegames

I'm sorry at this point we are forced in a direction we had not planned on acting on for another 15 months. There will be more news to come in the next few days. Although continuing to release Injustice is not a possibility -SmokeShank

Anonymous

Aren't you guys protected under the "Fair use" law, just like all those porn "parodies"?

Walter L.

The problem is probably that it's a game they are doing.

Walter L.

I'm very sorry to hear this. I hope you consider instead of totally scratching the game completely to turn the characters into stand-ins. I mean, there are countless versions of pseudo-Batmans and pseudo-Wonder Woman on the net in every conceivable form. That might require adding a beard here and there, changing some colours and symbols, but should be better than losing all the work you've done so far.

gunsmokegames

Thank you for the suggestion Walter. Sunset and myself will be discussing all possibilities in the coming days - SmokeShank

Anonymous

Cant you change the title to "Injustice XXX"? Like so many other porn parody's hitting the commercial market, containing all the WB characters (example: "Avengers vs. X-men XXX", "Batman V Superman", "She-Hulk XXX", etc). It would be a shame to see it go seeing this game is probably the best thing compared to the other xxx games :(

Thursday

I am sorry that this is happening to you guys (I seriously love you). I also sincerely hope that this isn't the end for this game as I (and I'm sure you) were looking forward to this game with great anticipation. The DMCA hammer hits hard but the terms are removing copyrighted material ONLY from Patreon. I'm sure you could release the game and other copyrighted materials on HF while still funding it and other projects (i.e. pictures, games, etc.) with Patreon. As long as you are not directly profiting from said copyrighted materials on Patreon directly I'm sure you're fine. WB has always been a company that likes to throw DMCA's wherever they can Youtube being a classic example. They do it because they are big and you are small. If they and other companies tried to get all of the parody porn (which I would guess constitutes probably half of all porn) they would be in for a much harder fight. Again, I reiterate release your stuff on HF

gunsmokegames

At this point we have had a 1 hour conversation, and are scheduled to talk again in a couple hours. At this point all alternatives are being considered. I will be informing Sunset of all suggestions the community brings up. I can't really say at this point what is going to happen, we have just been given very specific instructions from Patreon as to what we have to do - SmokeShank

Damn Quixote

Goddammit, I'm sorry for you guys, you put out top quality work. Is Rogue Lust being scrapped as well?

gunsmokegames

I'm taking lunch for the next hour and will be up after to answer an further questions - SmokeShank

gunsmokegames

At this point I cannot say (that is up to Sunset), we will keep you and everyone very informed over the next week - SmokeShank

Wanderer

sorry to hear about the ban powered by dicks.I will admit that i came for the characters, but i really stayed for the art. Sunset's art skills are great. i am going to be alittle sad about Injustice "dying" on us, but this give Sunset a blank canvas to show us his abilities without being restricted to the forms of DC characters. I know he could copy and emulate the style of great artists.Now i want to see what comes out when he is given a blank space and a sexy brush. Good Luck and Godspeed

iamnuff

trying to make money using copywrited characters was always a risk. That's not to say you couldn't still create/release the game, if you stopped using patreon for it, but frankly it's probably safer to go with espies. If you decide to make porn-game content with original characters (who happen to be superheroes) I imagine you'd get the same amount of fans. That said, it's kinda sad that this happened immediately after i pledged.

iamnuff

I guess if you have 48 hours (or however long is left) you could use it to release the game it its current state, then remove everything a day later. Let people circulate what's left of the game and the art on their own without any input from you.

Mac-Man

Wow this just came out of nowhere and it's sad to hear this because I really wanted to see how injustice would be fully competed (like everyone else of course). I'm so sorry to hear all this, I'm trying to get into drawing myself so I have a bit of an understanding as to how much hard work must be put in order to make art like the one Sunsetrider does. With that being said, I'm going to look forward to the original content that you guys will put out. As long as the art is good just remember you will always have my (and the rest of us ) support.

Damn Quixote

Though the characters were admittedly my primary reason for being a patron (and I hope they can still continue somewhere without the monetary aspect (so the lawyers leave you alone) whilst drumming up support for any original content), I'll definitely continue to support any original content from you guys so long as it's of the same high quality.

geos_omega

So are they going after all the other people doing similar things too? Or are they just being dicks to you? Because I for sure know that there are PLENTY of people doing things with characters that are not theirs and for them to pick one random patreon that probably makes as much money in a month as they do in an hour or less is pretty retarded.

Smiling_Jack

Just for clarity, are you talking about a DCMA violation, or a DMCA violation? I tried googling DCMA and just kept getting results for the DMCA.

Anonymous

#like that one dude that makes porn games around Harry Potter and Disney characters

gunsmokegames

Sorry I figured it was a DMCA violation, the message from the trust team at Patreon had it the other way around I will edit the post to reflect it - SmokeShank

gunsmokegames

The quality will always be a main focus of what we do. I appreciate your support - SmokeShank

gunsmokegames

Thank you so much your support means so much to us. We will strive to continue bring awesome content forward. If anything comes of this I hope we open up more access to you guys and community, more details will be coming in the next few days - SmokeShank

gunsmokegames

We have be explicitly warned by Patreon that any further release of non owned content could result in a permanent removal of our page - SmokeShank

gunsmokegames

I'm so sorry, we were hoping to avoid any of this while being able to transition seamlessly to original content. Thank you for your support and I hope that whatever we bring forward you will enjoy - SmokeShank

Chris Simon

That sucks. :/ Couldn't you just replace the heroines and realia by your OCs and continue on the game's structure as it is?

TofuCats

Would this be under parodies?

Chris Simon

But anyway, you've been awesome, guys, and I believe you'll turn this around and into something even cooler.

gunsmokegames

We don't possess or have the resources to make such an argument , sorry - SmokeShank

Valicore

Well I am saddened by the this for so many reasons, but things happen and other things can happen. All I can suggest is that "technically" this DMCA is only limited to Patreon, a crowdfunding website. So "technically" things can still be released on other 2nd or even 3rd party websites (it's porn so one way or another it will get out). I'm not saying that releasing legally owned things (no matter the parody) is right or wrong but "copyright" and "fair use" can be questioned by countries by their internet laws and the host of the website responding to it. I'm just suggesting not to scrap something that was put so much work into them.

gunsmokegames

I feel the exact same way. We just have to be very careful on this platform. Our main focus will be to get Patreon organized and have a real project associated with it. With our own content, what happens with Injustice and any other content is still up in the air. More info will be released in the coming days. Many conversations need to be had on our end to come up with a revised plan for development and release schedules. I'm hopeful that by early next week we can have something that will keep all our Patrons excited. - SmokeShank

Xipomus

Though news games. A big shame. The game had lots of potentional. Probably still does with Standins as suggestion below. But making new content with your own chars will probably be the best idea. It's gives you the freedom what to do. From a programmer side you can always reuse the code, just change the mechanics as your want them. Still a shame. Thanks for your efforts till this point. I wish you the best in continuing with your own art and games. Cheers Xip

TurnipFactory

Doesn't seem completely catastrophic. Re-name and re-design existing locations and characters until they are distanced from their original WB counterparts; continue using the scenario and game assets as is after the alterations are done. The city could be any fantasy city - Metropolis becomes Excelsior City, Suicide Slums becomes Murder Bay, STAR Labs becomes PRISM Tower, the Daily Planet becomes The Excelsior Enquirer etc... - just change the artwork enough to no longer be recognisable as a copyrighted property. Get rid of Lex Luthor by turning him into just a black silhouette and change his name to "Boss" or somesuch. Mercy Graves becomes Darcy Tombs by keeping the butler/chauffeur theme, changing the outfit details and colour, give her a skirt instead of trousers, change the skin tone to tanned, lengthen the hair and change the colour to pink - a completely new character. You can even build this in as part of the game's introduction: Darcy says "Are you alright Boss? Did something happen? I feel weird, has something changed?" Whereupon the player's Boss character handwaves it and reassures her that everything is as it's always been and it'll all work out fine... Best of luck with whatever you decide to go forward with.

gunsmokegames

Thank you Jethro! We will be considering all possibilities. An announcement will be coming in the next 7 days - SmokeShank

Wolfregis

Why the hell are they going after this of all things? I mean games like this technically already exist using the same characters mind you, so why are they raising nine kinds of hell over it?

Jake theberge

What about The Rogue comic? Will it continue on HF? Its a shame your cutting into WB's porn profits..... wait they don't have any? Huh. Weird. Personally I follow your art for the charaters maybe 25% of the time. I never watched Young justice, Korra(a little bit) Xmen evolution (I'm an Xmen fan so who cares?). So I'll support new original work 100%.

DaApocalypse

Its a shame i was really looking forward to this. Orginal artwork would be good but parodies are what im here for.

gunsmokegames

More news to come in the following days regarding what we are going to do - SmokeShank

gunsmokegames

I completely understand. I urge anyone to be patient over the next few days as we will be more details - SmokeShank

Wonder Red

I'm chiming in a bit late into this discussion but I feel the only alternative would be to get your own platform, the website you guys were planning, up and running to launch the game off of. I could be wrong or just repeating something you heardbut since its patreon who got the C&D not you you could pull it off. Keep us updated brodies

gunsmokegames

Thanks Red. We are currently considering all options. Injustice at this point will be shelved for now - SmokeShank

Hellomellowyellow

There must be some kind of workaround. Akabur, an artist here, has received a takedown notice for his unreleased game Hermione Trainer from Warner Brothers too a year ago. It seems like he manage to avoid it by just simply renaming the title of the game to Witch Trainer, all in -game names are still the same on release. I am not sure how he is doing with his Disney content.

gunsmokegames

It's not WB that contacted us. WB contacted Patreon and we are following what Patreon has set forth for us. If we don't comply we will be permanently removed. That being said we want to make sure we have a project going on this platform (as your support is what keeps us going). After we have our Patreon in order we will look to possible action with Injustice. - SmokeShank

Angelo

Well this is disappointing. The DC content was definitely my favorite. Never got the Hawkgirl/Green Lantern picture I was hoping for. I'll admit I didn't really become a patron for the original content but I'll stick around to see what you guys come up with.

ennetsu

Wow, that's a blow :( Like a lot of people, Although I knew Sunset's work before, I came here primarily because of Injustice. I'm really not sure I want stand-ins, Injustice was an advanced project. I really hope you can continue it under another plateform/website... Good luck anyway

Wolfregis

I was hoping to ask is there anything that we, the fans and patrons, can do to help.

gunsmokegames

Thank you for your support. I'm sure you will really like what we have in mind - please be patient as we will be providing more details tomorrow - SmokeShank

gunsmokegames

Injustice is going on the shelf for now. I will provide more details tomorrow with an official post - SmokeShank

Nicholas

This is sooooooooo very disappointing! This was something I was very much looking forward to and now it will be a long wait for another project to come down the pipe. Really hope there will be a way around this for Injustice later on.

gunsmokegames

We are very disappointed also. There will be an update tomorrow with details of our new direction - SmokeShank

Anonymous

One of the most significant bummers of my entire life. Sorry to say I'll have to remove my pledge, I'll keep up with you though to see what's next.

gunsmokegames

Clark I guarantee you will be back. See you soon (I completely understand). If its any consolation I would stick around for the month (billing happens on the 1st of Feb) so if you don't like where we are going you can just remove your pledge at the end of the month. This way you get to see first hand where we go. Just a suggestion - SmokeShank

Zwia Zwia

::hug:: You guys still kick ass and will get through this. I know I for one will stick by y’all and see what you have planned next. You’ve done more than enough to earn that loyalty as far as I’m concerned. Having said that, there has got to be some sort of loophole for you guys as far as Injustice is concerned. (I mean, yeah, I’m gonna miss all the epic Young Justice art, but I’m also happy and content that we were able to get what we got. Injustice, though, I mean the alpha so far stops all the story threads right when each of them are about to get reeeeeally good! It’s killing me!) I know you’re putting it off until you figure out something to do in the meantime with the Patreon, and I totally get why that is a super priority for y’all right now, but please, don’t give up on it. The game is such magic. I mean, can’t you guys still keep up with Patreon’s rules and maybe just work on Injustice as like… a hobby? And hell… maybe just somehow it pops up online somewhere else some day… that would certainly be a crazy random happenstance. And if you do choose to scrap it, (please don’t), if there was any way to release all the ideas at least, that would be awesome. Like, yeah, I want to see every piece of art you have that hasn’t made it in yet. Of course! (Y’all made me really dig Roulette way too much, and like no one else EVER draws her.) But I think I would more like to know what your plans were. Who were the other heroines? What type of things would we have been able to eventually do? What characters would we have been able to summon? Who would the last room at Lex’s base thing go to? Who was gonna run the Meta-Bordello? These questions are gonna haunt some of us, I’m telling you. Anyway, this sucks guys, but keep your heads up. I know you’re gonna get a lot of pressure about Injustice too, but really, do what you guys feel is in your own best interest. You’re just getting pressure because it was SO DAMN GOOD, but by no means does that mean you have to risk anything over it. Y’all got a fanbase that will stick by ya, even if you just stick to doing OC, and these bumps in the road are life’s way of testing ya and pushing ya to bigger, better things. Keep kicking ass! I look forward to hearing your update on your new direction.

Dinker

What are the chances that you'll continue to produce artwork and games on Patreon here but that Injustice at least might be released as an 'outside' project? Or that the game's source and assets might be released so if fans wanted to they could finish it on their own independently of you?

Anonymous

First of all would want to apologize for misspelling is this message, I use google to translate it from my native language. I read what happened and I have an idea that could be very interesting, change the setting of DC to Marvel. Almost all the roles could be maintained if it settles down for the initiative of the fifty states. Norman Osborn would Lex Luthor. The villains who could provide them hired Hood. Part of the magic Satana would control. The local stripteasse I could be the Hellfire Club. I think it could be a great hambientación. I hope I was helpful :)

tard

hmm wel my eglish isnt good so you stop working on injustice? am i right?

gunsmokegames

Thanks for the help DaScoot its just Patreon has warned us about posting content that isn't 100% owned by us. In a few hours I will be posting our response and what is to come - SmokeShank

tard

so then sometime later you will return?

gunsmokegames

I will touch on this when I finish our response which will post in a few hours - SmokeShank

Agamemnon

Hey guys, big fan of the work you do, especially injustice. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't it be enough to please patreon if you kept the Injustice established code, change some hair colors and names and what not to original characters, and release it under a different title? All of the work would be yours, which is what they asked for. ...and, if there were say, a patch released by a third party after the release of the game that turned all of your original characters into DC characters, I'm sure patreon couldn't object to that either, since it'd be done by a "third party." But I'm just talking...

Andrew Chu

Well this is one hell of a way to start the new year

gunsmokegames

yup I hear ya. We literally had a meeting the day before planning out the next six months. -SmokeShank

gunsmokegames

Sorry for the late response. If we go this route we both feel that we owe you guys a decent product. By just simply going and and changing stuff will result in a mess. If we go this route we would like to plan things out and make a presentable solution. Just as of right now we don't want to not have anything running for a month or two. The time is right to flush out our new plan and move forward. -SmokeShank

gunsmokegames

Sorry for not responding Zwia. Thank you for this we appreciate it. It sucks but at least now if we get the new project moving forward we can devote time and resources to the re-skinning of Injustice. It will just take time that is all. Dinker I touched on this in the new post I released today. -SmokeShank

chipsiup

With regards to all the artwork, the Korra pieces and the various fanart Sunset has posted here... will they be released on Sunset's HF or Tumblr? It'd be sad to hear that they'll be gone forever if we didn't download and save it before hand.

gunsmokegames

Yes the plan is to release them, along with any old pictures. I'm still undecided as to what to do with the Hi-Res stuff - SmokeShank

Dralycan

So, the Injustice game is cancelled, right? :(

gunsmokegames

Nope not cancelled. We are just not allowed to host it on Patreon, so we started a new project for Patreon. This Thursday we are having a big meeting in regards to where and when we will finish it, and how much needs to be done to finish it. We are hoping to have a firmed out action plan at the end of February. All details will be shared on the Bi-weekly webshow - SmokeShank